Melbourne's favourite local takeaway lunch

Given that this colourful Mexican street food eatery now has seven locations across the city, it would seem that Melburnians can’t get enough of beef brisket tacos, fresh fish burritos with chipotle aioli and shaved cabbage, and grilled chicken and quinoa ensaladas. Lunch at the Flinders Lane eatery is a flurry of city workers refuelling, but there are also locations in Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond, Windsor, Chadstone and Knox.

At the #cleaneating side of the takeaway lunch spectrum is Hanoi Hannah Express Lane – the teeny-tiny sister to popular Windsor restaurants Saigon Sally and Tokyo Tina. A serving of prawn and pork rice papers rolls with a fresh coconut makes for a flavoursome light lunch. For something with a little more crunch, go for the pork belly banh mi with crackling, fresh chilli and Thai basil mayo.

If you're already a fan of George Calombaris’s mod-Greek diner (we dream about those soft shell crab souvas regularly) then you'll need no convincing that Gazi's Bend Over Box is where you want to be at lunchtime. For $33, you'll get olives, pita, dip, meat, fish, salad, Gazi's delicious garlic and feta chips, a glass of beer or wine and something sweet to seal the deal.

Fresh, healthy takeaway lunch options abound at Earl Canteen. Classic chicken sandwiches, salmon wraps, and salads packed with superfoods are all on offer with muffins, cookies, brownies and dessert pots providing the ultimate post-lunch treat. With card payments welcome for all purchases, there’s no need to spend precious lunchbreak minutes wasting time lining up at the ATM.

Burgers, fries and shakes are the name of the game at Betty’s Burgers. Providing perfect lunchtime fodder for those work days that just drag on, the menu at Betty’s Burgers has all the classics expected of a burger joint (and a few surprises too). There’s Betty’s Classic and Crispy Chicken but also a Shroom Burger for vegetarians and a ‘Bare Betty’ burger for the carb-averse. All orders can be charged to a card without a minimum spend, so even a side of onion rings is possible for punters without cash on them.