Where to get lunch under $20 in Ballarat

In Ballarat, there’s a huge selection of vibrant options that offer both satisfaction and a digestible price point. If you’re passing through on a road trip or you’re a worker looking for a quick bite on your lunch break, nothing hits the spot better than a decent feed from a local business. 

Here are the spots to get your midday meal for under $20 in the ‘Rat. 

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Sushi Noodle 

You can’t lose with sushi, or dumplings, or full bowls of delectable meals cooked right in front of you. 

This spot is an institution that won’t break the bank. 

Menu highlight: $5 pork dumplings 

Where is it: 225 Mair St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350 

Brown Hill General Store 

Brown Hill General Store is on your way into and out of town, with a deliciously greasy array of toasted sandwiches and gourmet pies awaiting your appraisal. 

Menu highlight: Bacon and egg turkish roll, with double bacon, double egg and homemade BBQ sauce for under $15 

Where is it: 407 Humffray St N, Brown Hill VIC 3350 

HM Wrap & Roll

Does it get better than a Bánh mì to revitalise you in the middle of the work day? This is a spot holding up the honour (and reasonable price tag) of the beloved Bánh mì in the heart of Ballarat. 

Menu highlight: Crispy pork belly Bánh mì with a Vietnamese coffee thrown in for a few extra dollars 

Where is it: 1/3 Eastwood St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350 

Tin Roof Ballarat

Tin Roof is a blend of creative cuisine, leafy views and gorgeous Ballarat heritage aesthetic in an old cottage. Cafe owner Yvonne is an ever-constant, warm present and will ensure one of the best meals of your week that doesn’t cost an arm or leg. 

If you want a perfect brekky burger or a spiced wonton bowl, this is the place. 

Menu highlight: Traditional chicken and lambo gyros 

Where is it: 302 Macarthur St, Soldiers Hill VIC 3350 

Racers Cafe

Racers is a spot keeping alive the ethos of the old-time diner - a huge menu, open late and bursting with neighbourly cosiness. You can order anything from salad to curry to waffles to souvlaki. 

Menu Highlight: Focaccia that rotates daily, served with chips 

Where is it: 2 Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree VIC 3350 

Saigon Allee

This spot is so tastefully decorated with vibrant art pieces and mood lighting that you’d expect prices that defy the lunchtime budget. 

It’s a pleasant surprise that a decent chunk of the authentic Vietnamese menu is under $20, and it’s sincerely delicious at all hours of the day. 

Menu highlight: $19 tasting platter 

Where is it: 30 Armstrong St N, Ballarat Central VIC 3350