Best Budget-Friendly Places to Eat for Indian Students in Australia

So, you’ve finally landed in Australia and maybe even found yourself a good place to live. But what about the food? You may have tried the local food court on campus. But now the homesickness hits where it hurts most: your stomach. You’re missing the taste of garam masala, buttery rotis, and dal-chawal. The good news? Australia is a great place for foodies. It has got something for everyone, from traditional food to multicultural cuisines. For Indian students, trying out new food is an important part of studying abroad. Every student goes through this cycle of trying out average food to finally finding the best places that they’ll go to with their friends even years later. Here we are sharing this guide for all indian students in Australia so they can eat well without going broke.

Exploring Global Cuisines

Let’s start with the obvious: you're in a new country, and exploring its culinary culture is part of the experience. Australia is a melting pot, and cities like Sydney and Melbourne are global food capitals. For the first few days, you can think beyond just Indian food and try other foods like Thai green curry, Vietnamese pho, or Korean bibimbap. And of course, no food experience for indian students in Australia is complete without trying a meat pie or chicken parma at a local pub.

Place	City	What to Try	Price (AUD)
Chinatown on Little Bourke St	Melbourne	Dumplings, bao, bubble tea	$10–$18
Cabramatta	Sydney	Vietnamese pho, rice paper rolls	$12–$16
Local RSL/Pub	Various	Chicken parmigiana, meat pies	$12–$20

Best Places to Get Affordable Indian Food

After your first few days, you’ll find yourself googling “butter chicken near me” in the middle of your 3 a.m. study sesh. Australia is home to countless Indian eateries that offer authentic, flavorful food at student-friendly prices. If you're an indian student in Australia missing chaats, biryani, or a masala dosa the size of your forearm, here's a place for every craving and every budget.

Restaurant	Location	What to Try	Price (AUD)
Delhi Rocks	CBD, Melbourne	Authentic Indian Curries with Roti	$12-$15
Butter Chicken Factory	Malvern, Melbourne	Classic North Indian	$15–$20
Aangan	Footscray & Hawthorn, Melbourne	Tandoori platters, Thali	$15–$25
Baahubali	High St, Preston, Melbourne	Hyderabadi biryani, Andhra-style curries	$13–$20
Saravana Bhavan	Carlton, Melbourne	Dosa, idli, sambar, filter coffee	$10–$15
Faheem Fast Food	Sydney (Enmore)	North Indian curries, naans	$10–$15
Spice Room	Sydney (Circular Quay)	Biryani, tandoori platters	$20–$25
Indian Temptations	Adelaide (Hindmarsh)	Vegetarian & non-veg combos	$12–$18
It's Mirchi	Brisbane (Paddington)	Home-style North Indian dishes	$15–$20

Street Food & Food Trucks

When you’re hangry, low on cash, and tired of cooking frozen parathas, food trucks and street markets will be your savior. Night markets across major cities offer a vibrant mix of cuisines. You’ll find everything from Korean fried chicken to momos and Afghani kebabs. These places also double up as weekend hangout spots for Indian Students in Australia, complete with music, lights, and good vibes.

Market/Food Truck	City	Highlights	Price (AUD)
Queen Victoria Night Market	Melbourne	Momos, tacos, desserts	$10–$15
Parramatta Lanes	Sydney	Food stalls, global fusion	$12–$16
Eat Street Northshore	Brisbane	Afghan kebabs, loaded fries	$12–$18

Vegan And Vegetarian Options

Australia is surprisingly vegan and vegetarian-friendly. Even fast food chains like Hungry Jack’s and Macca’s (McDonald’s) offer plant-based options. Some local restaurants stand out for both quality and affordability. Walk into almost any café or restaurant, and you’ll usually find something marked "V" or "VG, and it’s not just an afterthought. These dishes are full of flavor and made with fresh produce. Many Indian joints also have Jain and pure-veg menus, making it easy to stick to your food preferences.

Restaurant	City	What’s on the Menu	Price (AUD)
Lentil As Anything	Melbourne & Sydney	Pay-what-you-can vegetarian food	You choose
Smith & Daughters	Melbourne	Latin-American vegan food	$20–$25
Bodhi Restaurant	Sydney	Vegan yum cha, dumplings	$20–$30
Dosa Hut / Other Indian Veg Spots	Nationwide	Veg dosas, dal, paneer	$10–$15

Try These Local Favourites

It would be criminal to live in Australia and not try some local comfort food. You can always grab a sausage sizzle outside a Bunnings on a weekend or enjoy fish and chips at Bondi Beach; these are must-dos for every indian student in Australia.

Dish	Where to Try	Price (AUD)
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle	Nationwide (Weekends)	$3–$5
Fish & Chips	Bondi Beach, Sydney	$10–$15
Grill’d Burgers	Nationwide	$12–$16
Schnitz (Crumbed Schnitzels)	Nationwide	$12–$18

Be a Part of Australia’s Coffee Culture

Australia’s coffee scene is on another level. Most cafés serve single-origin beans, and baristas actually know what they’re doing. A good coffee here costs a little more, but it’s totally worth it. You can expect to find indian students and locals alike chilling with a flat white and a laptop in hand.

Café	City	Must-Try	Price (AUD)
Market Lane Coffee	Melbourne	Flat white, long black	$4–$5.50
The Grounds of Alexandria	Sydney	Oat latte, café snacks	$5–$6
Campos Coffee	Sydney & Brisbane	Iced latte, batch brew	$4.50–$6

Favourite Dessert Destinations

A bad grade, a homesick evening, or just a sweet craving—a dessert always helps. Australia’s dessert scene is quirky, indulgent, and surprisingly Indian-friendly. You’ll find gelato shops, buttery baked buns, and even Indian mithai stores that transport you straight back home. In those moments when you’re a bit sad or just need a study break reward, trust me—dessert is always the right answer.

Dessert Spot	City	Must-Try	Price (AUD)
Messina Gelato	Sydney & Melbourne	Flavors like Tiramisu & Pavlova	$6–$8 per scoop
PappaRoti	Various Cities	Coffee-glazed buns	$5–$7
Sweet & Spice / Maharaja’s Sweets	Melbourne & Sydney	Gulab jamun, rasmalai, laddoo	$5–$12 per box

Budget-Friendly Food Hacks

For most Indian Students in Australia, life goes on a budget. But with a few smart tricks, you can still eat like royalty on a ramen budget. Most universities offer meal plans, nearby eateries have student discounts, and community initiatives ensure that no one goes hungry.

Resource	Description
University Meal Plans	Prepaid meals in cafeterias. Great for busy days.
Student Discounts	Many cafés and restaurants near unis offer 10–15% off.
Food Delivery Apps	Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Menulog all run student promos.
OzHarvest & Foodbank	Free/low-cost food is available in most major cities.
Facebook Marketplace	Hunt for leftover bulk groceries or budget meal deals.

Final Thoughts

Yes, you’ll always miss maa ke haath ka khaana, but there’s something heartwarming about discovering your own comfort food abroad. So go out there. Explore. Eat with curiosity, spend smart, and never underestimate the power of a well-timed gulab jamun. Between uni lectures, part-time jobs, figuring out life in a new country, and finding a perfect place to live, food can feel like your little safe space. And when assignments start piling up faster than your dirty dishes, remember that Assignment Help is just a click away.

And hey, always keep a packet of Maggi in your pantry; you never know when hunger (or homesickness) will strike.