Helsinki, Finland + Add a trip

Umm, what kind of a budget is that? :)

During the "lunch hour" (around 11-15) most places in Helsinki have decent portions available at around 8 EUR.

If you're into Nepalese, Satkar has tasty food and big portions for 8 EUR during that time (see http://www.satkar.fi/fi/index.php?section=14 ).

The classic local eat-as-much-as.you can for a couple of €:s (buffet) is the Turkish Ani. If you end up there in the evening, expect som belly dancing (you will be invited to join if you are not careful with your eyes).

The deli in Stockmann has good sandwiches and wraps for under 8 EUR.

Bali Hai - Good food - nice and cozy atmosphere - see menue at http://tinyurl.com/2vu9nf

Most downtown restaurants have a very affordable lunch priced between 8-12 euros, some with menus around 20 euros. Personal favorites: http://juuri.fi/ http://www.ryanthai.net/ and Soppakeittiö (Soup Kitchen) at http://www.wanhakauppahalli.com/

On tighter budgets, university cafeterias have what some people might call reasonable food: http://ur1.ca/02ph

Budgetwise nothing beats Unicafé right in the Center. Full cooked meal with salad and bread in a nowadays nice surrounding for 2,40€. You need a student card of course to enjoy the nice government subsidies :)

Depending on your budget of course... Chez Dominique has three course lunch menu for 29-39€ and I must say that it's amazing value for money. Superior service and setting and amazing food. Worth visiting every now and then!

http://www.chezdominique.fi/

New Bamboo center at Annankatu have quite cheap prices (~6 eur). Even outside lunch hours prices are just few euros more.

many pizza , kebab places have food starting with 4€ onwards...

Student Unicafe in the center is quite good :D (of course be sure to have a validated student card)

Unicafes and other student lunch restaurants are good in price & quality. University at Yliopistokatu and Kaivopiha have them, open daily. You don't need to have a student card with you, but you need to pay a bit more then.

Ravintola Tori in Punavuori. Traditional salmon soup, meatballs, or anything from their lunchmenu. My fave place (so far...). http://www.ravintolatori.fi/

Tori is nice but not cheap one... Cheapest eat is unfortunately McDonals or some pizzeria. But as mentioned here before during the lunch time (10.30/11.00-14.00/15.00) most of the restaurants offer lunch menu for reasonable price. Btw couple places to recommend...

Morrison's bar and grill - huge portions and good burgers: http://www.rafla.fi/index.php?id=2385 Sports Academy - the biggest sport spar in North Finland and there is burger which size is 1 kg (1000 g): http://www.sportsacademy.fi/food-drink.html Bullman bar - in Kallio, definately the best meatbals and reindeer with mashed potatoes in town: http://eat.fi/helsinki/bullman Ani - Turkish restaurant, where you can eat so much as you want - kebab and different salads: http://www.ani.fi/anasivu.html

Unicafes are basically only for students and you need to have locan student card that you can eat cheap price. And some of the places (Kaivopiha for example) are just not good. Quality of the food just sucks.

I have found Eeron Keittiö on Vuorimiehenkatu to have excellent value for money in the 10 - 12 eur range. The interior is nicely decorated and the service is hospitable. I can recommend their liver steak that sells for around 12 eur. The restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday, open on other days for lunch between 12:00 and 16:00. Check the changing menu at: http://www.eeronkeittio.fi/

Unicafes are excellent if student and on a Budget.. The one which is hidden inside the national library building a must. You can also find cheap sandwitches from the markethall after 2 o'clock-ish...

My regular restaurants are (around 10-20€) Bar9 (uudenmaankatu), Tori, Bar Teos (tapas in Töölö), Benjamins Bistro (Italian, nearby parliament building), KOM theater restaurant/cafe (there's also excellent (and cheap) french restaurant called four seasons nearby (walk 50m forward), For a Finnish experience go to cafe Suomi (pursimiehenkatu) or SeaHorse (opposite from KOM theater)

I really really recommend this book for everyone who wants to understand and experience Helsinki from a different point of view than the traditional museum experience... http://www.mashmarket.com/store/publications-c-44_49/you-should-be-here-vol-2-p-201

Rosso on Citykäytävä has fresh 10eur pizzas with heathy (!) rye dough and tasty toppings for people with hunger or serious milk allergy. Hot Finnish Fashion Designer Tiia Vanhatapio dragged me once in and I was positively surprised. I hadn't entered any Rosso Pizza chain restaurant for two decades but as Tiia was a regular, I tried. Not the most memorable meal in your life, but around Stockmann area a priceworthy alternative with no fuss.

Soppakeittiö (The Soup Kitchen) in Hakaniemen Halli or in Kauppahalli by the Market Square have very generous bowls of daily changing soups (6.5-8,5eur) with fresh herb oil and bread. Try Finnish version of Bouillabasse or The famous Russian Beetroot soup.

Cafe Engel has a fresh and good daily lunch menu consisting of Today's fish (often excellent white fish ca 14eur), pasta, huge salads (ca 11eur) and other home cooked modern finnish food. The clients are mostly nice looking Finnish working women and cultivated men, such as composers, Film people and poets. Engel also serves good cafe au lait -coffee (not so easy to find in Helsinki) and wine.

Kabuki, the best japanese restaurant in Helsinki also does lunches on weekdays. The place looks very modest but the owner Aki is legendary and the waitresses warm and friendly. Sushi & other cooked Japanese food make a good lunch for 10-15eur. Book in advance.

Cafe Ekberg, one of the oldest and the most original of the Helsinki Inner City cafes does a good value soup + salad + coffee lunch for 10-11eur. You can spoon away as much soup as you like and indulge yourself in a Ekberg cake and coffee for dessert. Cafe Ekberg has "service to the tables" which is a rarity in Helsinki. Also, try Ekberg breakfast buffet, weekdays from 7.30am-10.30am.

I have to recommed Trocadero at Uudenmaankatu. It's a small and casual place, where everything is made from scratch. The place is often full at lunch time, but you can aleways find a free seat in one of the tables.

Tamarin has a good lunch buffet offer on Thai food during lunch hours (round 9-10€). Food is good value for money.