Grabbing a satisfying bite to eat when cabin fever hits or the budget is quite tight can always be a bit tricky. Instead of opting for the cheap take out (or dry crackers) we’ve hunted down some scrumptious wallet-friendly dishes when payday seems a little too far away.

Johannesburg

Beerhouse (Fourways)
Tuck in to one of their R60 flammkuchens – thin, crispy beer-dough bread topped with crème fraîche and a range of toppings. Options include smoked bacon with white onion and gruyère cheese and spicy jerk chicken with fresh pineapple and mature cheddar. There’s a slight financial hazard posed by the proximity of so much beer, but if you stick to tap water, it’s a pretty cheap, hearty meal.

Beerhouse. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Pretoria

Salt Eatery (Hazelwood)
This trendy eatery is an ideal place to grab an elegant bite to eat without having a mild panic attack when the bill arrives. Portions are not for diners who want to roll out of the restaurant, but they make for the perfect first-date dishes. Try their beetroot ravioli with goat’s cheese mousse, dried orange and candied walnuts for R50.

Cheese board at Salt Eatery. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Durban

Mooki Noodles (Glenwood and Morningside)
This fun Durban noodle bar serves up some fresh and interesting dishes that are easy on the wallet. Try the comforting chicken, mushroom and mai fun noodle soup for R55. This features crispy tempura fried chicken floating on a mushroom and chicken broth with oyster sauce and rice noodles.

Cape Town

Tiger’s Milk (Long Street and Muizenberg)
A night out with friends doesn’t need to be an expensive one. If you find yourself out at the buzzing Tiger’s Milk, opt for the classic margarita pizza, which is deliciously cheesy and baked in the wood-fired oven. This dish will cost you R59.

Tiger’s Milk. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Winelands

Hudson’s (Stellenbosch)
The newly opened branch of this burger joint offers a range of budget-friendly buns. We suggest ordering the 180g bacon jam burger comprising a beef patty topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, bacon jam and dusted onions for R58. If you’re looking for a little more meat, choose The Hudson burger, which is the classic 250g beef patty with mustard mayo and a dill pickle for R57.

Husdon’s Stellenbosch. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.