Best Cheap Eats Under $15 in London, Ontario
Eating out doesn't have to drain your wallet. London has a quiet roster of spots where $15 gets you a genuinely good meal — not a sad compromise, but food you'd happily go back for. Here are six places a local actually eats at when money's tight and the craving isn't.
1. Burrito Boys — 206 Central Avenue
The burrito bowl at Burrito Boys is one of the best cheap-meal deals downtown. Around $10 for the veggie bowl, and it's not skimping — you get a full bowl of rice, salad, sauces, kidney beans, and avocado. It's filling, fresh, and easy on the wallet. Worth knowing: the $10 bowl is the veggie version (no chicken), so come for it as a great meatless meal rather than expecting protein. It's a short walk from Victoria Park if you want to take your bowl outside.
2. Pizza Rounds — 422 Waterloo Street
Pizza Rounds on Waterloo Street does genuinely tasty veg pizza — fresh, and at a price that makes it an easy call. It's the kind of unassuming downtown spot you'd walk past, which is exactly why it belongs on this list. Go for the veg pizza; that's what it does well.
3. Rajdhani Restaurant — Dundas Street
Rajdhani on Dundas Street is the spot for a lot of tasty food without spending much. Under $15 gets you the mini thali — a full, satisfying plate that's the move here — and the dahi papdi is worth a try too if you want something lighter. This is honest, generous Indian food at a fair price. Come hungry; you'll get your money's worth.
4. Wow Shawarma — Clarence Street, downtown
A downtown cheap-eats list isn't complete without Wow Shawarma on Clarence Street. The food is tasty and genuinely affordable, and you get a free drink with your order — a small touch that says a lot about how the owners run the place. Good people, good value. Go hungry; you'll leave full with money still in your pocket.
5. The Ale House — downtown
If you want a lot of food for not a lot of money, the Ale House downtown is the pick. Generous portions, fair prices, and — the part that matters — it's actually tasty, which isn't always true of cheap-and-plenty spots. Order the tomato rice; it's the one to get. Good for when you're hungry and don't want to overthink it.
6. Villa Madina — White Oaks Mall food court
Don't let the food-court location fool you — Villa Madina inside White Oaks Mall is a reliable spot for very tasty food that won't break your budget. It's the kind of place you come back to because you already know it won't let you down, and that consistency is worth a lot when you're eating out cheap. An easy, satisfying stop if you're already out at White Oaks.
Hungry for more? This is just a start — London has plenty more cheap gems worth knowing. Sign up for the free Local Guide and we'll send you the best of London, Ontario every week.
A quick note: everything here is just my own honest opinion based on my own experiences. Prices, menus, and hours change, and your visit might be different from mine — so treat this as a friendly tip from a local, not a guarantee.