Between the VAT increase and the rise in petrol prices, it seems impossible to avoid inflation. Naturally the first response is to tighten those purse strings, which often means limiting luxury spends like eating out. Still, sometimes you just need to treat yourself to a fantastic meal cooked by a professional. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the hearty main courses you can have for dinner in Cape Town for R85 or under.

Café Extrablatt (Green Point)

Café Extrablatt has always catered for all with good value-for-money food. Alongside an extensive menu of burgers, pizzas, seafood and meaty dishes, they have a vegetarian pesto pasta for R79.90 and a traditional ‘currywurst’ sausage served with a mild curry-spiced tomato sauce for R76.90. They also serve a thin-based flammkuchen topped with onions, sour cream and bacon for R59.90.

Cafe Extrablatt’s exterior. Photo supplied.

Caffe Villagio (Milnerton)

Those sticking to a budget will be spoiled for choice at Caffe Villagio, as the menu includes many main courses around the R85 price point. You can get a chicken gyro (R85), paleo falafels (R85) and a straight up classic cheeseburger and chips (R80).

Casa del Sol (Strand)

This beachy spot in Strand serves their famous fish and chips for R65, as well as a beef stir-fry (R75), a chicken stir-fry (R69) and spaghetti bolognaise (R69).

Outside at Casa Del Sol. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Clarke’s (City Bowl)

Whatever you’re after, Clarke’s will always have the solution. It’s also a great spot for cheap and filling eats. The dinner menu is filled with reasonably priced items, such as the vegetarian beetroot-and-zucchini burger with fries for R85. The four-cheese macaroni will fill you up for R68, as will the soup-and-grilled-cheese offer for R75.

The hearty soup-and-sandwich combo at Clarke’s. Photo supplied.

Hesheng (Sea Point)

Hesheng is the hole-in-the-wall Sea Point spot that specialises in traditional Chinese food, which would be reason enough to go – another reason is their exceptional prices. The generously portioned mapo tofu is R68 and deliciously sweet and spicy, while 12 vegetable dumplings will set you back just R50. In fact, aside from the seafood and beef dishes, nearly everything on Hesheng’s menu sits below the R85 mark, making this the ideal pre-payday spot for a crowd.

The delicious, good-value offering at Hesheng. Photo: Jess Spiro

Masala Dosa (City Bowl)

Masala Dosa is known for serving traditional Southern-Indian dishes from its low-key Long Street location, with fair pricing and generous portions. Fill up on one of the delicately spiced channa dosa (curried chickpea stew), wrapped in a soft lentil-and-rice flour wrap for R85, a vegetarian roti wrap for R77, or a chicken curry wrap for R80.

The Poké Co. (City Bowl)

This über-cool spot on Loop Street has been a hit with locals since the day it opened. While poké is not necessarily known for being budget friendly, The Poké Co. has many filling options around the R85 region. The medium Charlie Tuna for R80 (with shoyu tuna, mango cubes, cucumber ribbons, shredded carrots, sweet red onion and toasted macadamia nuts) and the medium Windward for R85 (with Hawaiian heat tuna, cucumber, edamame beans, sliced avocado, pickled ginger and shredded nori) are both great substantial meal options. (Each is made with a filling sticky rice base.) A large Chick costs R85 and is made up of shredded chicken, pineapple, cucumber, carrot, red cabbage and toasted macadamia nuts; while a large vegan Garden Gate is R85 for tofu, cucumber, edamame, avocado, carrot, pickled beetroot and toasted coconut flakes.

Bowls of fresh poké from The Poké Co. Photo supplied.

Please note that while we take care to ensure the accuracy of this information, some items may change without our knowledge.