Whether you’re doing #DryJanuary, #CarbFreeJanuary or avoiding all kinds of hashtags, it’s likely you’re still susceptible to #BrokeJanuary. So where should you spend the last of your hard-earned cash before pay day? We asked a bunch of people who know about good food for their top tips. What would you do with your last C-note? Tell us in the comments!

Greg Czarnecki, chef at Top 10 restaurant, The Restaurant at Waterkloof in Somerset West

You can’t really buy anything at a restaurant for R100, so I would buy myself a nice jar of Nutella, a couple of eggs, sugar and milk, and make myself crêpe en Nutella, and eat them until I can’t move any more. Or, if I’m too lazy, I’ll just buy a big jar of Nutella, put it in the microwave for a few seconds and then eat it with a spoon. (Just remember to take off the foil on the top of the jar if you follow Greg’s excellent lead and microwave a giant tub of Nutella. Otherwise, he cautions, you’ll be like Katy Perry: a firework.)

Diane de Beer, Eat Out critic based in Pretoria

I would visit Lucky Bread in Brooklyn Mall and buy at least three of their best breads. Or I would go to Laudium, where I would pick up some delicious rotis or parathas from Al Amin or Thali restaurant, where they are made fresh daily and one can use leftovers from both the breads or the Indian equivalents to make the most exquisite sandwiches or wraps.

A post shared by Lucky Bread Company (@luckybreadco) on Dec 4, 2017 at 10:28pm PST

Ash Heeger, chef at ASH Restaurant, Cape Town

To be totally honest I’d probably blow it on a double whisky and soda. I eat at the restaurant every day, so that helps. BUT for the sake of your article, if I were eating out it would be on fish and chips from Woodstock Fisheries. Very cheap; very delicious.

If I’m at home, probably something along the lines of a pho. Extremely cheap to make and stock goes a long way. That being said, I’d have to use bottled water for the broth… that might make it a little more expensive.

Nicola Ashe, Eat Out critic, Durban

I’d head to Florida Road and do this meander: Counter Culture for coffee (R24), then to Afro’s for chicken strips and ‘tjips’ (R49) and, to end on a sweet note, a handcrafted gourmet doughnut from Wicked Donuts (R18). The last R9 goes to a trusty Florida Road UIP monitor.

A post shared by Ash Heeger (@grand_master_ash) on Nov 15, 2017 at 3:08pm PST

Kate Liquorish, Eat Out critic, Joburg

I’d buy a delicious piece of aged sirloin from Marble Butchery.

The butchery counter offers a whole range of delights. Photo by Kate Liquorish.

Kate Wilson, editor of Woolworths TASTE

Dim sum! Specifically dim sum from South China Dim Sum Bar. I would have the lamb potstickers with yoghurt.

A post shared by South China Dim Sum Bar (@southchinadimsumbar) on Nov 14, 2017 at 6:23am PST

Jeanne Calitz, Eat Out critic, Cape Town

I second Kate’s suggestion for South China Dim Sum Bar! But I’d have the pork buns with one of their green tea mojitos.

Graham and Gina Nielson, 9th Avenue Bistro in Durban

Graham: You can’t be from Durban and not have a chip-and-cheese roti with lamb gravy from House of Curries on Florida Road.

Gina: Can I choose coffee? The barista Nikki at Counter Culture in Florida Road is the KZN barista champion, and her coffee is the best coffee I’ve had anywhere in the world.

A post shared by Simnikiwe Mkhize (@iamsimplicity) on Apr 24, 2015 at 7:48am PDT

So I’d have coffee from her and a box of Nutella bites from Wicked Donuts – since it’s my last meal I don’t have to worry about the calories!

To be honest, you could have all three for R100: coffee, roti and donuts – for starters, mains and dessert!

Seth Shezi, Eat Out critic, Cape Town

January is a long month, liquidity-wise! I’d use my last R100 to try out the latest craze and newest restaurant to take over the East City precinct: Lekker Vegan. I’d have their gluttonous, yet guilt-free naked burger (also available with a bun if you’ve already given up on #NoCarbsInJan). Described as ‘gourmet junk food’, it’s a bit oxymoronic but why question it if it tastes good and lets you give eating meat a break for a day? The portions are big, so really you’re getting two meals in one. January-squalor never tasted so good.

Marthinus Ferreira, chef at DW Eleven-13

I’d probably stock up on Maggie 2-Minute noodles and make ramen with some stock, extra herbs, spices and veggies. Or I’d get a BGR burger  – you can get a really good burger there for less than R75, with free toppings. Fries are an extra R25.

Corli de Kock, Eat Out social media manager

I’d go to Sloane Meat Market in Bryanston. They have a hot lunch counter – you can buy a lot of really good food – think rys, vleis and aartappels – for very little money. They do really good meat – and the best biltong in Joburg. Or I’d go buy a BGR burger like Marthinus. Actually, I want one right now…

A combo box at BGR. Photo supplied.

Paddi Clay, Eat Out critic

Smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers on an onion bagel from New York Bagels in Cape Town!

Thando Ndabezitha, Eat Out critic

I’d have a steak, caramelised onion, mozzarella, roast tomato and peri peri flatbread from Milk Bar (R80).

A post shared by Milk Bar (@milkbarsa) on Jun 23, 2017 at 11:55pm PDT

Werner Hayward, Senior business manager, Eat Out

A burger and beer at Hudsons.

A juicy burger and potato chips at Hudsons. Photo by Claire Gunn Photography.

Steve Steinfeld, The Joburg Foodie and Eat Out critic

I’d use it to start the day on a good note and go to Il Contadino for one of their R75 breakfasts and an espresso which should just leave enough for a service tip to round off the bill.

Il Contadino Breakfast Pizza. Photo courtesy of @thejoburgfoodie.

Kelly Cloete, Account director, Eat Out

A dozen madeleines from La Tête (and I’d get change)!

The madeleines at La Tête. Photo by Claire Gunn.

Abigail Donnelly, Editor of Eat Out

In Durban, I’d go to Spice Emporium and get a vegetarian curry and some Eno bread. In Joburg, I’d head to Chinatown Cyrildene and have a feast. I love Chinese Northern Foods – they have great traditional casseroles and dim sum. Or I’d go to tashas in Hyde Park and have scrambled eggs on sourdough. In Cape Town, I’d have a fish roll stuffed with chips from Fish Hoek Fisheries for R35 and a scoop of Unframed ice cream.

A scoop of the grapefruit sorbet, flavoured with timut pepper. Photo by Katharine Jacobs.

Nikita Buxton, Eat Out writer

A poké bowl from Hokey Poke at Mojo Market. My current favourite – the No. 2 with salmon, avo, edamame, sweet onions and tobiko – is R100 on the dot. Alternatively, I’d throw health out the window and order some triple cheese croquettes – filled with boerenkaas, camembert and cheddar – from Culture Club Cheese, or I’d get cheese fries from Clarke’s. And, if in Durban, I’d order a bunch of homemade pizza bases from Glenwood Bakery at R10 a base and throw a pizza party at home.

A post shared by Hokey Poke (@hokeypokebar) on Nov 22, 2017 at 3:44am PST

Marie-Lais Emond, Eat Out critic

I’d buy quite a few free-range eggs, some rice, and a small piece of ostrich or beef to cut into slivers. I’d use all the soy, fish and chilli sauces in my fridge and pantry including my weakness, tamarind, and whip up three different Indonesian-style meals, with eggy omelette ribbons draped over them and any greens from the garden, like radish leaves, shredded over. There’s something rich tasting about that egg-rice combo that is delicious even within end of month poverty.

Lauren Josephs, Listings administration manager

Calamari and chips from Lucky Fish & Chip Co. in Muizenberg.

Fish and chips from Lucky Fish & Chip Co. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Anelde Greeff, Eat Out editor in chief

I would go for lunch at La Tête, and order a portion of cauliflower cheese and a portion of chips. And start dipping!

Mandy Petim, Key account manager for Eat Out

I would get fish and chips from Lusitania, with a Coke.

Ashraf Booley, Eat Out critic, Cape Town

Hake and chips with lots of salt and vinegar and a buttered roll, and an ice cream with the change. From Lusitania, obvs.

The drool-worthy calamari and chips from Lusitania Fisheries. Photo supplied.

Katharine Jacobs, (That’s me!) Eat Out online editor

In Durban, I’d drive out to Impulse by the Sea in Tinley Manor for a gorgeous curry; the vegetarian ones are particularly great value. In Cape Town, I’d either blow it all on a bagel from Max Bagels – I’m thinking pastrami or salt beef with lots of pickles, mustard and cream cheese – plus one of their new watermelon slushies made with fresh watermelon. Or, I’d go to Eastern Food Bazaar and eat my weight in paneer makhani. There would probably be enough left over for lunch the following day, too.

A post shared by Max bagels (@maxbagels) on Nov 13, 2017 at 10:55pm PST

What dish would you blow your last R100 on? Tell us in the comments.