The Illawarra guide to Eat & Drink

Illawarra Menu
Home / New South Wales / Illawarra / The Guide / Eat & Drink / CHEAP + CHEERFUL // 10 Lunches $10 And Under In The Illawarra

CHEAP + CHEERFUL // 10 Lunches $10 And Under In The Illawarra

Where To Grab Some Lunchtime Bargains In The Illawarra
SHARE

We might be pulling the purse strings a little tighter than normal these days, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on some tasty eats around town.

We’ve got you covered with 10 lunch options under $10 [yep, that’s right, $10, even in this day and age].

And we’ve tried to balance it out and not just make this a list of 10 different joints to grab hot chips, even though we know they’re soooooo good, especially with chicken salt and gravy mmmmm!

Anyway, scrounge up your coins and round up your appetite, because there’s something for everyone.

1 :: Vietnamese Banh Mi

Can’t go past a crusty, crunchy roll, with alllll the fresh and flavourful fillings!

There are so many yummy spots around town we love to go to get our lips around this tasty treat. One popular choice is Sam’s Crusty Bread Shop in Corrimal where prices start from $7 for a traditional pork roll and $9 for BBQ pork or roast chicken.

The only question left is chilli or no chilli?

2 :: Classic Lunch Specials

Members of Collegians [or Collies] probably already know all about their weekday $8.90 lunch specials, and if you don’t, then you do now.

With locations in Wollongong, Balgownie and Figtree there are plenty of spots to score this bargain. Each club offers different meals on different days of the week but think chicken schnitty with chips and salad, 12-hour braised lamb shanks and even grilled rump steaks.

For non-members the lunch special comes in at $10.90, so you might need to search down the back of the couch for a little extra silver for this one, or consider becoming a member for the future.

3 :: Chicken and Chippies

Chickos in Wollongong and Figtree are well known and loved in the Illawarra as a cheap and tasty spot to grab a bite. Gone are the days when you could score a chicken burger for less than a tenner [thanks inflation] but there are still a couple of goodies on the menu for under the mark.

Grab a chicken and chips snack box for $9 or five Portuguese wings and mini chips for $8.60 and if you’re in Wollongong make your way down to the beach to watch the waves roll in whilst your tummy does a happy dance.

4 :: Pie-time

Pies are a lunchtime staple and the buttery flaky pastry with rich and hearty filling pies at Earnest Arthur in Kiama are not to be missed.

Classic flavours like Aussie beef or cheese and bacon will set you back $7.70 and if you’re feeling fancy, you can grab a gourmet pie for $9.20. The last time we visited we chowed down on the deeeelish massaman beef curry pie and honestly, we’ve been thinking about it ever since.

5 :: Burek

This Balkan delight is pop.u.lar in our part of the world and we’re super lucky to have so many spots where you can score a slice for under $10.

If you find yourself in Warrawong, head over to Burek House on King St for a budget-friendly $8 slice. Keep it classic with cheese and spinach or beef and cheese. Feeling adventurous? Try the vegan potato and leek or the sweet apple. Mmmm, choices!

6 :: Sushi

Ooooo we’re major sushi fans here at The Fold, especially if it’s a day or two before payday and we’re on the hunt for something snack-a-licious.

Toro Sushiya in Thirroul has medium rolls for 7 smackeroos, there are quite a few filling options to choose from and if you visit with a friend split an edamame or some veggie croquettes from the entree menu for an extra $6 to flesh it out even more.

7 :: Super sangas

Just 5 minutes of scrolling on Paninoteca in Lake Height’s socials will have you almost licking your phone. So, you’ll be super chuffed to find out that their roll prices start from just $7 for the meat and cheese and $9 for the meat and salad.

You can also find a couple of good options for $10 on their faves menu, we stan a classic Rueben roll and are also major fans of the Mamma Mia which has ricotta, prosciutto, mixed leaf and sun-dried tomatoes… drool.

8 :: Go Greek

Zeus St Greek in Shellharbour has 3 mini-pitas to choose from, ranging in price from $7.50 to $9.50. Chicken, lamb or pork, they all sound yummo-scrummo.

They’ve also got some small salads under $10 to choose from including a vegan Greek salad for $8 and the Ikarian salad for $9.50 with cauliflower rice and loads of veg to keep you feeling healthy all day.

9 :: Egg and Bacon Roll

Chris’s Takeaway in Corrimal actually has a few good options on the menu for under 10 dollary-doos including a steak sanga, veggie burger and chicken schnitzel burger.

But if you’re looking to go even cheaper then it’s gotta be the bacon and egg roll. Only $6.50 with everything you love about brekkie… only at lunchtime, nice!

10 :: Uni Eats

Hot tip, you don’t actually have to go to the university to eat at the Uni Bar in Wollongong. Fuelling masses of broke students for many a year, you’re always bound to score a cheap eat here.

The $6.50 chip roll with gravy has been filling tummies for cheap for as long as we can remember and the $10 pizzas are also a good shout. There’s also a $10 salad of the week on the menu if you’re feeling like something a little fresher.

Okay so hopefully that will keep the costs down and the good times high for the next little while at least.

And if you’ve got any other cheap and cheerful faves you’d love to shout out, don’t forget to let us know.

Who knows we may end up with 100 under $10?!

Hannah Castelli Author Bio

Sign-up
Follow Illawarra

Don't Miss Out On

20 October 2025
Illawarra
What’s On This Weekend In The Illawarra
Events
Discover the best things to do in the Illawarra this weekend – including food, markets, live music, and so much more
13 October 2025
Illawarra
Your Guide To Jumping Back Into The Workforce After Parental Leave
Careers

Heading back to work after parental leave can feel a tad daunting, but it’s full of awesome moments too. We’ve got some tips and ideas to make the return smoother and more fun.

4 September 2025
Eurobodalla
NSW Live Performance Venue Grant Round 2 – Apply Now For Funding
Arts & Culture

Huge fans of live entertainment over here! We love seeing live entertainment in regional Australia – the more, the better! It not only helps a regional area feel vibrant and exciting, but it has the potential to help support local artists and performers, too.

We’re excited to see round 2 for 2025 is open for an opportunity for hospitality venues in NSW to host live performances with support from this grant. We want to see as many regional venues get the grant as possible – so take a look!

More latest reads

23 July 2025
Illawarra
ILLAWARRA PUB GRUB // Grab Yourself A Bargain
Eat & Drink

The economy is flip flopping around at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay at home and eat baked beans or pull out the old 101 Ways With Mince recipe book.

30 June 2025
Illawarra
Where To Get Your High Tea Fix In The Illawarra
Eat & Drink

And enjoy all those scrummy savoury and sweet goodies.

28 May 2025
Illawarra
Insta-worthy Burgers Of The Illawarra
Eat & Drink

We’ve tracked down some seriously stacked, saucy, and downright delicious burgers from local venues that are serving up the goods – and looking damn fine while doing it.

Get the best straight to your inbox

Article topics