The best affordable restaurants in Johannesburg

This stylish new cafe has two branches: one at the Land Rover Jaguar dealership on Main Road and one at the Kyalami Equestrian Park. Both TLC branches offer similar menus with breakfast and lunch options that hit the sweet spot between bougie and budget. Their smashed avo with feta and poached egg on sourdough (R95) is a popular pick, but the real surprise is the chicken mayo toastie: thick-cut sourdough, crisped to golden perfection, for just R75. Coffee’s great too, and the people-watching at both locations is 10/10 – who wouldn’t want to watch people jump horses or put a jaguar through their paces on the track as they sip their latte?

A Joburg institution, this Middle Eastern mainstay does actual value-for-money. The chicken shawarma in either pita or laffa comes in at under R150 and is very generously stuffed and comes with filled with tahini, salad and a good dash of garlic sauce. Chilli is optional, but totally recommended. Vegetarians can tuck into crispy falafel balls (at under R60 for seven of them) or opt for a haloumi in pita or laffa. Outdoor tables and a casual vibe make The Schwarma Co. a favourite for weekday dinners that feel celebratory but aren’t spendy.

Think flaky spanakopita (R90), juicy chicken souvlaki wraps (R95), and hearty moussaka (R135). While the grilled meat platters push above the R200 mark, a light meal or a meze-style lunch with a glass of wine keeps you well under budget. Sit on the terrace with a plate of halloumi and olives (R80) and a fresh Greek salad and you’ll feel far from Joburg, without burning a hole in your wallet. You'll find Orexi Greek Taverna branches in Fourways, Sandton, Benoni, Alberton, and more.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better value plate in Joburg than at Dosa Hut, where the price-to-flavour ratio is – quite frankly – wild. Their masala dosa, a crispy lentil pancake stuffed with spiced potato and served with sambar and chutney, is just R45. Looking for something heartier? The vegetable biryani (R75), chicken fried rice (R65) or paneer dosa (R79) will do the trick. The menu is a festival of Southern Indian comfort food (curries, biryanis, parathas) and most mains clock in under R100. The Fordsburg branch is the original, but the newer Fourways outlet is also popular and well-reviewed

Part Italian deli, part café, Super Sconto is a low-key sandwich mecca. You can build your own panini using meats and cheeses from the deli fridge, which is great for a casual lunch. Or you could grab a hot lasagna or pasta from the kitchen window — most dishes sit between R65 and R95. Their pasta al forno is an under-R100 triumph, and don’t sleep on the cannoli or espresso while you’re there.

While we’re on the Italian train, you need to know about Espresso Caffe and Bar. Often overshadowed by the glitzier restaurants on 4^th Avenue, it's a Joburg classic that’s somehow still doing great prices. It serves big, satisfying Italian-ish plates. Margherita pizza is R100, and their chicken livers with toast (R75) make for a solid starter-lunch combo. The Espresso Club Sandwich is R125, stuffed with chicken, bacon, and egg. It’s rare to finish a meal here, so you basically have dinner and lunch for the next day.

Turkish food doesn’t always come cheap, but Galata makes it happen. Try the beef lavash (R110) — thin beef slices with tahini, yoghurt, and sumac on a wrap, served with chips. The kofte starter (R75) on a bed of pita and yoghurt is another solid option. Their massive pepperdew pasta with chicken strips and creamy napolitana is R130 and easily feeds two. Plus, both Greenside and Benoni branches have warm, friendly vibes that make you want to stay for Turkish tea and baklava afterwards.

You could eat here every day for a week and still not hit R150. Hidden in plain sight in a nondescript strip mall, Daisy Dumpling House serves 18-piece dumpling portions (R100), like pork and chive or chicken and coriander, or go for the excellent Chow Mein or Chow Fun dishes from R80–R110. The Soup noodle with beef flank (R105) is deeply comforting, and the Meat Wonton in Spicy Sauce (R95) is a sleeper hit in case you’re not in a dumpling mood. Although we suggest that you should be in a dumpling mood when you go.

Cescos Portuguese is a local legend that serves up crowd-pleasers like espetada (R185) and chicken prego with chips and salad (R108). But the best value might be the Meat Trinchado (R84): tender beef strips in a creamy white wine and garlic sauce, served with rice. Some of their mains are pricier, but you can easily stay under R150 if you stick to the generous light meals and starters or a sharing meal, like the chicken for two. Bonus points for the Paulshof branch at the German Country Club, where you’ll find a buzzing atmosphere with gin on tap, live music, tennis, and padel going on at any given time.