Cheap Eats in Ashburton (2026)
You do not need to spend $50 a head to eat well in Ashburton. Here are the budget-friendly options from the suburb’s 65 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 Coriander Thai — 305 High Street, Ashburton
Thai
What makes it great: Ask anyone on High Street where to eat and Coriander Thai comes up before you finish the question. 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.
Hours: Tu-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr 16:00-23:00; Su 16:00-22:00; Mo closed | Phone: +61 3 8596 4313 | Website: Coriander Thai
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 So Pho So Good — 25 High Street, Glen Iris
Thai | Outdoor seating
What makes it great: So Pho So Good treats Thai like it matters. Because it does. This is the kind of Vietnamese food that Vietnamese families eat — not the version adjusted for a different palate. The kind of restaurant that makes you eat slower because you want it to last.
Phone: +61 3 9885 2846
In summer, the courtyard is the whole point. In winter, the inside is better than you expect.
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Curry Claridges — 57 High Street
Indian
What makes it great: The first thing you notice at Curry Claridges is the warmth — not just the temperature, but the room itself. The tandoor here is not decorative. The naan arrives blistered and puffed, pulled seconds ago. That is the difference. Not the flashiest option in Ashburton. Possibly the best.
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Double Stars Chinese Restaurant
Chinese | Takeaway
What makes it great: Walk into Double Stars Chinese Restaurant on any given Tuesday and the dining room is still half full. That says something. Lunch service is the insider move. The specials board changes daily and the kitchen puts its best work there. You will not Instagram it. You will remember it.
Phone: +61 3 9568 6383
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Grande Forno
Pizza
What makes it great: Grande Forno is not reinventing anything. It is just doing Pizza properly. 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.
Phone: +61 3 9886 9255 | Website: Grande Forno
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Kimchi Friends
Korean
What makes it great: Kimchi Friends has been doing this since before Ashburton got its reputation. This is food built for sharing. The table fills up, the soju flows, and the conversation gets louder. That is the format working. Add it to your rotation. You will not regret it.
Phone: +61 3 9564 7012
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Hao Zi Wei Sichuan
Korean
What makes it great: Hao Zi Wei Sichuan has been doing this since before Ashburton got its reputation. The banchan arrives first and it tells you everything. If the small dishes have care, the main dishes will have ambition. There is a reason the regulars do not talk about it much. They do not want the wait.
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
Cheap Eats Tips for Ashburton
- 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
Related Guides
- Best Restaurants in Ashburton
- Best Cafes in Ashburton
- Best Bars in Ashburton
- Cost of Living in Ashburton
- Ashburton Neighbourhood Guide
- Family Guide to Ashburton
- Is Ashburton Safe?
- Ashburton Transport Guide
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
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