2. Xufi Café And Bistro – Mosta

Formerly also known as Olympic Bar, everybody knows and loves Ix-Xufi in Mosta Square.

Whether it is hunters and police on the morning shift looking for a ftira or pastizz and a cup of tea to kick off the day or housewives crowding in for lunch after the Monday flea market mingling with an eclectic crowd of regulars and tourists alike, this bustling cafeteria has adapted to the needs of everybody with a diverse menu for every taste and wallet.

Their flagship Maltese tuna ftira starts at €3.20 with an array of different sandwiches and wraps for every taste. Then there are breakfasts, omelettes, salads and pasta all for less than €10. The meat and fish main courses and specials can go a bit higher but still excellent value. Dig in!

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3. Fuel & Co. – Mosta and Food Truck in Paola MCAST

For a more health conscious, Fuel & Co. provide a variety of gorgeous healthy dishes. Describing itself as a fitness bar, it provides build-your-own gluten free pizzas, Hawaiian poké bowls, tortilla wraps, frittatas and a selection of baguettes amongst other things.

Feta and spinach frittata goes for €7.95 and their popular build your own pizza, including the favourite Charcoal pizza at €9.99.

4. Farmers’ Bar – Żebbiegħ

Farmers’ Bar is a popular lunchtime treat that serves a daily menu of traditional Maltese food and no, it’s not just rabbit! From minestra to stuffed marrows, roast pork, imqarrun (baked macaroni), bebbux (stewed snails), horse meat, braġjoli, lamb shanks and of course rabbit, this bar-restaurant has it all.

There are all the delicacies that nanna used to make with changing seasonal specialities at surprisingly low prices with ftira a mere €3.00 and starter portions a full meal for most humans.

5. Poisson – Bormla

How about a freshly battered fish and chips for €8.50 or fried prawns or octopus salad for €10? This Bormla takeaway has wowed customers both with the quality and the prices of its fishy offerings. Also produces pasta dishes and fish burgers.

6. Banh Mi Malta – Sta Venera, MIA

If you’re looking for something more exotic but still on a budget, try this Vietnamese and Asian street-food takeaway.

Banh Mi has earned a name for tasty South Asian street-food that delights the senses.

They have their own €10 menu too – curry or noodles, Vietnamese coffee and water.

7. Suiga – Burmarrad

This truck-stop/ workers’ bar has been feeding hungry people forever. With generous portions and very affordable prices, if you want to fill the hole in your stomach in the best possible way on a budget you can’t go wrong.

Minute steak, sausage, egg, chips and salad for €10 anyone? Or a plate of ravioli or Bolognese for €6.50? You know you want it!

8. Buchmans Snack Bar – Gzira

Despite most of the above producing their own delicious ftira, Buchmans stands as the king of this very Maltese fast food.

This ftira is made in a traditional wood-burning oven in a Sliema bakery and is served warm in abundant portions. Whether you go for traditional tuna ftira, bacon and egg, or steak and egg this is probably the best you can get, with prices ranging from €3 to €5.

If your budget is even tighter you can always appease your hunger pains at the myriad pastizzi shops found in every area and get two pastizzi for €1.

If you’re happy to spend a bit more, a good place to get a reasonably priced meal is usually in one of the many rabbit shops scattered around Malta especially round Imġarr. You can feast on a generous portion of healthy rabbit meat for about €13-15.

Cover photo credit: Mġarr Farmers Bar

Disclaimer: Prices as on February 2023

Explore these restaurants and so much more by checking out Lovin Restaurants, the newest foodie guide on the island.

Do you have any recommendations for affordable eating that we missed?