If you were to create a Venn diagram where one circle was labeled “cheap” and the other labeled “awesome”, the middle point where they cross over could be labeled “Vancouver on the Cheap”. In other words, this is a weekly series on things to do and places to go in Vancouver that fall into that magical category of being both cheap and awesome. Got a cheap-living tip you’d like to share? Send it in!

Oh yum! For some reason I usually think I’m not going to like Mexican food, but it always winds up being the best. For example: Budgie’s Burritos. It is cheap and delicious, on Kingsway between Broadway & Main (an address only possible due to Budgie’s location on that funny little triangle at the end of Kingsway, across from the Mount Pleasant Community Centre).

First of all: the decor! The ambiance! It’s random and strange, but in a very warm and inviting sort of way, and while full of people who might be classified as hipsters, it has none of the aloof disdain hipsters are so well known for. In fact, the staff didn’t even sneer at me when I asked for my burrito without sour cream or salsa (I know, I know, is that even a burrito? Turns out, yes. Yes it is. And a tasty one.)

The burritos are all $7 or 8 (depending on how big you want them), are made-to-order fresh with quality vegetarian ingredients (vegan options available!), and are just really darn filling.

You can also get a beer for $4, a pitcher for $13, add-ons are totally reasonably priced ($0.50 for sour cream, $1 for cheese, yes please!), they don’t charge extra for vegan substitutions, and all prices include taxes! Brilliant!

One more thing: say you want a glass of water instead of a $4 beer to drink? Well instead of having to feel like a bit of a jerk by making a staff member go get you a glass of water (yes, in case you didn’t realize, this is really annoying when you work in a busy food-service joint), they have self-serve water. No fuss, no making staff do extra work because you’re cheap.

Plus, just look at this video ad they made. Too incredible.

Budgie’s Burritos
44 Kingsway