Prague is not a cheap city, but it’s also not the most expensive one. Especially if you know what you want and where to look. I’m going to share some ideas on where you can get a good and cheap eats in Prague
Cheap Eats in Prague: Lunch Menu (Denni menu)
Many restaurants, in addition to their regular menu, create a special one with a limited number of dishes, but with a great price. This works similarly to a set meal at a fast-food place where ordering “all together” costs less than if you ordered the items one by one.
Some places call this the “daily menu” (denní menu in Czech) and display it on a special board. Others have a dedicated list and will show it to you if you ask.
Crucially, they don’t serve it all day long. This offer is usually valid from 11:00 to 15:00 (though timing can vary by location).
So, how does it work?
In some places, this is a fixed group of meals with no possibility to choose something else. You can see an example in the picture. There might be only one or two, sometime – three Menus. They often include soup (polévka) and a main dish (other places might add a salad).
So, you could say, “I want menu 2, and two times menu 1” (as an example). And you will get both—the soup and the main course. This set will cost you just a few korunas more than the main dish “solo.” It’s a great deal if you’re ready for a two-course meal.
The “Denní menu” works a little differently—it’s a list of dishes they are selling that day at a lower price. This could also include a soup and a main course, but you have the option to buy only the soup or only a main course from the list.
Is the Meal in the Denní Menu Good?
Not all restaurants offer a fixed or “denní” menu. Even if they do, there might only be one or two options, so the choice isn’t huge.
However, this is a fantastic way to get a good and cheap Czech lunch. Why? Because the locals who live or work nearby know about this and are the ones using it. Restaurants cook for them. As you know, reputation is very important for business, so they have to make good food for this menu!
📝Cuisine Tip: While many daily menus offer traditional Czech favorites like Svíčková or Goulash, you’ll also often find international options, especially Italian or Asian dishes, as restaurants cater to the diverse local lunch crowd.
More about traditional Czech Meal read here.
Get Good Cheap Eats in Prague Using Apps
One of the easiest ways to find a place to eat is using an app. Everyone knows Google, and many people choose places based on reviews. This is a common method, but you usually have to visit a website to check the menu, prices, and make a reservation.
📝Warning! Some restaurants offer a free shot for a good review. Don’t fall for this if you want to avoid being manipulated by unfair reviews. If you want to say something about your experience, do it honestly and for free. This “free shot” is a trick; it makes you feel like you must leave positive feedback. So, just don’t do it. Don’t let them manipulate you.
🔎 The Google Maps Search Hack: Use Local Words
Want to find the cheapest local spots? Use Czech words in your map search:
- Search for: Enter the Czech words “Jídelna” or “Kantine” into Google Maps.
- What they are: These places are canteens, not formal restaurants. They focus on fast, pre-cooked meals (Hotovky).
- Why they are cheap: They cook for local workers who eat there daily. The price is low, but the meal quality is usually high.
- Where they are: They are often found on side streets or inside business/shopping areas, away from the main tourist crowds.
- The Result: Google will list the nearest places with low-to-medium prices guaranteed. This is a top tip for finding genuine cheap eats in Prague.
Menicka – a Czech App for Checking Menus and Prices
In the Czech Republic, there’s specifically for finding a meal called “Menicka” (available on Google Play). It has three modes:
- Má poloha (My Location): The application shows you nearby places, starting with the nearest one.
- Města (Cities): This mode lets you choose a place where you want to look for a meal. The list includes not only Prague (with all its parts) but also cities nearby or the most popular cities in the Czech Republic.
- Oblíbené (My Favorites): If you’ve marked some places as favorites, you’ll find them on this list.
In any mode, you see a list of places. It shows some dishes and prices. Restaurants fill this list themselves. They post their cheapest meals or most popular dishes. Nobody checks if the info is correct. You cannot see the last update date. This is the biggest problem with the app. Still, many locals use it. They use it to choose lunch or dinner.
The downside of the Menicka app for tourists is that it’s only in Czech. This makes it difficult to understand the names of the dishes. But you will definitely understand the numbers!
Here is the link for this app website.
How to Use It as a Tourist
How can you use “Menicka” if you don’t speak the language? Using the “Má poloha” mode, you’ll get a list of the nearest restaurants. In this list, you can compare the prices and choose a few that you think are fair (you can mark them as “oblíbené” – favorite – to save them).
The next step is to go there and see if the numbers are correct and if you like the atmosphere. Then you can either leave it in your “Favorite list” or delete it. And the very last step is to try the food and leave a review!
Czech Phrase Quick-Start: Here are a couple of phrases that will help you when you visit a restaurant:
- “Dobrý den, máte denní menu?” (Hello, do you have the daily menu?)
- “Poprosím Menu číslo [jedna/dvě/tři].” (I would like Menu number [one/two/three], please.)
Hotovky: Cheap Eats in Prague from Supermarkets
For the lowest price, look for Hotovky (ready meals) in stores. This is the absolute cheapest hack for cheap eats in Prague.
- What they are: These are prepared meals, already cooked and packaged. They are the same classic Czech dishes found in restaurants, such as goulash, bramborky, svíčková na smetaně, etc. Also you can find an international meals like lasagne or rice with meat/chicken, etc.
- Where to buy: Find them in the chilled section of big supermarkets (like Albert, Billa, Penny, Lidl or Kaufland). Hypermarkets like Globus also have many good options.
- The Price: They are extremely cheap! Prices often start as low as CZK 40–100 for a full meal.
- The Problem: You must have a microwave or stove to reheat them.
- The Tip: If your accommodation has a kitchen, buying Hotovky is the cheapest way to eat classic Czech food for dinner.
📝My opinion: I am not a fan of ready-to-eat meals. Yes, this is one of the cheap eats in Prague, maybe the cheapest. But I do not like them. I have tried them a few times. The only exception is lasagne—I bought it three times, and it was edible. Hmm… not tasty, though. My colleagues eat them, and they think the price is fair. For me, salads, sausages, and cheese work better. Salads come packed in plastic boxes. They usually include small packets of oil, vinegar, or sauce. You can find these salads in supermarkets. They are in the same section as the ready-to-eat meals.
