Cheap Food Edinburgh: 25+ Best Budget Eats Under £10 (2026)

Looking for cheap food Edinburgh options under £10? Despite Edinburgh’s reputation as Scotland’s most expensive city, the budget food scene is brilliant — from the legendary Mosque Kitchen serving £6 curries with naan, to falafel wraps for £5, Polish dumplings for £8, classic chip-shop suppers for £7, and pub set-menus delivering hearty pints-and-meals under £10. Eat well in Edinburgh for £15–18 a day if you plan smart, and you’ll still hit some of the most distinctive food experiences in the city.

This 2026 guide rounds up the best cheap food Edinburgh has to offer. We list the cheapest legendary spots, neighbourhood favourites, the supermarket meal-deal strategy, set-lunch deals at restaurants, the best pub-grub bargains, food markets, vegan budget eats, and how to budget food across a full Edinburgh visit. Every entry includes prices, locations, opening hours and the dishes locals order. Whether you’re a backpacker on £50/day or just looking for excellent inexpensive eating, this is the most useful Edinburgh cheap food guide you’ll find.

Cheap food Edinburgh: quick list of best spots under £10

Spot	Cuisine	Price range	Address
Mosque Kitchen	Indian/Middle Eastern	£5–9	Nicolson Square
Mosque Kitchen Annex	Indian/Middle Eastern	£5–9	33 Forrest Road
African Wrap Place	Sudanese/African	£6–9	Nicolson Square area
Pierogi Place	Polish	£7–9	Various
Civerinos Slice	Pizza by slice	£4–6	4 Hunter Square
Oink	Hog roast rolls	£5–7	Victoria Street + Royal Mile
L’Alba D’Oro	Fish & chips	£7–10	Henderson Row
The Bearded Baker	Sandwiches	£5–7	Easter Road
Bross Bagels	Bagels	£5–8	Multiple
Ting Thai Caravan	Thai	£7–10	Teviot Place
Mary’s Milk Bar	Ice cream/gelato	£3–6	Grassmarket
Wetherspoon’s pubs	Pub food	£6–9	Multiple
The Mosque Cafeteria	Middle Eastern	£5–8	Nicolson Square

Edinburgh’s most legendary cheap food spots

1. The Mosque Kitchen — Edinburgh’s most famous cheap eat

Address: 31 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX (original) and 33 Forrest Road (Annex)
Prices: Curries £5–9 with rice and naan
Style: No-frills canteen
Cuisine: Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern

Established 2003 next to Edinburgh Central Mosque, the Mosque Kitchen is the city’s most legendary cheap eat. A full curry, rice and naan typically costs £6–8. Queue with a tray, point at what you want, pay, eat at communal tables. Halal. Veggie curries from £5. The chicken curry, lamb biryani and haggis pakora wrap (yes, really) are local favourites. Service is quick. Open lunch and dinner.

2. The Pakora Bar

Address: 121 Lothian Road, plus other branches
Prices: Wraps from £7, pakora boxes from £6

Founded in 2005 by three brothers, The Pakora Bar serves Indian street food including pakoras, dhals, wraps and curries. The signature haggis pakora wrap at £10 is a must-try fusion lunch — a Scottish-Indian collision invented in Edinburgh.

3. Oink — hog roast rolls

Address: Victoria Street, Royal Mile, Hanover Street
Prices: Rolls £5–7

Tiny shops serving slow-roast pork in fluffy white morning rolls. Choose your fillings: sage and onion stuffing, apple sauce, chilli relish, haggis or all of them. A perfect £6 lunch on the walk down the Royal Mile.

4. The African Wrap Place

Address: Nicolson Square area
Prices: Wraps £6–9

Sudanese-style wraps including falafel, fuul (fava bean stew), spicy peanut sauce, and roasted aubergine. Heaving at lunchtime — go early or be patient.

5. Pierogi Place

Address: Various locations
Prices: Pierogi boxes £7–9

Polish dumpling specialists, with classic fillings (potato and cheese, meat, sauerkraut and mushroom) and modern fusion ones. Hearty, filling and a great cheap option for a wet evening.

6. Civerinos Slice

Address: 4 Hunter Square (off the Royal Mile)
Prices: Slices £4–6, whole pizzas from £10

Excellent NY-style pizza slices served until late. A perfect post-bar £5 fix or quick lunch.

7. L’Alba D’Oro — best chippy

Address: 7 Henderson Row, EH3 5DH
Prices: Fish supper £8–10

Edinburgh’s most awarded chippy, family-run since 1975. Beautifully cooked fish, hand-cut chips, and the legendary “Pizza Crunch” (a deep-fried frozen pizza — a Scottish chippy classic). Prices are higher than supermarket chippy but the quality is excellent.

8. The Tartan Chip

Address: Multiple Edinburgh locations
Prices: Fish supper £7

Reliable chain chip shop with good cheap value across the city.

9. Bross Bagels

Address: Multiple locations
Prices: Bagels £5–8

Edinburgh’s chunky NY-style bagels with creative fillings. The “Hippie Bagel” with sweet potato falafel, hummus and chilli sauce at £6.50 is a top lunch.

10. Ting Thai Caravan

Address: Teviot Place, EH8 9AG
Prices: Curries £8–10

Bustling Thai canteen-style restaurant with the Massaman Curry £9.80 and Pad Thai £8.50. Cash-and-Karaoke vibe, lively atmosphere.

11. Lucky Pig

Address: Lothian Road
Prices: Bento boxes £8

Chinese street food in customisable noodle/rice boxes for £8. Quick, filling, good portion sizes.

12. Mary’s Milk Bar — for dessert

Address: 19 Grassmarket, EH1 2HS
Prices: Gelato from £3.50

Edinburgh’s best gelato. Cup or cone £3.50–5. Unusual flavours like sea salt caramel, basil and lemon, pistachio.

Cheap pubs and Wetherspoons

For a sit-down meal at pub prices, Edinburgh’s Wetherspoon’s chain delivers reliable £6–9 meals with included pints:

• The Booking Office (Waverley) — central, large, food from £6
• The Foot of the Walk (Leith) — Wetherspoon’s classic burger meal £8
• Standing Order (George Street) — beautiful Georgian banking hall
• The Tron (Hunter Square) — central Old Town location

For local pub food (a step above chain quality, similar prices), try:

• The Last Drop (Grassmarket) — pub classics £8–10
• The Doric (Market Street) — Scottish pub fare £10
• Auld Hundred (Rose Street) — burgers and pies £9
• The Sheep Heid Inn (Duddingston) — historic pub, more upmarket but worth trying

Supermarket meal-deal strategy

UK supermarkets sell meal deals — typically a sandwich + drink + snack for £4–5. The best deals around central Edinburgh:

• Sainsbury’s (Forrest Road, Tollcross, Princes Street) — Meal Deal £4
• Tesco (Nicolson Street, Earl Grey Street) — Meal Deal £3.95
• Boots (Princes Street, Hanover Street) — Meal Deal £4.25
• M&S Simply Food (Princes Street, Waverley) — Meal Deal £5
• Pret a Manger (Multiple) — sandwich + coffee deal £4.99

For evening meals, supermarket “yellow sticker” reductions kick in around 6–7pm — ready meals and meat halve in price. Coop in Tollcross and Sainsbury’s in Forrest Road are reliable for evening discounts.

Set-lunch deals at sit-down restaurants

Many Edinburgh mid-range restaurants offer set lunches that bring meal cost into the £10–14 range:

• Chez Jules — 3-course lunch menu £12.90 (French classics)
• Number One at the Balmoral — set lunch from £35 (Michelin-starred, special occasion)
• Howies — 2-course Scottish lunch £14
• The Dome — 2-course lunch £15 in a stunning Georgian banking hall
• Hadrian’s (Balmoral) — Brasserie lunch from £16
• Mum’s Great Comfort Food — Scottish classics £8–12
• Wagamama — Asian noodles from £10
• Pizza Express — set lunch £10

Food markets for cheap eats

Pitt Market (Leith)

Every Saturday and select Sundays, the Pitt Market in Leith hosts 25+ food stalls. Most mains are £8–12. Great mix of international cuisines.

Stockbridge Sunday Market

Free to wander, weekly Sunday market with hot food, street food, baked goods, fresh produce. Lunch from £6.

Castle Terrace Market

Saturday-only food market beneath Edinburgh Castle with rotating cuisine stalls.

Bowling Alley Hawker Markets (occasional)

Edinburgh hosts pop-up hawker markets in the Old Town several times a year. Watch local listings.

Vegan and vegetarian cheap food Edinburgh

Edinburgh has an excellent budget vegan scene:

• Holy Cow (Elder Street) — vegan junk-food café, burgers £8
• Mosque Kitchen — many veggie/vegan curries from £5
• Bonsai (Cowgate) — vegan Japanese, mains £8–10
• The Naked Bagel — vegan-friendly bagels from £5
• Lazeez (Bristo Square) — Lebanese with strong vegan options
• The Pakora Bar — veggie pakora boxes from £6

For dedicated vegan dining, see our vegan restaurants Edinburgh guide.

Best £10 budget meal in each Edinburgh neighbourhood

Area	Where	Order	Price
Old Town / Royal Mile	Oink	Hog roast roll	£5.50
Nicolson Square	Mosque Kitchen	Chicken curry + rice	£7
Grassmarket	Mary’s Milk Bar	Pizza slice + gelato	£8
Cowgate	Civerinos Slice	2 slices + drink	£10
New Town	Pret a Manger	Meal deal	£4.99
Stockbridge	Stockbridge Market	Hot street food	£8
Leith	Bross Bagels	Hippie bagel	£6.50
Bruntsfield	The Counter	Sandwich + coffee	£8
Marchmont	Söderberg	Cinnamon bun + coffee	£5
Portobello	Porto Fish Bar	Fish supper	£8

Where to eat cheap in Edinburgh during Festival season

August Festival prices rise across Edinburgh, but the cheap spots stay reliable:

• Mosque Kitchen — same prices year-round
• Supermarket meal deals — fixed prices nationwide
• Oink — same prices, busy queues
• Wetherspoons — same prices, busy
• Food trucks at Fringe venues — varies, watch for £5 noodle boxes

Avoid Royal Mile sit-down restaurants during Festival — prices are inflated and quality variable.

Picnic spots to eat your cheap supermarket lunch

• Princes Street Gardens — castle backdrop, picnic benches
• The Meadows — big open space
• Calton Hill — panoramic views
• The Royal Botanic Garden — designated picnic lawns
• Holyrood Park (Hunter’s Bog) — wild setting
• Greyfriars Kirkyard — atmospheric (yes, locals do picnic here)
• Inverleith Park — north Edinburgh, castle views
• Cramond Foreshore — sea view

Cheap breakfast options

• Greggs — sausage roll + coffee £3.50
• Söderberg — Swedish cinnamon bun + coffee £5
• Lovecrumbs (West Port) — cake + coffee £6
• Wetherspoons Traditional Breakfast — £4.49 unlimited coffee/tea included
• Pret breakfast deal — pastry + coffee £4
• Sainsbury’s breakfast meal deal — £3.50
• Self-cater in hostel kitchen — porridge oats + banana + instant coffee £2

Tips for eating cheaply in Edinburgh

• Eat your main meal at lunchtime — set-lunch deals are 30% cheaper than dinner versions
• Use Wetherspoons for cheap pints and meals — same quality nationwide
• Self-cater breakfast and one other meal — saves £10–15 per day
• Avoid Royal Mile sit-down restaurants — premium tourist prices
• Try the Mosque Kitchen at least once — Edinburgh’s cheap-food institution
• Get a Lothian DAYticket if eating across neighbourhoods — Stockbridge, Leith and Portobello have cheap eats worth travelling for
• Bring a refillable water bottle — Edinburgh tap water is excellent and free
• Look out for Lazy Sundays — many cafés do Sunday brunch deals
• Watch for “yellow sticker” reductions at supermarkets from 6pm
• Pre-theatre menus at upmarket restaurants offer 2–3 courses for £18–25 — cheaper than à la carte

Frequently asked questions about cheap food Edinburgh

Where can I get cheap food in Edinburgh?

Mosque Kitchen (£5–9 curries), Oink (£5–7 hog roast rolls), Civerinos Slice (£4–6 pizza), Bross Bagels (£5–8), Pierogi Place (£7–9), supermarket meal deals (£4), and Wetherspoon’s pubs (£6–9 mains).

What is the cheapest meal in Edinburgh?

Supermarket meal deals at £4 (sandwich + drink + snack) are the cheapest sit-down meal. Greggs sausage roll + drink at £3.50 is the cheapest individual food. Mosque Kitchen’s veggie curries from £5 are the cheapest hot sit-down meal.

Where do Edinburgh locals eat cheaply?

The Mosque Kitchen, Oink, Bross Bagels, Civerinos Slice, Pierogi Place, Ting Thai Caravan, and Pitt Market are all local favourites. Wetherspoons pubs are popular for budget pub meals.

How much does food cost in Edinburgh per day?

On a tight budget, £15–18 per day covers self-catered breakfast, supermarket lunch (£4) and a cheap dinner (£6–10). Mid-range eating costs £25–35/day. Eating at sit-down restaurants for every meal costs £45+/day.

What is the Mosque Kitchen Edinburgh?

The Mosque Kitchen is Edinburgh’s most legendary cheap-eat — a no-frills canteen next to Edinburgh Central Mosque serving authentic Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern food. Most curries with rice and naan cost £6–8. Open lunch and dinner.

Where can I get fish and chips in Edinburgh cheaply?

L’Alba D’Oro on Henderson Row is the most awarded chippy in Edinburgh (suppers £7–10). The Tartan Chip chain is more central and cheaper at £7. Most local chippies offer fish suppers £7–9.

Is the food in Edinburgh expensive?

Eating at sit-down central restaurants is expensive (£15–30 per main). Edinburgh’s cheap food scene is excellent, however, with mains under £10 widely available at canteens, food markets and ethnic restaurants.

Are there cheap vegan restaurants in Edinburgh?

Yes — Holy Cow (£8 vegan burgers), Bonsai (vegan Japanese), Mosque Kitchen (veggie curries from £5), and Pakora Bar (veggie boxes) all offer cheap vegan meals.

What’s the cheapest pub meal in Edinburgh?

Wetherspoons offers club meals (burger + drink) from £8. Local pubs offer £8–10 mains in most central Edinburgh pubs.

Where can I get cheap food in Edinburgh during the Festival?

Mosque Kitchen, supermarket meal deals, Greggs, Oink, and Wetherspoons all maintain consistent prices during August. Food trucks at Fringe venues offer street food from £5–10.

What’s the best cheap breakfast in Edinburgh?

Wetherspoons traditional breakfast (£4.49 with unlimited tea/coffee) is exceptional value. Greggs sausage roll + coffee (£3.50) and supermarket meal deals are cheaper alternatives.

Can I eat well in Edinburgh on £15 a day?

Yes — self-cater breakfast (£2), supermarket lunch (£4), and a Mosque Kitchen dinner (£7) totals £13. £15 leaves room for a cheap snack or coffee.

Plan your cheap food Edinburgh days

Edinburgh’s cheap food scene is one of the best in the UK — from £5 curries to £4 meal deals, £6 hog roast rolls and excellent supermarket reductions. Budget travellers can eat well for £15–18 per day. The trick is mixing free-attraction days with one or two iconic cheap-food experiences (Mosque Kitchen, Oink, L’Alba D’Oro chippy) and using supermarket meal deals for the rest.

For more budget planning, see our Edinburgh on a budget pillar guide, our £50/day Edinburgh budget guide, and our cheap restaurants Edinburgh guide.