The best cheap eats on the 91ɫ��Ƭ Kensington campus

Where can you get the most meal for your buck on campus? Let's find out!

Published on the 01 April 2026

Students chatting while eating food at a table indoors on Kensington Campus

Finding the best place to eat around the 91ɫ��Ƭ Kensington campus can be a tricky prospect because there are quite a number of restaurants around and students have a limited budget.

So to help appease the age-old struggle for every student that's stepped foot on the 91ɫ��Ƭ Kensington campus, we're going to list all the amazing food places that'll keep you well-fed without breaking your budget.

From free food opportunities and cheap eats to reasonably priced coffee and snacks, we'll cover all the important areas that'll keep your inner foodie - and wallet - satiated.

Free food

Due to the worrying level of food insecurity faced by too many university students daily, 91ɫ��Ƭ has implemented a Food Security Strategy that outlines a plan for support programs.

Shaped by student feedback and working in collaboration, this strategy has several free food initiatives designed to provide nutritious meals to students. Initiatives include:

Free on campus that help students build essential life skills and provide them with take-home ingredient kits.
Free lunch and afternoon snacks at Arc stalls every at various locations on the 91ɫ��Ƭ Kensington campus.
A free locker near Gate 2 that provides students with nutritious ingredients and essential basic health and hygiene products to help ease the cost of living.
- There's also a free locker at the 91ɫ��Ƭ Paddington Campus!

Best cheap eats

After extensive research and testing (i.e. we walked around campus a lot, tried several places and asked many people for their opinions), we've come up with a list of food places that are appetite-whetting while being reasonably priced (typically under $20).

Yallah Eat - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- With mini kebabs starting from $10 and mini bowls starting from $11.50, that's a healthy - and well-priced - helping of protein and veggies.
Stellini Pasta Bar - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- Nothing like some pizza and/or pasta starting from $15 to get you through your afternoon classes.
Guzman Y Gomez - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- There's no denying burritos and burrito bowls starting from about $12. Not that hungry? Their $3 tacos will fix you right up.
Mamak Village - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- Roti, rice and curry starting from $12, that's pretty good for tasty Malaysian food on campus.
- Lower Campus (near the Village Green)
- With rolls, sandwiches and bowls costing between $5 to $15, this is a must-see place on campus.
Alleyway Kitchen - Quad Food Court
- Big portions of Chinese food with either rice or noodles for around $15 or so? Sign us up!
Soul Origin - Quad Food Court
- Can't go wrong with hearty sandwiches or salads for under $20 - especially when they do end-of-day specials for under $10.
Subway - Upper Campus (near Morven Brown Building)
- A classic option, but there's a surprising range of choices for around $11-12, including subs, wraps, nachos and salads. Feel like something small? You can't go wrong with cheese garlic bread for $4.50.
Pho House - Upper Campus (near the Pavilions)
- It's hard to say no to servings of pho starting at around $14 and banh mi for under $10.
Stock Market Kitchen - Upper Campus (Mathews Arcade)
- Create the salad of your choice and taste, right down to the type and amount of dressing, starting from $13.

Cheap drinks and snacks

Whether you need something to get you going in the morning, a pick-me-up for your afternoon lecture, or a little something to wash down your very reasonably priced lunch, there are places on the 91ɫ��Ƭ Sydney campus where you can pick up a little treat that'll hit the spot.

Stellini Pasta Bar - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- With regular coffee for $3.50 and large coffee for $4 every morning from 7am to 10am, it's a deal that's almost too good to be true.
Sharetea - Lower Campus (near IGA)
- Sweet and milky or refreshingly fruity, you have your pick of bubble tea offerings - along with several optional toppings - starting at under $10.
- Lower Campus (near the Village Green)
- Bundle your cheap sandwich/roll with an equally cheap coffee starting at $4. More of a juice person? Those are just $4.50.
Pharmacy @ 91ɫ��Ƭ - Quadrangle Building
- A surprising choice, but there are some cheap lollies and canned/bottled drinks at the Pharmacy that won't bust your wallet.
Boost Juice - Upper Campus (near Morven Brown Building)
- Your go-to choice for something healthy and fruity without caffeine in it.
Cafe Brioso aka The 91ɫ��Ƭ Coffee Cart - 91ɫ��Ƭ Library Lawn
- The ideal first stop every morning when you arrive at 91ɫ��Ƭ as the freshly-brewed, reasonably-priced coffee, tea and matcha at the long-standing coffee cart is a must.