Eat Out on $15
in central Auckland

The $10 lunch was a popular deal on the streets of Auckland but we've noticed a price increase so have amended our guide accordingly. Many Indian restaurants are still offering lunch deals for around $10 and you'll find a list below. We've also included a couple of recommendations for some Kiwi classics - pies, doughnuts and lamingtons.

We've linked through to review websites to help keep the information up-to-date, also follow website and facebook links to check deals are still current. If you're looking for a cheap drink to end your day Auckland Happy Hours has a few options. (Updated October 2012)

Central City

The Britomart Country Club, 31 Galway Street www.britomart.org Check out the BBC daily specials - $10 grill menu on Sunday and Wednesday, and $10 pizza on Monday. Drink special - if it's raining between 12 noon and 6pm any day of the week bottles of Export Dry are $3. Open 7 days. (MenuMania reviews)

Sal's Authentic New York Pizza, 8 Commerce Street www.sals.co.nz Sal's import ingredients from the USA and serve authentic New York pizza. We chose slices of cheese ($4), and meatball ($5), we liked the flavours and the flexibility of the slices. Add garlic knots and pepperoni wheels for a few dollars more. There's a few booths inside or high tables outside. Open 7 days from 11.30am. (MenuMania reviews and other locations).

The White Lady, corner Fort & Commerce Streets The White Lady is an Auckland institution that dishes out hearty burgers, toasted sandwiches and milk shakes. She's especially popular with those working or partying the late shift and is open from 6pm - 4am Monday - Thursday and 24 hours over the weekend.

Fort Street Union, 16 Fort Street www.fortstreetunion.co.nz Fort Street Union serve $13 lunches Monday - Friday. Lunch options include risotto, fish 'n' chips and a steak sandwich, visit facebook to see the full $13 lunch menu. Open 7 days. (MenuMania reviews).

Velvet Burger, 18 Fort Street www.velvetburger.co.nz Velvet Burger has a $10 lunch combo (11.30am - 5pm) and 2for1 Tuesdays, see "Promos" on the website or facebook. With the exception of the $16 Goneburger all burgers are less than $15. Our choices were True Blue and Big Bird, we dined in, there are plenty of tables and you can buy a beer (including a Double Brown for $4.50 if you're keen). Open 7 days. (Burger fans - Concrete Playground ate their way through The 10 Best Burger Joints in Auckland, note that Murder Burger in Ponsonby has since closed).

Spitting Feathers, 16 Wyndham Street www.spittingfeathers.co.nz Spitting Feathers is an English bar that serves a $15 roast from 12 noon on Sunday. It may also serve the best value meal and drinks combo in Auckland, if not NZ - on Wednesday night $20 gets you steak, fries and beverages. (More information - Happy hours and Spitting Feathers blog). (MenuMania reviews).

Genzui Ramen Bar, 21-25 Elliott Street (located opposite Crowne Plaza Hotel, level 4, Atrium on Elliott building) It's easy to have a decent dinner at popular Genzui Ramen Bar for $15. We tend to choose the same dishes - teriyaki chicken ramen ($10.50), miso katsu don chicken ($9.50) and gyoza dumplings ($6). Beverages are also cheap - bottles of Japanese beer from $6.50, bottles of NZ beer from $4.50. (MenuMania reviews). Open Monday-Friday, 11.30am-10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 6pm-10pm. (The Auckland Japanese Restaurant Guide will be useful to those looking for Japanese food in the city).

No 1 Pancake, corner Wellesley Street & Lorne Street Facebook A couple of doors down from Revive is No1 Pancake, a favourite with students as they dish out cheap sweet ($3) and savoury ($4) Korean style pancakes. They differ from pancakes I'm used to in that the filling is inside and they're slightly oily, they're also substantial and I recommend you start with one and see if you can manage a second. Open for takeaway lunch only - I sat across the road on a bench in Khartoum Place. (Thanks to Sophia for the recommendation).

350 Queen Street (opposite Aotea Square) You can eat your way through a three course meal from the small take out kiosks alongside each other at 350 Queen Street, take a seat in Aotea Square. You can start with an entree from Yummy Sushi, main from California Burrito or Star Kebab, dessert from Toro Churro, The Creperie Place or Southern Maid Donuts. Other options include Global Sandwich and Salad Works. All the kiosks are open for lunch and you'll find a few open late in the evening.

Karangahape Road

Food for Life, Hare Krishna Restaurant, 268 Karangahape Road Food for Life has to serve the cheapest two course lunch in Auckland. Pay $6 ($5 if you're a student) for rice, dhal soup, vegetable curry, pakoras with chutney, and a custard and fruit dessert. The restaurant is a good option for vegetarians, what it lacks in character it makes up for in value and portion size. Open Monday - Saturday. (MenuMania reviews)

Theatre Coffee Company, 256 Karangahape Road www.theatrecoffee.co.nz I've chosen to recommend Theatre Coffee Co for a few reasons, one is that it's in a unique narrow building with a mosaic floor, arched lead light window and large chandelier. If you climb the copper steps to the mezzanine floor it's a quiet place for coffee or a meal on busy K' Road. The service is friendly and they have a coffee card for regulars. Breakfast is served until 2.30pm and both breakfast and lunch can be had for around $15, or choose a cheaper snack from the cabinet. They use free range products, make their own hash browns, and the muffins are worth returning for. Open Monday - Saturday, currently closed Sunday but plan to open in future. (MenuMania reviews)

Food Courts

Ponsonby

Agnes Curran, 179 Ponsonby Road A recommendation for a Kiwi classic done exceptionally well - the chocolate lamington. Add something savoury from the small menu that usually consists of baguettes, gourmet pies and a hot dish or two. Agnes Curran is a little cafe tucked around the corner on Franklin Road with a leafy picture window looking on to Ponsonby Road. There'll be something to read on the communal table. Open 7am - 4pm. (MenuMania reviews)

il buco, 113 Ponsonby Road www.ilbuco.co.nz il buco sells good pizza by the slice for $6 and hot chocolate is on the counter ready for your cup. It's the best hot chocolate we've had, it's $3 and served in a cute cup and saucer. The pizza selection is large and includes vegan options, soup and soldiers are also served ($8.50) and there's a couple of sweets on the menu. Open 7 days until 9pm Monday - Saturday, and 7pm on Sunday. (MenuMania reviews)

Rob's Patisserie, 95D Ponsonby Road Pick up a pastry, sandwich or pie* from Rob's Patisserie and head down to Western Park for a picnic. If you'd like to bake your own Kiwi inspired cakes check out Rob's book Kiwiana Party Cakes. Open 7 days from 6am. (MenuMania reviews). (*Co-owner Helena won gold at the 2012 pie awards for her caramelized pork belly and coriander pie).

Newmarket

Safran Cafe, Bar & Restaurant, 71 Davis Crescent We have lunch at Safran often in the weekends and recommend it for good value ($14 lunches), service and atmosphere. Open Monday - Friday 7am until late, Saturday and Sunday 9am until late. (DineOut reviews). There are two $14 lunch options next door to Safran - Archie's Restaurant and Pizzeria (MenuMania reviews) and Platter (MenuMania reviews)

Pies & Little and Friday, 12 Melrose Street, Newmarket www.littleandfriday.com If you're a fan of pies Concrete Playground ate their way to The Five Best Pies in Auckland. Reminiscent of an old school Kiwi lunch I recommend you match your Little and Friday mince and cheese pie with one of their divine doughnuts. A pie and doughnut will cost more than at your average bakery but I think it's well worth it for the quality and taste. (Little and Friday is also at 43 Eversleigh Road in Belmont, it's a local favourite and packed on weekends). Open 7 days. (MenuMania reviews).

Mission Bay

Fish 'n' chips or burgers on the beach in Mission Bay The Fish Pot, 99 Tamaki Drive is our local and does good fish 'n' chips or try Mission Bay Fisheries on Atkin Avenue. Burger Fuel, 61 Tamaki Drive serves up the V8's of the burger world. Tana Mera Espresso, 12B Patteson Avenue Coffee, slices, muffins and sandwiches can be enjoyed at one of the few tables in Tana Mera or a few steps away at the beach. Good for early risers - opens 6.15am Monday - Saturday and 6.30am on Sunday, closes at 4pm. Otto Woo Gourmet Noodle Bar is nearby - hours. Cheapish dessert - ice cream from Movenpick or NZ Natural.

Sea Cow On The Bay, 33 Tamaki Drive New at the beach is Sea Cow On The Bay, you can eat in or take out salads from $6, battered fish 'n' chips are $11.50 and other mains are priced $15 - $21. We had the "Hooked on Tuesdays" $10 special - fish burger and chips, it's a good cheap eat. ($10 meals served from 11am - 8.30pm, visit facebook to keep up with special offers). Sea Cow is BYO ($3 corkage) and beer and wine are also poured from $7.50. Open 6 days from 11am (closed Monday). (MenuMania reviews). Ford fans - look out for the hot red Falcon.

Lunch deals including curry, rice and naan are relatively easy to find for around $10. A few restaurants like Raviz, Curry Leaf and Trendy Indian also offer cheap curry mains Monday - Wednesday nights. A few curry options - Namaste Express, 89 Great South Road, Epsom; Nite Spice, Sitar and Raviz (all have branches on Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden); Curry Leaf, 237 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga; Trendy Indian, Herne Bay; Masala (8 locations) and Raviz (8 locations).

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