A tight budget can put a serious dampener on things for lovers of good food. Some of us would rather starve than visit unmentionable chain restaurants to save a rand. So if Burger King doesn’t tickle your fancy and cheese sandwiches don’t make the cut, you’re in good company. We’ve conjured up a list of great restaurants where you can get a respectable main meal – stir-fries, burgers, pastas, salads, pizzas and wraps – for under R60.

Johannesburg

‘86 Public
Relish: The pizza-only menu. Prices range between R47 and R85 per pizza, which means you can enjoy one by yourself or share one with a friend (yourself).

2 Thai 4
Relish: Exotic dishes like khao pad ruam, a fragrant and filling meal of fresh vegetables in soya sauce (R54.95).

Allora
Relish: Rustica salad with grilled vegetables, oven-dried tomatoes and goat’s cheese for R52.

Alpine
Relish: Aubergine, courgette, tomato and parmesan pizza for those with a big appetite on a tight budget (R60).

Cafe DeeJon
Relish: Hearty vegetarian lasagne (R55), English-style fish and chips (R60) or a deluxe burger with a homemade beef patty topped with capsicum relish and served with fries (R48).

Dukes
Relish: The Shadow Club burger with a 200g beef patty, blue cheese sauce, red onion marmalade and mango chilli sauce (R42).

Pretoria

Baobab
Relish: Cheese and pineapple burger (R60) or Cajun chicken, avo and rocket salad (R59).

Barn 52
Relish: A whole vegetarian pizza to yourself (R56) or the delectable vegetable broth with noodles (R60).

Cafe 41
Relish: Comforting arrabiata pasta (R56) or Napolitana pasta (R52).

Mythos (Brooklyn)
Relish: Fragrant pitas with beef or chicken yiro and feta for R59.

Oriental Palace
Relish: A full portion of chicken boti (R60), chicken seekh kebab (R55) or Thai vegetable soup or chicken corn soup (R50).

Durban

Freedom Café
Relish: Light lunches like bangers and mash for R49, winter risotto for R57 and a pulled pork bun for R58.

Gounden’s
Relish: One of the curry repertoire like local versions of fish, mutton, chicken, chops chutney and biryani for under R60.

House of Curries on Florida
Relish: Mini bunnies with fillings of curried mutton, beef, chicken or beans – ranging between R42 and R52.

tashas (Morningside  and Umhlanga)
Relish: Delicious toasted sandwiches with fillings such as ham, emmenthal and tomato, topped with two fried eggs (R57) or Napolitano pasta (R54).

Cape Town

Anatoli Express
Relish: Turkish fare like the sucuk and cheese pide (R55), an aromatic flatbread served with spicy Turkish sausage, or a kebab for R60.

Café Mozart
Relish: Sandwiches with fillings like smoked salmon, cream cheese, spring onion and cucumber (R48); classic bangers and mash (R49); or the ever-changing daily lunch buffet for an affordable R42.

Café Nood
Relish: Light meals like the curry chicken pasta for R55 and harissa chicken wrap for R45.

Caffe Villagio
Relish: A mostly Mediterranean menu featuring tramezzinis filled with chicken, aioli and rocket (R58), homemade pies (R56-R60) and burgers (R56).

Knead (Kloof Street)
Relish: Fresh, rustic café-style food like a Spanish brunch pizza (R58) and golden pies (R45) made fresh each day.

Newport Market and Deli
Relish: Gourmet sandwiches of pepper-crusted roast beef with homemade mustard (R60); wraps with fillings like Cajun chicken breast, feta, pepperdews and homemade aioli (R55); macaroni and cheese (R56); a medium chicken burger served with coleslaw and crisps (R55); and a selection of pitas (all under R60).

On a Roll
Relish: Any of the gourmet hot dogs (all under R60). Try the Thai Lady Boy with chicken sausage, mango atchar, pickled ginger, coriander and coconut cream or the Frank Sinatra with wiener, chunky ground beef, cheddar cheese and guacamole.

Voila!
Relish: Gourmet sandwiches with fillings like grilled mushrooms, charred red peppers, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella (R59) or egg mayonnaise, crispy bacon and watercress (R58). Earlier in the day, opt for eggy toast with crispy bacon, grilled banana and maple syrup (R60).

Winelands

Apres Bistro
Relish: Wood-fired pizzas with toppings like beef mince, chilli, peppers and onions (R59) or bacon, feta and avocado (R59); monster burgers with beef (R55), ostrich (R59) or chicken (R49) patties; and dishes like chorizo and potatoes pan-fried with spinach, pine nuts and sherry (R45). Also choose a homemade tortilla with mild curried chicken, chicken strips or winter vegetables (all for R49) or pastas with sauces including alfredo, amatriciana, chicken and arriabata (R50-R59).

Hayashi Chinese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
Relish: Business lunch boxes, sushi options like four-piece tuna fashion sandwiches (R56) and Chinese fare like sweet and sour pork (R58), beef chop suey (R58) and kong pao chicken (R58).

Wild Peacock Food Emporium
Relish: Fabulous salads made from fresh produce from the Wild Peacock Farm (R45); tarts served with a side salad (R49); and delicious pies with fillings of chicken, beef or pork with chips or a side salad (R60).

By Kelly Pluke and Kristia van Heerden

View our specials page for more great deals and don’t forget to treat your back pocket even better with the last of the great winter specials.

Photographs (from top): Alpine, Cafe 41, tashas, Mythos, Dukes, Kream, tashas, Starlings and Hayashi Chinese Restaurant.