Cheapest Places to Eat in Edinburgh for Students

We have put together some of the cheapest places to eat in Edinburgh in this blog, as we know the price tag of a meal is very important to students!

As a Edinburgh leading cultural city in Europe, there are so many places to eat in Edinburgh. The city is host to the International Festival Fringe every summer ‒ the world’s largest arts festival that millions of people attend. The culture and creativity doesn’t stop there, however. Edinburgh is a city of culture all year round as many restaurants bring a creative and international twist to the city’s streets through their cuisines.

Ting Thai Caravan

Ting Thai Caravan first opened at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with the idea of serving authentic Thai street food. It was a winner and has taken off ever since. The owners then opened a restaurant in Edinburgh’s university quarter, which was such a success that they then opened a sister restaurant called Saboteur in 2017 on the same street. Both restaurants serve Thai, Vietnamese, and South East Asian dishes, which are all cooked fresh by a family of Thai chefs. Every dish on their daytime menu is under £8 and every dish on their night-time menu is under £10. The décor is industrial chic style, giving it a young and hip feel. Be ready for queuing, though, as it is a popular spot – it was Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2015-2018 winner.

Mosque Kitchen

You won’t get a fancy set up here, but what you will get is a great-value curry. Fully loaded curry dishes cost between £5-£7, with both meat, vegetarian, and vegan options. Don’t be put off by the multi-coloured walls or the shared tables that give the place a canteen look. It’s all about the big portions of curry on offer – all of which are super tasty, while also being affordable. Mosque Kitchen is just around the corner from the University of Edinburgh and is open from 11.30am to 10pm every day, so you can pop in for a curry on a study break or after a long day of classes.

Bonnie Burrito

Bonnie Burrito originally started as a mobile food van, but it now has three permanent locations in Edinburgh – Clerk Street, Lauriston Place, and Gorgie Road, all of which are a 10-15-minute walk away from the University of Edinburgh. The burritos are clearly a hit and range from around £5-£7, or as a meal deal for £10.95 with a portion of nachos and a drink. The restaurants have also brought a Scottish twist to the Mexican classic by creating burritos with Irn-Bru pulled pork and haggis. Vegetarians aren’t left out, however, as there is also a vegetarian haggis burrito on the menu.

Taste of Italy

This is an Italian café and takeaway serving traditional Italian cuisine. From pizza to pasta, to paninis, to gelato, to coffee and cocktails, to homemade sweet treats – this place has food for any time of the day and whatever you’re in the mood for. If you’re looking for a lunch bite, the paninis with classic Italian ingredients are all under £5. The most you’ll pay for pasta is £7.50 and the 10 inch and 14-inch pizzas are under £10. The café is, however, located on Leith Walk, which is a 25-minute walk from the University of Edinburgh.

MUMS Great Comfort Food

If you’re missing your home comforts, then this is the spot for you. Let’s be honest, there’s probably nothing better as a student than going home for a hearty home-cooked meal. However, when you can’t go home, this is probably the closest thing you’ll get to a taste of home. Dishes include sausage and mash, stews and pies, mac and cheese, and gourmet burgers (all with both meat and vegetarian options), ranging from around £9-£12. MUMS Great Comfort Food does exactly what it says on the tin. The restaurant was a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015-2018 winner and is just a 10-minute walk from the University of Edinburgh, on Forrest Road.

The Piemaker

The Piemaker, which is a 10-minute walk away from the University of Edinburgh, is no doubt one of the best places for a quick and cheap bite to eat in Edinburgh. It has been up and running on South Bridge, Edinburgh from 1995 and has been serving up a pie-full of tasty bites ever since. Freshly prepared pie starts from as little as £1.45 and the most you’ll pay for a pie is £2.80 – pie kid you not! You can choose from over 30 meat, vegetarian, vegan, or sweet pie fillings. Or you could go for one of their pastries, like a pizza roll, cheese and onion bake, or a vegy paradise. The Piemaker is another TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015-2018 winner.

If you’ve enjoyed our pick of the best and cheapest places to eat in Edinburgh, you may like our blog on the best Edinburgh nightlife for students.

Shipping your luggage to university and back home again can be as cheap as the food in Edinburgh, as, with Send My Bag, you can affordably send your bags ahead of you and avoid the high costs of student storage.