Affordable Lunches in Montreal
Eating well, even on a tight budget, is a goal shared by many in Montreal. And here’s the good news: the city excels at offering delicious and affordable lunches.
In Montreal, eating well without breaking the bank is almost a way of life. The city is brimming with spots where you can enjoy a delicious, generous, and budget-friendly meal without compromising on quality or taste. Whether you’re a student watching your expenses, a worker looking for a quick break, or simply a lover of great deals, there are countless options for a satisfying lunch that won’t empty your wallet. Every neighborhood is home to hidden culinary gems that prove you can eat well for less.
Montreal has a unique ability to blend conviviality with culinary diversity. Whether you’re craving a flavor-packed sandwich, a comforting bowl of soup, or a slow-cooked dish with international inspiration, you’ll find an address where value meets quality. Many of these restaurants also pride themselves on using fresh, local ingredients, ensuring an affordable yet sustainable dining experience.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best places to grab a budget-friendly lunch – affordable lunches. Whether you’re downtown or a little further out, these spots guarantee a satisfying meal that respects your budget. So, go ahead—treat yourself and explore the city’s flavors without breaking the bank with our guide to where to lunch on a budget.
We also recommend our list of nice, delicious, and affordable restaurants in Montreal and our list of affordable restaurants in Montreal.
Bon appétit!
Capitaine Sandwich
Capitaine Sandwich is a great sandwich counter on Duluth Avenue, offering — you guessed it — sandwiches to take out or eat in. While they only have a few seats, it’s a great place to grab a sandwich at lunchtime and take it away.
Montréal
Sammi & Soupe Dumpling - (Ste-Catherine St. O)
Just a stone’s throw from Concordia University, Sammi & Soup Dumpling is a destination of choice for students looking for a tasty and affordable meal, namely, soup dumplings. Sammi & Soup Dumpling’s offer is even more appealing when you consider that the bill rarely comes to more than around fifteen dollars.
Montréal
Patati Patata Jean-Talon Friterie Deluxe
Patati Patata is an unpretentious casse-croûte shop that has been serving up delicious snack bar classics for over 20 years! Patati Patata is one of those places you love to return to for breakfast or lunch without breaking the bank, and to satisfy your appetite or craving for a delicious poutine, among many things!
Montréal
Omnivore St-Laurent
Omnivore is a Middle Eastern “healthy fast-food” restaurant with a delectable menu! You can sample Lebanese-Montrealese delights at particularly affordable prices. It’s still on our list of nice, delicious, and affordable restaurants in Montreal“.
Montréal
Café chez Téta
Café Chez Teta welcomes you in their warm, inviting, modern space, where you can sample traditional Lebanese cuisine with a touch of local flavours. The charming owners in love and in business, Antoun and Mélodie, have created a charming establishment where they could combine two things they love – good third-wave coffee and traditional Lebanese dishes.
Montréal
Pho Tay Ho
Pho Tay Ho represents everything we love about Vietnamese food: flavour, comfort, consistency and, of course, phô soups. The restaurant stands out for its North Vietnamese cuisine, which is warm, full of flavour and affordable.
Montréal
Bombay Mahal Indian Food Restaurant
Bombay Mahal is a very popular restaurant in Parc Extension, and for good reason: they offer delicious, affordable Indian cuisine with a bring-your-own-wine option! People come to Bombay Mahal to enjoy a good meal for very little money. It’s unpretentious and almost always packed!
Montréal
Café Santropol
For almost 50 years, Café Santropol has been serving up delicious food on the corner of Duluth and Saint-Urbain. Delightful in many ways, because whether you’re a hard-core vegan or a reasonable omnivore, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Nothing too complicated, just lovingly prepared soups, salads, sandwiches and other treats for big appetites.
Montréal
Romados
Romados is an institution when it comes to Portuguese chicken. On the menu, you’ll find some of the best Portuguese chicken in Montreal, coated in delicious piri-piri sauce (the ingredients of which will always remain a secret).
Montréal
Au 14
This Vietnamese restaurant charms us with its consistency. And leaving a restaurant after paying a very small bill and eating a very large meal is always a source of delight. For these two reasons, Au 14 is on our list of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Montreal.
Montréal
Serrano Bar-B-Q
The sandwiches at Rôtisserie Serrano have been a favourite of Mile End residents for decades. As if the establishment were frozen in time, the recipes and staff have remained the same for years, which is exactly what gives this place its charm, and why it deserves to be discovered by everyone.
Montréal
Il Miglio
Il Miglio is an Italian cantina offering excellent Italian products, to eat in or to go! It’s now on our list of the best Italian addresses in Montreal, as well as our list of nice, delicious, and affordable restaurants in Montreal.
Montréal
Dispensa Épicerie Italienne
Tucked away on William Street in Old Montreal, Dispensa is a well-kept secret among local lovers of good food and Italian culture. Dispensa is really known for its tasty sandwiches – breaded chicken, porchetta, burrata – to which you can add a whole range of condiments, including succulent marinated aubergines and several choices of tasty sauces, such as the famous basil mayonnaise.
Montreal
Campo
Campo opened in September 2016 and offers excellent healthy Portuguese chicken and a well-made fast food menu! The Ferreira Group’s fourth establishment is a great success. Le Campo’s menu features Portuguese-influenced fast food recipes thought up by the Ferreira Group’s executive chef, João Dias. It’s all tasty, and above all affordable, especially for downtown dining.
Montreal
Boucherie et Grillades Farhat (Cote Des Neiges)
Opened in 1989, Farhat has quickly established itself as an excellent sandwich-butchery-grocery store in Côte-des-Neiges. The reason is simple: you can enjoy delicious sandwiches for very little money! While the address may not look like much, you come here especially to enjoy the house’s famous grilled meats to-go.
Montréal
Pho Lien
Pho Lien is a famous restaurant in Côte des Neiges: packed from opening to closing, it offers some of the best pho soup in Montreal! Plus, the restaurant offers a number of specials throughout the day. Their prices have earned them a place on our list of affordable restaurants in Montreal.
Montréal
Mexico Restaurant
Walking into a restaurant that serves the cuisine of a particular country and seeing many tables filled with people from that country is always a reassuring sign. At Mexico, a discreet spot on Jean-Talon East, that’s exactly the case. When the menu arrives, the reason becomes clear—tempting options, inviting prices, and extremely generous taco portions that erase any doubt. Mexico Restaurant deserves a spot in your list of great places: delicious, affordable, and welcoming.
Montréal
Épicerie Mange-Tout
In addition to its grocery offerings, Mange-Tout serves absolutely decadent sandwiches that have earned a spot on our list of the best sandwiches in the city. Their creations highlight the quality of their products.
Montréal
ChomChom - Griffintown
The Lucky Belly Group (Red Tiger, Blossom, Tiramisu, Terrasse Carla) opened Chomchom two years ago at Le Central, and it has since become a favorite among fans of modern Vietnamese cuisine. To our delight, Chomchom’s delicious offerings are now also available in Griffintown.
Montréal
Restaurant El Chalateco
We have heard about the restaurant El Chalateco multiple times, through the grapevine, from many members of the Montreal culinary scene. They serve traditional Salvadoran dishes with unique flavors at very affordable prices, along with the best pupusas in the city.
Montréal
Marché Hung Phat
Since its opening in 2006, Marché Hung Phat has become one of the go-to spots for bánh mì lovers in Montreal. Fresh, flavorful, and authentic, the Vietnamese creations at this establishment have been attracting crowds for many years.
Montréal
