Melbournians take pride in what’s on their plate, regardless of how much it costs.
However, when you can use the change in your pocket to order a delicious meal that is delivered straight to your door, you might rethink your definition of luxury.
Without further ado, here are 10 of the best for a tiny $10.
The Voodoo Jerk Truck, Fitzroy: Blazed Pineapple ($8)
Let’s start with dessert for once. This is guaranteed to be the fanciest dessert you’ll ever have from a food truck: cinnamon glazed pineapple with spiced rum syrup and Tang swirl ice cream. A hybrid of Modern Australian cuisine, burgers and Caribbean cuisine, The Voodoo Jerk Truck is a truly unique flavour experience.
Meatballs & Sons, Fitzroy: Braised Beef Balls in Bloomers ($10)
This eclectic Fitzroy establishment offers the best meatballs around, and the affectionately named Balls in Bloomers are no different. The Braised Beef Bloomer offers grass fed beef, grilled vegetable salad and marinated bocconcini served on a soft ciabatta.
Lahore Biryani House, Carlton: Lamb Dum Biryani ($9.90)
If you have a hankering for a full stomach, look no further than the Lamb Dum Biryani at Lahore. Basmati rice cooked with lamb mixed with fried onions, fresh ginger, garlic, plum, mint, coriander, and flavoured with yoghurt, saffron and a mix of delicate spices—and all for less than a tenner.
The Roadhouse, Fitzroy: Spicy Veg Burger ($10)
This burger does not restrict its appeal to vegetarians alone. The spicy veg patty, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, coriander, yoghurt and mango chutney caters to a variety of tastes.
La Casareccia, Thornbury: Franco Pizza ($10 for small)
The Franco packs a mighty punch with hot pepperoni, salami, mushroom, onion, olive, bacon and garlic. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for the short of cash.
Kake Da Dhaba, Ripponlea: Butter Chicken ($8.50)
This comforting crowd-pleaser incorporates diced boneless chicken barbecued in the tandoor with a sweet oriental tomato, butter, cream and cashew nut sauce. You can’t go wrong with butter chicken, especially at this price.
Smith’s Kebabs, Collingwood: Doner Kebab ($5.95)
Basic yet unbeatable, Smith’s offers the much beloved Doner Kebab for half the price: lettuce, tomato, onion, garlic sauce and lamb in pita bread.
Elissa’s Bite, Brunswick: Vegans Delight Wrap ($7.50)
With grilled eggplant, roasted capsicum, semi-dried tomato, sautéed onions, mushrooms and a choice of sauce and dip, vegans are competing with the rest of the population to get their hands on this one.
Aussie Dera, Coburg: Fish Curry ($10)
Cooked in traditional Pakistani herbs and spices, this light but filling fish curry is a little out of the ordinary and an absolute steal. Aussie Dera is infamous for spicy dishes, so delicate palettes beware.
Kanoodles, North Melbourne: Beef & Black Bean Noodles ($4.90)
A blend of hokkien noodles with beef and assorted vegetables in Kanoodles’ black bean sauce. It’s a simple dish, but oh so saucy.
And if that selection didn’t tickle your fancy, there’s an abundance of Melbourne’s cheap eats on offer at Menulog, Australia’s No. 1 for online takeaway.
