My post on the prohibitive costs of French cuisine (which you guys totally lambasted me on by the way! I promise, I’m not dumb- I did make an effort to eat well) got me thinking about all of the many workarounds for food-lovers on a small budget. While it may not be possible to try ALL the awesome famous foods on a small budget, it’s usually possible to eat pretty well, and usually quite memorable local food.
Of course, self-catering is the cheapest option of all- maybe a pot of spaghetti with a can of sauce. That’s not really interesting or local, so we’ll ignore that fact in search of more in search of more destination specific experiences.
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Here’s what I’ve learned from 5+ years of traveling poor and hungry and still managing to eat well.
Stay AWAY From Tourist Areas
Look, I’m no snob. We’re all tourists at one point or another, and we’ve all probably eaten at one or two restaurants with a designated “English menu.” Authenticity aside, the problem with these places is that you’re almost always going to end up paying out the nose. Personally, if I’m going to pay more I want it to be for better (or more) food, not for convenience.
As a rule of thumb, if you can see a major tourist attraction from the restaurant, if they offer menus in more than 2 languages or if they are directly next to a body of water, you’re probably paying a premium for location. Walk two blocks away in any direction and you’ll find somewhere less crowded and probably half the cost.
Street Food
I’m a street-food evangelist. It is by far the cheapest, most authentic, most interesting food you can get in many parts of the world, particularly Asia. Many travelers overlook it because they worry about food poisoning, but that is easily avoidable if you pay attention and eat where the locals do.
Street food is the perfect way to try a lot of local dishes for very cheap. I have snacked my way through countless cities and discovered amazing cheap treats from barbecue in Xi’an to mulled wine in Prague to churros in Uruguay. I’ve fashioned diverse multi-course meals out of street food for less than $5 on many many occasions. This is really an excellent way to eat well on a budget.
Local Markets
Is there anything better than a city market? My mouth is watering just thinking of the many surprises, fresh foods, and snacks that can be found inside. In Quito we found fresh ceviche for a couple of dollars, in Barcelona, there were grilled sausages on sticks. In Hoi An, Vietnam the market held dozens of tiny noodle shops serving unique variations of a single dish. Nearly every city has at least one and it’s usually a treasure trove of culinary finds.
Read On to Discover How to Eat Well at Markets Around the World:
Exploring the Ramadan Market in Kuala Lumpur
Inside a Market in Cancun and No, I Don’t Mean the Hotel Gift Shop
Three Bizarre Foods to Try at Taipei Night Markets
Eating Hawker Foods in Singapore
Grocery Stores- Seriously
I like to cook at home but I’m not much of a hostel chef. Even so, I find grocery stores in other countries to be fascinating, and usually full of interesting and tasty snacks. Here you can find local wine, cookies, and savories for a fraction of the price of a restaurant. Some of my greatest finds include terrific $2 malbec in Buenos Aires, Brie in France and about a million kinds of biscuits in London.
In Europe, one of the cheapest and tastiest ways to eat well involves a load of fresh bread and an assortment of local meat, cheese, and fruits. Picnic basket optional.
Splurge on Lunch, not Dinner
Okay, but sometimes you really just want to eat at a real, sit down restaurant. If you’re going to eat one costly meal a day, make it lunch, not dinner. There are much greater deals to be had mid-day then at night. This is particularly true in South America and Western Europe where many restaurants run set-menus during the day with a couple of options and a fixed-price. It is a great way to eat well, get a taste of a restaurant and not blow your whole budget.
What are your tips to eat well while traveling?
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Surely street foods and local market are perfect choice to minimize the budget. Also like your idea of stay away from anywhere contains tourist in it, they’re never on the budget! Thanks, Steph!
Regards.
I love to do a mix of street food and cooking/having food in my accommodation. If I am splurging I’ll go to a recommended restaurant. If I am staying in a hostel I will shop at a market and prepare food. I often have a jar of nut butter (almond, peanut, etc) and bread is easy to find everywhere. I usually befriend people in the hostel and I’ll share or trade. Haha. In Spain, for example everyone had jamon and everyone was desperate for a taste of my peanut butter. Or in my hostel in Spain, I stayed for an extended period so me and the hostel employee would collect from the left pile and have kitchen challenges! He was a chef! I always buy yogurt (good for the stomach) and some fruit and veggies and carry a granola bar with me at all times.
Hello Steph! thank you so much for sharing this post the foods are really look delicious specially the pizza in Buenos Aires.
I know we’re not alone in thinking that exploring foreign supermarkets is one of the great joys of accustoming yourself to a new place. I think sadly food shopping is my favorite type of shopping haha, so whats not to love!
Great practical tips! I love stocking up at grocery stores particularly buying local bottles of wine and cheese for a picnic or evening nibbles. In Valencia I stocked up on loads of chorizo and bread and had my own little tapas experience in my hotel room. 🙂
I would love to eat like a queen every day but… yeah… sometimes I’ve gotta scrounge lol. Maybe one day, but until then I’m content with finding what I can haha
We’ve also had great luck with Bring Your Own Liquor type restaurants. Its not often you find these types of establishments, but when you do, you can save loads of money on the drinks portion of the meal. We usually grab our favorite $8 bottle of wine and enjoy it over the $20 version on the menu.
Great article, thanks for sharing!
Maria
Good list! And totally agree on the menu with 6 languages. If you see it, run away!
Great post. I found these tips to be my budget food rules while travelling Europe as well. Picnics became the default lunch option most days – which has to be a good thing, right?
And don’t forget the menu of the day…even in touristy spots, it is usually good value for money! We were inPort d’Andratx in Mallorca – walked to the furthest restaurant on the waterfront, and ate with the locals! Not sure why tourists don’t want to walk the extra 50 feet – but we dined well, enjoyed the view and were not surrounded by tourists! It was amazing and, even on the waterfront, a little lower in cost as it was the furthest along!