Whether you’re surfing Netflix or Showmax, or watching good old fashioned television, we’ve got you covered. Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash.

Planning a weekend in, need a night off from partying or just want something to nibble for your regularly scheduled TV time? We can relate. Obviously we have an affinity for eating out, but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t enjoy curling up on our couches with great food and binge-watching our favourite series. Thankfully there are some quality restaurants that enable us, preparing their delicious dishes as takeaways.

So whether you’re streaming Showmax, Netflix or watching good old television, these are the restaurants in SA’s biggest cities where you can call in an order, collect it, and get comfy at home with some excellent food.

Big Little Lies, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City and Stranger Things

On these shows, breakfast is a big deal. Who could forget Dexter’s violently gastronomic opening sequence or the huge breakfasts of the Humphrey family? There’s a reason Walter Jr is obsessed with breakfast, Eleven loves waffles, and the ladies of Big Little Lies and Sex and the City brunch seemingly every morning. Breakfast is a sacred meal and should by no means ever be limited to mornings, particularly since some really great breakfast spots also offer takeaways.

Johannesburg: Arbour Café and Courtyard, Breezeblock, Cheese Gourmet, Glenda’s, The Immigrant, Jacksons Real Food Market, Kitchen Kafe, Nice on 4th, Love Food Market, Pablo Eggs-Go-Bar, The Patisserie, That Spot on 4th, Vovo Telo, Patisserie de Paris, Post Breakfast Lunch, Salvation Café, Tashas (Hyde Park), Galata

Pretoria: Afro-boer, Ginger & Fig, Pure Café

Freshly baked treats at Vovo Telo. Photo supplied.

Cape Town: Culture Club Cheese, Four & Twenty, Giulio’s Café, Jarryds, Jason Bakery, Kleinsky’s Delicatessen, Loading Bay, Scheckter’s Raw, Smak, Starlings Café, Truth Coffee (City bowl), Tashas (V&A)

Durban: Bellevue Café, Delish Sisters, Freedom Café, The Glenwood Bakery, Parc Café, Surf Riders

The shakshuka at Delish Sisters. Photo supplied.

Dear White People

This show is all about remaining true to your heritage, so why not pick up some proudly South African food for your binge-sesh? (Also take a peek at the array of African restaurants in the country.)

Johannesburg: D6 District Six Eatery, Mamasan, Roving Bantu Kitchen, Hangout Jozi, Lucky Bean, Lele’s African Cuisine, @Kate’s Kitchen, Smaak Deli

The boerewors at Lucky Bean. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: The Blue Crane

Cape Town: 4Roomed Ekasi Culture, Moyo, Home Town, Café Ganesh

Durban: Capsicum, Classique Braai Lounge, The Joint Jazz Café

Desperate Housewives and Jane the Virgin

Our favourite accidentally artificially inseminated lead has a huge thing for grilled cheese sandwiches and we can’t blame her – cheese makes everything better. Also, who can forget Susan’s hilariously terrible mac ‘n cheese? Check out these spots if you want a grilled cheese, a cheeseburger or anything else covered in our favourite dairy product. (See our guide to the cheesiest dishes in SA.)

Johannesburg: Cheese Gourmet and Patisserie de Paris

Pretoria: Burger Bistro and Forkies Real Food Parlour

Cape Town: Culture Club Cheese, Solo, Davy Croquettes, Beerhouse, Clarke’s, IYO, Melt Café, Smak

A cheesy toastie at Culture Club Cheese. Photo supplied.

Durban: Bellevue Café, 031 Bar and Restaurant, Four15, Fourteen on Chartwell, Republik, Surf Riders Café

Downton Abbey, The Crown and Sherlock

Our favourite British shows tend to make us feel just a little fancy, so gather tons of cake and other treats to complement a spot of tea.

Johannesburg: Chocoloza, The Patisserie, Paul, Moody Cow

Pastries from Coco Safar. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: Afro-boer, Ginger & Fig, Chocolat et Café, Royal Danish, Lucky Bread Company

Cape Town: The Creamery Café (Newlands), Honest Chocolate Café, Giulio’s Café, Jason Bakery, Crumbs & Cream, Cookies & Cream, My Sugar, Dial-A-Koesister, Coco Safar

Durban: Plan B Dessertery, Wicked Donuts, Cacao Chocolate Bar, Sugarlicious

Friends

When the gang wasn’t lounging around at Central Perk, they were sharing a huge box of New York-style pizza, meaning you can’t do a proper Friends re-watch without a slice. These are the places to order pizzas that would make even Joey Tribbiani happy.

Johannesburg: Bella Anima, Café del Sol Botanico, Coalition, Franco’s Pizzeria, Nonna Mia’s, Piza e Vino, Pizzeria Locale, Remo’s Maximiliano, Trabella Pizzeria

Pretoria: Alfie’s Pizzeria, Caraffa Ristorante, Toni’s Fully Furnished Pizza Company, Villa San Giovanni

Woodfired pizza at Café del Sol Botanico. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Cape Town: A Tavola, Bocca, Burrata, Col’cacchio (Foreshore), Hail Pizza, Magica Roma, Massimo’s, Ristorante Posticino

Durban: Al Firenze, La Casa Nostra, Lupa Osteria, Old Town Italy, Remo’s Originale, Surf Rider’s Cafe

Bocca’s glorious margherita pizza. Photo supplied.

Game of Thrones

You’ll want a huge spread to rival the Lannisters’ feasts. Theses are the spots to order from liberally so you can share with your allies (err, binge-watching companions).

Johannesburg: Lele’s African Cuisine, The Gringo Café, Perron, Federal Food Drink & Provisions, Glory, The Great Eastern Food Bar, So Yum, Al Makka Restaurant, Mythos (Mall of Africa), The Schwarma Co., The Green Peppercorn Bistro, Metanoia, Rockets, The Steamworks Gastropub, Brian Lara Rum Eatery, Gringo Café

Tapas from Rockets Brystanston. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: El Pistolero, Forkies Real Food Parlour, Oriental Palace, The Immigrant, Spice, Culture Club – Bar de Tapas

Cape Town: Jerry’s Burger Bar, Saigon, SHIO, Tiger’s Milk (Muizenburg), Afro’s Chicken, Maharajah South Indian Restaurant, Sundoo, Col’cacchio, Davy Croquettes, The Foodbarn Deli & Tapas, Homage 1862, Hoghouse Brewing Co.

Beer and snacks at Hoghouse. Photo supplied.

Durban: 1904 Bistro Americain, Republik, Greedy Buddha, Fourteen on Chartwell, Afro’s Chicken (South Beach), Bellevue Café, Surf Riders Café, Capsicum, Lupa Osteria, Café 1999, Nikos Coalgrill Greek

Gilmore Girls

You’d be hard-pressed to find an episode of Gilmore girls that doesn’t feature one or both of the girls heading into Luke’s Diner for a burger, pancakes or both. Trust us, you can’t watch this show hungry, so head out to these restaurants for a diner food hit of your own.

Johannesburg: BGR, Dukes Burgers (while ordering, giggle a bit at how similar this sounds to Luke’s Diner) Federal Drink & Provisions, Craft, Roast Café

A combo box at BGR. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: Burger Bistro, Capital Craft Beer Academy, DK Gourmet Burger Bar, El Pistolero, Mustang Sally’s, Ribs & Burgers, Smaak Deli, Fumo

Cape Town: Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room, IYO, Jerry’s Burger Bar, Royale Eatery & Royale Kitchen, Mustang Sally’s, IYO, Tiger’s Milk, Orion Provisions, Junior

Durban: 1904 Bistro Americain, Republik, Smokin’ Joe’s, Surf Riders Café

An OTT burger from Republik. Photo supplied.

Grey’s Anatomy and Being Mary Jane

Mary Jane loves baking for her family – the opening scene is of her baking a cake before Andre shows up. As for Grey’s Anatomy, everybody knows to watch this show is to finish a box of tissues. May we suggest swapping those out for something sweet and possibly an entire bottle of wine? Binge-watching calories don’t count. (Right?)

Johannesburg: Chocoloza, The Patisserie, Paul, Moody Cow

A waffle from Moody Cow. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: Afro-boer, Ginger & Fig, Chocolat et Café, Royal Danish, Belle’s Patisserie, Lucky Bread Company

Cape Town: The Creamery Café, Honest Chocolate Café, Giulio’s Café, Jason Bakery, Crumbs & Cream, Cookies & Cream, My Sugar, Dial-A-Koesister, Coco Safar, Velvet Cake Co., The General Store, IYO, Localli, Coimbra Bakery, The Dairy Den

Cakes served at Velvet Cake Co. Photo supplied.

Durban: Plan B Dessertery, Wicked Donuts, Cacao Chocolate Bar, Sugarlicious

Hannibal, Santa Clarita Diet, The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf and True Blood

Steak is the name of the game here – the bloodier, the better. While we can’t quite offer up the type of meat preferred by the lead characters in these shows, here are the steakhouses where you can find something just as good.

Johannesburg: The Braai Room, The Butcher Shop & Grill, Che Argentine Grill, The Local Grill, The Potato Shed, The Smokehouse and Grill, Thunder Gun Steakhouse, Turn ‘n Tender, National Eatery

A fillet and chips at Turn ‘n Tender. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: Eisbein & Co. and Hinterland Vleishandelaar

Cape Town: The Butcher Shop & Grill, Don Armando, The Eatery Wood Fired Grill, The Hussar Grill (Mouille Point and Rondebosch), Rare Grill, The Lighthouse Cafe,

Durban: Butcher Block

House and Pretty Little Liars

Trust us: you never want to be watching House MD with anything that might add even slightly to all the inevitable health-related paranoia. With the very first episode kicking off with a parasite found in pork and the medical team constantly quizzing patients about what they’ve eaten, you’ll want to be munching on the healthiest foods you can get your hands on. As for Pretty Little Liars, the girls on the show are infamous for never eating more than a carrot tip here or a bite of cucumber there. The running joke in the first season is that they evidently never eat pasta since Hanna’s mother is able to hide something inside the box of lasagne.

Johannesburg: JB’s Corner, Leafy Greens Café, Kitchen Kafe

Pretoria: Pure Café

A pizza from Leafy Greens Café. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Cape Town: Marrow, The Poké Co., Scheckter’s Raw Gourmet, Homage 1862, Hungry Herbivore, Bowls on Bree

A poké bowl from Bowls on Bree. Photo by Michelle Parkin Photography.

Durban: Delish Sisters, Freedom Café, Conscious Café, Chilliplum, Earthmother Organic

How to Get Away with Murder and Lucifer

If you’re having anywhere near as much alcohol as the characters on these shows, you’re going to need some good carb-rich foods to soak it all up.

Johannesburg: BGR, Baha Taco, Dukes Burgers, Federal Drink & Provisions, The Gringo Café, Momo Soko, So Yum, Craft, Roast Café

Sliders at Craft in Parkhurst. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: Burger Bistro, Capital Craft Beer Academy, DK Gourmet Burger Bar, El Pistolero, Mustang Sally’s, Ribs & Burgers, Smaak Deli, Fumo

Cape Town: IYO, Jerry’s, Royale Eatery & Royale Kitchen, Tiger’s Milk, Afro’s Chicken, Jason Bakery, Solo, Sundoo, A Tavola, Col’cacchio, Davy Croquettes, Orion Provisions, Junior, Monk’s

Burgers at IYO Burgers. Photo supplied.

Durban: 1904 Bistro Americain, Republik, Smokin’ Joe’s, Greedy Buddha, Afro’s Chicken (South Beach), Bellevue Café, Surf Riders Café, Lupa Osteria, Unity Brasserie, S43 Home to That Brewing Co., Fourteen on Chartwell

Marvel and DC shows (The Defenders, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Arrow, The Flash, Gotham, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and Black Lightning)

Look, unless you’ve been a fan of the comics for decades, it’s likely that you got into superhero shows because of the hype around the movies. No judgement here. If that’s the case, settle back on the couch with food from one of these trendy spots.

Johannesburg: @Kate’s Kitchen, Hangout Jozi, Rockets, Perron

The tapas selection at Rockets. Photo supplied.

Pretoria: Thief Restaurant, Iskia by Alfies, Mad Nomad

Cape Town: The Poké Co., Marrow, Roast & Co., The Chicken Shop, Home Town, Jason Bakery, Rafael Lebanese Café, Coco Safar, Bowls on Bree, The Yard (The Silo District), Davy Croquettes

One of the broth bowls at Marrow. Photo supplied.

Durban: Catch, Fourteen on Chartwell, Hudsons, Pintxada

Suits

Set in New York, Season 1 of Suits had Mike and Harvey constantly stopping at vendors outside Pearson Hardman to grab a hotdog or cream cheese-stuffed bagel. Here’s where to get yours. (Also make sure to check out our ultimate food truck list.)

Johannesburg: The Immigrant, Vovo Telo

Pretoria: Fournos Bakery (The Grove Mall)

Cape Town: Kleinsky’s Delicatessen, Max Bagels, Orion Provisions, Goldie’s Deli & Diner, Hard Pressed, New York Bagel

Fresh bagels at Kleinsky’s Delicatessen. Photo by Jan Ras.

Durban: 1904 Bistro Americain, Surf Riders Café, The Greenery

The Big Bang Theory

This popular show isn’t hard to couple with a food – everyone knows Monday nights are always Thai nights, thanks to Sheldon’s obsession with routine.

Johannesburg: Orient, So Yum (Hyde Park Corner)

Pretoria: Padbok Thai

Thai food reliably hits that sweet spot between comfort and healthy food. Photo supplied.

Cape Town: 1890 House Sushi and Grill, Chai Yo (Mowbray), Salathai (Green Point), Wang Thai (Lagoon Beach)

Durban: The Wok Box and Mo Noodles

UnREAL

Life on the fast-paced set of Everlasting is tough for Quinn and Rachel, meaning they need their food on the go. If you really want to feel like a reality TV producer, get eats from one of these food trucks all over SA.

A meaty burger from Tailgate Food Truck. Photo supplied.