If you just want a fast cheap eat for lunch around Civic, here are a few spots (in no particular order).
Burmese Curry Place
I think it’s safe to say that most city workers know about Burmese Curry Place. It was so sad when it shut down a few years ago, but it opened back up in a new location on London Circuit last year.
There are 9 curry choices you can choose from such as chicken and vegetable, egg curry, fish curry, and vegetarian options. Pick any two curries with steamed rice for $10 (dine-in or or take away). Prices are a little higher now but it still fits within the $10 or less range. Plus it’s delicious and so fast! Available Monday to Friday.
111 London Cct, Canberra city
Global Cafe
Located on Northbourne Avenue (near the Jolimont Centre), Global Cafe offers $10 Ethiopian lunch specials Monday to Friday. Up to 3 dishes (chicken/beef/fish) including vegetarian options (yellow lentils/red lentils/cabbage/pumpkin) with either steamed rice or injera (an Ethiopian fluffy flatbread).
We dined in and received very generous servings. Very quick and if you get in early there’s usually a few empty tables.
63 Northbourne Ave, Canberra city
Ms Ba Co
The popular Ms Ba Co’s second restaurant in Garema Place has the same menu as the Majura Park original.
You can get a massively stuffed banh mi for only $8 and it will fill you up. Choose from traditional, crispy pork belly, grilled pork pork, grilled lemongrass chicken, pork meat balls, grilled sliced pork, beef and tofu ($7). All the vegetable trimmings are provided. You just need to choose if you want chilli or not.
Always a winner. Eat it fast as I took one to go and soon found the meat drippings rolling down my sleeve…
Garema Place Civic – 4&6/108 Bunda St, Canberra
Majura Park – Shop 39/18-26 Spitfire Ave, Majura Park ACT
Dosa Hut
$9.95 lunch specials at Dosa Hut in Civic with your choice of curry and rice/naan/roti. I picked good ol butter chicken with naan. Available Monday to Friday as take away only.
140/180 City Walk, Canberra ACT
Maiyo
For $8.90, you can get a banh mi from Maiyo (Civic bus interchange) or its sister cafe Madam Vu Banh Mi Hoi An. I haven’t tried it myself but am keen to check it out.
And it’s not just limited to the city, Maiyo’s Facebook page states the banh mi’s are available at Bestore in Mitchell, Barton Grocer, a few petrol stations, and more places.
They also recently introduced $10 pho every day of the week!
Maiyo – 35 East Row, Canberra City
Madam Vu – 33 Allara Street, Canberra City
Zaab Station
Zaab in Braddon launched Zaab Station, a little lunch cart out on the footpath. Take away lunch boxes are $8.50 and there are a few curries/noodle dishes to choose from. I haven’t tried this yet but I always walk past the sign!
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2/9 Lonsdale St, Braddon ACT
Vapiano
Vapiano has $10 lunch specials covering pizza fold-overs or pasta bakes. The $10 lunch menu is availabe daily until sold out.
Canberra Centre, Monaro Mall, 148 Bunda St, Canberra
Rice Thai Restaurant
I always walk by Rice Thai Restaurant in Garema Place. The only thing to acknowledge its existence is this blackboard outside as the restaurant is located up a flight of stairs. $9.90 lunch specials are available with pad thai, laksa, green curry options and more (though I’m not sure if this is for take away only, or dine in as well).
Hanaichi
I love heading to Hanaichi at the Canberra Centre food court for Japanese chicken curry. I always get the regular for $8.90 (there’s also a smaller or larger bowl depending on your hunger needs) and it comes with perfectly cooked rice, and a nice smothering of curry and chicken katsu, and pickled radish/Tsukemono. I also add a small sprinkling of the chilli powder from one of the shakers on the counter. So good especially in winter.
Are there any that I’ve missed? I’ll keep updating this page if I discover more.
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