The best lunch spots in Tampere – 15 places with excellent value for money

What is it? Asian cuisine without flavour enhancers.

Why we love it? The flavour enhancer often used in Asian restaurants is banned at Whatever. Vietnamese restaurateur Vu Huynh prefers clean flavours, and the healthiness and freshness of the food are important to him. Whatever uses organic tofu and authentic spices, and even though it’s a buffet restaurant, the amount of craftsmanship involved is huge. The summer rolls, bread and cakes are all made in-house, and in summer ingredients are sourced from Tammela Market Square. Whatever also stands out among Tampere’s lunch restaurants for its generous vegan offering: half of the buffet dishes are plant-based.

Time Out tip: On Saturdays, Whatever serves brunch. Expect dishes such as handmade vegan dumplings, papaya salad, pho soup and various homemade cakes.

Address: Itsenäisyydenkatu 5
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10.30–20, Sat 12–20, buffet available all day
Expect to pay: weekday buffet €13.70, Saturday brunch €16.90

What is it? A modern Vietnamese bistro.

Why we love it? Bistro DinDín serves some of the most authentic Vietnamese food in Tampere. The menu includes all the classics, such as pho soup, fresh summer rolls, crispy spring rolls, Vietnamese curries and noodle salads. At lunch there’s a high-quality salad buffet plus a main dish of your choice served to the table. The salad bar is entirely vegan, and there is always a vegan option among the hot dishes as well. The flavours are clean and fresh herbs are used generously. The restaurant’s setting is bright and fresh too, decorated with houseplants rather than travel souvenirs.

Time Out tip: Try the Vietnamese iced coffee made with condensed milk. The restaurant grinds the beans one cup at a time, so the coffee is fresh and full-bodied.

Address: Tuomiokirkonkatu 38

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11–21, Fri 11–22, Sat 12–22, Sun 12–20, lunch Mon–Fri 11–15

Expect to pay: lunch €13.70, mains from the à la carte menu €17–21.90

What is it? A Thai buffet for people who appreciate craftsmanship.

Why we love it? Faasai, which began as a small restaurant in Koskipuisto, has expanded within a couple of years to Hatanpää and Pirkkala. Yet the quality of what has been called Finland’s best Thai restaurant hasn’t slipped – if anything, it has improved. The lunch buffet at Faasai Hatanpää is extensive, with options ranging from duck to tofu and seafood. Faasai doesn’t cut corners with seasoning or dilute coconut milk with cooking cream. The kitchen grinds spices and nuts by hand in a mortar, and even the pancakes and whipped cream at the dessert table are made from scratch.

Time Out tip: A fan of hot pot or pho soup? At Faasai’s soup station you’ll find bowls with noodles, vegetables, chicken or meat. Ladle the spicy broth over your chosen fillings from the pot beside it.

Address: Hatanpään valtatie 26
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10.30–17, Fri 10.30–22, lunch 10.30–15
Expect to pay: lunch €13.70, mains from the à la carte menu €14.90–16.90

What is it? A buffet with something for everyone.

Why we love it? The Ståhlberg chain has managed to create a buffet that is not only generous but also high quality. The starter table includes both light salads and more filling protein options. There are several mains to choose from, and the lunch buffet always includes a vegan hot dish. At many other places vegan dishes lean Asian in style, but at Ståhlberg you’ll find retro-inspired home cooking such as vegan schnitzels. The café, decorated in an art deco style, is also a great spot for watching the bustle of the city centre.

Time Out tip: Ståhlberg’s weekend brunch is excellent too. Expect a generous salad table, hot dishes, cakes and pancakes. The €29.90 buffet is reasonably priced, as most brunches in Tampere cost more than €30.

Address: Keskustori 7
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08–19, Sat–Sun 11–16, lunch Mon–Fri 11–15
Expect to pay: lunch €13.70

What is it? Indian food served in a street food style.

Why we love it? Delhi House brings Indian cuisine firmly into the 2020s. There’s no buffet here – even at lunchtime dishes are served plated. Presentation is beautiful, and the plates are finished with herbs and fresh sauces. Head chef Randhir Tiwari doesn’t cut corners with the classics. The spicy lamb stew rogan josh and the chickpea and potato fritters known as chaat are prepared with real care. The drinks list also features fruity cocktails and mocktails made with syrups prepared in-house.

Time Out tip: Order a mango lassi to go with your meal. The restaurant uses Alphonso mango, the most prized mango variety in India, known for its deep flavour and saffron-yellow colour.

Address: Salhojankatu 25 D, Tammela Stadium
Opening hours: lunch Mon–Fri 11–14, after lunch Tue–Thu 16–22 and Fri 16–00.30, Sat 15–00.30
Expect to pay: lunch €13.50, mains from the à la carte menu €19.90–28.90

What is it? A Malaysian restaurant full of bold spices.

Why we love it? Borneo is known for its generous salad bar and flavour-packed sauces. The salad buffet strikes a good balance between plain vegetables and marinated salads. From the hot dishes, the clove-scented yellow rice is especially intoxicating. You’ll also find robust Malaysian chicken curry, rendang beef – often called one of the world’s great comfort foods – and tofu in coconut broth. The best thing about Borneo is that the restaurant hasn’t toned down its recipes for local tastes. The spices are used generously.

Time Out tip: Tampere is famous for chicken wings, and at Borneo’s lunch you can try a Malaysian take on wings. The sweet-spiced sauce, crisp surface and tender meat make an irresistible combination.

Address: Itsenäisyydenkatu 15
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11–21, Sat 11–21, lunch weekdays 11–14.30
Expect to pay: lunch buffet €14.90, Saturday brunch buffet €29.90, mains from the à la carte menu €17.90–38.90

What is it? Authentic flavours from northern China.

Why we love it? Biáng is the only restaurant in Tampere where I’ve found food that reminds me of my time as an exchange student in China. Even the European adaptations are done thoughtfully. Unlike in northern China, chicken here isn’t served with bones, and the starter table includes fresh salads. Still, the sweet-savoury aubergine roasted in plenty of oil brings back memories of Beijing. It’s no surprise the restaurant is packed at lunchtime. There are also several clearly marked vegan dishes on the menu.

Time Out tip: The salad table at Biáng includes tofu skin. It’s a kind of creamy sheet that forms on the surface of soy milk during tofu production. If you’ve never tasted good tofu before, try tofu skin – it might change your mind.

Address: Aleksanterinkatu 20
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11–21, Fri–Sat 12–22, Sun 12–19, lunch Mon–Fri 11–15
Expect to pay: lunch €13.90, mains from the à la carte menu €15–27

What is it? A salad bar in Tammela that’s truly in a class of its own.

Why we love it? Salho Lunch & Catering takes the salad table to a whole new level. Expect rich mayonnaise-based salads, fresh green salads, spicy salsa and hearty pasta salads. I often pile my plate so high at the starter table that there’s barely any room left for the hot dishes. At the mains table there are two main courses and a soup of the day. Lunch also includes dessert, which might be tiramisu or pancakes with proper whipped cream.

Time Out tip: On Fridays, Salho cooks dishes from different countries. On Greek day you’ll find moussaka, while American day brings mac and cheese. When it’s Finnish day, there’s of course Karelian stew on the table.

Address: Tammelankatu 25, Tammela Stadium
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10.30–15, lunch served until 14
Expect to pay: lunch buffet €13.50, salad and soup €12, pensioners €11.50, students receive a 10 percent discount

What is it? Mediterranean stews and slow-cooked dishes.

Why we love it? At Eflatun, it feels like sitting in a tavern where dishes prepared from family recipes are brought to the table. The starter table offers a wide selection of meze: salads, stuffed vine leaves, pickled vegetables, spreads and breads. On the hot side you’ll find long-simmered meat, chicken and vegetable stews as well as moussaka. Giant beans in tomato sauce and meltingly tender lamb are comfort food at its best. Am I really still in Finland?

Time Out tip: Eflatun has an authentically Mediterranean dessert table. Expect treats such as baklava and honey cake made from delicate thin layers. As good as the mains are, make sure to leave room for something sweet.

Address: Puutarhakatu 13
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10.30–16
Expect to pay: standard price €15, with lunch passes €13.70, children aged 4–11 €1 per year of age, under 4s free

What is it? Tampere’s oldest vegan restaurant.

Why we love it? Gopal is the oldest vegan restaurant in Tampere. Founder Merja Nykänen’s love of India is clear in the food, even though Gopal isn’t strictly an Indian restaurant. Alongside daal and curries you might find lasagne or kebab. Gopal’s salad selection is in a completely different league from the usual grated salad bars. Expect a wide range of spiced sauces, hummus, sprouts, lentils and beans. The only downside is that the food is so good I always take too much. Since the price depends on the weight of your plate, a meal can easily end up costing a couple of euros more than at other lunch spots.

Time Out tip: Gopal also offers a buffet on Sundays. It’s not a brunch but the same lunch buffet as on weekdays, and there’s no weekend surcharge.

Address: Ilmarinkatu 16
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11–17, Sun 12–16
Expect to pay: lunch €2.55 per 100 g, soup lunch €5.50

What is it? The best flavours of Asia on Hämeenkatu.

Why we love it? Lie Mi in Tampere is a refreshingly distinctive chain restaurant that puts real effort into service, presentation and atmosphere. The dining room is decorated with houseplants and the food is served on playfully colourful plates. Lie Mi is famous for its Shanghai Tacos, but in Tampere it’s also known for its lunch. The generous salad table alone could make a full meal. Unlike many Asian restaurants, Lie Mi doesn’t rely on a full lunch buffet. Instead, you choose your main dish from the menu and it’s served beautifully plated at your table.

Time Out tip: There are vegan options available at lunch. Usually there are three mains to choose from, and typically two of them can be made vegan. The salad table also includes several vegan dishes.

Address: Hämeenkatu 14
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11–22, Fri 11–23, Sat 12–23, Sun 12–22, lunch Mon–Fri 11–14.30
Expect to pay: lunch €13.70, mains from the à la carte menu €16–20.80

What is it? Home-style cooking without holding back on the cream.

Why we love it? Meatballs, fried Baltic herring, cabbage casserole. The menu at Mummola feels like stepping into your grandmother’s kitchen. Instead of curry, the stove is sizzling with pork belly in cream sauce. It’s served with mashed potatoes made with real butter, and the meal is washed down with a glass of kotikalja. Even though the food is simple, it’s prepared with real ambition. The kitchen is run by Tuukka Siltanen and Jarmo Kajander, who previously worked at the top restaurant Näsinneula. The restaurant also brings customers’ food memories to life. If there’s a classic home dish you’ve been craving but haven’t had in a while, let the kitchen know.

Time Out tip: You won’t leave Mummola hungry. Portions are generous, and if one plate isn’t quite enough, you can go back for a little more.

Address: Hämeenkatu 19, Kauppahalli
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10.30–16, Sat 10.30–15.30
Expect to pay: lunch €13.70

What is it? An unbeatable value lunch in a swimming hall café.

Why we love it? Kahvila Kaleva at Kaleva Swimming Hall is one of the few places in Tampere where you can still get lunch for around a tenner. Many restaurants could also take inspiration from its salad table. The selection includes hearty salads such as potato, pasta and Caesar salad. There are also several plant proteins and marinated vegetables that bring plenty of flavour to the plate. On the hot side you’ll find the soup of the day, roasted potatoes, meatballs and vegetable balls. Dessert is simple but homemade, such as quark desserts or fruit soup. For value for money, it’s hard to beat.

Time Out tip: Kahvila Kaleva also serves buffet breakfast and a Saturday brunch, both very affordable. A generous breakfast costs €8 and brunch €14.

Address: Joukahaisenkatu 7, Kaleva Swimming Hall
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Wed and Fri 06–21, Thu 13–21, Sat–Sun 10–18. Lunch Mon–Wed and Fri 11–14
Expect to pay: lunch €10.50, breakfast €8, brunch €14, children aged 6–12 €7.50 and younger €1 per year of age

What is it? A slightly more refined cafeteria-style restaurant.

Why we love it? Aleksis is located in the Technopolis building, home to numerous companies. Despite its 300 seats, Aleksis feels like a pleasant workplace restaurant rather than a clinical canteen. Instead of a single serving line, the dining room has several buffet stations, which helps reduce queues around midday. Alongside the salad selection and hot dishes, there’s also a varied vegetarian table. The restaurant even has a grill station where dishes are prepared to order one portion at a time.

Time Out tip: Vegetarians should check the grill station menu too. It doesn’t always feature steaks – sometimes you’ll find dishes such as mushroom or beetroot risotto. Because the food is prepared to order rather than sitting in a hot tray, the risotto keeps its proper texture.

Address: Kalevantie 2
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 07.30–15, lunch 10.30–13.30
Expect to pay: standard lunch and grill dishes €13.70, salad of the day €12.90

What is it? Tampere’s most beautiful student restaurant.

Why we love it? Located in the student building at Hippos, Juvenes’ Rata offers a restaurant-like experience at a low price. Acoustic panels soften the noise, and the plant-filled interior feels calm and welcoming. The salad bar includes lentils and marinated vegetables. At the drinks station you’ll find juice and sparkling water in addition to water and milk. The hot dishes aren’t gourmet, but they are solid, reliable cafeteria cooking. There’s always a vegan option, and unlike during my own student years in the early 2000s, it now contains proper protein.

Time Out tip: Rata has an excellent bread and seasoning table. In addition to standard spreads, you can add hummus to your bread. The seasoning station also includes good olive oil, balsamic vinegar and chilli alongside salt and pepper.

Address: Uimalankatu 1 a
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 09–18, Sat 11–15. Lunch available throughout opening hours, starting at 10.30 on weekdays and 11 on Saturdays
Expect to pay: students €2.95–7, others €11, dessert €1.50 for everyone