Cheap eats in St. John's: how to eat well on a budget

St. John's is not the most expensive city in Canada to eat in, but a sit-down dinner with drinks, 15 percent HST and a tip can still add up quickly. The good news is that some of the best food in the city is also the most affordable. Fish and chips, a bowl of soup, toutons, a slice of pie: the dishes that define Newfoundland were made to be filling and cheap.

What are the cheapest good meals in St. John's?

Some reliable options:

• Fish and chips, especially a one-piece portion or shared between two
• Chips, dressing and gravy, a filling comfort food
• Soup and a sandwich at lunch
• Toutons and a cup of tea at breakfast
• Bakery items: muffins, loaves, squares and pies
• Takeout from family-run shops across the city

How do you save money on restaurant meals in St. John's?

A few habits make a big difference:

1. Eat your main meal at lunch. Lunch menus and daily specials are often much cheaper than dinner for similar food.
2. Look for daily specials, often written on a board, which can be good value.
3. Share large portions. Many Newfoundland portions are generous.
4. Skip the drinks at a restaurant and have them elsewhere.
5. Watch for Deal Hours and offers at quieter times, such as weekday afternoons.

Why does the bill come to more than the menu says?

Two things are added after the menu price in Newfoundland and Labrador:

• HST of 15 percent, the combined federal and provincial sales tax, on most restaurant meals
• A tip at sit-down restaurants, typically 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill

So a dinner listed at a round number on the menu ends up noticeably higher. Factor that in when budgeting, especially for a group.

Where do students eat cheaply near Memorial University?

The area around Memorial University and Churchill Square has cafés, takeout and lunch spots used to feeding students. Look for soup-and-sandwich deals and lunch specials during the academic year. Cooking at home with friends is the other student staple, and ingredients from the Farmers' Market or the grocery store go a long way.

Is the Farmers' Market good for cheap food?

The St. John's Farmers' Market runs on Saturdays at 245 Freshwater Road, year round. Food vendors there sell breakfast and lunch, and you can pick up baking and local produce. Prices vary, but it is a good place for a casual meal and a look at local food without the cost of a restaurant.

How can visitors save money on food in St. John's?

If you are visiting:

• Have a big lunch and a lighter dinner.
• Pick up baking for breakfast instead of eating out every morning.
• Picnic on a fine day, with food from a bakery and a grocery store, at Signal Hill, Bannerman Park or by the harbour.
• Eat where locals eat, away from the busiest tourist streets.

Are there free food events in St. John's?

Festivals and community events in summer sometimes include free entertainment, and food vendors at those events are often affordable. Church and community suppers, including cooked dinners, can be both delicious and good value. Watch local listings.

What is the best cheap meal on a cold day?

On a raw, foggy day in St. John's, nothing beats a bowl of soup or chowder with fresh bread, or a plate of fish and chips eaten somewhere warm. Many cafés make a soup of the day, often hearty pea soup, vegetable or turkey soup in the colder months, and serve it with a roll or a slice of homemade bread. It is filling, inexpensive and exactly what the weather calls for. Look for "soup of the day" on the board as you walk down Water Street or Duckworth Street.

Is takeout cheaper than eating in?

Usually a little, because you do not tip for counter service in the same way, though many people leave a small tip at a counter. Takeout fish and chips eaten by the harbour can be one of the best meals of a trip.

What local groceries make a cheap picnic?

Eating some meals from a grocery store is the easiest way to save money on a trip, and in Newfoundland it is also a way to try local food.

• Fresh bread and buns from a bakery.
• Hard bread and local cookies made in Newfoundland.
• Partridgeberry or bakeapple jam.
• Smoked or salt fish, from a fish shop or supermarket counter.
• Local cheese and fruit from the farmers' market in season.

Combine a picnic with a walk on Signal Hill or at Quidi Vidi, and save your restaurant budget for one good fish and chips or a traditional dinner.

How do you find good cheap food in a new city?

Ask locals, especially students and service workers, where they eat on their days off. And look at what people actually ordered and how they rated it. Mosey lets you rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, follow friends with good taste and a sensible budget, and keep a list of cheap, reliable places to come back to.

More guides to read next:

• Brunch in St. John's: toutons, fish cakes and weekend lines
• Eating around Churchill Square and Memorial University in St. John's
• Cod tongues in St. John's: what they are and whether you should try them

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.