If you’ve ever travelled around countries across the South Asian and South-East Asian region, there’s one thing you can all collectively agree on (that’s not including the number of mad dashes to the loo). It’s that in experiencing these countries there’s the opportunity to try the new and unexpected, discover something amazing, and ultimately get out of your comfort zone. And you get out of that comfort zone indeed, from seeing their indigenous culture to practicing their traditional customs. But the best, most transformative, immensely rewarding part of visiting these places, is experiencing what seems to be, the literal, non-stop eating of local cuisine.

- literally me -

The thing is that these cultural eats taste so incredibly different from anything you’ve ever tried. Your mouth is overwhelmed with these incredible flavours and sensations, it somehow makes your eyes roll back into your head? LOL. It’s the type of food that makes you stop and say to yourself, why have I never. freaking. tried this before! And in these countries, food is a serious matter. You ain’t gonna walk a street corner without having to resist a stand selling some thing deep fried, or something tasty on a stick!

omg *drools*

Growing up in South East Asia, I admit that restaurants here in Western Sydney can’t truly compare to the distinct cultural taste of these countries, but we’ve found some places that come super super close. I guess I could've closed my eyes, listened to that continuously repeated Asian playlist in the background, and imagined being served by an unpurposely abrupt female waitress … haha, kidding! But if like me, your parents decided to fly home during your final exams, leaving you behind, and you don’t have the funds for that end of semester backpacking trip across Asia, I promise if not for the corny Asian exterior of these restaurants, the dishes alone will make you feel like you’re virtually there.


Malaysian: Satay chicken skewers with roti canai from Papparich, Parramatta

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Vietnamese: Taro spring rolls from Bau Truong, Cabramatta

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Filipino: Crispy pata fried pork from Sizzling Fillo, Lidcombe 
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Indian: Beef vindaloo from Vrindavan, Harris Park

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Indonesian: Deep fried marinated tempeh from Pondok, Parramatta
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Lao: Yum sab from Lao Village restaurant, Fairfield 

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Cambodian: Banh kanh fish from Battabang, Cabramatta

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Burmese: Pae parata from Bagan, Strathfield 

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Nepalese: Mutton biriyani from Himalayan Fusion Café, Auburn

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Thai: Salt and pepper soft shell crab from Bangkok Snap, Northmead 

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Alright I know what you're thinking. You're thinking hold up a second, this post is clearly cheating. It's cheating on you harder than Britney Spears cheated on Justin Timberlake himself. I mean everything in Cabramatta is cheap so why does Cabramatta get a whole Cheapo Tuesday post and why does the heading feel the need to include "under $20" as if there could possibly be anything in Cabramatta that is over $20? I mean it just defeats the purpose doesn't it seeing as the Vietnamese run this joint. Before you attack me guys, just let me take a second to explain why I felt the need to write "under $20" in the heading of this post. Give me a second to justify my thought process guys.

Cabramatta can be quite overwhelming to the average Sydney sider. I mean even as a Vietnamese girl who can recall the burden of being dragged along John Street by her mother every Sunday morning, only phased by the promise of pandan waffles at the end of the four hour journey, I still struggle with the expanse of street vendors and shops. I won't even try to hide the fact that I can't tell you the difference between banh canh and banh cuon. Because, in all my shameless white washed glory, I still find Cabramatta more overwhelming than deciding whether or not to buy the same item of clothing in both black and white.

Rather than dwell on the "under $20" in the description I want you all to take notice of the word "guide" which suggests that this post in itself is a guide. A guide designed for all of you who, like me, should just overcome this fear of choice in Cabramatta because sometimes you've only got twenty dollars in your pocket and there's nowhere else to go. To you, my people, I dedicate this post. *

*In all honesty, the justification I just gave - like every literary analysis ever done on a text by an English teacher - was a huge lie. I just wanted to caption this post on Facebook with Macklemore lyrics and happened to notice everything on the list was under $20. This is fucking awesome.

Tan Viet Noodle House: Crispy skin chicken with tomato rice, $12.00

Pho Tau Bay: Large Vietnamese beef and noodle soup, $12.00

Cafe 86: Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, $3.80

Tien Minh Bakery: Pork roll, $3.80

Viet Hoa Hot Bread: Pandan waffles, $1.50

Crispy Crepe: Green tea crepe sundae, $5.00

Huong Vuong: Custard egg puffs, $4.00

Giai Khat: Large avocado shake, $5.00

Thanh Binh: Spring rolls, $8.00

Que Huong: Mini Vietnamese pancakes, $11.00

Images sourced from: A Wife's Charmed Life, Food Spotting, Food Spotting, Grab Your Fork, I Heart Cabramatta, I Heart Cabramatta, The Hedonist Life, Richard Elliot, Simon Food Favourites, You Only Live Once.

Whether you’re leading the impoverished student life like the West Things crew or whether you just, you know, like having extra money, the western 'burbs have you covered with a plethora of cheap and tasty food options readily available to satisfy those pesky 3:30pm hunger pangs that just demand to be silenced. 

If us Westies have one thing to be proud of (and let's be honest, we have plenty to be proud of - Kim Kardashian is coming our way people!) it is definitely the cultural diversity that is so clearly reflected in the huge variety of authentic cultural cuisine that is on offer. Whether your taste buds sing to the tangy deliciousness of an authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi or whether it's the aroma of smoky, garlicky Lebanese charcoal chicken that sends you to your gustatory happy place, we have you sorted in this cheap cultural street eats edition of Cheapo Tuesday.

"But where is all this cheap and tasty food?" we hear you ask as you struggle to contain the drool that threatens to ruin your keyboard. Luckily for you, we've done the dirty work and dug up our favourite spots for you to get your authentic cultural munch on for minimum moolahs. Some people say the best things are free... these #westthings are all under $8. Close enough!

Gourmet Chilean Hot Dogs at Paula Empanadas Chilean Bakery - $7.50
Fairfield

Gourmet hotdogs might be something you've seen popping up in hipster inner city Sydney joints lately but Paula's has been serving these babies up out west since before some of us could even walk. Laden with mayo, avocado, sauerkraut and tomato, these authentic Chilean completos (hot dogs) have people from all over Sydney making their way out here, and for good reason  - Their 90% approval rate on Urban Spoon speaks for itself. 

El Jannah Charcoal Chicken - $7.90
Granville and Punchbowl 
Famous for their amazingly fluffy and delicious garlic sauce and charcoal chicken, El Jannah stands as a tried and tested street eat institution within the Western suburbs food scene. With a loyal cult following from all over Sydney, anyone who's been there will tell you: this is the real deal.

For just $7.90 you get 1/4 chicken, regular chips and a drink. The plate also comes with pickles,  a generous dollop of their legendary garlic sauce and lebanese bread on the side.
Yes, you read it right. Free sides. Nuff said.

Banh Mi at Viet Hoa Hot Bread Bakery - $4.00
Cabramatta

A staple for any street food connoisseur, the good old Banh Mi (Vietnamese pork roll) needs no introduction. We like to see it as that faithful friend who will take pity on you when its 3am, everyone is asleep and you only have a few coins to your name. But actually. In addition to being named one of best banh mi joints in Sydney by people way more qualified than we are, Viet Hoa Hot Bread is open 24/7 to service your pork roll needs all-day, err-day.

Pandan Waffles at Viet Hoa Hot Bread Bakery - $1.80
Cabramatta

While some of you are paying 6 dollars a waffle at your local Max Brenner, us westies are getting ours made on demand for $1.80 a pop. Made fresh to order, these piping hot, coconut-ty, pandan waffles are sure to satisfy those of us who like to look for the sweet things in life (and put them in our mouths).
Warning: you will probably end up spending a lot more than $1.80 here. To borrow a line from our friends at Pringles, once you pop, you just can't stop.