Bin 4 Burger Lounge/Website
In today’s challenging economy, it is hard to find a good dining out deal, so here at Tasting Victoria we decided to highlight some of our favourite places that are serving quality dishes that do not break the bank. Whether you’re craving classics, Mexican, Thai, fresh wraps, or hearty comfort food, these go-to restaurants prepare delicious meals without stretching your wallet. Here’s where you can enjoy satisfying, affordable eats around the city.
This Mexican food hidden gem has $10 items in their menu that are authentic, delicious, and filling: Cochinita pibil torta: fried bread, shredded pork, refried beans, and achiote sauce, topped with red onions, and habаnеrо sauce. Pambazo de pollo: Grilled bread, mashed potatoes, and chicken tinga, topped with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, onions, and salsa. They are open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am-7pm.
Address: 811 Craigflower Rd.
The wok bar has their classic Pad Thai at a special price of $9 after 9pm every day, at all locations, for dine in only.
Downtown: 1117 Blanshard St.
Broadmead Village: 777 Royal Oak Dr. #400
Oak Bay: 2000 Cadboro Bay Rd. #104
Langford: 3031 Merchant Way #117
The burger lounge offers two burgers from their menu for $9 every day from 3-5pm. The ‘Smashville’: Smashed premium BC beef, orange cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles, shredded lettuce, and Bin 4 burger sauce, and the ‘Smash that’: Smashed premium BC beef, white cheddar, crispy onions, whiskey BBQ sauce, pickles, shredded lettuce, and Bin 4 burger sauce. The offer is available for dine in only and does not include a side.
Locations:
180-911 Yates St.
100-3271 Maple St.
102-716 Goldstream Ave.
The Mexican restaurant has a $5 taco special on Thursdays. Tacos to choose from are beef birria, pork birria, chicken birria, and black bean birria. The tacos include one consomé and orders of two or more tacos include slaw.
Address: 230 Cook St. #109
The pie shop offers a curated selection of hand-crafted pies and preserves, all made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. They have a selection of hand pies ranging from $8-$12 that are perfect for lunch and offer combo deals for $13-$15.
Address: 1701 Douglas St. (Inside the Victoria Public Market)
The fusion pasta restaurant has various pastas on late night specials every day for $9 and $11. The $9 pasta selection includes: Ricotta and tomato campanelle and the Beef Bolognese. For $11 you can choose from Pesto chicken radiatori, Moroccan chicken rigatoni, and Braised beef campanelle. The offer is for dine in only and is available after 8:30pm.
Address: 204-815 Cloverdale Ave.
MeeT on Blanshard (Vegan)
The restaurant has two options under $10 that are delicious and filling: Three “steak” tacos $9.75, made with soft corn tortillas and loaded with marinated “steak” curls, jalapeños, onion, cilantro, house-made sour cream, and fresh lime. They also have a sweet-chili cauliflower on the happy hour menu for $9.75: Crispy house battered and tossed cauliflower in a tamarind sweet-chili glaze and finished with scallions and sesame seeds. The happy hour menu is available Mon-Fri from 3pm, and Sun-Thur from 9pm-close.
Address: 797 Hillside Ave.
The waterfront restaurant has a $6 burger special all day on Tuesdays. It’s a classic burger made with hand-smashed naturally raised beef from Beretta farms, served on a butter toasted potato roll and it comes with housemade pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and the CRAFT signature burger sauce. The restaurant also has an all-day happy hour on Sundays, where you can find a crispy chicken slider for $4, two carnitas tacos for $8, two spicy ahi tacos for $8, and happy hour poutine for $6. There are a lot more options on the menu for $12, $14, and $16 if you are into something different.
Address: 450 Swift St.
The popular dumpling restaurant has dumplings on their menu for $8.75. The order comes with five deep-fried dumplings topped with a house made chili oil, cilantro, and crispy onions. They have a selection of pork belly dumplings, classic vegan, and they offer a weekly rotating special. They also have a special of dumplings and beer for $10 on weekdays from 2-5pm. Beer selection varies depending on availability.
Address: 556A Pandora Ave.
You can get Varsha’s wings for $10 during happy hour and the flavours to choose from are really good and different from other restaurants: butter chicken, Bollywood, maple BBQ, coconut curry, Bollywood blue, sweet chili, and more. Varsha’s happy hour goes from 3-6pm every day.
Address: 101-1600 Government St.
Build your own meal at Green Cuisine by choosing from its daily plant-based buffet. The buffet’s price is based on weight, costing $2.75 per 100g. Options vary day to day but include healthy and hearty options such as aloo bhindi curry, falafel, tofu, and zesty quinoa.
Address: 560 Johnson Street #5 at Market Square's Courtyard
Hecklers Bar and Grill has food specials every day. On Wednesdays, the wings are on sale for $8 per order after 4pm. They have over 40 sauces and dry rubs to choose from.
Address: 123 Gorge Rd. E.
Pick up affordable take-out sushi at Fujiya, the perfect place for a quick bite for lunch. The Japanese food store offers a wide variety of sushi rolls ranging in price from $3 to $10. Their dynamite roll and spicy tuna roll are a particular highlight.
Address: 3624 Shelbourne Street
Not under $10 but good price and great quality: Naami’s
The Mediterranean vendor at the Victoria Public Market has changing daily specials during weekdays. On Saturdays, they offer all wraps and a pop for $14. Wrap choices include spicy chicken, beef kebab, and vegetarian (lentil cutlets). Everything other than the pita for the wrap is made from scratch.
Address: 1701 Douglas St. (inside the Victoria Public Market)
Do you have a favourite budget-friendly spot? We’d love to know!
