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Explore the vibrant food scene in the city without going broke with this list of the best cheap restaurants in Cusco.
Sure, Cusco is a tourist city first, which means upscale hotels and restaurants line the streets and pricey cooking classes and food tours dominate itineraries. However, even if you’re on a budget, you don’t have to miss out on the great dishes on offer in the city.
I lived here on a budget for two months and ate a lot – now, I’m putting that gluttony to good use in this guide to the best cheap restaurants in Cusco!
10 Best Cheap Eats in Cusco
This list of the best cheap eats in Cusco includes tons of options for every taste and budget, including:
- Buffets
- Breakfast spots
- Best desserts
- Drunk food
- and so much more!
Each listing also includes the location of the restaurant, an estimated budget per person, the Google review rating, and a link to their menu (if I could find it online, which notoriously hard to do with restaurants in South America but I was able to wrangle up a few).
At the end, I even include a map with all the cheap Cusco restaurants marked so you can find the ones closest to you.
Let’s dive in!
Coffee and pastry from Le Buffet Frances
1. Le Buffet Frances
Location: atoq Sayquchi 616
Expect to spend: about 34 soles / 10 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.7
Le Buffet Frances is a cute little European cafe tucked away on a side street of Cusco isn’t a buffet, but it’s definitely French!
Run by a young French couple, all the food here is phenomenal and it 100% deserves its place in the top spot on TripAdvisor.
The set meal with a sandwich, fresh juice, and dessert is my go to, while Dan usually opts for the bacon and pumpkin quiche. You can also stop by for desserts and coffee, or meat and cheese platters to share.
The fresh, light taste is such a welcome change from heavy Peruvian food, and the best part?
A complete meal for two with food, drinks, and dessert doesn’t even set us back $20. For me, it’s not only one of the best cheap restaurants in Cusco but one of the best restaurants in Cusco period.
Click here to see a photo of the Le Buffet Francis Menu.
2. Creperia & Backpacker La B’om
Location: Calle Carmen Alto 283
Expect to spend: about 17 soles / 5 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.8
I love this little creperie in Cusco because the ambiance inside is magical. It has low ceilings, colorful cushions, a living room with couches to lounge in and a balcony with an amazing view of the city.
Oh, and the food is great too!
The “menu of the day” with a crepe, espresso, and fresh juice will only set you back $5 and will definitely leave you feeling cozy and full.
Another great aspect of this place is that it has the cheapest beer prices we’ve seen so far! $2 for a Cusquena brew is (sadly) a great deal here in the city.
Because of that, Creperia & Backpacker La B’om is one of the best cheap restaurants in Cusco to visit for lunch and some casual afternoon drinks on the weekend.
Click here to see a photo of a typical Creperia& Backpacker La B’om menu of the day.
4. Best Breakfast in Cusco – Museo Del Cafe
Location: Espaderos 136
Expect to spend: about 34 soles / 10 usd per person
Google review rating:
Museo del Cafe has the best breakfast in Cusco. There, I said it.
Yes, the meals may be $9 to $10, but that shouldn’t scare you away because first,they are huge. I had to skip lunch afterwards because I was still so full.
And second, they include everything. Coffee, fresh juice, and all the food you could ever need.
We checked out a few cheaper spots in Cusco, but once we added juice and coffee to our meals, the price almost always exceeded those from Museo del Cafe.
Finally, the food is delicious and the ambiance is great. Comfy couches line the wall and we snagged a great seat on the balcony overlooking Cusco’s cobbled city streets.
It’s right by Plaza de Armas, making it one of the best cheap restaurants in Cusco when you’re searching for the early morning cure to your next hangover!
Click here to see a photo of the Museo del Cafe daily deals menu.
3. Best Lunch in Cusco – Fuego Burgers and Barbecue Restaurant
Location: A Perú, Calle Plateros 358 A. 2do Piso
Expect to spend: about 25 soles / 8 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.5
Fuego American Burgers and Barbecue is a casual American spot and one of our favorite cheap restaurants in Cusco.
Dan and I hit it up for the amazing lunch menu with sandwich or burger, fries, coleslaw, drink and dessert for $8.
Yes please.
I opt for the cuban sandwich with pulled pork, while Dan usually tries something from the burger menu. If you’ve been traveling in South America for awhile, you know a good sandwich is hard to find. Check out Fuego for your fix!
Click here to see a photo of the Fuego Burgers and Barbecue burger menu.
5. Best Peruvian Food – Menu of the Day
Expect to spend: as little at 5 soles / 1.50 usd per person
If you’re wondering where to eat in Cusco on a super budget trip, this option is for you.
The menu of the day is not a restaurant, but an option. Classic Peruvian cuisine has some of the best cheap restaurants in Cusco because many Peruvian restaurants offer traditional food at an insanely cheap price every day.
The “menu of the day” changes daily (makes sense) and usually includes a soup, a main dish, and a juice.
You can find the choices hanging in windows of restaurants or written on signs outside advertising the prices. If you want a filling meal on a budget, the menu of the day is the best option.
At the small restaurant by my apartment, we can get a large potato and veggie soup, rice and fried fish, and a cup of juice for only $1.50.
Seriously, it’s crazy.
However, the closer you get to the center of the city, the more expensive the menu will be, and I’ve even seen them range up to $10 at nice restaurants. So, if you’re on a budget my advice is to prowl the side streets to get the best deal!
6. Best Value – Maikhana Indian Buffet
Location: Av. El Sol 106, Int. 207 | 2nd Floor, Galerias La Merced
Expect to spend: about 20 soles / 6 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.1
I love Indian food.
I try every Indian restaurant in every city we visit and to be honest, in South America, they’ve all been average at best. Its not surprising, but still a little disappointing!
Who knew I would eat the best Indian food of my life in little Oxford, Ohio??
When it comes to good restaurants in Cusco, though, the Maikhana Indian Buffet definitely deserves a mention.
First of all, if you’re on a budget, it’s less than $5 for all you can eat rice, curries and a salad. It even includes water, which is so rare and so great to find outside of the US.
Second, while the curries are fine, the real star of the show is their garlic nan.
Omg.
It is far and away the best nan I have ever had in my life! The pieces are huge and so flavorful, and you can add it to your meal for only $1.50 more. That alone immediately categorized Maikhana as one of the best cheap restaurants in Cusco.
Seriously if you’re an Indian lover like me, don’t miss this awesome buffet!
Click here to see a photo of the Maikhana Indian Buffet menu.
7. Best Drunk Food – Rey Kebab
Location: Peru, Tecsecocha 400
Expect to spend: about 17 soles / 5 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.5
Rey Kebab is just the best. It’s set up right across from the best bars and clubs and open late so you never have to head home unsatisfied.
The classic kebabs are only $5, and they’re big, hot, and filling.
However, my favorite dish here is definitely the pita and hummus plate. I love hummus, and theirs is exceptional. Their pita is also always hot and fresh and for only $3 it makes the perfect midnight snack.
No matter what time of day (or night) it is, definitely stop by Rey Kebab for a delicious and cheap meal in Cusco.
8. Best Dessert in Cusco – Qucharitas
Location: 372 Procuradores, Cusco, Peru,
Expect to spend: about 7 to 14 soles / 2 to 4 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.6
Guys. This place.
Qucharitas is a cafe, ice cream, and dessert shop in Cusco.
The most interesting thing about it is that they make the ice cream right in front of you! They have a cream base that they pour on large freezers, then they mix in whatever toppings you ask for and let it all freeze together into their delicious ice cream.
Oh, and did I mention their waffles?
Put your ice cream on a fresh waffle with nutella, or in a homemade waffle cone. They also have smoothies, cakes, milkshakes and crepes to tempt your sweet tooth.
A half waffle with ice cream and nutella (my go to) is more than enough to split with a partner and will only set you back $4. Not bad, because the quality and flavor is absolutely phenomenal!
Click here to see a photo of the Qucharitas menu.
Churro and tea from The Churro Bar
9. Best Snack – The Churro Bar
Location: Choquechaca 216-C | 2nd floor, San Blas
Expect to spend: about 10 soles / 3 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.9
Ok, The Churro Bar is just too cute.
This place only has a small menu, but you don’t need to look at it long because it’s clear what they do best: churros.
You can get mini churros to dip in chocolate, churros filled with caramel, or even churros topped with different candies and toppings like a sundae. Pair it with a coffee or tea and your sweet tooth will definitely be satisfied for only $3.
Check it out!
Click here to see the full Churro Bar menu.
10. Best Bar in Cusco – Indigo
Location: Tecsecocha #415 first floor | First Floor
Expect to spend: about 34 soles / 10 usd per person
Google review rating: 4.2
I kow this article is about good restaurants in Cusco but I’m including Indigo on the list because it’s my favorite bar in Cusco and has the best atmosphere.
Order a beer, a pisco sour, or even a hookah to smoke for the night, grab a few board games from the bar, and enjoy the music and cheerful ambiance while you relax. Arrive at just the right time and maybe the table set with a porch swing will even be available to snag for your group.
If you’re getting dinner too, the best options on their menu are definitely the Thai curries.
The musandam curry with peanut butter and rice is my go to. It’s large enough to split for two if you grab a cheaper appetizer also, which can help keep costs down.
Definitely don’t miss Indigo for a night out in Cusco.
Click here to see a photo of the Indigo food menu and click here for the happy hour menu.
Discover the Best Cheap Restaurants in Cusco With This Guide
Cusco is one of my favorite cities to live in so far because the array of different restaurants and cuisines has been so delicious and fun to try.
I promise, even if you can’t afford $30 ceviche, there are plenty of cheap restaurants in Cusco where you don’t have to trade flavor for price. Use this guide to find the best 10 cheap restaurants in Cusco and try all of my favorite meals!
Ready to go?
Explore unique stays on Airbnb – like these glass sky lodges on the side of a cliff or this tiny house in the hills – and the top-rated hotels on Booking.com to plan the perfect night, weekend, or long-term stay in Cusco.
Then, check out more food, nature, and cultural experiences on Airbnb to round out your itinerary, or book a multi-day Peru tour with Intrepid to finish you travel planning in one click!
This article is part of the Candid Cusco series. Read the rest below:
13 of the Best Instagram Spots Around Cusco
7 Day Trips from Cusco You Can Do Without a Guided Tour
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Cusco?
11 Things You Need to Know Before You Travel to Peru
Then, explore the complete Peru Series for more on what to see, do, eat, drink, and discover in the country!
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Do these restaurants offer any special deals to the customers?
Yeah, a few of them have special menus. From 11 to 3 at Fuego, you can get a sandwich/burger, fries, coleslaw, drink, and desert for 25 soles. Maikhana also always has a 15 soles all you can eat buffet, and Le Buffet Frances has some menu specials, like a sandwich, fresh juice, and dessert for around 17 soles I believe.