Where to find the best cheap eats in Cairns

You know it as the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage sites — the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest — but Cairns has another, tastier drawcard.

Alfresco-friendly weather, proximity to the Atherton Tablelands food bowl, and flotilla of trawlers bringing in hauls of wild caught seafood make Cairns an absolute haven for foodies. Ocean-to-plate prawns, brothy bowls of ramen or mangos fresh from the tree—your tastebuds will be tingling here in the tropics.

You don’t have to blow the budget, either. Grab your wallet and get ready for half-price gourmet pizzas, senior’s lunch specials, or kids-eat-free deals with our guide to the best Cairns cheap eats.

Cheap meals in Cairns City

Rusty’s Market

Stock up on fresh, local fruit and veg for a week (or two) or grab a coffee and brekky before a day on the Reef at Rusty’s Market. This Cairns institution has been operating for nearly 50 years, offering some of the best cheap food in Cairns, from football-sized durians to fully loaded Vietnamese banh mi. Located in the heart of Cairns, Rusty’s is open Friday to Sunday from 5am.

Corea Corea

Cairns might be a world away from the dazzling lights and bustling alleyways of Seoul, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get an authentic Korean meal. Tucked away in Orchid Plaza shopping centre, Corea Corea serve up Korean street-food inspired classics like bibimbap and stone hot pot. You’ll get loose change from a twenty for most meals, with free mugicha (barley tea) to sweeten the deal.

Ganbaranba Noodle Colosseum

Can’t find Ganbaranba? Look for the line out the door. This authentic Japanese ramen restaurant serves up delicious bowls of ramen, packed to the brim with ingredients like pork, tofu and mushroom swimming in dreamy broth—with most menu items between $10-20. Finding it too hot in the tropics for ramen? Check out the cold noodle menu.

P.J.O’Brien’s

It seems wherever you go in the world, you’ll find an Irish pub serving up an expertly poured glass of Guiness. Cairns is no exception, with P.J.s (as the locals call it) cooking up Irish stews and steak and Guiness pie alongside pints of the black stuff. Backpackers and budget-conscious travellers will love the specials— from $22 Sunday Roasts to the Thursday Guiness and T-Bone steak for $30.

Moku Bar + Grill

Located amongst the grounds of the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort (think modern, spacious rooms dotted around a swaying-palm lined lagoon-style pool) is Moku Bar + Grill. While the good vibes and local flavours are worth a feed any time, budget-conscious travellers will love the specials. Look out for the tropical parmy (fresh TNQ pineapple topped schnitzel) for $21 on Wednesdays, or Vegan Day Monday—when all vegan options are $21.

Falafellicious

The flavours of the Middle East blend with the tropics at Falafellicious, home of what might just be the best falafels in town. Just $16 gets you a falafel pita or a wrap heaving with salad, pickles, tahini, and parsley. Add a side of rice or chips and make it a plate for $20 at this popular hotspot for vegans, vegetarians and meat lovers alike (check out the delicious chicken shawarma).

The Courtyard

Located on the Esplanade, The Courtyard is about dining, drinking and good times, serving up tacos and burgers alongside margaritas and their famous ‘freakshakes’—milkshakes loaded with sweets like fairy floss, Oreos or Reese’s Pieces. Drop in on Taco Tuesday for delicious $5 tacos and choose from varieties like Mexican spiced fish, spiced pull pork or shredded chipotle chicken.

Lush Pizza

Did somebody say half-price pizza? The folks at Lush Pizza claim their pizzas—loaded with fresh ingredients and meats supplied by local butchers—are the best in Cairns. And who are we to disagree? Choose from classics like Margherita or Hawaiian, or gourmet varieties like Vegan Inferno or Loaded Supreme. Head in between 4 and 5pm daily for half-price pizza in the beer garden.

Cheap meals in North Cairns

Cock & Bull  

While you’re spoiled for options when it comes to finding a schnitty and a schooner in Cairns (translation: a chicken schnitzel and a beer), why not go where the locals go? The meals at the Cock & Bull are described as ‘big and hearty’, and they’re not lying. The meals here are big on taste, big on size and big on value. Our pick? The dinner-plate sized chicken parmigiana (or ‘parmy’ as we call it in Queensland) with a schooner of Great Northern lager.

Cheap meals in Cairns suburbs

Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, Ellis Beach

Just 24 people call the beachfront haven of Ellis Beach home—the rest of us will have to make do with visiting. The rainforest provides the backdrop to the Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, where you’ll find scrumptious grilled dishes alongside live music and Coral Sea views. Check out the daily specials—pick of the bunch is Thursday, when you get a schnitzel and a schooner for $30, while kids eat free. There’s good value here for seniors too, with an $18 lunch menu available daily.

The Surf Club, Palm Cove

Just 30 minutes north of Cairns City centre lies Palm Cove, where an esplanade dotted with cafes and restaurants runs parallels to an idyllic coconut-tree lined beach. Just metres from the sand you’ll find the Surf Club, where you’ll find fresh tiger prawns and local barramundi alongside lunchtime specials like fish and chips from $16 or chef’s roast from $21.

Calaveras Street Fusion, Paramatta Park

Can't decide between Korean or Mexican? You don't have to at Calaveras Street Fusion, where you'll find a menu packed with Mex-Kor Spice Wings, Korean Burritos and other gastronomic fusions. And with small plates like Kimchi dumplings or Mexican cheese sticks for ten bucks, or a kilo of wings for $32.50, your pesos or won will go a long way.

Want to treat yourself? Tuck into the best Cairns restaurants and cafes.