Budget Bites

Flavour-packed and purse-friendly.

Honki Tonki

UniSA West Campus students rave about this spot for a reason. Honki Tonki has been turning the flavour dial to eleven since 2016, serving wallet-friendly feeds to hungry hordes late into the night. Chow down on a plate of dumplings (choice of pork and chive or mushroom and veg) for only $10; a tenner will also unlock crispy fried honey chicken, salt and pepper eggplant with wonton chips and prawn wontons. Our go-to, however, is always the coconut laksa for $12.50 – the generous serving of soup, chicken, tofu puffs, hokkien noodles and greens can easily stretch two meals!

Where: 38 Hindley Street, Adelaide

Follow: @honkitonki

Via Vai

‘Via vai’ loosely translates to ‘coming and going’ in Italian – the very thing that keeps this Currie Street pizzetta and focaccia bar busy. This city joint prides itself on quality produce, from its housemade sourdough focaccia (baked fresh daily, no less) to its deli meats. If you’re in a pinch, the venue’s pizzetta – an authentic Sardinian-style pizza by the cut – comes in at $9 for a variety of flavours: capers and anchovies; eggplant and mozzarella; salami; classic marg. Designed to be eaten on the move, this speedy feed is top-notch in terms of flavour and fullness. An absolute winner!

Where: 72 Currie Street, Adelaide

Follow: @viavai_adl

Sit Lo

Across the last 10 years, Sit Lo has become a lunchtime institution. It’s fresh, fast and flavour-packed, dishing up authentic Vietnamese courses at three CBD locations five days a week (and on Saturdays at its flagship Bank Street store). Best of all, its cost-conscious feeds don’t skimp on quality. A banh mi will set you back $10 and it’s stuffed with all the good stuff – pickled carrot, cucumber, coriander, chilli and your choice of protein. What a steal. And if you’re looking for something a little extra, the bao buns are reasonably priced at $7 and you can get three spring rolls for $9. Yum!

Where: 30 Bank Street, Adelaide

Follow: @sitlo

Yuna

Yuna is the perfect pit stop for lunch if you’re pinched for time and strapped for cash. This Japanese-inspired eatery on Henley Beach Road serves generously sized onigiri that are filling and flavour-packed. Choose from stuffing such as cooked tuna, miso pork belly and takana with pickled mustard leaf. One ball costs $7.50, with two setting you back $14. If your wallet can stretch a little further, we also recommend the onigiri breakfast set, featuring one rice ball, miso soup, tamagoyaki, mixed salad and dango for $19.

Where: Shop 7/34 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End

Follow: @yuna.adelaide