Cheap places to eat in Liverpool
Going out for food is one of life's greatest, simplest pleasures. But we aren't made of money. So here are some brilliant cheap places to eat in Liverpool.
Last updated: 1st Aug 2023
Originally published: 7th Sep 2022
For some of us, food is basically therapy. We celebrate with food, we use it for comfort, and we use it when we can’t be arsed cooking. It's always there for us. So when you look at your banking app and see a lot less dough than you’d like, going out to eat can make you feel a bit guilty. Or at least irresponsible.
But nothing hits like a good meal. Especially one you didn’t have to cook. And just because you aren’t loaded right now doesn't mean you don’t deserve that rush of endorphins, dopamine and the unbeatable pleasure of not having to clean dishes. So here are some fantastic cheap places to eat in Liverpool.
Rosa’s Thai Cafe
Photo: Rosa's Thai Cafe (Liverpool) / Facebook
Where: Unit 7, Britannia Pavilion, Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool L3 4AD
Thai food is probably the healthiest food that still tastes gorgeous. And Rosa's has an extensive menu with plenty of vegetarian options. Choose from curries, noodle dishes, soup, sharing platters, and wok-cooked dishes. A main only costs around £10 - £14, depending on what you get, and it's delicious. Eat in, takeaway or order it to your door.
Bakchich
Photo: Bakchich Bold Street / Facebook
Where: 54 Bold Street in Liverpool L1 4ER
Bakchich serves affordable but delicious Lebanese and Morrocan dishes. Tuck into shawarma wraps for less than a tenner or order four hot mezzes for £25, or cold for £22, to try out a few different flavours. They also serve shawarma platters with meat, salad, chips or rive, and Arabic bread for £11-£13 and Manakeesh Lebanese pizza for £10 and under.
Kimos
Photo: Kimos Restaurant / Instagram
Where: 38-44 Mount Pleasant in Liverpool L3 5SD
If you don’t know what you’re craving, Kimos is a great shout. With Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and British dishes on the menu, you can figure out what kind of cuisine you’re after once you've sat down and ordered a drink.
Even better still, this genuinely might be the cheapest restaurant in Liverpool. Breakfast meals are somehow just £5 and served until 5 pm, a saviour when you're hungover. And a main will cost no more than £13, with most mains sitting around the £8/9 mark
If you're just a tad peckish, soup and a roll is just £3.50, or you can grab a jacket potato for £3.10 - £4.60, depending on your chosen topping. Kimos is also halal!
Maggie Fu
Photo: Maggie Fu / Instagram
Where: 346 Smithdown Road in Liverpool L15 5AN
Asian food is good for the soul. And the family-owned, independent restaurant, Maggi Fu’s, has basically everything your heart desires. From gorgeous mountains of salt and pepper chips, ramen that looks too good to be true, mouth-watering curries, and more, you genuinely might struggle to choose what to order. And with the most expensive dish on the menu costing £13.90 (with most around a tenner), you can eat until you can't move without fretting about cash. Definitely one of the best cheap restaurants in Liverpool!
Caribou Poutine
Photo: CARIBOU Poutine / Facebook.com
Where: 8 Hardman Street in Liverpool L1 9AX
If you aren’t familiar with poutine, the closest dish you might have tried is chips, cheese, and gravy. If you like that, chances are you’ll love poutine. But if you need something a bit heartier, they’ve got you covered there too. There are many poutine dishes on the menu with meat, such as pulled pork, fried chicken, bacon, and steak. There are also vegetarian and vegan options, and most dishes are around the £7 mark. Unless you add a million extra toppings.
Hope & Anchor
Photo: The Hope & Anchor / Facebook.com
Where: Maryland Street in Liverpool L1 9DE
Hope & Anchor has loads of great deals so let's get stuck in. There's bottomless brunch for £25, Wing Wednesdays where wings (chicken and cauliflower) are 30p each, beet wraps and loaded subs for £8.25, a lunch and a drink deal from £8.25, sharing platters for two at £15, and a pizza or burger for a tenner. If you get a burger or a pizza with a pint, the pint can work out to be as little as 50p!
There's live sports on TV, it’s dog friendly, and if you download their app, you’ll earn 10p for every £1 you spend. Drinks are cheap too - 2 for 1 cocktails all day, everyday, Corona for £3.25 on Thursdays, £3.25 craft beers and ales on Thursdays, and bottomless brunch with two hours to drink as much as you want (fizz, draught lager/cider, cocktails, Gordon's pink or passionfruit gin) for £25.
If you were wondering if it can get any better, they also offer exclusive student discounts with UniCrew. They also have loads of vegan and gluten-free scran.
Are you a Liverpool fresher? Check out the best student bars and clubs in Liverpool (thank us later.)
Mowgli Street Food
Photo: Mowgli Street Food / Facebook.com
Where: 69 Bold Street in Liverpool L1 4EZ and 3 Water Street in Liverpool L2 0RD
People who don’t love Indian food are wrong. It’s magical. If you think you don’t like it, maybe it’s time to give it another whirl at Mowgli’s. You can choose the set menu or sharing menu for £20, or go a la carte and choose a few dishes around the £7 mark. One of the best cheap places to eat in Liverpool for those with dietary requirements and preferences, Mowgli has very clear separate vegan and gluten-free menus.
Baltic Market
Photo: Baltic Market / Facebook.com
Where: 107 Stanhope Street in Liverpool L8 5RE
Another killer choice if you don’t know what your craving or if your party has different dietary requirements (plenty of vegan and gluten-free options), is Baltic Market. The traders at Baltic Market change regularly, but based off what’s currently on their website, most main meals will cost you around £6-9, which isn’t bad at all. Especially with the market's vibrant atmosphere, DJ sets, bands, and acoustic sets.
The Font
Photo: Font Bar Liverpool / Facebook.com
Where: The Font, 1 Arrad Street in Liverpool L7 7JE
Comfort food at its finest, The Font serves some of the best cheap eats in Liverpool. It's also popular with students because of that fact but also because it's relaxed, has lots of vegetarian and vegan options, cheap cocktails, and games. Burgers are £8-12, loaded fries are around £6.50, and wraps are £6-£6.50, they also serve burritos, breakfast, and sandwiches. The Font has a lunchtime deal - £9 for a wrap, chips, and a soft drink - and their app that gives you loyalty points that can also be spent in their sister site Dough Bar.
Check out the best student bars and clubs
Mr Kebab
Photo: Mr Kebab Liverpool / Facebook.com
Where: 22 Slater Street in Liverpool L1 4BS
If you want to end your night out properly, head over to Mr Kebab. Whether you want to end your messy night out by shovelling pizza in your mouth, squeezing a burger in your gob, munching on chicken strips, or relying on a good old kebab, this takeaway is there for you when you need it most. Pizzas are no more than £7, kebabs are no more than £6.50, and most burgers are just £3.50. Mr Kebab also has value meals and deals you should check out.
Nightcrawler Pizza
Photo: Nightcrawler Pizza / Facebook.com
Where: 38 Slater St in Liverpool L1 4BX
Award-winning pub The Merchant is home to Nightcrawler Pizza. So if you aren't ready for the night to end but need some scran to keep you going, this is a shout and a half. Slices (for the current menu at the time of writing) range from £2.90-3.70. There are vegetarian and vegan options and, the holiest of all, garlic bread.
Liverpool is such an incredible city. No matter how strapped for cash you are, there’s always an incredible selection of cheap restaurants in Liverpool to fill your stomach and warm your heart.
Check out our other Liverpool guides to fill your free time with fun and memories, like cheap things to do and free things to do.
If you're a fresher, check out our fresher nightlife guide, the best student bars and clubs, or find freshers events.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header: Maggie Fu / Facebook