The sand, the people, and the food! This is what Asia is known for. While visiting each region can be a unique experience because of the diverse cultural difference and hospitality, the local dishes have a life on its own. The continent is divided into five major regions with distinct taste and flavors specific to their culture and traditions. Cooking practices also differ with each and every country and they all contribute to the rich diversity of dishes many tourists enjoy.

Because there are so many cheap places and rich cultures to choose from, it is often easy to get lost in the enchanting charisma of the people, their customs, and their food. And for a traveler who has a limited budget, it can often be confusing when they need to find the best yet affordable local dish.

We gathered the top tourist destinations in Asia and sampled their food for quality, taste, and traveler friendly price. Our tour takes us to the grandeur of the Chinese Imperial Palaces down to the fascinating beaches of the Philippines. Travel with us and find out the 25 cheapest and most satisfying restaurants to visit in Asia.

24 24. Quan Xing Ju Restaurant

Quan Xing Ju is known as the “Little Gem of Chinese Cuisine” in the local market because of their original recipes and flavorful menu. They serve classic Chinese food and the dining area can sometimes be packed with foreigners. Prices are very affordable so anyone visiting Quan Xing Ju restaurant will never be disappointed. The restaurant is located on the north side of Hong Qiao (Pearl Market) and the Temple of Heaven. They have an English menu with lunch or dinner for two reasonably priced under $20.

23 23. Nangfang Jiaoziguan

If you are looking for home-cooked meals with a Chinese touch, Nangfang Jiaoziguan is the place to go. Their menu is very reasonably priced with jiaozi tang dumpling broth served free of charge. The restaurant is located in the Chaoyang District in Beijing. A meal of zhurou xianggu and five dumplings will cost you only $0.52. Plus food is extra clean so you won’t have to worry about getting sick during your vacation. Nangfang Jiaoziguan offers various cold dishes and you can mix and match them to your liking.

22 22. Pad Thai Thip Samai

This legendary restaurant is located in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok and is one of the watering holes for tourists and locals alike. The restaurant serves the best Pad Thai, a stir-fried noodle with tofu, shrimp with fish sauce. What makes this recipe stand out is the well-balanced sweetness and savory blend of ingredients and the smoky flavor of the noodles. Pad Thai Thip Samai is also known for their budget friendly menu and a hefty serving of their local delicacy costs under $2.

21 21. Siam House Café & Restaurant

With loads and loads of food choices, Siam House Café & Restaurant is the best place to visit when you are on a tight budget. The place serves so much food that you might spend half of your day browsing through the thick menu. The food is both cheap and superb and many tourists enjoy the flavorful dishes. It’s a wonderful place to have a traditional Thai lunch with 2 or 3 dishes and a bottle of beer. For an extra bonus, the place is also air-conditioned for an immediate escape from the tropical heat.

20 20. Poke Saigon

Poke Saigon is located at the heart of Ho Chi Mihn City and serves the best potluck of rice vegetables and meat. They are known for their fresh, delicious, and flavorful dishes priced within your budget. Poke Saigon is also highly lauded for their quick service and super friendly attendants. Not only do they serve cheap and delicious foods, but the ambiance is also great for travelers who want a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

19 19. Hong Hoia’s Restaurant

With delectable salads and flavorful Vietnamese recipes, Hong Hoia’s Restauarant in the Hoan Kiem District in Hanoi is an ultimate traveler destination. They offer traditional Vietnamese cuisine from spring rolls, Bun Cha, Beef Pho, and several other delicacies. A two course meal for two people costs only about $12 and the servings are very generous. The staffs are also very attentive and welcoming to their guests and visitors often go back because of the warm welcome and great food. Hong Hoia’s Restaurant is a wonderful place to eat if you happen to be in Hanoi.

18 18. Karuisawa

Karuisawa is located in Taichung and the restaurant is an excellent hotspot for a date. They serve Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine with vegetarian friendly options for vegans. The restaurant itself has a stunning interior with a water architecture fitted right at the center of the restaurant. Karuisawa Restaurant serves a variety of menu with cheap and delicious hot pot. The environment is very nice and calming with attentive waiters and waitresses. They will also guide you through the menu if you do not speak or understand Mandarin.

17 17. Jinfengluroufan

If you have just landed in Taipei, Jinfengluroufan is a definite restaurant to visit for their wonderful soups and enticing Taiwanese cuisine. Their rice and pork recipes are pure heaven and not to mention very budget friendly. Jinfengluroufan also serves unusual food choices for the daring including pork stomach soup and pork brain soup. Their dishes though are so flavorful that tourists flock the restaurant during peak seasons. The Lu Rou Fan, a local braised-pork rice bowl delicacy, is worth a try for first time visitors.

16 16. Khmer Kitchen Restaurant

Located in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Khmer Kitchen is one of the cheap food destinations in Cambodia. They serve authentic Cambodian recipes with signature dishes like the Khmer curry and the Sour Coconut Soup with Chicken. Prices are reasonable and prices go as low as $4 for an enormous serving of a dish. What makes the Khmer Kitchen Restaurant attractive to tourists is the upper deck which has a good view of the Cambodian mountain ranges. The food is cheap and the view is spectacular.

15 15. Poki Poke

Poki Poke is one of the coolest cheap places in Phnom Penh. The ambiance of the restaurant is so relaxing you can spend a day lounging and ravaging their sumptuous meals. Poki Poke has generous servings and their meals are budget friendly for tourists and travelers. A gigantic portion of their Poke bowls only costs $5.50 enough for 2 people to share. They make their meals from fresh ingredients and the restaurant serves unique meals every now and then.

14 14. Yangling Tibetan Restaurant

Yangling Tibetan Restaurant is located in a quiet street in Kathmandu. They serve the best Beef Momo, noddle soup, thupka, and fried rice with a smile from their servers. The restaurant is neat and clean and visitors usually travel to the place because of the authentic Nepalese cuisine and cost-friendly prices. The place is pure heaven for those who are traveling within a budget because of the cheap price and quality of food. Yangling Tibetan Restaurant is a great food destination with clean, friendly and inexpensive food choices.

13 13. di Lipah Warung

di Lipah Warung is located just within a stone throw away from the beach front of Lipah Beach in Amed, Abang Indonesia. The foods are always served fresh and prepared beautifully for their diners. Fish dishes like yellow-fin tuna, mahi-mahi and some other creatures can be bought straight from the boats and the chefs can prepare and cook them as you want. Dishes are cooked with traditional Balinese spices which add an extra flavor to the meal. Aside from Asian cuisines, di Lipah Warang also serves Western meals like fish and chips.

12 12. Ya-Udah Bistro

Ya-Udah Bistro is one of the food destinations in Jakarta serving fusion cuisine. They have hundreds of pork dishes from pork chop, pork sausages, pork wienerschinitzel, and many others. The foods are extremely delicious and the prices are not expensive for a restaurant which offers German meals and side dishes. The place is incredible for saving because a serving of one of their pork knuckles can be shared by four people. Ya-Udah Bistro is an authentic German-Indonesian Restaurant serving a fusion menu.

11 11. Ram Ashraya Restaurant

Located in Mumbia, Ram Ashraya Restaurant serves delectable and authentic Indian cuisines at an affordable price. Their South Indian dishes are perfect startups if you are traveling for the first time in the country and the refreshing drinks give you a taste of the true Indian food. The restaurant though can be jammed at times because of its extreme popularity among the locals and tourist alike. This means, you would have to order promptly, eat quickly, and leave fast for other patrons.

10 10. Prakash Shakahari Upahaar Kendra

Located near Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar West, Mumbai is Prakash Shakahari Upahaar Kendra, an authentic Indian restaurant serving the best Indian food classics. They serve the best Sabudana Vada, crispy sago patties, and Piyush, a thick yoghurt based dessert. The restaurant is extremely hygienic and tourists won’t have doubts when eating because they have a superb ambiance and a clean environment. There are many food choices from the kothimbir wadi, missal, pulaav, and Kairi Panha, which is offered from time to time.

9 9. Lot 10 Hutong Food Court

If you are looking for a superb food experience, Lot 10 Hutong Food Court in Kuala Lumpur offers the variety you need at budget friendly prices. The individual stalls serve many different dishes from roast duck, Tomyun soup, Kim Lian hokkien noodles, and several street foods. The place is a good alternative if you are looking for a quick meal and a comfortable eating place. It can sometimes be packed with tourists and you need to be extra patient to get a vacant seat, but the food is low priced and great tasting.

8 8. Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery Canteen

Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery Canteen is located in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur and serves vegetarian dishes. The restaurant can be packed with locals and travelers at a certain hour but the food choices and price are spectacular. It can be a great experience especially for tourists to witness the hustle and bustle of the busy canteen area and the food is excitingly amazing. It is a wonderful haven for vegetarians as all of the food choices are meat-free and cheap.

7 7. Mawashi-zushi Katsu

Mawashizushi Katus, Meguro is an authentic Japanese restaurant located in Shinagawa, Tokyo Prefecture. Just like some Japanese restaurants, foods are already prepared and eaters would just have to pick their food from the moving conveyor belt. Mawashi-zushi Katsu is known to have good food quality and they are reasonably priced. A 32 plate sushi roughly costs about $7 compared to Japanese restaurants in America where it would cost fifty times more. Mawashi-zushi Katsu, Meguro is a perfect getaway Japanese bar if you are on a tight budget.

6 6. Minatoya Shokuhin

Minatoya is also located in Tokyo Prefecture and the place is ideally Japanese in every way. Food stalls are lined up and large menu posters and Japanese signage cramp every corner of individual stalls. Minatoya Shokuhin is an ultimate budget choice for travelers and locals who would like to have a great Japanese cuisine with inexpensive prices. The place is more like an eat-and-go restaurant as people can just pass by and eat their orders on the go. There are wide choices from sushi, sashimi, and even Takoyaki balls.

5 5. Swee Choon Tim Sun Restaurant

Located in the city capital, Swee Choon Tim Sun Restaurant is a famous gathering cove for dim sum lovers and authentic Asian cuisines. The restaurant is quite fascinating because they let you fill out a paper menu form for your order. There is also a wide selection of spring rolls, dumplings, and there are Singaporean treats like fried carrot cake, xiao long pau, and fried mee sua kueh. It is a great place for group dinners and no unnecessary extras because of the high tech reservation waiting system.