So you're in Banff, you're on a budget, but you want to eat nutritious food in pleasant surroundings.  Forget all those people who claim Banff is expensive!  You can eat well,  and save money!  Here are a few ideas ...

First, consider doing your own breakfasts and packed lunches.  Banff has two supermarkets - Nesters Marketplace on Bear Street (where all the locals shop) and Safeway on Elk Street - and both have lots to choose from.  For breakfasts, consider pastries, sliced sausage, cheese and fruit.  For lunches, the deli counters offer pre-made salads and many other options. 

In restaurant food, for the rock-bottom low-price option, try the Cascade Plaza food court located on the lowest level of this indoor mall, at 317 Banff Avenue.   This is where the high school kids go for lunch.  Choose from Japanese, Sinhalese, pizza, hot dogs, burgers.  There's a great fresh juice bar.  Yes, you're in a mall, but there's a big skylight overhead, a fireplace going in winter, and the people-watching is entertaining.

Now, for a real restaurant meal ...

Check out Pad Thai (back of the ClockTower Mall, 100 block of Banff Avenue). They have a wide selection of inexpensive Thai food. Their food is delicious, and makes up for the rather pedestrian surroundings.

Also great for inexpensive Asian food is  Chaya at 118 Banff Avenue.  Noodle dishes, great sushi, low prices.  A tiny space with only a few tiny tables, but great people-watching onto Banff Avenue.

Tucked on a back street (223 Bear), Barpa Bill's is a tiny hole-in-the-wall with fast food that Banffites rave about.  Go to Barpa Bill's when you're looking for a generous serving of something high-fat but delicious -- their french fries (chips) are second to none.

For Chinese food, locals recommend the Silver Dragon, on the third floor of the Park Mall (200 block of Banff Avenue). The friendly owner/manager Josephine Tsu is a lovely person, the restaurant has a pleasant ambience, a great staff and a very wide selection.

For just enough sushi at a good price (a good price for sushi, that is), ask anyone in town for the "sushi train place" ( Sushi House).  This tiny restaurant on Caribou Street lets you choose your sushi from the cars of a passing model train.   Kids love it, and so do the adults.

And you should definitely consider the Balkan, one of Banff's most economical non-fast-food places to eat. It's Greek, so there are options like spanakopita, avgolemono, dolmathes, etc.   The two generations of the Karlos family, who run the restaurant, are friendly, courteous and local, the food is good, the restaurant is warm and welcoming, with great views of Banff Avenue, and the portions are enormous for the price! The Rocky Mountain Platter for two is an assortment of Greek delights at a reasonable price, and is enough to feed two hungry skiers or three people with smaller appetites.  Diners often eat only soup and an appetizer for dinner there, as they can't manage any more.  Tuesday nights are Greek nights, with plate smashing, belly dancing, etc. all included in the extrmely modest price of your meal.