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The secret of lunch for less than $10

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Some like it hot

LOVE chilli food? And really tasty satay chicken? At Indo Cafe, for $8, take a pick of some Indonesian favourites from rendang curry, nasi goreng, mie goreng, gulai (red curry) and satay chicken or beef, just to name a few. All meals are served with white or yellow rice, with extra sambal and fried onion (for extra zing and crunch). Add $2 and you get a choice of samosa or spring roll plus a can of soft drink.

Indo Cafe, Ground Floor, Waldorf Apartments, London Circuit.

Eating by halves

COO, little sister to Japanese restaurant Iori, may be better known for its Japanese tapas-style dinners, but during the day it’s a take-away lunch bar they like to call 2Go4u.

It sells all the yummy sushi that Iori is known for but also offers an “a la carte” lunch menu that includes a list of don buri (rice dishes) plus ramen, udon and combo soups. The best thing is the price, for a full dish it could cost up to $13.50 but buy a half (but still generous) serve and it’ll cost you $6.50.

Coo, bus interchange, Sydney Building, East Row.

Terrific toasties

WHO doesn’t love a good toastie? Two before Ten, a little cafe in Canberra House, Marcus Clarke Street, offers not only great coffee but tummy-warming toasties with tasty fillings. Most of their products are sourced locally, with their jams, marmalades, flavoured butters and sauces made in house.

The toasties menu (using organic, sour-dough bread) includes: rare roast scotch fillet, provolone, caramelised onion and roasted tomato relish; butternut hummus, marinated mushrooms, caramelised onion and provolone; and lemon-scented chicken with avocado, honey mustard and cheese. All toasties are $10.

Two before Ten, 40 Marcus Clarke Street.

Big serves of curry

DON’T let appearances deceive, Burmese Curry Place in the city bus interchange, is an all-time favourite for lunch (or dinner), if looking for a big serve of a quick and tasty stir-fry or curry.

Take your pick from chicken and potatoes; egg curry; sweet pork; fish cake; fish curry; beef and potatoes; chicken and prawn; chicken and beans; and vegetarian. And for $6.99 take-away and $7.99 eat-in, it’s definitely some of the best value in town.

Burmese Curry Place, Civic bus interchange, Alinga Street.

Rolls and dogs

SO if pub meals are more your style (and you can get away with drinking a schooner over lunch) then Wig & Pen is the lunchtime spot.

Not only does it offer its locally-brewed range of beers and cider on tap, but well-priced counter meals. The most you’ll pay for a main is $12.90. But for under $10 you can have your choice of roast chicken roll, roast beef roll or Danish hot dog.

Wig & Pen, Canberra House, Alinga Street.

A taste of Ethiopia

FOR $8 at Global Cafe, you can have a taste of three authentic Ethiopian curries (made mild, but chilli is available on request) served with either rice or a fluffy, sour pancake-like bread called injera. It is also great for vegetarians, with a good selection of vegetable-based curries, including a tasty red lentil curry. Mmm!

Global Cafe, 63 Northbourne Avenue.

Quick and affordable

PEPPER chicken, Mongolian beef, honey chicken, sweet and sour pork; when you have the taste for Chinese food, Asian Cafe offers it quick and affordable. The award-winning restaurant (it’s won and been nominated for ACT’s Best Asian Restaurant and Best Chinese Restaurant many times) has a lunch time take away specials menu that offers many Chinese food favourites served with steamed or fried rice, or soft pan noodles. The best bit, it’s only $7.50 for small and $8.50 for large.

Asian Cafe, 32 West Row, Melbourne Building.

[box type=”info” style=”rounded” border=”full”]Anywhere else? Know any more cafes and restaurants around Canberra that offer cheap eats under $10? Let us know in the comments.[/box]

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6 Responses to The secret of lunch for less than $10

Judy says: 16 February 2012 at 8:57 am

The Jetty Cafe on Lake Tuggeranong has an entire menu of meals for under $10! Great value and a fantastic view over the lake. It’s in the Tuggeranong Community Centre, beside the library.

Reply
Sabbir says: 17 February 2012 at 10:06 am

Flavours of India in Garema Centre does freshly cooked lunch packs from $8. They also have a all you can eat lunch buffet for $18 and you can choose two curries plus rice from buffet for $10… good value and no waiting time…

Reply
Ben says: 17 February 2012 at 2:30 pm

Bot everyone works in civic – would be great to see some options for those of us in belco, Woden or tuggeranong.

Reply
Freyla Ferguson says: 17 February 2012 at 4:04 pm

I totally agree Ben. If you know of any please let us know. We will be running a follow-up and it would be great to see some lunch deals outside of the Civic area!

Reply
Nada says: 21 February 2012 at 2:19 pm

For those of you working in Belconnen, Pho Viet, on Beissel Street right near Westfield, has lunch boxes for $10 – you can get a variety of dishes with rice including satay chicken, beef in black bean sauce, and there are vegetarian choices as well. You also receive a soft drink and the food is pretty tasty!

Reply
Sue Boyle says: 25 February 2012 at 5:15 pm

HI Freyla

There is also in the city Shalima which is an Indian Restaurant on Marcus Clarke which offers a number of takeaway dishes for under $10. The dishes were $7.50 last time I bought some there, very nice food run by husband and wife team.

Further out of the city is Flatheads Cafe in O’Connor shops where you can get delicious fish and chips for $10 with all the atmosphere of the 70’s style cafe. Awesome! There is no corkage charge either if you bring your own wine.

Today, my friend and I shared a chicken shnitzel burger with chips cut in half at Vikings Tuggeranong Town Centre for $7. What a bargain tasted great and magnificent view of the mountains sitting in the alfresco area. Go Tuggers!

In addition, when I was at Tilleys in Lynham I was fortunate enough to have a dinner in this wonderful establishment the pub atmosphere is second to none. My 2 friends shared the fish and chips with salad which was more than enoiugh for two people and they were quite happy to provide 2 plates which made their meal well under $10 a piece. Lets support establishments who are happy to do that!

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