Where to eat in Manchester on a student budget

Manchester’s budget places to eat don’t compromise on quality, so there’s always somewhere to go with classmates when you’re studying abroad in Manchester. These student-friendly restaurant can introduce you to the great breakfast flavors, give you a favorite lunch hangout, and serve budget-friendly evening meals. So, whatever the time of day, you can dine like a king on a student budget in Manchester.

Milk & Honey, St Peter’s House

You don’t have to go far to grab a breakfast or lunchtime bite – this community café is on the University of Manchester (UoM) campus. A welcoming café, it serves a selection of healthy dishes, freshly baked cakes and delicious coffees. Many of the dishes on the menu at Milk & Honey are under £5, and everything is 100% plant based. The café is run by volunteers for St Peter’s House too, so you can enjoy a delicious plate of food and do good at the same time.

Footage

When you’ve worked up an appetite, this quirky all-day restaurant in a converted cinema will fill you up without blowing your budget. Footage is a large casual dining space just off Oxford Road with a bar and big screens for sporting fixtures. You can order from the hearty menu of pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, and small shared plates from 12 noon, and prices are around £10. When you arrive, sign up for special student deals on the Footage website to keep your budget on track.

El Capo

For a group of you, El Capo is a wallet-friendly Mexican. It brings Mexican street food to Manchester’s Northern Quarter: Think tacos, burritos, and pequenos (small plates) with most dishes between £5 and £10. With hip hop and soul tunes playing as you dine, this is a fun, lively, place to catch up with friends and eat well for less in a cool neighborhood.

Kro Bar

Just steps from campus, opposite the Student Union, Kro Bar has a huge menu of burgers and hot dogs – and Danish dishes. The best part? Kro Bar has a 10% discount for students and has two-for-one offers for students every day of the week. On Saturdays, for example, you can get two-for-one waffles, and on Tuesdays, it’s burgers. It's a great way to spend more time with new friends and save money.

Levy Market at UoM

Smell the aromas as you step out of class when the weekly food market comes to Bridgeford Street on the university campus. Every Tuesday during term time, this weekly street food market has an ever-changing mix of vendors serving hot, cold, sweet, and savory food. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options at Levy Market at UoM too, and fresh coffee aplenty.