Table of Contents
This blog post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Last Updated on 29 April 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has a good range of genuinely cheap places to eat, not just student-friendly deals, but places where the food is actually worth having. This guide covers all the key cheap places to eat in Brighton by area, so you can pick something depending on where you are in the city rather than trekking across town.
Quick reference table
| Place | Area | Price per head | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pompoko | North Laine, Church St | Around £5–£9 | Japanese rice bowls, fast and filling |
| Fatto a Mano | North Laine + others | From £6 a slice | Pizza, casual sit-down or takeaway |
| Burger Brothers | North Laine | Around £7–£10 | Smash burgers |
| La Choza | North Laine | Around £14–£16 | Mexican, casual |
| We Love Falafel | North Laine | Around £3–£5 | Falafel wraps, quick stop |
| Donatello’s | The Lanes | From £16.95 for two courses | Italian, families, set menu value |
| Foodilic | Central Brighton | Around £10–£13 | Vegan and vegetarian buffet |
| The Regency Restaurant | Seafront | £14.50 lunch deal | Fish and chips, sit-down |
Prices are based on current menus and listings where available. Check before you go as these change.
North Laine: the best area for cheap eating in Brighton
North Laine has the highest concentration of affordable independent food in the city. If you are looking for a quick, cheap lunch or an inexpensive dinner, this is the most efficient place to start.
Pompoko
Pompoko, 110 Church Street. Japanese rice bowls, ramen and gyoza in a cramped, no-frills setup that has been a Brighton institution for years. Order at the counter, find a table, wait a few minutes. Main dishes run around £5–£9. Cash only, bring cash or there is an ATM nearby. BYOB with a £2.50 corkage charge per person, which makes it one of the better cheap dinner options in the city if you pick up a bottle on the way. No booking, no table service.
Fatto a Mano
Fatto a Mano, North Laine and other locations. Pizza by the slice from around £6, full pizzas available to eat in. Consistently good dough and a reliable cheap option if you want something filling without committing to a full restaurant meal.
Burger Brothers
Burger Brothers, North Laine. Smash burgers in the £7–£10 range. Small menu, straightforward setup, usually busy at lunchtime.
We Love Falafel
We Love Falafel, North Laine. Falafel wraps and boxes from around £3–£5. Good for a quick stop rather than a sit-down meal.
La Choza
La Choza, North Laine. Mexican street food, burritos, tacos, rice bowls, with most mains in the £14–£16 range. Not quite under £10 but consistently good value for the quality and portion size.
The Lanes and city centre
The Lanes and the surrounding streets have plenty of cafés and sandwich spots for lunch under £10, but fewer specifically cheap dinner options, most restaurants here are mid-range.
Donatello’s
Donatello’s, The Lanes. The best pure value in central Brighton for a sit-down restaurant meal. The two-course set menu from £16.95 is the reason to go, it is one of the clearest budget deals in the centre for proper Italian food with table service. Also covered in the best restaurants in Brighton guide.
Seafront
The seafront kiosks and seafront cafés vary in quality and price. Most are mid-range. Harry Ramsden’s is nearby at around £18 for fish and chips, convenient but not the best value on this list.
The Regency Restaurant
The Regency Restaurant, seafront. A proper fish and chips sit-down with a weekday lunch deal at £14.50 for two courses. More expensive in the evening but the lunch deal makes it reasonable for a seaside meal with sea views. Covered in more detail in the best fish and chip shops in Brighton guide.
Central Brighton and beyond
Foodilic
Foodilic, central Brighton. Vegan and vegetarian buffet-style restaurant. Pay by weight or choose set options. Good for plant-based eating on a budget, expect to spend around £10–£13 for a filling meal.
Tips that actually help
Pompoko is cash only
Several cheap places in North Laine either do not take cards or work better with cash. Worth having some before you head out.
Lunchtime deals are common across Brighton
Donatello’s set menu, The Regency lunch deal, and daily specials at various North Laine spots are all better value than evening à la carte. If budget is the priority, go at lunch.
The further you go from The Lanes and the seafront, the cheaper things tend to get
London Road and the areas around it have curry houses, chicken shops and casual food that is generally cheaper than the central tourist belt.
FAQs
What is the cheapest place to eat in Brighton?
Pompoko on Church Street in North Laine is consistently the best value sit-down meal in central Brighton. Most main dishes are in the £5–£9 range, the food is filling and consistently good, and BYOB with £2.50 corkage per person keeps the overall bill very low. Cash only — bring cash or use a nearby ATM before you go.
Where should I eat in Brighton for under £10?
Pompoko for Japanese rice bowls, We Love Falafel for falafel wraps and boxes, and Fatto a Mano for pizza by the slice are all reliable under-£10 options in North Laine. For a full sit-down restaurant experience, Donatello’s two-course set menu from £16.95 is the best value in the centre even if it is slightly over the £10 mark.
Is North Laine good for cheap food?
Yes — North Laine has the highest concentration of affordable independent food in Brighton. Pompoko, Fatto a Mano, Burger Brothers and We Love Falafel are all within easy walking distance of each other. It is the most efficient area to eat cheaply without going far from the centre.
Where can I eat cheaply near Brighton seafront?
The seafront itself tends to be mid-range or expensive. The Regency Restaurant’s weekday lunch deal at £14.50 for two courses is the best seafront value for a proper sit-down meal. For something quicker, the fish and chip shops near the pier are reasonable — see the best fish and chip shops in Brighton guide for specific recommendations.
Are there cheap vegan options in Brighton?
Yes. Brighton has a strong vegan food scene with several affordable options. Foodilic does a buffet-style vegan and vegetarian menu at around £10–£13. Pompoko has vegetarian and vegan options at the same price as the rest of their menu. La Choza has plant-based Mexican options in the mid-teens. For a full guide see the best vegan restaurants in Brighton.
What is the best value set menu in Brighton?
Donatello’s in The Lanes offers a two-course set menu from £16.95, which is one of the clearest budget deals for a proper Italian restaurant meal with table service in central Brighton. The Salt Room on the seafront has a weekday two-course lunch for £19, which is good value for the quality and setting if you want seafood with a sea view.
Final Thoughts
For the best value in central Brighton, Pompoko is the standout — fast, filling, genuinely cheap and a long-standing local favourite rather than a trend. Remember it is cash only. For a cheap sit-down Italian meal, Donatello’s set menu is hard to beat in the centre. For something quick, We Love Falafel and Fatto a Mano are both reliable. And for the best value seafront lunch, The Regency’s weekday deal at £14.50 for two courses is the pick.
If budget is the main concern, lunch is almost always better value than dinner. Set menus, lunch deals and daily specials are concentrated at lunchtime across the city. Going at dinner adds cost without always adding much to the experience at the cheaper end of the market.
9 thoughts on “Cheap Places to Eat in Brighton: Best Value Food by Area”