Tuk Tuk

16 Drummond Street, tuktukindianstreetfood.com

Low corkage fees on BYOB and fast-cooked, street food-style eats maintain Tuk Tuk as one of the best value restaurants in Edinburgh. Small curry dishes are made for sharing and the pau bhaji whisk you to the street stalls of Mumbai, all within an industrial-chic interior.  

Chizuru Tei

278 Morrison Street, chizurutei.co.uk

It might be the unassuming decor that keeps this place off-radar. But it’s a bonus that (probably) the best sushi in Edinburgh remains a secret. The fish is so fresh it could have come from Tsukiji market, while bento boxes, variety platters and a small corkage fee keep the bill pleasingly low.

Masti

86–88 Morningside Road, masti.uk

If you’re not taken by one of Masti’s delicious mango lassis, you can bring your own drinks for free. Exposed stone walls and sleek décor make this one of the classier BYOB options, but the menu is comfort food classics: Goan fish curry, lamb bhindi and a particularly delightful chana masala.

Pera

57 Elm Row, turkishrestaurantedinburgh.co.uk

This tiny spot on Leith Walk serves up Turkish grill and mezze dishes allied to some of the friendliest service in the city. Homemade hummus sparkles with pomegranate seeds, boat-shaped pide are ideal for sharing, and the lamb and pistachio kofte certainly won’t leave you hungry. Cash only. 

Toranj 

20a Leopold Place, toranj.uk

You might miss this basement restaurant if it weren’t for the scent of apple tobacco drifting up from the shisha courtyard in summer. Inside, it’s the scent of perfectly charred (halal) meat and freshly baked flatbread that whets your appetite for plates of Persian grill and traditional stews.