10 Spots to Score Cheap Eats Across Canada

Posted by Dan Clapson on September 6, 2016

With back to school season in tow, it’s always important to know where you can find a cheap meal in those Canadian cities that see a big influx of post-secondary students. You don’t have to be a student to enjoy inexpensive food — everyone likes saving a bit of cash from time-to-time. From greasy spoons to dive bars where everything on the menu is under $5 (truth!), here are 10 Canadian eateries that definitely won’t break the bank.

Anatolia Food Market/Facebook

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Anatolia Food Market (Edmonton, AB)

If you’re looking for especially unique fare that's also affordable, look no further than Edmonton’s Turkish food market, <a href="http://anatoliafoodmarket.com/" target="_blank">Anatolia</a>. Traditional Turkish cuisine will satisfy any craving, from breakfast (eggs with freshly baked breads) to lunch (aromatic, spiced soups and salads) to dinner, where you can opt for all sorts of kebabs made of liver, lamb and more. It’s easy to eat here for under $10, but if you’re exploring the aisles while waiting for your order, you may end up buying more than you anticipated.
BMC Market

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BMC Market (Winnipeg, MB)

If you need to grab someone’s attention in Winnipeg, you don’t need to shout, “Get 3 tacos for $5!” Instead, just mention <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BMC-Market-Taqueria-114200481959404/" target="_blank">BMC Market</a> and they’ll probably join you for lunch. Tucked into a tiny blue building on South Osborne Drive, BMC is about as cheap and filling as you can get. Corn tortillas are made fresh daily (they used to be made to order, but are now batch produced because of high demand), and are topped with made-from-scratch fillings like braised beef, chorizo and more.
The Dime

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The Dime (Toronto, ON; Vancouver, BC)

Sister concept to El Furniture Warehouse, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theDIMEonQUEEN/?fref=ts" target="_blank">The Dime</a> is a slightly more stylish bar than its older brother, but still boasts a delicious $4.95 menu. Garlic prawns or nachos for one are a few of the comfort food dishes you’ll find here, but if you’re opting for something more healthy, kale Caesars and beet salads are up for grabs, too.
El Furniture Warehouse

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El Furniture Warehouse (Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Vancouver, BC; Whistler, BC)

The only thing better than discovering a dive bar with cheap food, is discovering a dive bar chain that you can rely on in multiple cities. A unique concept as far as restaurant chains go, with cheap drinks and an entire food menu where the highest price item costs $4.95, it’s hard to find something to complain about.
Holland’s Cake and Shake

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Holland’s Cake and Shake (Ottawa, ON)

After high school, it’s not very cool to have your mom pack a lunch for you, so let <a href="http://www.cakeandshake.ca/" target="_blank">Holland’s</a> do it instead. Their brown bag lunch may only be available two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), but it is worth the wait. Opt for a cold or hot sandwich, of which the fillings change weekly but always come with a cookie or a brownie and a drink. If that’s not winning, I’m not sure what is.
Italian Star Deli

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Italian Star Deli (Regina, SK)

There are some things that never seem to go out of style (or out of your price range), and deli sandwiches are one of those things. <a href="http://www.italianstardeli.com/" target="_blank">Italian Star Deli</a> is a well-known institution of Regina’s downtown; it’s a shop full of imported pasta, oil, vinegar, meat and more from Italy. While some of those items may be out of a student’s price range, head straight to the back counter to order a delicious sandwich ranging from $6.50-$8. You can even get half a sandwich for slightly more than half the price. Economical and portable!
The Maxwell’s Plum/Facebook

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The Maxwell’s Plum (Halifax, NS)

With various $2.99 food specials every night of the week after 9 p.m. — like one pound of PEI mussels on Sunday, a trio of sliders with fries on Wednesday, or a simple bacon and eggs breakfast served daily for the same bargain price — it's no wonder <a href="http://www.themaxwellsplum.com/" target="_blank">Maxwell's Plum</a> is always jam-packed with hungry students. Although they’re not always the healthiest of meals, the price alone is the ultimate selling point.
Spolumbo’s Deli

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Spolumbo’s Deli (Calgary, AB)

Calgary's famed sausage maker has its home base in the Inglewood neighbourhood. Aside from getting their delicious sausages served in a toasted bun, <a href="https://spolumbos.com/deli/" target="_blank">Spolumbo’s</a> offers plenty of quick, easy and affordable breakfast and lunch options. They offer everything from breakfast burgers and wraps for $8 or less, salads starting at $3.50, and plenty of deli sandwiches with fillings like egg salad, tuna or Montreal smoked meat, all starting at $7.75. Since Calgary’s September weather is perfect for outings, grab some food to go and enjoy it on the grass by the Bow River, which happens to be just a few blocks away.
Szechuan Kitchen

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Szechuan Kitchen (Saskatoon, SK)

This charming prairie city boasts plenty of Vietnamese eateries in and around the downtown core, but <a href="http://szechuankitchensaskatoon.com/" target="_blank">Szechuan Kitchen</a> takes the cake for price point and quality. The satay pho is everything a good bowl of soup should be; affordable, slightly spicy, salty, filling and comforting. Pro tip at any Vietnamese restaurant: ask for a half portion of the noodles so you can get more of the broth. Don’t forget the big, crispy Imperial rolls; priced at $6.95, they’re almost a meal in themselves.
Mijune Pak

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Wilensky’s (Montreal, QC)

A cheap-eats staple of Montreal for 84 years and counting, <a href="http://top2000.ca/wilenskys/ENG_TABLE_WELCOME.htm" target="_blank">Wilensky’s</a> keeps things simple and classic with beef hotdogs that ring up at a whooping $2.22 ($2.66 with cheese), chopped egg or cheese sandwiches for $4.09, and the “Wilensky’s Special,” made with salami, bologna and mustard for — brace yourself — also $4.09. Now that’s a lunch price tag I can get behind! <a href="dansgoodside.com/" target="_blank">Dan Clapson</a> is a food writer and culinary instructor based out of Calgary. He is constantly creating new recipes and striving to expand his culinary horizons. He thinks yam fries are overrated.
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