Cheap/free food database in Melbourne
This database was collectively developed to support students in getting access to affordable and nutritious food. We hope to keep updating it frequently. Please add your recommendations as well at the bottom of the page.
Budget Eateries
Gopals Pure Vegetarian
139 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Meat and vegetable curries, salads
Get the $8.50 ‘Economy Special’ Thali (Rice, 2 curries and salad)
gopalspurevegetarian.com.au
B3 Cafe
15 Centre Pl, Melbourne
Baguettes, Rice paper rolls
Get the Petit Baguette $6.00, Grande Baguette $8.00
b3cafe.com.au
Udon Yasan
186 Bourke St, Melbourne
Udon soup, Rice, Japanese Curry, Tempura
Get the $4.80 bowl of udon
udon-yasan.shop
Don Tojo
164 Cardigan Street, Carlton
Rice/Noodle and meat (teriyaki chicken, salmon, beef curry, soba salad) + vegetarian options (tofu) $7.50 - $12.50
Crossways
147 Swanston St, Melbourne
Changes Daily, vegan curries, rice, about $9.50 (concession $7.50)
crosswaysfoodforlife.com.au
Don Don
206 A'Beckett St, Melbourne | 2 Francis St, Melbourne
Unit 2/1 Bank St, South Melbourne
Japanese Curry with Rice
Get the $11.50 Tofu Curry Don
facebook.com/DonDon2FrancisSt
Shop Bao Ngoc
387 Victoria St, Brunswick
Events with sliding scale and pay it forward pricing, and community fridge out front.
instagram.com/thatplaceonvictoriast
The Borek Shop
Queen Victoria Market, Dairy Produce Hall Shop 93 - 96
Boreks (veg & meat filling options)
Get the spicy potato borek
qvm.com.au/shops-stalls/the-borek-shop
The Heart of Carlton
189 Elgin St, Carlton
$5 Soups, baguettes and daily pasta specials
instagram.com/theheartofcarlton
Delhi Rocks
205 King St, Melbourne
1/123 Swanston St, Melbourne
Fresh roti, vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian curries and sweets
Get the $12 Thali meals with unlimited roti bread and 1 complimentary chai
delhirocks.com.au
Cheap Produce and Groceries
Queen Vic Market
Extremely discounted, bulk fresh produce on Sundays at 3pm.
Where: 481 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cheaper Buy Miles
Discount dry goods and frozen goods, lots of vegan items. Reselling long-life products that are close to ‘best before’ or that are overstocked/not moving at major supermarkets. Items from $1-5 mostly, cheap bulk dips/vegan cheeses, frozen meals and snack foods.
Where: 20 Paisley Street, Footscray VIC 3011 | 325 Racecourse Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 | 109 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056
Melbourne Food Hub
Volunteers take home a produce box.
Feral Fruit Map of Melbourne
Map for urban foraging for fruit
Northern CareWorks Community Op Shop
Offers food relief packs Wed or Thurs at 1.30pm
Where: 81 High Street, Preston VIC 3072
Volunteer Organisations offering food relief
Open Table
Operating in Melbourne’s inner north
Redistribute food to individuals and families in need through our Community Lunches, Fresh Food Market and Community Pantry.
open-table.org/programs
Darebin Information, Volunteer and Resource Service (DIVRS)
285 – 287 High Street, Preston
Food Sharing: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 11:00am–1:30pm
divrs.org.au/emergency-relief
Salvation Army
To speak to a person from the Salvos Assessment Line, call 02 8775 7988 between the hours of 9:00am - 5:00pm on Mondays - Fridays
www.salvationarmy.org.au
Community Union Defence League (CUDL)
Main ongoing program is the State Library Street Kitchen which runs every Sunday from 3-6pm
cudl.org.au/vicbranch
Black People’s Union Community Kitchen
Every Saturday at Dandenong plaza from 3pm-6pm operating a street kitchen serving roughly 200 meals a week as well as often running strike/picket/workshop support with delicious food and hot drinks
blackpeoplesunion.org/community-kitchen
Sikh Volunteers Australia
Link below for the location and timing of their free food van
sikhvolunteersaustralia.org/category/free-food-van/
Northern CareWorks
81 High Street, Preston
An access point for emergency food relief from Christmas to the end of January for all other times see link below
northerncareworks.org.au/programs-and-services/
Hare Krishna Melbourne
197 Danks St, Albert Park
Serving 3 meals a day, every day: 9:00 am Breakfast, 1:00 pm Lunch and 5:30 pm Dinner (weekdays; 5 pm Sat-Sun.)
harekrishnamelbourne.com.au/temple-meals-feasts/
Other Resources
Government Support (for national citizens)
Ausstudy payment
Low income Healthcare card (concession that grants utility bills concession rates, discounted healthcare & scripts)
Casual Workers Sick Pay Leave scheme (5 sick days for casual workers paid by the government)