Cheap Eats in Altona (2026)

You do not need to spend $50 a head to eat well in Altona. Here are the budget-friendly options from the suburb’s 60 dining venues.

What counts as cheap eats?

Under $15 for a main
Under $20 for a meal with a drink
The kind of place where you order at the counter

Budget-Friendly Restaurants

#1 Oye Bombay — 23 Harrington Square, Altona

Indian | ★ 4.5/5 (584 reviews) | $$

What makes it great: There are flashier places on Harrington Square. There is nothing more reliable than Oye Bombay. The biryani is the benchmark dish. If a restaurant nails the biryani — the rice, the protein, the seal, the aromatic lift — it can cook anything. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Altona, you can still walk in.

Rated 4.5 by 584 locals on Google — and the ones who come back do not bother leaving reviews.

What locals say: “From the first bite to the last, this was an absolute masterclass in Indian flavors! 🌟 We started with a Chaat that was a literal explosion of colors and textures—perfectly balance…”

Mid-range pricing that reflects fair value for what comes out of the kitchen.

Google Maps

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 The Greek Grill — 43 Civic Parade, Altona

Greek

What makes it great: The Greek Grill fills up on weeknights. That is the real test of a restaurant. The dips are made from scratch. The lamb has been cooking since before you decided to come here. The hospitality is not a performance — it is a default. The kind of restaurant that makes you eat slower because you want it to last.

Hours: We-Mo 11:00-20:30 | Phone: +61 3 9398 5335 | Website: The Greek Grill

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Abby’s Pizza & Fish ’n’ Chips — 307 Queen Street, Altona Meadows

Fish_And_Chips

What makes it great: You do not end up at Abby’s Pizza & Fish ’n’ Chips by accident. You end up there because someone told you to go. The dough is everything. Fermentation time, hydration level, oven temperature — get any of them wrong and it is just bread with stuff on it. This place gets them right. A restaurant that respects the ingredients, respects your time, and respects your wallet.

Website: Abby’s Pizza & Fish ’n’ Chips

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Stella Pizza — 56 Pier Street

Pizza

What makes it great: Stella Pizza has been doing this since before Altona got its reputation. Margherita is the test. San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, basil, olive oil. Nothing to hide behind. This kitchen does not need to hide. It does not try to be everything. It tries to be good at one thing. It succeeds.

Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-21:30 | Phone: +61 3 9398 8117 | Website: Stella Pizza

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 The Spice Yard

Indian | ★ 4.5/5 (328 reviews) | $$

What makes it great: The Spice Yard fills up on weeknights. That is the real test of a restaurant. The biryani is the benchmark dish. If a restaurant nails the biryani — the rice, the protein, the seal, the aromatic lift — it can cook anything. This is not destination dining. This is your neighbourhood doing what it should.

328 people have reviewed The Spice Yard on Google. The average sits at 4.5. Earned, not gamed.

What locals say: “I’m not sure how this wonderful restaurant has remained a relative secret, but at least it means I can always get a table. The food never fails to delight and impress, and in my op…”

Mid-range pricing that reflects fair value for what comes out of the kitchen.

Google Maps

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Siam Secret — 24 Harrington Square, Altona

Thai

What makes it great: If Altona had a signature restaurant, Siam Secret would be on the shortlist. The green curry here has actual heat — the kind that builds and lingers, not the kind that disappears after one bite. It does not try to be everything. It tries to be good at one thing. It succeeds.

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Dragon Temple Restaurant — 25 Somers Parade, Altona

Chinese

What makes it great: You could walk past Dragon Temple Restaurant without noticing it. Regulars prefer it that way. There is no single Chinese cuisine. This kitchen picks a tradition and commits to it. Dragon Temple Restaurant does not need a rebrand or a renovation. It needs you to sit down and order.

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Akshaya

Indian

What makes it great: Akshaya fills up on weeknights. That is the real test of a restaurant. Spice is not heat. Spice is complexity. This kitchen builds layers — each bite reveals something the last one hid. The kind of restaurant that makes you eat slower because you want it to last.

Hours: Mo,We-Fr 17:00-22:00; Tu off; Sa-Su 09:00-13:00,17:00-22:00 | Phone: +61 466 500 568

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Harmony Vietnamese Cuisine

Vietnamese

What makes it great: There are flashier places on this stretch. There is nothing more reliable than Harmony Vietnamese Cuisine. Pho is the anchor, but the menu goes deeper than most places on this strip bother to. A restaurant that respects the ingredients, respects your time, and respects your wallet.

Hours: We-Su 11:00-20:00; Mo,Tu off

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Tina’s Dumpling House

Chinese

What makes it great: Tina’s Dumpling House fills up on weeknights. That is the real test of a restaurant. There is no single Chinese cuisine. This kitchen picks a tradition and commits to it. The kind of restaurant that makes you eat slower because you want it to last.

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Saigon Sun

Vietnamese

What makes it great: There is a reason Saigon Sun has outlasted every trend on this stretch. Pho is the anchor, but the menu goes deeper than most places on this strip bother to. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Altona, you can still walk in.

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

Cheap Eats Tips for Altona

Lunch specials — many restaurants offer cheaper lunch menus
BYO — saves $15–$30 on drinks per person
Takeaway — often 10–15% cheaper than dine-in
Weekday dining — some places have weeknight specials

Last updated: March 2026. This guide is refreshed when OpenStreetMap data changes — new openings, closures and corrections are reflected automatically. Found something wrong? Let us know.

Sources

OpenStreetMap Contributors — openstreetmap.org — accessed March 2026
ABS Census 2021 — abs.gov.au/census
REIV Quarterly Median Prices — reiv.com.au

Data sourced from Google Places, OpenStreetMap, and ABS Census. Compiled April 2026. Found an error? Contact us.