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The Best Lunch Restaurants in Johannesburg for That Much-Needed Midday Break
Ask Joburg folks what counts as a lunchtime resto, and they’ll likely yammer on about joints slinging quick, hearty plates between 11 am and 2 pm.
We’re with them on that, though we also reckon taste matters just as much. That midday window is when most escape the office or school, so the grub should hit harder than meetings and exams.
The question is, which local spots are worth leaving the desk or lounge? Our most seasoned foodies ate their way through the city to answer that.
Salvation Cafe
– From sabc_radio_archives
Address: 44 Stanley Ave, Milpark
Contact Details: +27 11 482 7795
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 am to 4 pm
Fresh lunch is the norm at the award-winning Salvation Cafe. You see, they whip up made-to-order global flavours and serve them at a laid-back joint.
Our favourite is the gourmet beef burger, made creamier by guac. There’s also the Egyptian counterpart that’s meant for vegetarians who’ll likely go nuts for butternut chickpea dressed in tomato salsa.
Mimosa is the top drink to wash it down. The cafe keeps it simple, so expect a glass of bubbly juice with a hit of orange.
| Tip: Their operating hours change frequently. Call to be certain. |
Bambanani Melville
– From bambanani_melville
Address: 85 4th Ave, Melville
Contact Details: +27 11 482 2900
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 10 am to 6 pm
- Wed to Thu – 10 am to 8 pm
- Fri to Sat – 9 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 8 pm
Kid-friendly and upmarket sum up Bambanani. The concept is that you indulge in classy bites, while the tots go wild in a spacious play area with childminders.
Come lunchtime, the options are varied. Lighter meals like cheesy focaccia, halloumi popcorn, and salads are dished out, alongside heavy-hitters; think skewers, pizza, and steaks.
| Tip: The place can definitely host a children’s party. |
The Bigmouth Sushi & Grill
– From thebig_mouth
Address: Shop No 13 & 14 of Nelson Mandela Square Corner Maude &, 5th St, Sandton
Contact Details: +27 10 634 2890
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 11 am to 9 pm
- Tue to Sat – 11 am to 9:45 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 9 pm
Inspired by classic diners, The Bigmouth is a slice of the Big Apple and Los Angeles in terms of feel and looks. The food, though, is South African and global at heart.
A filling example is their best-selling poke bowls, featuring tempura chicken on black rice or cubed salmon with a lick of fire. Bigmouth’s prawn and spinach dim sum sells fast, too.
Still, my vote goes to the rainbow sushi (it even made this list) and lobster rolls. Sweet crab and lobster dressed in smoked paprika and mayo? Yeah, that’s one hell of a lunch!
| Tip: Bring a portable charger. Sometimes, charging here isn’t allowed. |
The Grillhouse Rosebank
– From thegrillhouserosebank
Address: 1, The Firs, Hyatt Centre, Oxford Road & Biermann Avenue, Rosebank
Contact Details: +27 11 880 3945
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 5 pm
Since 1994, The Grillhouse Rosebank has been dishing out indulgent midday meats. That’s the reason we come here on paydays and when the clock isn’t an issue.
If you’ve had their signature fillet on the bone (500 grams), you’ll get it. Often paired with mash, veg, and Merlot, it’s a charred and succulent treat worthy of the R286 tag.
Those ostrich medallions are bangers as well. The peppered crust gives each piece sharpness, but it doesn’t overpower the meat’s natural flavours, leaning light and a tad gamey.
| Tip: You can get a vibe of the spot through a virtual tour. |
Falcon Peak Spur
– From clicks_sa
Address: Carlton Centre, Shop 228, Level 200, 150 Commissioner St, Marshalltown
Contact Details: +27 11 331 5888
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 am to 7 pm
Falcon Peak Spur makes for a family-friendly lunch joint. In fact, I always take the gang here, feasting on their famed ribs, burgers, and steaks with the kiddos while upbeat tunes play in the background.
It also helps that most deals are hearty and meant for sharing, like the pork riblets and wing combo. For R159, a crew can dig into 6 buffalo wings and 200 grams of riblets, with a tangy blue cheese sauce cooling down the spice.
| Tip: Be on the lookout for promos! |
Aduna Bistro
– From aduna_bistro
Address: The African Pride Hotel, 1 Melrose Square, Birnam
Contact Details: +27 82 732 3747
Operating Hours: Daily – 6:30 am to 10 pm
Light is the atmosphere and decor of Aduna Bistro. You can say the same for the lunch selection.
Classic avocado toast is what I frequent most, followed by the herby grilled chicken. Most of my workmates, though, prefer the red-hot Bangkok fish cakes.
Mains-wise, my money goes to the teriyaki salmon and gelatinous braised oxtail. Both are rich in umami and perfect with Aduna’s freshly squeezed juices, beers, and cocktails (if you’re still thirsty for mixes, drop by these cocktail bars).
| Tip: You can park, but it’s not free. Bring some extra cash. |
Amman Restaurant
– From amman_resturant
Address: 48 Central Rd, Fordsburg
Contact Details: +27 78 881 8280
Operating Hours: Daily – 9:30 am to 9:30 pm
You can tell Amman Restaurant’s Jordanian food is fire with how long the lines are. Seriously, it’s a certified lunch joint!
Most swing by for the authentic chicken, beef, and lamb shawarmas, all fire-kissed and cheap.
The Middle Eastern pizza lineup also draws people. Margarita and peri-peri chicken get hyped most, though the slices with za’atar (a thyme and oregano-based spice blend) come close.
| Tip: Not fond of waiting for about 20 minutes? Pop by between 11 am and 12 pm. |
Mozambik Linksfield
– From mozambikrestaurants
Address: 110 Cnr of Club & Linksfield Rd, Linksfield
Contact Details: +27 11 264 1131
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 11 am to 9 pm
- Tue to Thu – 11 am to 9:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 10 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 5 pm
If you’re craving African and Portuguese food in the open air, Mozambik is worth a shot.
The prawn-based dishes are especially mouthwatering. We know because the peri peri prawns, popping with the seafood’s succulence and the sauce’s heat, have been our obsession for years.
You can’t go wrong with the calamari either. It’s pan-fried in lemony, garlicky, and spicy sauces, then finished with either smoky chourico olives or mild chicken livers.
| Tip: Your kids will love the play area! Just don’t let them feed the pigeons. |
Mikes Heritage House
– From mikesheritagehouse
Address: 15 St Andrews Rd, Parktown
Contact Details: +27 11 484 2688
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 8 am to 10 pm
- Sun – 8 am to 6 pm
The 1905-built Mikes Heritage House is one special haunt. It marries Edwardian and Victorian accents in a refined garden setting, all while serving steakhouse classics.
One plate that gets raved about is the loin pork ribs. No shocker, as the meat consistently falls off the bone, and the traditional BBQ baste ticks the holy trinity: smoky, tangy, and sweet flavours.
| Tip: Visit during a holiday or an important event to score freebies like a free glass of wine. |
Fireroom Bedfordview
– From fireroomsa
Address: Village View Shopping Centre, Cnr Van Buuren Road and Kloof Rd, Bedfordview
Contact Details: +27 11 450 1440
Operating Hours: Daily – 11 am to 10 pm
Fireroom wasn’t kidding with its “burn away the ordinary” tagline. This one brings theatrics to the table, with cocktails that smoke and sushi set aflame in front of guests!
Speaking of sushi, they were the reason we popped by. The California rolls and beef fillet were fire-kissed, given their distinct crisp, smokiness, and heat.
We also heard sweet things about the on-the-bone fillet. Flambéed and pepper-crusted, it’s said to have a luxuriously umami and buttery taste (reflected by the R345 price).
| Tip: Make sure to book online. It’s one busy space. |
The Wing Republic
– From thewingrepublic
Address: 6 De Beer St, Braamfontein
Contact Details: +27 60 332 3865
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10 am to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 10 am to 12 am
- Sun – 10 am to 9 pm
Even our pickiest eaters found a sauce to go crazy over at The Wing Republic. I mean, they have over 25 of the stuff, including honey sriracha, dry rub, barbecue, peri peri, and ghost pepper!
Unsurprisingly, buffalo wings are the moneymaker. Don’t get us wrong, though; six pieces only set us back R80.
| Tip: On Sundays, you can get a free margarita or mimosa with a purchase of either drink. |
Fishmonger Illovo
– From lebohangmoney9500
Address: Thrupps Centre, 204 Oxford Rd, Illovo
Contact Details: +27 11 268 0068
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Tue to Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 9:30 pm
We chowed on fresh catches at Fishmonger Illovo, claimed by many as one of Joburg’s best seafood joints. Not a mad take, honestly.
Those meaty-sweet kingklip meals were delicious, especially the medallions slowly-cooked in curry and the whole baby kingklip, grilled straight on the bone.
But hey, the world is your oyster here, and there are platters stacked high with Mozambique king prawns, linefish, sushi, calamari, and more. Go crazy!
| Tip: Weekdays here are less hectic. |
The Codfather Sandton
– From thecodfathersandton
Address: 3 Stan Rd, Morningside, Sandton
Contact Details: +27 10 020 0286
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 8 am to 10 pm
- Tue to Sat – 8 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 8 am to 10 pm
Yeah, yeah, the inclusion of The Codfather hints at our seafood-mad palates. Can you blame us, though? Fresh and lightly seasoned fish is a lekker lunch.
Plus, you can make your own platter here. The fishmongers at the counter will hook you up with mild kingklip, butterflied crayfish, and fatty salmon sourced from Norway, cooked on a flat-top grill.
| Tip: Birthday celebrants can nab a free dessert! |
Proud Mary
– From proudmary_sa
Address: The Bank, 26 Cradock Ave, Rosebank
Contact Details: +27 10 023 3316
Operating Hours: Daily – 6:30 am to 12 am
While upscale in looks, Proud Mary remains an inclusive, mid-century-inspired space for all-day dining. The modern food is no afterthought, too.
Crispy fried squid kicked off our lunch, and everyone loved the bright notes infused by lemon aioli and basil. Coconut flakes also added a nutty side to it.
Then came the confit pork belly, which melted in our mouths as promised. It was incredibly layered; past the savoury meat, I picked up the acidity of borlotti beans, the nuttiness of palm jus, and the herbaceous pop of fennel.
| Tip: The space is ace for a 40- to 240-guest event. Have a gander at their brochure for the deets. |
Hard Rock Cafe Johannesburg
– From hardrockcafejohannesburg
Address: 10 & 10A, Mandela Square, 8 Maude St, Sandown
Contact Details: +27 11 784 3144
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11:30 am to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 1 am
- Sun – 11:30 am to 12 am
Hard Rock Cafe amped up our dining experience. It was lively, and the steak burgers were American-style, meaning we had flavour bombs for lunch.
The Legendary selection matched the joint’s rock-and-roll energy. Every burger in that lineup had toasted artisan buns, bacon, and TLC, some just spicier and stacked higher.
We capped things off with their signature Hurricane cocktail. It’s a 1940s blend from New Orleans that’s huge on fruity, tropical notes, with Bacardi Superior rum as the base.
| Tip: You can book them for catering services. Dial the digits above for the info. |
