The round-up: ten (enjoyable) lunches for under $10
When you’re down to the last tenner in your pocket, you want it to stretch as far as possible, right? It might be a few more days until pay day, or you’re just tightening the purse strings after your first credit card bill for the year found its way into your letterbox. If you’re getting a little bit sick of the same old toastie, noodles or sushi for lunch (look, you can only tolerate so many avocado rolls), then have we got a treat for you! Friends, here are ten lunches that you can get for not a cent over $10 that are actually enjoyable. Here’s how to be totally frugal with your hard-earned beans whilst getting a darn tasty feed at the same time.
Pure Meats at The Kitchens: This is a bit of a hidden lunch secret, but we’ll let the cat out of the bag just for you. Yes, it’s a butcher, and a fancy one at that, but from 11:00 am each day the butchers cook up all their finest sausages and pop them in a bun for just $5. No no, not $10, we said $5. That’s right, five beans. You’ll get it topped with sauerkraut, coleslaw, cheese and all the sauce you want. Yes, they’re massive. You’re welcome.
Alfred’s Diner: Nab a picnic table at Alfred’s and tuck into a ‘standard’ hotdog with cheese and tomato sauce for just $7. Lash out with an American dog with a solid squirt of mustard and caramelised onions, and the less carnivorous among us can get a vegan dog – both are just ten smackers. We’ll give an honourable mention to Alfred’s killer burritos … they tip the scales $12, so ask your mum for a gold coin if you want to treat yo’self.
Fresh Garden Cafe: This fabulous juice bar in the heart of Coolangatta is renowned for its lunch time fare – if you haven’t had a salad sanga from here, you haven’t lived. You tell them what you want, it’s made fresh to order, and every sandwich is gigantic and brimming with all-local produce. You’ll get a jam-packed sambo here for just $8. They sell local bananas by the bunch, so you’ll have enough left over for a sneaky lady finger for afternoon tea.
Fingers and Bones: Usually, when spending $10 on lunch, it means you can’t have both food AND drink, but at Fingers and Bones, you’ll get a toasted jaffle as well as a Paradox coffee for, you guessed it, just $10. Now, these aren’t your usual toasted sangas – you can get pretty much any combo you want, with the likes of ham off the bone, pulled lamb, brie, caramelised onions … you know, the fancy stuff. You’ll even get dollops of housemade barbecue sauce and mustard aioli on the side for a sneaky dippy-dip.
House of Brews: If you’re on the clock, then you’ll have to use all of your strength to bypass the beer menu … you’ll totally get a brew for ten bucks, but, friends, beer is not lunch. Instead, get yourself in front of the House of Brews sliders – they’re just $5 each. Two should fill the gap.
Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers: We were delighted when the Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers joined the food cart space at The Kitchens – here you’ll find grab-and-go takeaway tubs of pillow-soft gnocchi with lashings of sauces like traditional bolognese and wild mushroom and truffle for just $10. Friendly side note – this is also where you’ll find some of the best cannoli and tiramisu going around.
Betty’s Burgers: Protein, vegetables, a hint of dairy and carbs – burgers really are the most nutritionally balanced meal you’ll find (we think). You can get a Betty’s classic for $10 – and it’s a darn good quality burger, with angus beef, lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese and Betty’s special sauce. You can ditch the bun for a Bare Betty wrapped in giant lettuce cups for the same price if you must, but trust us, it’s way better when Betty shows off her shiny buns. You’ve got your choice of Surfers Paradise, The Kitchens, or the soon-to-open new Betty’s location.
Wagu-ya: This hidden Chevron Island gem is often packed-full, though it’s perfect for an on-the-go-lunch. If you’ve got little money but lots of time, then nab a seat out the front (the ultimate people-watching spot) and tuck into a beef sukiyaki in a soy broth, a karaage chicken thigh bowl, or a fried tofu bowl drizzled with signature sauce – all for ten smackers or less.
Beach Burrito Co.: For the southern folk, Beach Burrito in Coolangatta has a $10 lunch menu, available every single day until 4:00 pm. You can choose from a swag of burritos or try a Mexican bento box with a mini burrito and a mini taco, or get your mitts on a karate chicken burger with cabbage slaw and jalapeno mayo.
Govindas: If you’re after a meat-free day then scoot down to James Street in Burleigh Heads where you’ll find seriously tasty vegetarian nosh. The menu changes daily but you can choose like the likes of curries, stews and moussaka, and for just ten bucks you’ll get a choice of two hot dishes (make sure one of those is the potato bake – it’s life-changing) with rice, or you can get a hefty slice of vegetarian lasagne for just $9.
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