Where to Get a Cheap Meal in Taupo
Although we always encourage you to cook meals for yourself in your hostel to save money on food while travelling in New Zealand, sometimes the lure of cafes, bars and restaurants gets too much… Especially in Taupo! The town is packed with enough eateries to make your mouth water.
With this in mind, we have put together a list of cheap eats in Taupo so you don’t have to feel too guilty when treating yourself to some fine food!
We’ve covered all traveller budgets, to the dirt-cheap meals for under $10 to the value-for-money deals with heartier meals for NZ$11-$20 and NZ$21-$30.
Try cuisine from the classic Kiwi fish and chips to Indian lunch deals to keep your palette refreshed.
And remember, we have heaps of meal ideas in our Hostel Recipes section to keep your own cooking fresh and cheap!
Table of Contents
6 Foodie Experiences in Taupo
We’ll get to the cheap stuff, but if you are looking for an experience involving food in Taupo, then check out these activities:
- Huka Prawn Park – Catch your own prawns and have them cooked up the restaurant!
- Huka Honey Hive – The largest showcase of honey products in New Zealand, get some free samples at the Honey Hive
- Trout fishing on Lake Taupo – Take a fishing charter onto Lake Taupo to catch a trout and bring it back to cook!
- Crafty Trout Brewing Co. – Craft beer and cider-lovers can try a great selection at the Crafty Trout Brewery
- The Taupo Market – Every Saturday morning, get yourself to the market at Nukuhau Shopping Centre!
- L’Arte Cafe – Check out some of the weird and wonderful mosaic displays while getting a bite to eat.
By the way, here are 10 Things to Do in Taupo at Night too!
© NZPocketGuide.comCheap Eats in Taupo – NZ$10 and Under
Cheap Lunch Deals in Taupo
Double Happy Takeaways (Rifle Range Road) has hearty classic Kiwi-Chinese combo meals, think fish & chips, battered mussels, dumplings, or burgers for under NZ$10, a solid go-to for a filling, affordable lunch.
Paetiki Bakery Café (Spa Road) is a pie-lover’s dream: savoury steak, butter chicken, or sausage-roll pies, all under NZ$10, served café-style from a heated display.
See more hostels in Taupo here and find more backpacker bars in New Zealand here.
Fishy Meal Deals
For some cheap sushi, head to Suncourt Sushi, Tamamutu Street, for NZ$5 sushi meals. For a cheap and cheerful fish and chips, try a fishbox pack at The Fish Box, Rainbow Drive, for NZ$10.
Fast Food in Taupo
Taupo is packed with fast food joints on Roberts Street, like Domino’s Pizza where you can order a Mini Value Pizza with Choc Lava Cake for ony NZ$7.99.
Burger prices for BurgerFuel start at NZ$7.70. Check out the world’s “Coolest McDonald’s” situated in a plane with a whole bunch of food under NZ$10, as does KFC on the same street.
© Pauly's DinerCheap Eats in Taupo – NZ$11-$20
Pub Grub in Taupo
For good-value pub meal, head down to the Mulligan’s Public House Irish bar (Tongariro Street) for $20 burger, fries and a beer/cider/wine!
Get a hearty roast chicken with roast potato at Prime Roast (Gascoigne Street) for NZ$12, a vegetarian roast meal is also available for NZ$15.
For monster gourmet burgers, head to Pauly’s Diner (Paora Hapi Street) for NZ$12-$19.
Asian Food in Taupo
@Siam Thai Street Food Cafe (Heuheu Street) is BYO and often has some NZ$11.50 entrees with Book Me.
You can always rely on Indian lunch deals for cheap eats in Taupo, such as at Indian Delights (Roberts Street). A Tandoori Mixed Grill Platter costs NZ$18.90 which is a combination of tandoori chicken, lamb sheek kebab, garlic chicken tikka, fish tikka and tandoori prawns served on bed of salad with mint sauce.
Cafes in Taupo
Replete Cafe (Heuheu Street) has a few affordable offerings like smoked mushroom quesadilla for NZ$13.50 and bang bang chicken for NZ$16.50.
To add a bit of Greek flavour into your life check out KEFI (Ruapehu Street) and there’s something for everyone in Fine Fettle Cafe (Paora Hapi Street), with a menu under the NZ$20 mark.
Another great option is Body Fuel Café (Tongariro Street), a health-conscious spot blending Asian and Kiwi flavors with organic breakfast and lunch options, renowned for friendly service and solid value.
© PexelsCheap Eats in Taupo – NZ$21-$30
Gourmet Burgers and Kiwi Classics
Get yourself different types of burgers and fries at Jolly Good Fellows (Lake Terrace) for NZ$18-$22.
There’s no messing around at the Ploughmans Inn (Charles Crescent), where there is a NZ$25 menu, a NZ$25 burger menu and a NZ$14 dessert menu.
If you like matching your wine and beer with food then the Vine Eatery (Tuwharetoa Street), is the place for you. Check out their extensive menu of cheeses, tapas, pasta, salads, and more that will easily see you to the NZ$30 mark.
Dixie Browns (38 Roberts Street) remains open and brings modern Kiwi flavors with dinner entrees such as tempura prawns for NZ$28.50, pulled-pork dumplings for NZ$21 and BBQ ribs NZ$26.50.
More Budget Advice for Taupo
That’s it for our guide to cheap eats in Taupo; for more information about budget-friendly dining and things to do in Taupo, check out the following articles:
- The Guide to Taupo on a Budget
- 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Taupo
- 15 Free or Cheap Activities in Taupo
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Taupo.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2025])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2025])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2025])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2025])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2025])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2025])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2025])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
