The best cheap eats on the UNSW Kensington campus

Where can you get the most meal for your buck on campus? Let's find out!

Published on the 01 April 2026

Students chatting while eating food at a table indoors on Kensington Campus

Finding the best place to eat around the UNSW Kensington campus can be a tricky prospect because there are quite a number of restaurants around and students have a limited budget.

So to help appease the age-old struggle for every student that's stepped foot on the UNSW Kensington campus, we're going to list all the amazing food places that'll keep you well-fed without breaking your budget.

From free food opportunities and cheap eats to reasonably priced coffee and snacks, we'll cover all the important areas that'll keep your inner foodie - and wallet - satiated.

Free food

Due to the worrying level of food insecurity faced by too many university students daily, UNSW has implemented a Food Security Strategy that outlines a plan for support programs.

Shaped by student feedback and working in collaboration, this strategy has several free food initiatives designed to provide nutritious meals to students. Initiatives include:

Free chef-led cooking classes on campus that help students build essential life skills and provide them with take-home ingredient kits.
Free lunch and afternoon snacks at Arc stalls every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at various locations on the UNSW Kensington campus.
A free Food Hub locker near Gate 2 that provides students with nutritious ingredients and essential basic health and hygiene products to help ease the cost of living.
- There's also a free Food Hub locker at the UNSW Paddington Campus!

Best cheap eats

After extensive research and testing (i.e. we walked around campus a lot, tried several places and asked many people for their opinions), we've come up with a list of food places that are appetite-whetting while being reasonably priced (typically under $20).

Yallah Eat - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- With mini kebabs starting from $10 and mini bowls starting from $11.50, that's a healthy - and well-priced - helping of protein and veggies.
Stellini Pasta Bar - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- Nothing like some pizza and/or pasta starting from $15 to get you through your afternoon classes.
Guzman Y Gomez - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- There's no denying burritos and burrito bowls starting from about $12. Not that hungry? Their $3 tacos will fix you right up.
Mamak Village - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- Roti, rice and curry starting from $12, that's pretty good for tasty Malaysian food on campus.
Home Ground Kiosk - Lower Campus (near the Village Green)
- With rolls, sandwiches and bowls costing between $5 to $15, this is a must-see place on campus.
Alleyway Kitchen - Quad Food Court
- Big portions of Chinese food with either rice or noodles for around $15 or so? Sign us up!
Soul Origin - Quad Food Court
- Can't go wrong with hearty sandwiches or salads for under $20 - especially when they do end-of-day specials for under $10.
Subway - Upper Campus (near Morven Brown Building)
- A classic option, but there's a surprising range of choices for around $11-12, including subs, wraps, nachos and salads. Feel like something small? You can't go wrong with cheese garlic bread for $4.50.
Pho House - Upper Campus (near the Pavilions)
- It's hard to say no to servings of pho starting at around $14 and banh mi for under $10.
Stock Market Kitchen - Upper Campus (Mathews Arcade)
- Create the salad of your choice and taste, right down to the type and amount of dressing, starting from $13.

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Cheap drinks and snacks

Whether you need something to get you going in the morning, a pick-me-up for your afternoon lecture, or a little something to wash down your very reasonably priced lunch, there are places on the UNSW Sydney campus where you can pick up a little treat that'll hit the spot.

Stellini Pasta Bar - Lower Campus (near the IGA)
- With regular coffee for $3.50 and large coffee for $4 every morning from 7am to 10am, it's a deal that's almost too good to be true.
Sharetea - Lower Campus (near IGA)
- Sweet and milky or refreshingly fruity, you have your pick of bubble tea offerings - along with several optional toppings - starting at under $10.
Home Ground Kiosk - Lower Campus (near the Village Green)
- Bundle your cheap sandwich/roll with an equally cheap coffee starting at $4. More of a juice person? Those are just $4.50.
Pharmacy @ UNSW - Quadrangle Building
- A surprising choice, but there are some cheap lollies and canned/bottled drinks at the Pharmacy that won't bust your wallet.
Boost Juice - Upper Campus (near Morven Brown Building)
- Your go-to choice for something healthy and fruity without caffeine in it.
Cafe Brioso aka The UNSW Coffee Cart - UNSW Library Lawn
- The ideal first stop every morning when you arrive at UNSW as the freshly-brewed, reasonably-priced coffee, tea and matcha at the long-standing coffee cart is a must.