Top 9 lunch deals for under £10 from independent Birmingham shops & restaurants to grab & go while at work

With offices all across Birmingham welcoming people back after the festive break, hungry workers are looking for tasty lunch options to brighten up the wintery days.

Whether you choose to eat your lunch at your desk, overlooking the canals or in one of Brum’s beautiful parks; there’s affordable and delicious takeaway options from some of Birmingham’s best independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

With so much to choose from there’s no reason to settle for a packet sandwich and a bag of crisps from the supermarket. We asked food writer Laura McEwan, author of Bite Your Brum, to choose 9 of the best hot and cold meal options perfect for a grab and go lunch – and better yet they’re all less than a tenner.

List of lunch deals for under £10

Smoke + Ash, Edgbaston

Opening at the end of last year, this pizzeria and bar has made a name for itself as one of the best places to go for pizza in the city. New for 2023, there’s now an affordable lunch menu including meaty, veggie and vegan panuozzo sandwiches from just £5.50. You can dine in or takeaway and there’s an upgrade option to make it a meal deal with a side salad and a soft drink. The Italian sandwiches are available Wednesday – Friday lunchtimes. You can find out more about Smoke + Ash via the Smoke + Ash Instagram page.

Indian Streatery, City Centre

If you’re looking for a hot meal with a hint of spice look no further than the lunch bowls from Indian Streatery. From £6 you can enjoy a home-style chicken curry with rice and your choice of yoghurt sauce and herbs for just £6. You get a hearty portion, it’s super speedy service and there’s plenty of delicious add ons like veggie samosas if you’re extra peckish. You can grab these from either the Bennetts Hill venue or the Express venue next to Bullring. Follow the Indian Streatery Instagram page for updates.

Anderson and Hill, City Centre

Hidden within Great Western Arcade you’ll find this tiny shop serving up some of the best sandwiches in the city. The bread is phenomenal, the fillings all come straight from the deli counter and are pure quality, and the drizzle of olive oil just makes it sing. The Parisian (with garlic sausage and Camembert) is my favourite and comes in around £5.50. Get there early though – the sandwiches are usually sold out by early afternoon and once they’re gone they’re gone. You can find out more about Anderson and Hill via the Instagram page.

The Cod’s Scallops, Harborne

Elevate your chippy lunch with a takeaway lunch from one of the best chip shops in and around the city centre. For £4.90 you’ll get your choice of sausage or fish cake with chips and a sauce of your choice, plus a can of soft drink. There’s tables right outside the venue to enjoy your lunch and watch the world go by. You can find out more about The Cod’s Scallops over on Instagram.

All Greek, City Centre

Expect street food made simple with Greek gyros and packed kebabs. Choose from pork, chicken or halloumi fillings (you can also mix and match) and your favourite sauces, plus a healthy handful of chips for good measure. At less an £7 it’s a lot of food for not a lot of money. There’s more information on the All Greek website.

Damascena, Jewellery Quarter

For fans of flatbreads there’s a lovely lunchtime selection from Damascena. The grilled halloumi wrap comes in at just £5.50 and can be eaten in or taken away. The pomegranate molasses dressing and fresh mint gives this a zingy kick. Add some falafel to it for an extra £1 and you’ve got a filling all-veggie lunchtime treat at a great price. For more information about Damascena (including it’s other locations) visit the Damascena website.

Hookways, City Centre

If you’re looking for something a little healthier, you can’t go wrong with a salad from Hookways. While it’s famous for its wraps, this tiny takeaway also offers delicious Middle Easern-inspired salad boxes. There’s both lamb and chicken or veggie options like falafel to choose from - all come with some of the best hummus in Brum and tangy pickles. Open weekdays only and located in The Minories Arcade. For more information follow the Hookways Instagram page.

Saint Kitchen, St Paul’s Square, Jewellery Quarter

There are no better bagels than those you’ll find at this café between Jewellery Quarter and St Paul’s Square. For around £6 you’ll get a bagel packed filled with fillings like pastrami, hot smoked salmon or one of the rotating specials. The coffee is also excellent here so it’s great for brunch on the go as well as lunch. Follow Saint Kitchen on Instagram for updates.

Kuula Poke, City Centre

For those on a January health kick, the superfood salad from this poke bar is an ideal grab and go lunch. It’s packed full of healthy goodies including veggies and fruit but you can customise it to your tastes. At £7 it’s the cheapest bowl here, totally vegan and also one of the tastiest lunches around. The Kuula Poke website has the full list of poke bowls available.

Laura McEwan is the author of award-winning Birmingham blog Bite Your Brum. You can find her Instagram page here.