Top 5 belting budget bites that won’t break the bank

If you’ve been spending a little more than you should have recently and fancy some cheap scran around the city centre but don’t fancy hitting up the McDonalds saver menu, we’ve got you sorted. These places all have budget friendly offerings that won’t have you praying for payday to come early.

Archies

Archie’s is a burger joint with a difference. You might have spotted the student queues down Oxford Road on a Saturday night vecause this spot has burgers so good it’s even caught the attention of US rapper NAS. Bizarre, we know. You experience the burgers here as one cohesive unit of human joy. Almost nothing else will ever come close to this and that’s perfectly okay. It’s the sort of food that makes you realise you’ve been eating the wrong kind of fast food all your life and it’s bloody cheap, too. Burgers start at around £4, so you can grab a chilli cheese (£4.39) or a peri chicken burger (£4.28) with Cajun mayo and still have change from a fiver. Bargain. Check it out here.

Pita Pit

If you’re looking for a cheap eat that’s not going to have you twirling in front of the mirror asking God why you gave into those extra cheese fries from Archies, then Pita Pit is the one for you. Pita Pit Manchester serves up fresh, wholesome grub that’s nutritious and delicious. The price tag is good for your wallet too so it’s a win-win really. They have all sorts of fabulous fillings like the souvlaki chicken and grilled halloumi. Take your pick from a wide selection of toppings, spreads and sauces to make the perfect pita. Prices start at £3.49 for the very very veggie which is delicious or the hand rolled falafel which is vegan and delicious too. And at just £4.29, why would you go anywhere else? To dig into the menu, click here.

19 Cafe Bar

This swanky cafe brings all of those Brooklyn vibes to the Northern Quarter – it’s bolstered the area’s brunch offering with a focused and fantastic menu, choc-full of all sorts of good stuff. No watery lattes or boring breakfast boulders at 19 Cafe Bar Manchester. They serve up flat white Fridays where you can grab your morning coffee for less than a Maccy D’s and they have a lunch offering of a soup and a hot and crusty panini for £6.95. It’ll keep your bank manager happy too.

Pho

Set in the gorgeous Corn Exchange in the heart of the city centre with an entrance on Cathedral Street, this restaurant is set across three floors with a mix of cosy booth seating, large tables and benches for a quick bite, or external tables in the amazing central atrium. They have the most delicious authentic Asian cuisine and you can bag yourself two courses for just £9.95 before 5pm. And if you’re a student you can get an an extra 25% off food until the end of October if you show your ID to collect a wristband. Lucky you. Can’t say fairer than that. Check out the menu for this slurp shop here.

Jerk Shack

This place in the Northern Quarter just opposite the Arndale market serves comfort food done right – hearty helpings of food with a focus on flavour not frills.  The lamb stew is spiced to perfection and slow-cooked so it melts in the mouth with every bite. But the real winner here is the jerk chicken with jerk gravy, served with patties or rice and peas. It’s a true taste of the Caribbean and, with dishes priced at around £6, you can eat your fill and still take some home. Portions here are the side of your head. Share with your mate if you like. You won’t want to but you might have to.  Click here to check out their Facebook page.