Hobart’s Best Eats Under $25
Three years after it was named Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of 2023, ‘cozzie livs’ chat doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. So when we asked the Bottom of the World team for their hottest tips on navigating Hobart’s food scene economically, the brief was clear: delicious, filling, and definitely not a bank-breaker. Turns out our people know as much about outsmarting inflation as they do about Tassie’s best eats.
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LUCKY SRI-LANKAN KITCHEN: CHICKEN CURRY HOPPER
For the hopper-uninitiated, let us introduce you to this Sri Lankan mainstay: a crispy rice flour and coconut milk pancake, shaped into an edible bowl, and devoured sans cutlery. At Lucky Sri-Lankan Kitchen’s weekly Farm Gate Market stall, you’ll find them filled with your choice of curry, or - for something less traditional - egg, bacon and cheese. Served with coconut sambol, kale salad and dahl, the chicken curry version is our pick for Hobart’s best Sunday morning ritual.
Farm Gate Market, Bathurst Street, Hobart
Sunday, 8am-1pm
ROOM FOR A PONY: CHINESE CHILLI FRIED OMELETTE
Informed by season, produce and trend, Room for a Pony’s menu changes regularly. The Chinese chilli fried omelette, though? It’s the exception that proves the rule - a permanent fixture, unbothered by the churn of newcomers, lest its absence induce a locals’ revolt. Think crispy-edged gooey eggs, fresh shallots, unctuous chilli jam and oyster sauce, mounted on perfectly steamed rice - it’s a beautiful chaos that you’ll come back for time and time again.
338 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart
Monday-Thursday, 7am-9pm; Friday, 7am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 8am-10pm
SUNBEAR: BIG EGG SANDWICH
Not the first time we’ve mentioned this giant amongst men/sandos, and likely not the last. Two huge slices of cult favourite Pigeon Whole Bakers sourdough make a worthy vessel for layers of Sunbear’s curried free-range eggs, grated tasty cheese, and local greens and beetroot (plus ham or avocado, if you’re game to make like us and add extras). It’s school lunchbox nostalgia, with a healthy dose of grown-up.
145 Collins Street, Hobart
Monday-Friday, 7:30am-3pm; Saturday, 8am-2pm
Sunbear’s big egg sandwich and Lucky Sri-Lankan Kitchen’s chicken curry hopper (images: Instagram)
KINOKO DELI: POKE BOWL
Arrive early to this office day favourite, or make your peace with the midday queue. Kinoko Deli’s poke bowls bring serious Japanese flavour to the Hawaiian staple, stacking a base of sushi rice or salad with house pickles, ponzu-marinated veggies, cabbage and eggs, and sealing the deal with your choice of protein - emphasis on quality seafood. Add tofu and kimchi for extra aura points.
110 Collins Street, Hobart
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 10am-3pm
CHINA LANZHOU BEEF NOODLE: BEEF NOODLE SOUP
Hand-pulled noodles, fall-apart beef, and a condiment bar: what’s not to love at this middle-of-the-mall soup spot? At China Lanzhou Beef Noodle, everything’s made fresh to order, with noodles stretched before your eyes dropped into a savoury bomb of broth, topped with mountains of coriander (if you’re that way inclined), and spiked with house chilli oil. It might be cold outside, but things are heating up in here.
41 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
Daily, 11am-8pm
SPICE ON WHEELS: SAAG PANEER
If you’ve been lucky enough to catch them at Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast, you’ll know that Spice on Wheels is very serious about flavour. Thankfully, access isn’t limited to Tasmania’s favourite winter festival - the Sandy Bay and New Town brick and mortar iterations of this authentic Indian outfit serve up enormous servings of saag paneer (creamy spinach, cottage cheese and fragrant spices) seven days a week.
1/10 Magnet Court, Sandy Bay
Monday-Friday, 12pm-3pm and 5pm-9:30pm, Saturday-Sunday, 5pm-9:30pm
43 Forster Street, New Town
Daily, 12pm-4pm and 5pm-10pm
New Sydney Hotel’s Spice Bag and Albert Road Store’s burgers (images: Instagram)
NEW SYDNEY HOTEL: SPICE BAG
Said to have been dreamt up in Dublin in the early 2000s, the spice bag is the Chinese-Irish fusion icon that we didn’t know we needed until we found it at the New Sydney Hotel. Served in a literal paper bag (because we’re classy around here), this one straddles the cusp of too evil to eat: chicken popcorn, fried jalapeno, roasted pickled red onion, roasted red pepper, and hot chippies … and a jug of curry sauce to pour over the lot. Rip it open and dive in, preferably with a pint of Guinness on the side.
87 Bathurst Street, Hobart
Monday-Thursday, 12pm-10:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 12pm-11:30pm, Sunday: 4pm-10pm
ALBERT ROAD STORE: THE ORIGINAL BURGER
There really is no hiding the fact that one of our less sophisticated male partners influenced this addition. A little further afield in Hobart’s northern suburbs, Albert Road Store is beloved amongst the white- and blue-collar communities alike, much of which claims it to be the home of Tasmanian’s best fried chicken. While there’s plenty of pimped-up chicken and beef options, we’re told that the OG - a simple stack of fried chicken breast fillet, lettuce, cheese and mayo - is the ideal entrée into this corner takeaway joint’s unashamedly not-that-good-for-you menu.
68 Albert Road, Moonah
Monday-Friday, 6am-3pm; Saturday, 7am-1:30pm
