Home to over 31,000 students, a famous pier and the largest LGBT community in the UK, Brighton is one of the most diverse and exciting cities to live in as an undergraduate. Whether you’re exploring the shops in the North Laine or visiting one of Brighton’s many pubs or clubs on a night out, there’s something for everyone.
While our fail-safe option is a cone of chips on the beach, we’ve rounded up a list of Brighton’s top budget-friendly eateries to give you a few more imaginative options.
Pompoko
Located on Church Street, just a few minutes from Brighton Station, Pompoko offers a range of tantalising Japanese-style dishes. With curries, donburi dishes and salad bowls priced between £5-6, Pompoko’s pocket-friendly mains are a perfect choice for skint students.
Iydea
A fast-food restaurant with a twist, Iydea’s vegetarian dishes are served in environmentally-friendly packaging, made almost completely from plant fibres. Customers can choose any main dish and then add two sides and two toppings. Eco-friendly meals range from £4.70-7.70; we can’t scoff at that.
Trollburger
Organic burgers are on the menu at Trafalgar Street Arches from Wednesday to Saturday. Trollburger use grass-fed beef for their patties, priced from £5. They serve their food from a shack under Brighton Station from 12-9pm.
La Choza
It’s hard to miss the gaudily painted Mexican street-food joint, La Choza, located in the North Laine. “The Shack” is filled with Mexican curios including sugar skulls and wrestling masks, which makes dining here a memorable experience. As well as burritos, tacos and quesadillas, La Choza serves a range of native drinks, from hot chocolate to tequila.
Very Italian Pizza
Established in Naples in 1845, this family business now has branches in Brighton and Saltdean. Offering vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options of their traditional recipes, V.I.P. still source their ingredients from their farm in Italy and use a wood-burning oven to cook their sourdough pizzas. V.I.P. is located at 19 Old Steine Brighton.
Wheat & Beans Café
This family-run café has an extensive lunch menu and also prides itself on quality Italian-style coffee. Taking Mediterranean cuisine as a point of inspiration, Wheat & Beans serve Roman pizza, flatbread sandwiches and empanadas. The café can be found at 117 St. James’s Street and is open Monday-Saturday.
JB’s American Diner
This 50s-style American diner overlooks Brighton’s famous pier. Customers are seated in retro dining booths and can order from a menu of Americana-inspired cuisine all whilst listening to a mid-century soundtrack of rock ‘n’ roll oldies. Deliciously tacky, JB’s Diner is decked out in 1950s memorabilia, including posters, neon signs, and even a life-sized Elvis mannequin. What more could you want?
Foodilic
With two locations in Brighton, and having recently opened an outlet on London’s Pentonville Road, Foodilic promises to serve customers fresh and healthy options at affordable prices. Foodilic boasts a wide array of salads, and caters to various dietary requirements, including gluten-free and vegan. Find Foodilic at 163 Western Road and 60 North Street, Brighton.
BY NIAMH LEONARD-BEDWELL
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