Cheap Eats in Belgrave (2026)

You do not need to spend $50 a head to eat well in Belgrave. Here are the budget-friendly options from the suburb’s 59 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 India Gate — 1644 Burwood Highway

Indian

What makes it great: The menu at India Gate is shorter than most. That is not a weakness. 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. Worth crossing Belgrave for. Worth crossing Melbourne for, honestly.

Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:30 | Phone: +61 3 9754 1622 | Website: India Gate

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Babaji’s Kitchen — 1644 Burwood Highway

Indian

What makes it great: The word of mouth around Babaji’s Kitchen has done more than any review ever could. The tandoor here is not decorative. The naan arrives blistered and puffed, pulled seconds ago. That is the difference. Not the flashiest option in Belgrave. Possibly the best.

Hours: Mo-Th, Su 12:00-20:30; Fr, Sa 12:00-03:00 | Phone: +61 3 8288 2982 | Website: Babaji’s Kitchen

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Saffron Cottage — 1565 Burwood Highway

Indian

What makes it great: Nobody goes to Saffron Cottage for the decor. They go for prices that have not chased the suburb’s rising rents. The tandoor here is not decorative. The naan arrives blistered and puffed, pulled seconds ago. That is the difference. The test of a restaurant is whether you think about it the next day. Saffron Cottage passes.

Phone: +61 3 9754 8388 | Website: Saffron Cottage

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas Belgrave

Mexican | ★ 4.5/5 (299 reviews)

What makes it great: Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas Belgrave earns its crowd the honest way — through the food. Melbourne is still figuring out Mexican food. This place is further along than most. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Belgrave, you can still walk in.

Rated 4.5 by 299 locals on Google — and the ones who come back do not bother leaving reviews.

What locals say: *“5 star. Waitress was extremely friendly and welcoming and gave good recommendations.

Love the atmosphere, good music, great decor, would love to go on a Friday or Saturday night.”*

Website: Tacos ‘N’ Tequilas Belgrave | Google Maps

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Le’s Restaurant — 1675 Burwood Highway

Vietnamese

What makes it great: Nobody goes to Le’s Restaurant for the decor. They go for the kind of cooking that makes you order the same thing every time. The broth takes the better part of a day to build. You can taste every hour in it. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Belgrave, you can still walk in.

Hours: Tu-Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:00-21:00 | Phone: +61 3 8782 5285

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Savvy Organic Pizza

Pizza

What makes it great: The menu at Savvy Organic Pizza is shorter than most. That is not a weakness. Margherita is the test. San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, basil, olive oil. Nothing to hide behind. This kitchen does not need to hide. Worth crossing Belgrave for. Worth crossing Melbourne for, honestly.

Hours: We,Th 17:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-21:30; Su 17:00-21:00 | Phone: +61 3 9754 6642 | Website: Savvy Organic Pizza

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Jade Valley

Chinese

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

Hours: Su-Th 16:30-21:00; Fr,Sa 16:30-22:00 | Phone: +61 3 9754 6663

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

#1 Honey Thai

Thai

What makes it great: The kitchen at Honey Thai runs on precision and repetition — the same dish, perfect, every time. The balance between sweet, sour, salty and hot is what separates good Thai from great Thai. This kitchen understands the ratio. This is not destination dining. This is your neighbourhood doing what it should.

Hours: Mo-Th 16:30-22:00; Fr-Su 16:30-22:30 | Phone: +61 3 9752 6244

Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026

Cheap Eats Tips for Belgrave

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