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Top 10 Classy but Cheap Restaurants in Johannesburg

Top 10 Classy but Cheap Restaurants in Johannesburg

Eating out doesn’t necessarily mean breaking the bank, and you can still have a great time with loved ones and friends even if you are a budget-conscious customer. In Johannesburg, you can check out a number of classy but cheap restaurants.

From cafes to casual eateries, sink your teeth into their delectable food offerings that don’t cost an arm and a leg!

1. Delta Cafe and Don Quixote

Address: 76 Marlborough Ave, Craighall Park, Randburg, 2196, South Africa 

Website: https://delta-cafe.co.za/our-menu/ 

Contact Number: +27 10 900 3850

Operating Hours:

  • Tuesday to Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Thursday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Saturday, 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Sunday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Delta Cafe and Don Quixote, located in Randburg, looks like the outdoor dining area of a five-star hotel. It has elegant and sleek tables and chairs and an area littered with trees, greenery, and well-maintained lawns that give off a chill vibe.

You can also get a fantastic view of the nearby stream while you kick back and relax and watch the kids play in the playground next to the restaurant. The restaurant offers flavourful Western favourites such as burgers, pizzas, fries, and chicken tenders!

Pro Tip:
We recommend that you check out their social media page for any special events before the day of your visit. 

They sometimes host special sports screenings (e.g. FIFA World Cup) and feature live artists for your entertainment.

2. The Schwarma Co

Address: 71 Grant Ave, Norwood, Johannesburg, 2117, South Africa 

Website: https://schwarmacompany.co.za/ 

Contact Number: +27 11 483 1776

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

If you’re looking for a lovely rural-looking restaurant to take your loved ones to, then The Schwarma Co might be the establishment for you. The place has an old-school charm thanks to its native lighting fixtures and school cafeteria-like food serving station.

As the name implies, you can order different kinds of shawarma (pita bread with meat filling) here such as beef, chicken, and lamb, which cost around ZAR 120 to 130 for the pita version and ZAR 200 to 210 for the platter.

Pro Tip:
The restaurant regularly puts up a sign with their specials of the day. Don’t forget to check out these seasonal offerings such as red lentil soup, brown lentil soup, bean soup, and marrow bone on rye. 

3. Satori Restaurant

Address: 61a 4th Ave, Linden, Randburg, 2195, South Africa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Satori-Restaurant-100067373856506/

Contact Number: +27 11 888 7452

Operating Hours:

  • Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00 NN to 10:00 PM
  • Sunday, 12:00 NN to 9:00 PM
  • Monday, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Satori Restaurant will make you say, “Mamma mia!” thanks to its authentic Italian feel. We enjoyed the Italian vibe of this family-run business that uses thick wooden chairs and tables for that classic appeal.

Their Italian dishes are also a must-try when in Johannesburg, as they are not only delicious but also quite budget-friendly. Their classic pizzas (e.g., Hawaiian, Regina, and focaccia) only cost around ZAR 60 (medium) to ZAR 130 (large)!

Pro Tip:
If you want to enjoy your pizza with a twist, you can ask the wait staff to serve your order as a calzone. You need to add ZAR 20 if you want the medium-sized calzone or add ZAR 30 for a large one.

4. J’s Diner

From jasondza

Address: 64 Conrad Dr, Blairgowrie, Randburg, 2194, South Africa 

Website: http://www.js-diner.co.za/

Contact Number: +27727813401

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Saturday, 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Sunday, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

J’s Diner serves great Portuguese cuisine and is only minutes away from the CBD. 

What we like about this restaurant, though, is its vibe, which goes for a more tropical and resort-like feel, making it a great casual hang-out place for you and your loved ones.

They serve some amazing seafood dishes, such as grilled hake, grilled calamari, and grilled salmon, and some perfectly grilled meats like their t-bone steak and rump steak. 

For something more unique, you can check out their Portuguese menu, which includes beef prego (ZAR 109), flame-grilled baby chicken (ZAR 139), and beef trinchado (ZAR 189).

Pro Tip:
You can also ask their wait staff for any seasonal offers that are not listed on their regular menu. For example, we were able to try their pork ribs, although it’s not originally listed as an option—kind of a secret menu if you ask us!

5. Humble Harrys

Address: Shop 45, Leaping Frog Centre, Fourways, Johannesburg, 1460, South Africa

Website: https://www.humble-harrys.co.za/ 

Contact Number: +27114652231

Operating Hours:

  • Sunday to Monday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday to Saturday, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Considering that it looks like an elegant bistro with outside seating and a great view, we think Humble Harry’s is anything but humble! The restaurant’s facade is decked with giant umbrellas, sleek tables and chairs, and potted plants that evoke a classy pub vibe.

They also serve some very filling and delicious menu items such as their all day-breakfasts (e.g., Jozi Grande, Breakfast Roll, and Humble Harry’s Breakfast) and their various omelettes such as chicken liver (ZAR 105) and Irish ranch (ZAR 115).

Pro Tip:
If you’re vegan, then you won’t have any problems enjoying some of the offerings of Humble Harry’s. You can go for their vegan omelette feta (ZAR 119), vegan avo on toast (ZAR 74), and low KJ poached egg (ZAR 60).

6. Hello Tomato

Address: Melrose Arch, Crescent Drive, Melrose North, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa

Website: https://hellotomato.co.za/

Contact Number: +27 10 020 8581

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Saturday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Hello Tomato has a modern and upscale feel to it thanks to its sleek industrial interiors and minimalist furniture and fixtures. While the restaurant might make you think that you’re going to spend tons of money on a decent meal, the food here is actually cheap.

Affordability isn’t the biggest draw of this pizza parlour, though, as their sides, platters, pizza, and pasta all taste amazing. If you want to treat your taste buds to a festival of flavours, you can order the fiesta platter, peri-perfect platter, or party platter!

Pro Tip:
Aside from ordering a large pizza (e.g., Margherita, the great white, spinach, and olives) for your family or large group, you can also order from their Feed the Family menu such as the Senhor Special (chicken, sides, and rolls). 

7. Dosa Hut

From southafricahalaal

Address: 6, 48 Central Rd, Fordsburg, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa

Website: http://www.dosahut.co.za/

Contact Number: +27 61 300 8946

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM

You don’t need to travel to India to enjoy world-class Indian food with a touch of elegance. Here at Dosa Hut, Johannesburg, you and your loved ones can enjoy authentic Indian cuisine while enjoying sleek interiors.

Some of their best-sellers include prawn curry, prawn masala, vegetable biryani, and chicken fried rice. They also have a ton of dosa flavours (such as onion dosa, ghee rose dosa, and cheese dosa) to choose from, and we recommend that you try them all out!

Pro Tip:
You can order vegan variants of their vegetable dishes here, and they’ll prepare you food without adding animal-based products. Just inform their friendly wait staff about your request (along with any food allergies you have).

8. Cafe Pico Bella Trattoria

Address: 66 4th Ave, Melville, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CafePicobellaTrattoria/

Contact Number: +27 11 482 4309

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM

If you ever dreamed of dining with the queen, then Cafe Picobella Trattoria will give you the opportunity to feel like royalty with its enchantingly elegant interiors. The restaurant boasts a Victorian vibe inside the seemingly rural-looking mansion with intricate decor.

We also like that aside from being a classy place to dine in, they also have a variety of menu items you can choose from. These include pizza, pasta, tapas, antipasti, bruschetta, various secondi (mains), like chicken and beef, and colazione (breakfast).

Pro Tip:
We recommend that you check out their social media page to confirm if there are any events during your planned date of visit. Cafe Picobella Trattoria will sometimes feature events such as live musical performances or art exhibits.

9. Nonna’s Italian Food Bar

From catiamanguelegmail.com6232

Address: 30 Cradock Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NonnasWoburnSands/ 

Contact Number: +27 10 203 9411

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Nonna’s Italian Food Bar looks like a cross between a royal banquet hall and a 5-star hotel buffet area rolled into one—and we like it! They use long tables and intricately designed chairs placed around the wide-open dining hall filled with modern designs.

We also like the Italian cuisine available at this establishment. They are pretty straightforward and authentic, and we can’t recommend them enough—from their focaccia sandwich, homemade pasta, and different pizzas (e.g., cheese, beef, and avo).

Pro Tip:
Aside from their delicious pizza and pasta, you can also order some fantastic beverages, like the classic and kiwi Nojito or you can go non-alcoholic with their milkshakes!

10. La Boqueria

Address: 17 3rd Ave, Parktown North, Randburg, 2193, South Africa

Website: http://www.laboqueria.co.za/ 

Contact Number: +27 76 997 3263

Operating Hours:

  • Tuesday to Friday, 12:00 NN to 10:00 PM
  • Saturday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Closed on Monday

La Boqueria is a classy and chic boutique restaurant that isn’t shy about showing off its colourful designs and interiors. The walls are covered in artsy murals, and each corner of this eatery is littered with greenery and trellis-mounted plants and flowers.

There are also a ton of different Hispanic dishes for you to enjoy here without having to travel far from Johannesburg. These include ensaladas, quesadillas, chipotle chicken, lamb enchilada, mussel pot, and our favourite—whiskey-glazed ribs!

Pro Tip:
Check their social media page for any promos or events. La Boqueria will usually offer special discounts or freebies depending on the occasion such as free drinks to celebrate Women’s Day.

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