Don’t let the cost-of-living crunch cramp your lunch style. From hotdogs with the lot to hefty double-cut rolls, we’ve rounded up (another) 13 wallet-friendly meal options for you.
Feeling guilty about leaving the budget-approved (but seriously boring) can of tuna and crackers at home and opting to buy lunch out instead? Thankfully there are a bunch of options available in the CBD that’ll keep your wallet – and tummy – happy.
Better yet, when you buy local, you’re also doing a solid for the state’s economy.
Following on from our list of 12 great eats under $12, here are 13 great lunch options in Adelaide’s CBD for less than $13.
1. Nano Café
When it comes to hearty meals that won’t break the bank, you’re spoiled for choice at Nano Café in Adelaide’s East End. Choose from a selection of focaccias for $12.30 (our pick is the tuna and mayo roquette number); chunky pizza squares for just $8.30; or “Nano Stix” – aka long, skinny sandwich slabs – for $12.30. Take a seat in the sunshine and enjoy.
2. El Mexicano Kitchen & Bar
A Mexican meal for $12? Yes please. Head to the colourful El Mexicano Kitchen & Bar on Gawler Place for $8 jalapeno poppers (for a serve of two); flauticas, aka rolled flour tortillas, stuffed with a protein of your choice for $10 (two pieces); or tacos priced between $8-8.50. For the tacos there’s fried chicken, pan-fried chorizo, crunchy prawn, beer-battered squid, plus beef, pork and cauliflower. In other words, there are enough options for many CBD lunches!
3. Asian Gourmet
If a steaming bowl of asian soup is calling your name, this is the place to go. The iconic Adelaide Central Market shop, established in 1985, makes some of the best in town – and a lot of items on its lunch menu are under $13. Go for the chicken and sweet corn soup for $9-12 depending on size, or wonton soup for $8.90. And if you do want to splash out a few extra dollars, on Fridays they do a special Sarawak laksa that’s worth planning your week around.
4. Favourite Fillings Lunch Bar
Speaking of sandwiches, Favourite Fillings on Gawler Place is an oldie and a goodie. For 25 years – and counting – it’s been dishing up fresh, flavour-filled sangas, including SA’s iconic double-cut roll with fillings of your choosing. Of its 28-strong menu, most sandwich bread options sit comfortably under $13. You can’t go wrong with its popular Number 1, made with salami, fetta, lettuce, sundried tomato and olive tapenade. (Don’t be put off by the line – it moves fast.)
5. Yankee’s Burger Bar
If you thought it impossible to get a cheeseburger for less than $13 outside of the major fast food chains, think again. At Yankee’s Burger Bar on Rundle Street, you can get one (and a big one at that) for just $11.99. There’s also a cheese kransky on the menu for $10.99. Heads up: tuck a napkin into your shirt collar. It’s gloriously messy eating.
6. St George’s Bakehouse Hutt Street
There’s an impressive spread of lunch options at the new St George’s Bakehouse, including nine seriously good sandwich options that cost just $11.90. The grilled Caesar and roast beef are our top picks. If you want a classic winter warmer, choose the cheese, ham and tomato toastie for $10.90. And if you skipped breakfast and need more of a brunch than lunch, the bacon and egg sandwich or the ham, cheese and tomato croissant will both hit the spot for under $13.
7. Nanna Hot Bake
This hole-in-the-wall takeaway joint in Market Plaza isn’t much to look at (as is the case for some of the best cafes and restaurants, in our humble opinion!), but its baked lunch offerings are ten-out-of-ten. Its menu of comforting Asian buns includes BBQ pork and lemon tuna, plus sweet options like the custard bun and egg tart. Did we mention everything’s around $5, so you can get two for a tenner?
9. Phonatic
Specialising in modern Vietnamese, Phonatic on Hindley Street is the place to go for Banh Mi – whatever your preferred protein, you’ll get change from $13. Their vegetarian options, including tofu and fried egg, clock in at just $9.50. Choose from lemongrass chilli chicken, crackling pork or yearling sliced beef $10.90. Can’t decide? A combination roll is $11.90. Take a seat in the pretty courtyard or grab-and-go.
8. Smiley’s Tuckshop
At Stall 11 of Adelaide Central Market, you’ll find one of the happiest lunch spots in town – with prices to keep that smile on your dial. Its loaded ham and cheese toasties are just $8 (there’s also a $12 toastie and coffee deal), and there’s a $12 bratwurst hotdog you’ll need to lie down after eating. If you’ve got change to spare, relive your best childhood memories and cap lunch off with a $2 Zooper Dooper. Smiles all ‘round!
10. Hutt St Chicken & Seafood
A quarter chicken for $7.90? You’ll find exactly that at Hutt St Chicken & Seafood, along with cheap-as-chips, well, chips, plus seafood and salads. For $12 you can get a chunky piece of butterfish with chips, or three crumbed calamari rings and chips. There’s also a plain hamburger (with lettuce, tomato and sauce) on offer for $9.50.
11. Mamak Corner
On Bank Street you’ll find Mamak Corner, a Malaysian restaurant specialising in curries and roti. If you’re keen to keep lunch under $13, there are options aplenty on the roti menu. Choose from the original roti canai (traditional, savoury flatbread served with curry dip) for $9.90; roti telur (flatbread with egg and curry dip) for $11.90; or roti banana (flatbread with sliced banana and sugar) for $12.90.
12. Schnithouse
The Schnithouse chain is award-winning for a reason – they tenderise their meat using a tried-and-tested traditional family method, and all schnitzels are crumbed and made fresh to order. Visit their Rundle Street branch for a bunch of lunch options that won’t break the bank including a schnitzel, lettuce and aioli roll or wrap (you choose) for $12. There’s also the Bourbon Cowboy number with schnitzel, ground beef, tomato, lettuce and cheese, finished with a signature bourbon sauce.
13. Warong Rundle
Warong is all about bringing the taste of Malaysian Indonesian to you, and it does exactly that with its menu of grilled meats, stir frys and soups in Rundle Place’s central location. By way of wholesome, hearty meals for less than $12, there’s the wanton soup and Tom Yum with shredded chicken, both for $10.50, and meal-worthy sides like vegetable spring rolls, curry puffs and fried wantons for $2.20, $3 and $8 respectively.
Win, win: Cheap lunch and you’re supporting local
Going for any of these options isn’t just good for your savings – it’s great for the state, too.
When you buy from a South Australian-owned business, which all of these are, you’re supporting the local economy. In other words, you’re helping to keep people – like wait staff, business owners, producers and suppliers – employed, and able to financially support themselves and their families.
To find out more about supporting local, check out Brand SA’s Buy SA. For SA. campaign.
