Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean having to miss out on top-rated eats. Nazia Hafiz has hunted down the Michelin-starred experiences across the globe that will leave you with leftover bus money. Here are 15 under $50.
Whilst it may be hard to spot the unmarked shopfront housing the first street food stall in Thailand to receive a Michelin star, owner Jay Fai (thai for Sister Mole) donning her signature goggles stands out as much as her famous crab omelettes. A meal here will set you back between $9 – $35 with a claim to Bangkok’s most expensive (yet totally worth it) Pad Kee Mow coming in at $17.
Touting themselves as THE cheapest michelin starred meal in the world, this unassuming hawker stall tucked inside a Chinatown food centre offers up fare from as little as $2. Offshoot restaurant Hawker Chan has met the same success with aussies now being able to enjoy Head Chef Chan Hon Meng’s signature Soy Chicken and Rice at the chain’s newly opened Melbourne location for just $6.80.
Sitting at $14-$30 for an a la carte meal The Coach is one the most affordable Michelin star venues in the United Kingdom. Owned and operated by Tom Kerridge who’s gastropub The Hand & Flowers was the first pub ever to pocket two Michelin stars, punters can expect the laid back vibe of their local with the bonus of an upscale menu loaded with fresh produce and game.
Named after the beautifully converted old mill it’s housed in, L’Antic Moli offers one of the best value for money business lunches. Guests can soak in all the ambience of the mill’s lush surroundings whilst they put away snacks, a drink, two courses and dessert for just $23 – $32pp.
Unsurprisingly Tokyo is home to the most michelin starred restaurants in the world (230+) which equates to an abundance of great rated eats including three ramen joints. A bowl of Nakiryu’s spicy Dan Dan noodles is a bargain at $10 and almost seems pricey in comparison to their Nissin collab michelin cup of noodles available in stores for under $5.
Restaurateur couple Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim’s trendy chicago bistro serves up american korean fusion food and is usually teeming with young foodies. Their popular baked potato bing bread stuffed with bacon and cheese is carb heaven for $10 per half serve with mains sitting between $20-$45.
In a city where brunch is a way of life, La Vara nestled in the heart of Brooklyn delivers hearty southern spanish inspired tapas any time of day. Brunch comes in at $6-$45 a dish with Huevos (eggs) served up at least nine different ways.
Translating to ‘Indeed!’ in Gyeongsang province dialect, Hamo is famous for traditional korean fare originating from the Jinju area of Gyeongsang-do. The owners are soy-bean farmers who home make the deonjang (Korean miso), soy sauce and sesame oil used in their signature dishes that range between $11- $60 (or $36 for a set lunch).
This quirky multi level cantonese dim sum restaurant owned by a former student of calligrapher/artist Chang Ping-huang is decked out with opulent art and antiques and frequented by socialites and politicians. With prices resting in the $7-$23 range, patrons come especially to sample the peking duck with wholemeal pancakes and the unconventional grilled papaya and seafood gratin.
A laid back bistro with no dress code located in the heart of San Francisco’s uber fashionable mission district, Al’s Place offers a light fresh menu driven by seasonal northern californian produce. Their ‘snackles’ cost around $12 with delicious mains like Grits with Goat’s Milk Curds or Brown Butter Roasted Crab averaging $24 – $34.
A cosy 10 seater in the heart of Kyoto run by renown ryokan Tawaraya , this michelin starred eatery specialises in the finest, crispiest tempura with a basic lunch menu that starts at around $30 for a main or $38 for a filling meal consisting of an appetizer, seasonal dish, tempura, rice, soup and dessert.
Serving Piedmontese cuisine studded with regional ingredients, this welcoming family run restaurant situated in Canelli (somewhere between Turin and Genoa) will leave its guests pretty satiated for $40pp with their ‘small’ degustation menu comprising of a snack and 2 courses such as slow cooked veal cheek with polenta and gnocchi with Piedmont hazelnuts.
Reflective of the colourful artwork of Brazillian urban artist Speto adorning its walls, head chef Rodriguez Oliveira carries on his father’s legacy with Mocoto:Esquina (meaning ‘corner in Portuguese). This vibrant eatery gained a star and spot 41 in Latin America’s 50 best restaurants last year and presents a huge menu ranging from $13 – $20 for a main or specialities such as whole encrusted pirarucu fish at $38.
Germany seems an unlikely place to find top shelf turkish cuisine but sibling run Osmans Tochter has received a lot of praise since its establishment eight years ago. A mixture of traditional Anatolian cuisine and contemporary twists on childhood favourites, the hot and cold mezze menu promotes sharing and equates to a pretty affordable $10-$20 per dish.
This modest bistro located in Waterloo serves up fine french fare carefully and simply prepared by the creative hands of chef Arold. A value for money two or three course ($40 – $48) lunch is best enjoyed here on the sunny terrace with a well curated bottle of wine or can be swapped out for tapas at $10-$20 a dish or dinner at $45 a main. *Prices are in AUD and approximate as per the daily exchange rate, all restaurants featured can be found in the Michelin 2018/2019 guide. Prices are for meals only and do not include drinks unless stated.
