Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
Fifteen dollars is a real budget, and it stretches further than you’d think when you read the price board. This page lists seven places in and around South Yarra: four in the suburb, two over in Richmond and one on St Kilda Road.
When we checked, each item listed sat below the price ceiling, and each price is taken straight from the page that published it. Where a place also sells dearer dishes, we leave them out.
Each entry has a short line on what the item is, and ends with one move.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samosas for a few coins | The Yarra Indian Restaurant | Lamb Samosa | $6.00 |
| Pancake or cold cucumber starters | Dumpling Table | Spring Onion Pancake | $8.65 |
| Cold brew and affogato | Lawson’s (Lawson Grove) | Batch Brew | $6.50 |
| Croissants from the pre-order shop | Rustica Sourdough (Chapel Street flagship) | Plain Croissant | $ 6.00 AUD |
| Small Japanese plates | Eazy Peazy | Japanese Pickles | $6 |
| Weekday eggs or a toastie | Cafe Safi | EGGS ON TOAST | $14.00 |
| Soup or kebab starters | Jai Ho (Richmond) | Chef’s special soup of the day | $8.50 |
The Yarra Indian Restaurant — Unit 3, 180 Toorak Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
The Yarra Indian Restaurant prints a Lamb Samosa at $6.00 and a Chicken Samosa at $6.00 on its menu. A samosa is a pastry parcel, and the menu says these are spicy lamb or chicken with peas in crispy pastry, one piece per serve. For something bigger, its menu lists an Amritsari Kulcha at $12.00, which it describes as one kulcha with chole, onion and pickle. The menu notes that prices may vary with add-ons, extras and sizes, and the site lists Wednesday as closed.
On the menu (copied from theyarraindian.com.au/menu on 4 October 2026):
- Lamb Samosa: $6.00
- Chicken Samosa: $6.00
- Amritsari Kulcha: $12.00
The move: Two samosas, one of each, and you are still well inside the budget.
Dumpling Table — 210 Toorak Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
Dumpling Table’s menu lists a Spring Onion Pancake at $8.65 and a Cold Cucumber in Sauce at $8.65. The pancake is a flaky fried flatbread flavoured with spring onion. The same menu prints Sweet and Sour Pork Spareribs at $12.70. The site says it does pickup and takeaway, and AGFG tags it as child friendly. We could not tell from the page whether the prices are for dine-in or pickup.
On the menu (copied from dumplingtable.com.au/menu on 4 October 2026):
- Spring Onion Pancake: $8.65
- Cold Cucumber in Sauce: $8.65
- Sweet and Sour Pork Spareribs: $12.70
What it is: Of the two starters, the Spring Onion Pancake is the hot one and the Cold Cucumber in Sauce is the cold one.
Lawson’s (Lawson Grove) — 1 Lawson Grove, South Yarra VIC 3141
Lawson’s lists a Batch Brew at $6.50, an Affogato at $7.50 and a Cold Brew at $6.50 on its drinks menu. An affogato is a scoop of ice cream with espresso poured over it. The cafe’s site lists Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm, Saturday 7am to 4pm and Sunday 7.30am to 4pm. Coffee sizes also exist, so the printed price is for the size shown on the menu page.
On the menu (copied from lawsonscafe.com.au/menu-1 on 4 October 2026):
- Batch Brew: $6.50
- Affogato: $7.50
- Cold Brew: $6.50
The move: Grab a Cold Brew on a warm arvo; the menu prints it at $6.50.
Rustica Sourdough (Chapel Street flagship) — 501 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC 3141
Rustica’s online shop lists a Plain Croissant from $ 6.00 AUD and an Almond Croissant from $ 9.00 AUD. Those prices come from the pre-order shop, not a dine-in menu, so confirm what the counter charges. The flagship page lists Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm and Saturday to Sunday 8am to 4pm. Its site also describes slow-fermented sourdough and handmade pastries.
On the menu (copied from rusticasourdough.com.au/shop on 4 October 2026):
- Plain Croissant: $ 6.00 AUD
- Almond Croissant: $ 9.00 AUD
What it is: A croissant is a buttery laminated pastry, and the almond version adds a nut filling.
Eazy Peazy — 108 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Eazy Peazy is over on Swan Street in Richmond. Its dinner menu lists Japanese Pickles at $6, Edamame x Shichimi x Sesame Oil at $9 and Agedashi Tofu at $14. Edamame are young soybeans, and agedashi is deep-fried tofu served in a dashi-style broth. The menu tags the pickles and edamame as gluten free, dairy free and vegan, and AGFG lists vegan options.
On the menu (copied from eazypeazymelb.com/dinner-menu-richmond-3121 on 4 October 2026):
- Japanese Pickles: $6
- Edamame x Shichimi x Sesame Oil: $9
- Agedashi Tofu: $14
The move: Take the Japanese Pickles or the Edamame on its own; together they reach the ceiling rather than come in under it.
Cafe Safi — 484 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
Cafe Safi is on St Kilda Road, just outside South Yarra proper. Its menu prints EGGS ON TOAST at $14.00 and a DOUBLE SMOKED HAM TOASTIE at $9.00. The site lists it as open 6am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday, so it is a weekday-only stop. Pricier dishes on the same menu are left out here.
On the menu (copied from cafesafi.com.au/cafe on 4 October 2026):
- EGGS ON TOAST: $14.00
- DOUBLE SMOKED HAM TOASTIE: $9.00
The move: Take the toastie, listed as DOUBLE SMOKED HAM TOASTIE at $9.00, and keep the change.
Jai Ho (Richmond) — 205 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Jai Ho’s Richmond menu lists the Chef’s special soup of the day at $8.50, served with Indian bread sticks, and a Seekh Kebab at $14.50. A seekh kebab is minced lamb mixed with spices and cooked on a skewer in a tandoor, two pieces per serve according to the menu. The site lists hours as Monday to Sunday 5pm to 11pm, with lunch by booking for groups of at least 20. AGFG tags the place BYO.
On the menu (copied from jaihoindianrestaurant.com.au/menu on 4 October 2026):
- Chef’s special soup of the day: $8.50
- Seekh Kebab: $14.50
What it is: Soup with bread sticks is the lighter pick, and the kebab is the heavier one.
Quick answers
What can I eat for under fifteen dollars in South Yarra?
The Yarra Indian Restaurant lists a Lamb Samosa at $6.00. Dumpling Table lists a Spring Onion Pancake at $8.65. Lawson’s lists an Affogato at $7.50. Rustica Sourdough lists an Almond Croissant from $ 9.00 AUD on its pre-order shop.
Where can I get a cheap coffee or breakfast near South Yarra?
Lawson’s lists a Batch Brew at $6.50 and its site gives opening hours of Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm. Cafe Safi on St Kilda Road lists a DOUBLE SMOKED HAM TOASTIE at $9.00 and is open weekdays only, per its site. Rustica Sourdough lists a Plain Croissant from $ 6.00 AUD.
Is there cheap Indian food near South Yarra?
The Yarra Indian Restaurant on Toorak Road lists an Amritsari Kulcha at $12.00. Jai Ho in Richmond lists a Seekh Kebab at $14.50 and the Chef’s special soup of the day at $8.50. Jai Ho’s site gives its hours as Monday to Sunday 5pm to 11pm.
Where can I get a cheap vegetarian or vegan bite near South Yarra?
Eazy Peazy in Richmond tags its Japanese Pickles at $6 and its Edamame x Shichimi x Sesame Oil at $9 as vegan on the menu. The Yarra Indian Restaurant is tagged by AGFG as having vegetarian and vegan options, so ask which of its cheaper items suit you.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: the places’ own websites, the Australian Good Food Guide and OpenStreetMap. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 4 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- The Yarra Indian Restaurant: theyarraindian.com.au, agfg.com.au/the-yarra-indian-51474, theyarraindian.com.au/menu, theyarraindian.com.au/trading-hours
- Dumpling Table: openstreetmap.org/3412142749, dumplingtable.com.au, agfg.com.au/the-dumpling-table-53045, dumplingtable.com.au/menu
- Lawson’s (Lawson Grove): openstreetmap.org/1942538693, lawsonscafe.com.au, agfg.com.au/lawson-grove-shop-46499, lawsonscafe.com.au/menu-1
- Rustica Sourdough (Chapel Street flagship): openstreetmap.org/11636146869, rusticasourdough.com.au, agfg.com.au/rustica-81041, rusticasourdough.com.au/shop
- Eazy Peazy: eazypeazymelb.com, agfg.com.au/eazy-peazy-117090, eazypeazymelb.com/dinner-menu-richmond-3121
- Cafe Safi: openstreetmap.org/4489047790, cafesafi.com.au/contact, cafesafi.com.au/cafe, cafesafi.com.au
- Jai Ho (Richmond): openstreetmap.org/3481124151, agfg.com.au/jai-ho-indian-richmond-25341, jaihoindianrestaurant.com.au/menu, jaihoindianrestaurant.com.au/richmond
