While Prague has gotten gradually more expensive over the years but compared to other cities in Central or Western Europe, you can still find some very good cheap restaurants in Prague. You can still get a beer in a bar for €1.70 or less and buy a Gulas in a local restaurant for between €4 to €7.50.
Restaurants in the centre or around the Castle are far more expensive in general than restaurants in a local area of the city. You will find a lot of great value lunch specials from €4.00 to €12 during the week. Lunch is usually served from 12.30 pm to 3 pm. The best districts in Prague for good lunch menu options are Vinohrady (Prague 2), Žižkov (Prague 3), Letna (Prague 7) and Holešovice (Prague 6). Most servers/waiters speak good English and the menu is normally in English and Czech.
10 Cheap Restaurants in Prague
1. Bageterie Boulevard
Bageterie Boulevard has 22 locations in Prague alone. They are very popular with both locals and tourists alike. They serve freshly made sandwiches on a baguette and a large selection of side orders. Their baguettes are softer and wider than a typical French baguette. These are categorised into fresh and grilled baguettes. Baguette's costs range between 99 CZK (€3.90) and 119 CZK (€4.80). For breakfast, I recommend the Ham and Egg muffin which costs 59 CZK (€2.40), but it's best to upgrade this to include a coffee or an orange juice for an extra 26 CZK (€1.10).
For lunch or dinner, I recommend the chicken breast grilled baguette (called the Brussels baguette on the menu) with blue cheese, dressing, BBQ sauce and fried onion. This costs 119 CZK (€4.80). Another good option is the grilled roast beef baguette with fine horseradish dressing, roasted onion and cheddar cheese. This also costs 119 CZK (€4.80).
For those of you who are vegetarian, their grilled cheese baguette with camembert, blue cheese, tomato, butter, fried onion and nuts is a great option. This costs 99 CZK (€3.90). When ordering, I recommend that you use one of their self-service machines. You can order in English on this machine and simply pay using your bank card. All of this makes Bageterie Boulevard one of the best cheap restaurants in Prague.
- Address: Multiple locations
- Website: bageterie.com
2. Burrito Loco
There are now over ten of these highly successful Mexican fast-food joints in Prague and they are all open 24/7. Their Speedie Burritos are a great value option costing a mere €4.25. You can get your food to take away or eat inside. The most centrally located Burrito Loco Restaurant is at the bottom of Wenceslas Square (exterior pictured above). The exact address is Na Příkopě 846/2.
- Address: Multiple locations
- Website: burritoloco.cz
3. Kavarna Liberal
Kavarna Liberal is like a 1920s Viennese-style cafe, always serving daily specials costing from €5 to €10. The Spanish ham baguette comes recommended and costs €6. While this cafe is a little off the beaten track, I can assure you that all the staff speak very good English. They have an English menu but any of the waitresses will translate the Specials board. At least one of the daily specials is a vegetarian dish and they also have a breakfast menu.
- Address: Heřmanova 6, 170 00 Prague 7.
- Opening Hours: 8 am to 12 Midnight Mon to Fri, 10 am to 12 Midnight Sat & Sun
- Neighbourhood: Holešovice
- Website: facebook.com/kavarnaliberal/
4. Beas (Indian Thali Restaurant)
Amazingly Prague has become one of the best destinations in Europe for having such a great variety of vegetarian restaurants (considering Czechs have traditionally been a meat-eating nation). Your thali at Beas is weighted. Expect to pay approx 160 Kc (€6.75) for a full thali. There is a jug of water on each table, so you don’t need to buy a drink. If you are a vegetarian, this is a good option. Beas has expanded very rapidly in Prague and now has 8 locations in Prague. I've given practical information for their first location below.
- Address: Bělehradská 569, 120 00 Vinohrady.
- Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 11 am to 9 pm, Sat & Sun 11 am to 8 pm
- Neighbourhood: Vinohrady
- Website: dhababeas.cz
5. Greek Corner Delis
There is a Greek Corner Deli in Prague 2 and Prague 7. They sell Greek pies from a serve-over. I recommend the Spinach and Cheese pie (€2.50) and also the minced beef pie (€3.00). You can take these to go or eat inside.
- Address: Multiple locations
- Website: facebook.com/greekcorner.prague
6. Doner Kebab Zizkov
Kebab restaurants have been popping up all over Prague in the last 10 years and are another great value option for cheap eat. Doner Kebab Zizkov is one of the cleanest and best Kebab restaurants in Prague located on Seifertova Street in Zizkov. Here a Doner Kebab costs €5.50.
- Address: Sladkovského nám. 323/3, 130 00 Praha 3-Žižkov.
- Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 5 pm to 2 am, Sat & Sun 6 pm to 2 am
- Neighbourhood: Žižkov
7. Pho Vietnam Tuan and Lan
Pho Vietnam Tuan & Lan beside JZP was the first Vietnamese restaurant to open in Prague and they set the standard for excellent Pho in Prague ever since. They now have 3 restaurants in Prague. I recommend any of the Pho’s or the Ban Cha, both cost approximately €7.50 each. I've given the address of their most famous location below.
- Address: Na Struze 1740/7, 110 00 Prague 1.
- Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 11 am to 10 pm
- Neighbourhood: Žižkov/Vinohrady
- Website: pho-vietnam.cz
8. Curry Palace
While the evening menu at Curry Palace can be expensive lunch specials are very good value here ranging from €6.00 to €12.00. This restaurant has been voted Prague’s best Indian restaurant on various surveys and has excellent reviews online.
- Address: Jirečkova 13, Praha 7, 170 00
- Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 11 am - 10.30 pm, Sat & Sun 1 pm - 10.30 pm
- Neighbourhood: Letna/Holešovice
- Website: currypalace.cz
9. U Vystrelenyho Oka (The Shot-Out Eye)
Shot-Out Eye is a legendary bar restaurant in Zizkov roughly halfway between the Karlin Tunnel entrance and Florence Bus Station on Husitska Street. Many of the Charter 77 meetings during communism were held here. Also, this place is famous for its cheap and excellent Gulas for only €4. If you are looking for a truly authentic Prague restaurant experience, you are sure to get it here.
- Address: Na Struze 1740/7, 110 00 Prague 1.
- Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 4.30 pm to 1 am, Closed on Sundays
- Neighbourhood: Žižkov
- Website: facebook.com/vystreleny.oko/
10. Cobra
This is a hip cafe/bar/restaurant right on the corner of Strossmayerovo Náměstí in Letna. Cobra Bar tries very hard to have good tasty food for good value. Again this is a great option for lunch as they always have good specials. Many of these specials are either vegetarian or vegan.
- Address: Milady Horákové 688/8, Holešovice, 170 00 Prague 7.
- Opening Hours: Mon 11.30 am to 12 am, Tues to Thurs 11.30 am to 1 am, Fri 11.30 am to 2 am, Sat 10 am to 2 am & Sun Closed
- Neighbourhood: Holešovice
- Website: barcobra.cz
Final Thoughts on Cheap Restaurants in Prague
Prague still has many cheap restaurants. Most restaurants even the one in the centre have daily specials. These are normally the best value. But always be wary of scams. Check your bill carefully before you pay. If the bill is correct and the service is good, I recommend that you leave at least a 10% tip. Obviously, a tip is not expected if you get your food to go.
