17 Byron Bay Restaurants & Cafes for Best Cheap Eats

Dining out during a holiday can literally eat a large hole into your travel budget. And lots of people often associate cheap prices with bad food, but if you get suggestions from locals or your holiday accommodation, you can find excellent food for a good price. We filtered through Byron Bay food recommendations and put together this list of cheap eats in Byron Bay.

We know you can save money by eating in at your accommodation—assuming you pick somewhere with kitchen and/or BBQ facilities—but part of the fun of a holiday is trying out new restaurants and not cooking. So don’t plan every meal in, follow our list of the 17 best cheap eats in Byron Bay so you won’t break the bank enjoying some meals out during your next holiday.

1. Aquarius Bar and Grill

Located off Lawson Street near the beach, this bar and grill is part of a backpackers hostel so keep that in mind if you decide to grab a cheap meal and a pint of your favourite beer here.

This venue features two bars, one main bar and a pool bar (note: you can lounge in a beanbag with your feet in the pool!) and both allow you to grab food and drink while the main bar features entertainment each night such trivia and open mic.

There are nightly drink specials as well as large main plates for $15 and under. Sliders, sides and salads also are part of the menu, so depending on your appetite you should be able to find something you desire and all for a cheap price!

2. Bayleaf Cafe

Known for great breakfast and lunch options, the Bayleaf Café features great coffee and smoothies and yummy meals to satisfy you, either before heading out for the day, or to keep you going until tea time.

The full menu contains smaller plates like cranberry and cinnamon porridge or F.A.T. (feta, avocado and tomato served with toasted sourdough bread), to hearty meals like the Hangover, which includes pork and fennel sausage with smashed potatoes, spinach, spicy relish and two fried eggs. Also, the café features gluten-free menu items as well as vegetarian dishes. 

3. Bay Kebabs

This takeaway restaurant located right along the main drag of Jonson Street would be the perfect place to pick up grub and head down to the beach for a picnic. Plus, it’s open late so if you’re craving something to eat before you head to bed, stop by here for a delicious treat.

Reviewers on Zomato say it’s quick and efficient—exactly what you’d hope for in a takeaway place!—with a great staff and, of course, great food. Check out this Byron Bay food highlight next time you’re on holiday.

4. Beloporto Burgers

Off Lawson Street in the town centre, Beloporto delivers on best food in Byron Bay for a great price. This cheap eat restaurant in Byron Bay lives up to the hype—come in at lunch and get a burger, fries and a drink for only $11.

The simple menu features its well-known Portuguese burger (a chicken burger) which is a popular favourite. However, if you want a regular burger, there’s also a beef burger on the menu and even a veggie burger.

5. Bombay to Bryon

Off Jonson Street in the North Byron Plaza, Bombay to Bryon serves authentic Indian food for both takeaway and in the restaurant. The establishment also allows for BYO.

Receiving a 4.0 rating on Zomato, Bombay to Byron highlights gluten-free and vegan menu items. Many users raved about the curries as well as the friendly service. The prices are right, so if you love Indian food, then this is a place to hit up for some of the best food in Byron Bay. 

6. Byron Bay Brewery

Come to Byron Bay Brewery for one of the specials nights to get a real deal and while you’re here it wouldn’t hurt to try one of the beers, right?

Tuesday is Family Night with kids under 12 eating for only $5. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday highlight entrees for $9.50. Everyday there is a section of the menu that has buy one, get one free meals.

If you’re looking for a fun outing, take a tour of the brewery and get a deal on beers and a meal. The tour is 4pm everyday, but you must book three days in advance for a weekend tour.

7. The Cardamom Pod

The Cardamom Pod, open everyday from 11:30 am to 9 pm, hits the sweet spot for any holiday visitors who are either vegetarian or vegan—great food and low prices.

Some of the recommendations for this eatery are the tofu and broccoli salad with grilled sesame seeds and the paneer and spinach samosa. But we suggest not overdoing it with the main meal because you’ll want to save room (and calories!) for the yummy desserts like Byron Bay bliss balls, rhubarb and strawberry tart and pumpkin cheesecake. You can find Cardamom inside the Pier Arcade on Lawson Street.

8. Heart and Halo

This vegan and vegetarian restaurant serves up fantastic food in buffet style for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. According to the many reviews on TripAdvisor, this is one of the best values for vegetarian and vegan meals in Byron Bay.

Heart and Halo not only fits the bill for those who abstain from meat, but also ranks as cheap eats in Byron Bay—perfect for the budget of any holiday visitors. 

9. Legend Pizza

This iconic pizza joint offers up its delicious pizza for a great price, making it an excellent option for your holiday eating out on a budget plan. The menu should allow any tastes to be satisfied, from your more traditional fare like Hawaiian and BBQ chicken, to unique combinations such as the spinach and pumpkin or the Mexican.

With a lunch special of $10 for any medium, you could easily do takeaway for a picnic or make a pit stop for a quick and easy dinner on your way back to your accommodation.

1o. Mac’s Milkbar & Café

While it’s not on the main drag, Mac’s Milkbar & Café is a popular diner to grab a cheap lunch or brekkie. If you’re heading into the main drag or away from it, then make a pit stop here for a yummy burger and shake that locals and visitors alike rave about in comments on TripAdvisor.

All the bread, buns and sweets are made fresh daily by Byron Hot Bread Kitchen, and there are even gluten-free bread options to make sure those with dietary restrictions can still enjoy the burger experience. Be sure to add this to your list of Byron Bay cheap food recommendations.

11. Manna Haven

Manna Haven, which ranks no. 3 of 136 restaurants in Byron Bay on TripAdvisor, serves tasty vegetarian food for cheap prices. Plus, if you like fresh, healthy food that meets your budget, then Manna Haven will fit the bill.

People consider it to serve some of the best organic food in Byron Bay. While you won’t be able to get dinner here, you should stop by for breakfast or lunch. From the toasted muesli with fresh fruit and yoghurt (or cashew cream) at breakfast to the Mum’s vegetable lasagna for lunch, Manna’s presentation is beautiful and the food is even better. Be sure to note that the café is not open on Saturdays.

12. OzyMex Café

If you are in the mood for Mexican food that won’t break the bank, then head over to OzyMex Café, conveniently located on Jonson Street not far from the beach. The small shop has a compact menu where almost everything is $10 and under, and you can pick up some takeaway for an easy lunch.

The Byron Bay Chilli sauces, made with Australian grown chillies, are the key ingredients. Pick your spice level and nosh on Mexican fare including: nachos, burritos and tacos.

13. Pizza Paradiso

Pizza Paradiso is only open for dinner but despite the short opening hours, it has become a favourite among locals and visitors alike.

Featuring more than just your average pizzas, the menu lists quite a few unique combinations from The Wreck, to Broken Head. The restaurant also has live music on Fridays and Saturdays. To feed the whole family for cheap, try out the giant pizza for $27 or come on Cheap Tuesday for the specials. You won’t regret it!

14. Red Ginger Byron Bay

Part grocery store, part gift store and part dumpling and tea house, Red Ginger (which has two locations, Byron Bay and Bangalow) is an excellent place to stop in to browse and grab a quick lunch. (Dumplings are only $2 a piece, and steam buns are $2.70!).

If you happen to be heading to Palace Cinemas, it’s right across the street on Jonson Street so, as a reviewer suggests on TripAdvisor, come early and enjoy some Yum Cha before heading into the movie. Or if you’re wandering the shops of Byron Bay’s town centre, then stop in for a cheap bite to eat before continuing your tour of the area.

15. Street Sushi

Open everyday from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Street Sushi sits along the main drag of Byron Bay on Jonson Street, making it an easy place to stop for a quick and cheap bite to eat while visiting various holiday highlights of the area.

You can eat in or takeaway, and there are several specials, like the three rolls of your choice and a drink for $10. The restaurant offers up juices and smoothies as part of its menu as well.

16. The Top Shop

Known both for its excellent burgers and great coffee, The Top Shop is located along the way to the favorite surfing destination The Pass. This is the perfect place to come for brekkie or lunch while out and about visiting the sites of Byron Bay, especially if you’re heading to the beach.

On nice days, you’ll normally see quite a few people gathered on the lawn, milling around drinking their coffee or eating the delicious food. Almost always busy and a hang out for locals and visitors, this restaurant is voted time and again as part of the best Byron Bay food options.

17. Yellow Flower Indian Diner

Minutes from Byron Bay (and Broken Head Holiday Park, for that matter!), Yellow Flower Indian Diner, located in Suffolk Park, features great prices on delicious Indian food everyday. However, if you’re looking to score a super deal, head there on Tuesday evening for the Cheap Tuesdays curries on rice deal of $7 for a small or $10 for a large.

The restaurant also offers an everyday lunch special of lentil dahl or chickpea masala, rice, salad and two pappadams for $9.50. Plus, don’t miss out on the desserts; they are worth a splurge.

Keep on Budget and Stay at Broken Head

We already know you’re looking to stay within a budget for your holiday travels, so why not book your Byron Bay stay at Broken Head Holiday Park where our reasonable prices will help you achieve your goal. Check out our various options for accommodations and see how you too can afford a Byron Bay holiday.

Also, be sure to check our camp facilities. We’ll keep you from overspending on food by providing a place to cook meals on the premises. The following meal post ideas will even keep it interesting (and easy) for the times you decide to stay in rather than head to one of the cheap eat places from our above list:

• 7 Hearty Camping Breakfast Ideas
• 5 One Pot Camping Recipes to Make on Your Camp Stove
• 10 Easy Camping Recipes to Please Picky Eaters

With all these ideas for where to go out for Byron Bay food on the cheap, along with the knowledge you’re staying at a place where you can serve a few meals “at home”, you’ll be sure to keep your costs low. So what’s stopping you from making a reservation now?