Cheap Eats in Chadstone (2026)
You do not need to spend $50 a head to eat well in Chadstone. Here are the budget-friendly options from the suburb’s 16 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 Farina Pizza & Pasta — 173 Waverley Road, Mount Waverley
Pizza | Takeaway
What makes it great: There is a reason Farina Pizza & Pasta has outlasted every trend on Waverley Road. There is a reason half of Melbourne’s Italian restaurants reference their nonna. This one actually cooks like she is in the kitchen. A restaurant that respects the ingredients, respects your time, and respects your wallet.
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Italian Gourmet Kitchen — 426 Huntingdale Road
Italian
What makes it great: Italian Gourmet Kitchen is not reinventing anything. It is just doing Italian properly. The pasta is made in the building — you can usually see it happening if you sit near the kitchen. The sauce has the depth that only comes from time, not shortcuts. There is a reason the regulars do not talk about it much. They do not want the wait.
Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-1:00 | Phone: +61 3 9888 2673
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Double Stars Chinese Restaurant
Chinese | Takeaway
What makes it great: There are flashier places on this stretch. There is nothing more reliable than Double Stars Chinese Restaurant. Lunch service is the insider move. The specials board changes daily and the kitchen puts its best work there. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Chadstone, you can still walk in.
Phone: +61 3 9568 6383
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Kimchi Friends
Korean
What makes it great: If Chadstone had a signature restaurant, Kimchi Friends would be on the shortlist. The banchan arrives first and it tells you everything. If the small dishes have care, the main dishes will have ambition. It does not try to be everything. It tries to be good at one thing. It succeeds.
Phone: +61 3 9564 7012
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Hao Zi Wei Sichuan
Korean
What makes it great: What separates Hao Zi Wei Sichuan from the rest of this stretch is consistency. The banchan arrives first and it tells you everything. If the small dishes have care, the main dishes will have ambition. The kind of place you recommend without being asked.
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#1 Ippo Sushi & Bar
Sushi
What makes it great: Ippo Sushi & Bar is not reinventing anything. It is just doing Sushi properly. Sit at the counter if there is one. Watch the hands work. Half of the experience is understanding the craft. Add it to your rotation. You will not regret it.
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
Cheap Eats Tips for Chadstone
- 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 Chadstone
- Best Cafes in Chadstone
- Best Bars in Chadstone
- Cost of Living in Chadstone
- Chadstone Neighbourhood Guide
- Family Guide to Chadstone
- Is Chadstone Safe?
- Chadstone 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
💬 Discussion
Join the conversation — no account needed