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15 Best Cheap Eats in Liverpool for People on a Budget [2024]

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Liverpool is a fantastic city with a great food scene.

With the oldest Chinatown in the UK, the city is home to plenty of vibrant and exciting restaurants and takeout spots.

However, deciding where to eat can be intimidating – especially when you’re on a budget.

But don’t worry, there are plenty of cheap eats in Liverpool for you to pick from.

Looking for cheap food that doesn’t sacrifice quality?

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

Whether you want a late-night bite, a speedy lunch or a sit-down meal, we’ve got you covered with the 15 best cheap eats in Liverpool.

This article is written by Faraway Lucy writer, Bea Worrell.

1. Nightcrawler Pizza

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Address: 38 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BW

Phone number: 0151 707 6816

Nightcrawler Pizza serves up NY style pizza by the slice, perfect for lunch or a late-night snack.

You can either sit in their funky restaurant beaming with neon signs or pop round the side to their ‘slice bar’ for food on the go.

The queue often stretches around the corner because of its lively atmosphere and delicious food.

Starting at £2.50, the slices are the size of a quarter of a whole pizza and have a variety of exciting toppings.

My personal favourite is ‘The Hulk’ – pesto, mozzarella, feta, spinach, leeks and pine nuts.

Nightcrawler regularly hosts deals and offers on their food and drink, including free slices on national pizza day, half price, and two for one offers.

Oh, and did I mention cocktails are buy one, get one for £1…

2. Kokoro

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Address: 77 Church Street, Liverpool L1 1DG

Phone number: 0151 709 7449

After a busy morning shopping, Kokoro is the perfect spot to grab some lunch.

Serving up delicious Japanese food, Kokoro offers cold options such as sushi and poke bowls, as well as warming hot dinners, such as katsu curry and teriyaki dishes.

They also deliver, so you can enjoy great food from home.

Kokoro is very reasonably priced for their high-quality food selection, with large sushi platters costing around £6.

I love their spicy salmon and avocado roll, priced at an affordable £5.75 for eight pieces.

Portion sizes are huge too, so you really get your money’s worth.

Their Katsu curry is a real show stopper – both tastier and cheaper than Wagamama’s.

3. Bakchich

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Address: 54 Bold Street, Liverpool L14 4EA

Phone number: 0151 707 1255

One of my favourite cheap eats in Liverpool is Bakchich on Bold Street. Bakchich is a top quality, low price Lebanese street food restaurant, so good that Liverpool player Mo Salah features on their wall of fame.

Noted as one of the Guardian’s best ‘cheap and chic’ places to eat in the country, Bakchich is a must-try.

Their menu is extensive – serving everything from an Arabic breakfast (£7) to mezze platters (from £4) and shawarma kebabs (from £5).

They offer various deals too,including their lunchtime £8 meal deal consisting of a shawarma wrap, chips and any soft drink. Bargain!

My go-to order is the Shish Taouk Wrap, a succulent marinated chicken wrap filled with traditional pickles and garlic sauce (£9).

If you’re feeling really hungry, all wraps can be upgraded to a platter, which includes a large portion of hummus and salad for an additional £2.

I can honestly say they have the best hummus I’ve tasted.

Bakchich started as a food stall and has now expanded to two restaurants in Liverpool, and even one in Manchester too.

If you want a fun sit-down meal at a low cost, Bakchich has got your back.

4. Mr Kebab

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Address: 22 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BS

Phone number: 0151 378 9556

A student favourite, Mr Kebab is the ultimate night out food.

Located just past the iconic concert square, Mr Kebab is usually packed full of people embracing Liverpool’s famous nightlife, providing clubbers with cheap and delicious hangover prevention.

Like every good kebab shop, Mr Kebab offers everything from curly fries to pizza to your classic doner. H

owever, unlike other kebab shops, the food is genuinely delicious and won’t break the bank.

A personal favourite of mine is their falafel kebab, which costs an astonishing £3.50 – and certainly doesn’t compromise size.

So if you’re looking for something a little bit more exciting than McDonald’s after a night out, try Mr Kebab and you won’t be disappointed.

It’s also great for non-meat-eaters, serving much more exciting bites than just chips.

5. The Font

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Address: Arrad Street, Liverpool L7 7JE

Phone number: 0151 706 0345

Situated between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moore, The Font is another student favourite.

The ideal place to socialise after a lecture, The Font serves a wide range of bar foods and drinks.

Whether it’s a lunchtime wrap (starting at £4.50), burger (starting at £6) or even a burrito (starting at £6), The Font is easily one of the best cheap eats in Liverpool.

The Font also has plenty of money-saving offers you can take advantage of, including a handy rewards app and lunchtime meal deals.

The drinks are just as cheap and high quality as the food.

£4.50 for a double gin and tonic anyone?

6. Baltic Market

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Address: 108 Stanhope Street, Liverpool L8 5RE

Phone number: 07531 720520

Perhaps one of the most exciting eating experiences in the city is Baltic Market.

This indoor food market includes a variety of different traders, bars and live music every weekend, with prices to suit everyone.

Whether you fancy Korean, vegan junk food, pizza, or a mixture of all of them, Baltic Market is the perfect weekend treat.

Steak and chips for £9? Try the Beef on the Block stall.

Thai chicken satay for £4.50? Spice Thai has your back.

My personal favourite is Hafla Hafla’s halloumi shawarma for a very reasonable £7.50.

Baltic Market even has a trader that specialises in crazy varieties of espresso martinis, all of which cost £7.50.

7. The Brookhouse

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Address: 467 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 5AE

Phone number: 0151 734 4641

Nicknamed ‘the brookie’ by Liverpool’s student community, The Brookhouse is a must go for cheap food, drinks, and, of course, a great atmosphere.

Constantly busy for a reason, The Brookhouse had a very affordable menu that will please everyone from students to young families.

From pub classics such as chicken tikka masala for £6 to platters of wings for sharing,

The Brookhouse is a great place to catch up with friends and family.

The Brookhouse has a brilliant student night every Thursday where their already cheap drink prices get even cheaper.

Pints of beer or cider are an impressive £1.90 – even cheaper than your local Wetherspoons.

8. Maggie Fu

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Addresses: 346 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 5AN or 37-39 Hanover Street, Liverpool L1 3DN

Phone number: 0151 733 9300

As a wise Liverpudlian once said; ‘You’re not scouse if you don’t like salt and pepper chicken’, so if you’re visiting Liverpool and want to eat like a local, be sure to try some Chinese food.

With the UK’s oldest Chinatown, Chinese food and culture have become an integral part of the city’s identity.

Maggie Fu is a fantastic family-run Chinese restaurant and takeaway in two locations: Smithdown Road and Liverpool One shopping centre.

Their interiors are bright, fast-paced and fun, while their food is simply delicious.

Their menu is designed for sharing with loved ones, packed full of exciting sides and interesting appetisers.

You can build your own cost-friendly ‘ramen bowl’, where you can select your favourite noodles, broth, and protein retailing at £7+.

Of course, Maggie Fu serves a delicious salt and pepper chicken, which at £9 comes with fresh fried rice.

Start with a spongy bao bun filled with hoisin duck for £4, and you’ve had a feast for under £15.

9. The Sphinx

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Address: 160 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TR

Yet another student staple, The Sphinx is Liverpool Guild’s staple student bar.

As expected with any other student union bar, the food and drink are criminally cheap.

The bar has both indoor and outdoor seating so you can catch up with friends come rain or shine.

The menu sticks to bar classics – chips, burritos, nachos, nuggets, all of which are cost-friendly.

They also offer a range of vegetarian and vegan options all of which are also reasonably priced.

Ten chicken wings for £3.70 and a burrito for £4.50 – who could turn that down?

The Sphinx also offers a range of drinks, with cocktails retailing at £5.

My favourite is the cheekily named ‘On Wednesdays We Wear Pink’ with gin and rose lemonade. The perfect post-lecture refresher.

10. Tate Liverpool

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Address: Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4BB

Phone number: 0151 702 7400

Located on the iconic Albert Dock, The Tate has been a large part of Liverpool’s artistic scene since the 1980s.

If you’re not a Liverpool local, a visit here has to be added to your weekend in Liverpool itinerary.

It’s easy to enjoy a low cost and yet inspirational day at The Tate, as many of the exhibitions are free for the general public, with multiple concessions.

If you’re a student of any Liverpool Universities, tickets to all exhibitions are completely free.

The Tate cafe is also affordable, with a seasonal menu that changes every few months.

I recommend their afternoon tea, consisting of a large scone, a pot of tea, as well as jams and preserves for £6.10.

When you compare their prices to Starbucks, The Tate is the way forward.

Plus, if you’re a member at The Tate, all food and drink is 20% off.

11. Caribou Poutine

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Address: 7 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BW

Phone number: 0151 707 1220

Poutine is relatively new to the UK.

However, this classic Canadian dish consisting of fries, gravy and cheese curds makes for one of the best cheap eats in Liverpool.

Think of your classic northern chips, gravy and cheese and you’re not too far off poutine.

Caribou Poutine serves this delicious Canadian street food to the hungry streets of Liverpool.

Their prices are surprisingly cheap too – a portion of ‘original poutine’ costs just £4.50.

Caribou Poutine, of course, offers a wide range of toppings and add ons, such as ‘hangover poutine’ (streaky bacon, sausage and fried eff) for £6.95.

12. La Parrilla Mexican Bar and Grill

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Address: 57 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4EU or 56-58 Lark Lane L17 8UP

Phone number: 0151 708 7575

Considered the best Mexican restaurant in Liverpool, La Parilla is a lively and vibrant place that’s easy on your wallet.

If you’ve been to Bold Street, you’ll instantly recognise La Parrilla thanks to their wonderful mariachi band who sing all through the evening.

La Parrilla is fun and affordable, offering a range of deals that will keep everyone happy.

Their early bird menu (running all night Monday-Wednesday, 5-7 pm Thursday-Saturday, 2-7 pm on a Sunday) offers a fantastic deal of two courses for £12.95.

Their deal even includes an incredible Argentinian Sirloin steak, which alone would usually cost £15 in other restaurants.

And did I mention all cocktails are £6.95?

13. Crazy Pedros

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Address: 25 Parr Street, Ropewalks, Liverpool L1 4JN

Phone number: 0151 559 2599

Fancy a fun night out or an alternative date night in Liverpool that doesn’t break the bank?

Try Crazy Pedros, one of the best rooftop bars in Liverpool, for an evening filled with pizza, cocktails and nachos.

Pedro’s menu is fun, dynamic and tasty, with things you’d never imagine on your pizza.

Beef Monster Munch? Hot dogs? Chicken and waffles? Sausage, chips and mushy peas? Let the madness begin.

Plus, Crazy Pedros is also one of the best places to go for bottomless brunch in Liverpool!

Unlimited cocktails and pizza by the slice for £25 per head? Yes, please!

This works out to be a bargain when their pizzas usually cost £16 and cocktails are £8.50.

Don’t want to spend as much as £25? That’s okay too!

Go for your pizza fix Sunday to Friday between 5-9 pm for £10 pizzas and two cocktails for a tenner.

14. Caffee ORO

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Address: 349-351 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 3JJ

Phone number: 0151 733 2665

Caffee ORO has quickly become one of my favourite cheap eats in Liverpool.

Located on Smithdown Road, the staff are lovely, the food is delicious, and the menu is cheap.

Caffee ORO’s atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, making it an ideal place to catch up with friends, or even to sit and study.

The menu is extensive at Caffee ORO, and yet everything is done well.

From pasta to Philly cheese-steak sandwiches, to authentic Greek kebabs, Caffee ORO has something to suit every palate.

The snacks section of the menu is also fantastic if you want an afternoon bite, plus the portions are huge.

For £3.20 enjoy a plate of hummus, pitta bread and halloumi fries.

They also do the best chai latte around, both cheaper (£2.10) and tastier than a Starbucks.

15. The Bagelry

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Address: 42 Nelson Street, Liverpool L1 5DN

Phone number: 01702 587269

Looking for a cool brunch spot in town? Then, look no further than The Bagelry.

There’s regularly a queue stretching down the street for good reason, so make sure you arrive early on weekends as they run out of bagels fast!

With plain bagels costing £1, it’s easy to take a box of freshly baked bread away and build a bagel at home.

Alternatively, The Bagelry offers a delicious range of fillings in the bagel of your choice.

The breakfast bagel (costing £6) is the perfect hangover treat, filled with delicious crispy bacon, egg, a hash brown and smooth cheese sauce.

Of course, they also offer your classic smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel for around £7.

Not a bad way to start your day…

Well, there you have it! Liverpool has an endless array of fantastic places to go and eat – whether that’s for a lunchtime snack or a sit-down meal.

There are literally thousands of great places to go, and these are just a few of my personal favourite cheap eats in Liverpool.

Liverpool is a diverse and dynamic city with a constantly changing food and drink scene, and there are plenty of different cuisines for you to try without sacrificing your wallet.

So what are you waiting for? Get eating!

15 Best Cheap Eats in Liverpool for People on a Budget [2021]. From late-night pizza to street food markets to Japanese cuisine, here are the 15 best cheap eats in Liverpool for people on a budget! Click through to read more...

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