We went looking for the best cheap restaurants in Glasgow, and couldn’t believe the quality of what we found - few places in the UK have cheap eats this good! Glaswegians will likely know some of these restaurants, maybe even all of them. But to those who are visiting, or haven't lived there long, this list is for you. Glasgow may be primarily famous for art and music, but cheap eats should definitely be third on the list. Perhaps owing in part to the thriving student scene, those looking to dine out for under a tenner will be well-served here.
In our experience, some cuisines lend themselves to affordability more than others. As such, you’ll see quite a plenty of ramen, burgers and tacos on this list, alongside some more unusual entries. There are institutions like Julie’s Kopitiam, which was recently featured in our guide to the best 100 restaurants in the UK. There are also super pared-back options like Bread Meats Bread, which is essentially a sandwich shop (although, given the incredible quality of the food, that label feels a little reductive). While these might not be the absolute best restaurants in Glasgow, they are unbeatable in terms of value for money. And don’t think these restaurants will leave you hungry. Expect big-hitting flavours like bone marrow butter, twice-cooked pork belly and crab claws at a fraction of the price you'll find them for elsewhere.
We can’t talk about great, cheap food without mentioning takeaway. Luckily, almost all of these restaurants offer takeaway and delivery, so you barely have to move to enjoy a deliciously cheap meal. So tuck in to this tasty list, which includes descriptions, pictures, locations and links to the listing to book.
Ranjit's Kitchen
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What: Fresh, homemade Panjabi cooking at rock bottom prices is what keeps Glaswegians coming back to Ranjit’s over and over again. Loads of the menu is available for just over a fiver, so you can leave here feeling well fed next to nothing. If you can’t make it to Southside, fear not - Ranjit also does outside catering too.
Where: 607 Pollokshaws Road, G41 2QG
Book now: Ranjit's Kitchen
El Perro Negro
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What: When it comes to affordable meals, burgers are usually a good option. The problem is, quality often goes down with the price. El Perro Negro, however, bucks this trend, offering top quality burgers that don’t break the bank. Purists can go for the classic, while more interesting options include a Korean chicken burger, panko bean burger and even the Black Dog, made with bone marrow butter, cheese, black pudding, caramelised onions, pickles and burger sauce. Don’t miss the togarashi fries, as well as the sauces like black truffle or gochujang mayo. If your budget stretches, the sweet and sticky chicken wings make a great side.
Where: 152 Woodlands Road, G3 6LF
Book now: El Perro Negro Woodlands
Hanoi Bike Shop
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What: Gather some mates and head down to Hanoi Bike Shop - you won’t regret it. Best enjoyed in groups, this brightly-coloured Vietnamese cafe is open all day. For smaller plates, there is a street food selection, including marinated pork shoulder skewers, sticky chicken and mussels with yellow curry broth. From the grill, you can munch on duck red curry, whole deep-fried gurnard or pork belly and egg with apple cider caramel and rice noodles. Of course, a Vietnamese restaurant is only as good as its pho. Here, you can build your own with options like beef, chicken, seafood or tofu and mushroom, then add extras and choose your spice level. There's also an incredible naquet menu which allows you to tuck into a surprise spread sent out by the kitchen. At £25 it's not as cheap as other options on the list, but you get so much food that you could easily share two portions between four.
Where: 8 Ruthven Lane, G12 9BG
Book now: Hanoi Bike Shop
Paesano Pizza
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What: Arguably the king of cheap food is pizza. And the king of quality, cheap pizza in Glasgow is Paesano. All the ingredients here are sourced from Italy, and the pizzas are wood-fired in the traditional Neopolitan way by expert pizzaioli. The dough is slow-proved for 24 hours, allowing air bubbles to permeate more thoroughly. Then, the pizzas are cooked quickly in the 500-degree oven, keeping the bread nice and soft while the toppings and base cook. Choose from around ten toppings, including fennel sausage, spianata spicy salami, prosciutto, anchovies and vegetables. Our only word of warning? Be prepared to queue most evenings - this is a particularly popular spot.
Where: 94 Miller Street, G1 1DT
Book now: Paesano Pizza
Ramen Dayo
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What: Since we’re ticking off the best cheap eats from each country, we have to talk about ramen. It still amazes us how one of the heartiest meals can be so cheap. For those who eat meat, the tonkotsu is a classic here, or a karaage rice bowl if you don’t want ramen (a foreign concept to us). Another favourite is the tantanmen: a spicy sesame broth with ground pork, chicken or textured vegetable protein for vegans. Toppings are a key part of ramen, and here there are loads to choose from, including aji-tama eggs, kikurage mushrooms, menma, nori and more. Wash it all down with some house sake, Sapporo beer or a cocktail (the yuzu margarita would be our recommendation).
Where: 31 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ
Book now: Ramen Dayo
Bread Meats Bread
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What: Anyone who thinks sandwiches are boring needs to visit Bread Meats Bread pronto. As soon as you see the menu, you’ll see how serious this cafe is about sandwiches. Choose from fillings like porchetta with salsa verde and crackling; honey soy chicken with pickled mooli and sriracha mayo; or even slow-cooked beef brisket with cheese curds and roasted garlic aioli. This is a proper all-day establishment, so you can get a coffee or a beer with your sandwich depending on the time of day (or your mood). Add some fat potato wedges for good measure.
Where: 65 St Vincent Street, G2 5TF
Book now: Bread Meats Bread
Kimchi Cult
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What: Korean food has exploded in popularity in the UK over the past decade, and it’s not hard to see why. Great fried chicken, huge portions, plenty of vegan options - the list goes on. Kimchi Cult offers all of the above and a lot more. Try the Korean fried chicken Kyiv, the kimchi burger or the gochujang glaze fried chicken for meat-eaters. Or, for vegans, the mouth-numbing tofu is a top shout. Kimchi cheese fries here are a must too, and you can round things off with an iced jasmine tea for good measure.
Where: 14 Chancellor Street, G11 5RQ
Book now: Kimchi Cult
Pizza Punks
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What: Pizza purists avert your eyes. While Pizza Punks does serve some traditional toppings, the real fun comes when you push the boat out a little. Sure, you can get a Margherita here. But you can also get the Mexican, which comes with chipotle pulled pork, jalapenos, roast corn salsa, sour cream and guac. If that’s a bit too out there, try the ‘nduja, which here comes with gorgonzola, sweet drop peppers, spicy honey and a sesame crust. You can even build your own pizza with unlimited toppings for £11! Don’t miss the fun cocktails either.
Where: 90 St Vincent Street, G2 5UB
Book now: Pizza Punks
Barburrito
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What: Barburrito started in another great hub for cheap food - Manchester. Now, the chain has expanded to more than 20 branches all over the UK. The offering here is simple: affordable, healthy Mexican food (mainly burritos). Choose a burrito, including the classic, loaded (extra filling and guac), superfood (replaces the rice with slaw) and California, which gives you a base of fries and cheese. Then you choose your main filling, which includes the choice of pulled pork, veg, grilled chicken, chicken and chorizo, beef brisket or THIS isn’t chicken. To complete the Mexican experience be sure to get churros after.
Where: 138 Queen Street, G1 3BX
Book now: Barburrito
Mezcal
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What: Mezcal is widely considered the best Mexican restaurant in Glasgow. One might expect such a title to come with a hefty bill, but it’s actually very reasonably priced. Choose from sharing plates like tortilla chips or calamares with jalapeno mayo and lime, before tucking into a huge choice of sopes, tostadas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Fillings include pork pibil, fried chicken, king prawns and garlic marinated lamb, as well as vegan options like courgette, corn and sweet potato. The desserts here are not to be missed either, with options like caramelised pineapple with tequila toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream on offer. Neither are the drinks, which include Mexican cocktails and mezcal flights. Be sure to look out for the latest deals, which make it even cheaper.
Where: 104 Hope Street, G2 6PH
Book now: Mezcal
Topolabamba
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What: Another Mexican entry (clearly a cuisine that lends itself to affordability), Topolabamba offers a huge amount of choice for a ridiculously low price. Start off with the classic chips and dips, before moving on to tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, taquitos, burgers, burritos, chimichangas and churros to finish. Tasty fillings include barbacoa beef, homemade chorizo with melty cheese and crispy battered king prawns. In the veg department, there are options like black bean and tofu adobo, roast butternut squash with mushroom and red mole sauce and stuffed poblano peppers. Meanwhile, you can sip a range of margaritas including a tasty blood orange number we think is ace. See, we told you there was a lot of choice!
Where: 89 St Vincent Street, G2 5TF
Book now: Topolabamba
Babs
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What: From the team that brought you Bread Meats Bread earlier in the list, Babs is a relaxed Mediterranean eatery. Most of the food here is spit-roasted, with options like souvlaki, gyros and other skewered delights. Sharing platters are a must here, featuring dips like roasted pepper, tzatziki, hummus, babaganoush, and tyrokafteri (spicy pepper and feta dip). The iskender, in our humble opinion, is a must. The lamb version comes as skewers of leg fillet with garlic yoghurt, grilled Turkish chillis, chargrilled chunks of pita and spiced marinara sauce with some chilli butter for good measure. For something a bit more unusual, try the "octommus": marinated octopus tentacles, grilled over charcoal, with hummus, babaganoush, charred tomatoes, pickled shallots and pomegranate seeds.
Where: 49 West Nile Street, G1 2PT
Book now: Babs
Katsu
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What: Keeping in the theme of not just cheap but plenty of choice, Katsu offers hungry Glasgwegians a plethora of panko-ed dishes. Those who don't like things deep-fried should look away now. Almost everything on the menu is either breadcrumbed or battered. Kick off with some chicken pork or veg gyoza, chicken karaage or king prawn katsu, before moving on to the main event. Sashimi and sushi rolls are also available, although the rolls mainly feature - you guessed it - katsu. Mains include wagyu, chicken breast, pork and duck, as well as seafood like oyster, squid and crab claw.
Where: 53 West Nile Street, G1 2QB
Book now: Katsu
If you’re in the mood for something a little more Italiano, don’t miss our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Glasgow.