One of the things that make the humble sandwich so great, is that you don’t need to pull out all the stops to make it delicious. And this unassuming little sandwich shop in the CBD’s Bridge Street food arcade proves it. 

An easy way to narrow down the extensive menu at Spice Temple is to come for lunch. Every weekday, you can choose any noodle dish and pair it with a Tsingtao or glass of wine — all for just $18. 

At Merivale’s latest George Street digs, nearly the entire menu is $20 and under. As the name suggests, falafel is the star of the show here. The original pita is stuffed with falafel, topped with parsley, cucumber, tomato, sumac onions and pickles.

The CBD’s newest pasta shop by the Ragazzi team isn’t just selling you all the makings of an Italian feast for takeaway. The store also has a dine-in aspect, and its outdoor high tables are a hot commodity come lunchtime. 

A true Sydney stalwart, Marrickville Pork Roll has long been considered one of the best bánh mì shops in the city. And now you can enjoy the same quality Vietnamese sandwiches in the CBD, with the opening of the Darling Square outpost.

To taste the world’s oldest sandwich, head to the Barrack Place precinct for Chinese street food cafe Mo’st. Called rou jia mo (“meat sandwich”), this Chinese burger is said to have originated in the Shaanxi Province some 2300 years ago. 

Bringing neighbourhood charm to the CBD, Continental Deli is also feeding the hungry lunchtime masses its giant, beloved sandos — all of which ring up for $20 and under. 

Japanese-inspired burgers are the name of the game at Ume. The simple, sustainably-focused menu ditches the bacon cheeseburger for the signature menchi burger — made with handmade pork katsu, tonkatsu sauce and cabbage ($14.80). 

Gumshara should be a staple whether you’re penny-pinching or not. Tucked away in Chinatown’s Eating World food court, Gumshara’s rich pork broth is produced by boiling over 100 kilograms of pork bones on a daily basis.