5 Brighton restaurants to eat at if you're on a tight budget

WHETHER it’s the end of the pay month nearing or the expense of Valentine’s, there are probably plenty of reasons to be watching your budget.

Eating out for dinner may be the last thing on your mind when you have a budget to stick to, but let us tell you – it is possible to have it both ways.

While cheap lunches or buffets across Brighton and Hove are a dime a dozen, it’s a far rarer occurrence to find a nice sit down dinner at a low price – particularly for under a tenner a head.

One of the restaurants in our list of budget bites is even consistently claimed to be the best ramen bar in the city.

But it’s not just Japanese that is on offer, with Italian, French, Middle Eastern and Indian food all available for less than the average hour’s pay, four single bus tickets or three lattes (which, if you are saving the cash, you had probably better cut out anyway).

So, if you really can’t stand going a month without a meal out, we have got just the list for you.

Read on for some of the best cheap eats in Brighton and feel free to enjoy without a morsel of guilt.

Franco Manca, Regent Street

Since 2016, Franco Manca has been serving up a treat on the corner of North Road and Regent Street, and has been flooded with popularity ever since – and with good reason.

Pizzas loaded with toppings are made in a brick pizza oven and served up in record time.

Every pizza and main on the menu is less than £10, and if you choose the first – a tomato, garlic and oregano sourdough – you’ll have enough change for a small glass of wine or a beer, too.

Not drinking? The restaurant also serves up a mean dessert menu, so you can have a two-course meal for less than the price of one. 

The tiramisu and chocolate hazelnut cake are both solid choices.

Goemon Ramen Bar, Preston Street

Goemon is in Brighton’s foodie street, a traditional style Japanese ramen and izakaya-style restaurant and take away which serves fresh, simple and delicious dishes that highlight the Japanese flair for creative yet clean cuisine.

There are a number of different options to choose from on the menu, including both meat and veggie choices, with a few other dishes to supplement them, all coming in at under £10. 

Obviously the ramen dishes are the star of the show and these traditional bowls of spiced broth with noodles, toppings and meat offer diners great bang for their buck.

Planet India, Richmond Parade

Vegetarian-friendly, cheap as chips and full of authentic wares – what more could a diner wish for? 

Take one glance at the menu at Planet India and the first thing you will probably notice is the odd pricing.

Still, with all curries at £7.81 a head (£9.17 if you’re hungry), the restaurant leaves diners with enough for a stuffed paratha, priced at £2.07.

The restaurant is draped in colourful fine silks with lanterns hanging from the ceiling, offering a temporary feeling of teleportation straight to India itself. 

Some may argue that is worthy of your £10 alone.

FilFil Cafe, Gardner Street

FilFil brings delicious, easy cuisine from the Middle East to your doorstep, sitting right in the heart of the North Laine.

Amal and Tim Cashin own the restaurant – the former grew up in Palestine and uses a traditional Israeli recipe handed down through generations for the falafel that dominates the 
menu.

Expect more hummus than you can handle, more than enough falafel to fill you up and boundless baba ghanoush and baklava.

Be sure to take along a date to this one – their mixed mezze platter is not something you will want to miss out on, coming in at £14.95 – or under £7.48 each.

Il Bistro, Market Street

Dubbed the original bistro in The Lanes, Il Bistro is a family-run brasserie and steakhouse that specialises in the best available British beef, prime cut meats and seafood dishes.

The restaurant has worked with local food suppliers since 1976 and prides itself on being one of the longest serving independent restaurants in Brighton.

Set in a fisherman’s cottage, which dates back to the 18th century, the restaurant features a full range of European influences. Get a taste of the continent with its mussels (moules marinere) and risotto – both under £10.