What is the absolute cheapest meal you can get in Vancouver?

A banh mi from a Vietnamese bakery like Ba Le on Main Street costs $5-$6 and is a full, filling sandwich. Chinese bakeries sell individual savoury buns for $2-$3 each — three of them make a meal for under $8. The cheapest hot sit-down meal is congee at a Chinatown shop for around $7. For cooked variety, the Crystal Mall food court in Burnaby offers rice plates starting at $7.

Are food courts in Burnaby and Richmond worth the trip from downtown Vancouver?

If you are anywhere near a SkyTrain station, absolutely. Crystal Mall (Metrotown Station, Expo Line) and Aberdeen Centre (Aberdeen Station, Canada Line) are both 15-20 minutes from downtown Waterfront Station. The food quality and variety at these food courts consistently exceeds what you can find at downtown food courts, and prices run $2-$4 lower per meal. Many Vancouver locals make regular trips specifically for the food.

Can you eat under $10 in downtown Vancouver?

It is difficult but possible. Your best options downtown are Chinatown (BBQ pork rice plates at $8-$10, bakery items for $2-$3 each), the International Village Food Court at 88 W Pender Street, and Japadog food trucks at $7-$8. Most sit-down restaurants in Gastown, Yaletown, and the Robson Street strip will not feed you for under $10 for a main course. If downtown is your base, the fastest budget move is a quick SkyTrain trip to Chinatown.

Where do university students in Vancouver eat cheaply?

Near UBC, the most affordable options are The Poke Guy on University Boulevard and Uncle Fatih's Pizza for slices, both in the $5-$10 range. Many UBC students buy banh mi downtown and bring them on the 99 B-Line bus. Near SFU Burnaby, students head down to Lougheed Town Centre food court or the Hastings Sunrise strip for Chinese and Vietnamese plates at $8-$9. Near Langara, the Chinese restaurants along Cambie between 41st and 49th offer lunch specials at $8-$10.

What are the best cheap breakfast spots in Vancouver?

Chinese bakeries are the most affordable breakfast option, with a pineapple bun, egg tart, and milk tea coming in under $7 at places like New Town Bakery in Chinatown. Congee shops serve large bowls for $7-$9, which is one of the most filling and warming breakfasts available. Traditional diners like Bon's Off Broadway on Nanaimo Street do egg-and-toast plates for $8-$9. South Asian restaurants on Fraser Street serve chole bhature and dosa plates for $7-$9.

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