There is something tantalising and tasty for every hungry stomach in Bristol. It’s a city that loves good value and reasonable prices are at the core of every establishment. This is music to our food-filled ears because we sure do love a bargain at Wriggle. So to save you from walking the streets, staring longingly into shop windows, we’ve devised a list of some of the best cheap restaurants in Bristol.
Massive thanks to Alex from Gingey Bites for her contribution to the article
We can’t begin to express how deep our love for the people at Tuk Tuck is. It’s almost as deep as their warming bowls of Thai red curry. As a wriggle regular we might be accused of favouritism but you only have to see the constant stream of punters coming in and out to see how popular it is here. Located on St Stephens St this little restaurant is filled with Asian Street food options ranging from bibimbaps and sushi to banh mi and dumplings. Each dish arrives beautifully presented and is cooked with love – honestly it’s that good. Try the home made chilli sauce with your bibimbaps or go a little leftfield and sample their kimchi fries. The food here is a real bargain and this also a BYO restaurant, making it extremely budget-friendly. Also keep your eager eyes peeled for wriggle offers.
The original falafel pioneers on Cotham Hill have served delicious, meat-free fast-food from the very beginning. This is a herbivore’s holy grail of comfort food: fresh falafels in wraps stuffed with fresh salads, halloumi and drizzled in tahini, mango and chilli sauce. With a new extensive menu of tasty Israeli and Mediterranean delights (their vegan shawarma are little pockets of heaven), they’ve stayed loyal to their fans by keeping their prices low and the quality high. Enjoy these cheap treats whilst unwinding in their their cave-like kasbah, an enchanting oasis which promises an entertaining evening of mezze madness.
The Gallimaufry is an independent restaurant, bar, live music venue and arts space, serving fresh seasonal British food with sustainable ingredients. Live music entertains a considerable crowd every night, the cocktails are yum, the craft beer well kept, and the small plates show some serious kitchen talent. They keep their menu well-priced without sparing quality, (the mains are under a tenner), an absolute winner for the taste buds without breaking the bank. Situated along the promanade of Gloucester Road, it's the perfect pit-stop for a mid-week pint, or a light round of 'Galli plates' in an intimate dining space.
Read more about The Gallimaufry
Beerd is a no-nonsense restaurant with two simple aims: to serve top quality craft beer and delicious handmade pizza. With a menu focusing on pizza made proper, the options are wide with a multitude of dough, bases and toppings. These artisan pizza pies are reasonably priced too. A cheap and cheerful lunch time deal is a big hit amongst locals and students alike: a classic 9” Marg with 2 toppings for a handsome £4.95, with a large soft drink for only £1 extra.
Sometimes a great deal seems too good to be true, but at Mezze Palace your Lebanese food dreams will become reality, and all at a very good price. Hidden down a flight of stairs this excellent restaurant also has a great interior and is located in one of Bristol’s underground tunnels. The staff here are always very welcoming and you will feel like a lifelong customer from the moment you enter. We advise on loose fitting trousers because the portions here are bulgingly generous. The set meals are ridiculously good value for money and include mixed mezze starters – made up of their heavenly hummus (sic), minty vine leaves, chicken wings amongst much more. Follow this by choosing one of their main dishes like their mixed grill, baked aubergine or grilled seabass. If you have an ounce of room left then you can happily fill it with some Lebanese baklava.
Over in St Nick’s Market there’s Matina, an unassuming Middle Eastern hot-spot serving the masses with affordable lunchtime offerings. This is simple fast-food, made well and served cheap. For under a fiver, choose from dishes ranging from chargrilled chicken in fresh Kurdish naan bread, halloumi and grilled vegetable lunch boxes and marinated lamb kofta wraps. All extra toppings and drinks are priced at £1, making it an easy and affordable pit-stop lunch.
The Kitchen have two aims: to serve great tasting food and to give opportunities for young people to volunteer, train and gain employment. You can expect beautifully presented food made fresh and daily, with hearty brunches and healthy lunches served for under a fiver. Chargrilled chicken flatbreads and grilled halloumi pittas are a popular lunch choice, with vegan dishes and sharing mezzes also available served at the modest price of £6.
The Canteen, a non-profit community in the beating heart of Stokes Croft, is a glittering hub of creativity serving quality food at low prices. They offer food which is honest, home-cooked and locally sourced, with a menu changing daily featuring creative veggie choices and meatier mains priced between £5 and £10 (with free soup and crusty bread too). The live music and friendly service adds to the energy of The Canteen, which has rightfully cultivated a name for itself as one of Bristol’s top-picks for local talent and good vibes. Serving food which is full of life, crafted with care and modest in its pricing, this place has become a foodie highlight and a top-spot for veggies, vegans and meat-eaters alike. the wait.
Chilli Daddy offer simple prices for simply fantastic food. The family-owned business remains a popular choice amongst locals for over five years now, serving the masses with Szechuan food since they opened their stall back in 2011. Today its popularity remains, and this is evident by watching the hungry swarm of customers eagerly awaiting their mains at the lunchtime rush. Their menu features dumpling meals which are delightful and reasonably priced at £5.50, along with a choice of noodle dishes served with beef, pork or tofu and aromatic sauces for the same price. Head over to St Nicks for a quick fill up on spicy south-west cuisine, or dine in one of their restaurants either in Clifton or Baldwin Street.
Yume Kitchen is an original Wriggle gem and the front-runner in Bristol’s Japanese eateries. The city’s first Japanese owned and run restaurant continue to warm customers with first-rate, authentic and affordable Japanese food. The menu is fresh, simple and far from intimidating, offering a helping hand for beginners in Japanese cuisine (disclaimer - there isn’t just sushi on the menu). Classic Katsu dishes, hearty rice bowls, bento boxes and sushi pieces are all individually rich in flavour and kept at a keen price. You can leave full, satisfied and enriched in Japanese culture, a special dining experience without splashing out.
Rays has a soft spot in Alex's heart because when she first moved to Bristol in March 2016, it was her first port of call after unpacking all the boxes. There are plenty of pizza places around Bristol and some really excellent ones at that but, when it comes to value for money without losing quality, Rays wins out. Because Ray’s is inside the Crofters Rights, you can just order your pizza, grab a beer and take a seat. There’s nothing better than a mid week pub and pizza right?
Read more about Ray's Pizza @ The Crofters Rights
We’ve always loved Gopal’s and was really pleased for them when they successfully crowdfunded enough dosh to open a place in Wapping Wharf. Their vegetarian and vegan indian food is always delicious, especially those garam masala roasted sweet potatoes! The grab-n-go buddha box makes a tasty, filling meal and is perfect for al fresco dining by the harbourside.
The food here is almost as grand as the building itself, the interior resembles something out of a James Bond film and the food will leave you positively shaken (with joy) not stirred. The large round tables are great for big celebrations, but they also have those dark corners for a more intimate experience. With a 2 -3 course lunch menu that can only be described as a steal, you can eat like a emperor with the wallet of a pauper .
Read more about Cathay Rendezvous
You literally can't have a cheap eats list without mentioning the crazy £5 lunch deal at Three Brothers. All through lunch, Monday - Saturday until 5pm you can grab a burger and chips for a fiver. Add your wone extras and a drink if you are that way inclined and you will struggle to beat this deal.
Burger Joint have truly democratised the burger-creation process. Not for them the standard choice between 6-8 chef-selected burgers with the option of a few extra toppings if you're feeling saucy. Lucky for us pinch pockets they offer a great lunch deal and early evening deal plus if it's late and you are at a loose end you can nab a Wriggle to pick up a bargain after 9pm. Now you have no excuse to head over to one of their three restaurants and fill up.
The jewel-in-the-crown of Bristol's Korean food scene. Set up and run by Wizzy Chung, who's been a chef at Michelin Starred establishments, this place screams low-key quality. A beautiful space with an invariably warm and informal welcome, the whole point is making haute-cuisine accessible - and affordable - to all. All vegetables, fish and meat, are sourced locally and often on the morning of service, from Wizzy’s own allotment if possible; as fresh and innovative as it gets. A truly hidden gemstone. Get in there for £3.50 lunch bentos (daily changing) or the £12.50pp evening set menu (BYO), but beware of the occasional unexpected closure.
