How to Eat Well on a Small Budget

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.

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.

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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