Le Bouillon Paradis in Lyon's 1er runs the Parisian bouillon format with Lyonnais classics: three courses for under 18 EUR all afternoon, no reservation needed at lunch.
Must order: Oeuf mayo to start, blanquette de veau for the plat, ile flottante to close.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 12:30 or after 14:00 to avoid the queue.
Address: 58 Rue Salomon Reinach, 69001 Lyon
Fujiyama 55 in Lyon's 2e is the city's most-booked ramen counter, with a 14-hour tonkotsu broth and a ticket under 18 EUR including gyoza for the table.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu, gyoza for two.
Tip: No reservations; arrive at 18:45 to beat the queue that forms most weeknights.
Nafas in Lyon's 1er is the Middle Eastern counter on Rue Rene Leynaud cooking hummus bowls, wraps and falafel plates with house pickles, tahini and sumac onions under 14 EUR.
Try: Hummus bowl with kebab and sumac onions
Order: The hummus bowl with kebab; add the falafel side for 3 EUR more.
Tip: Lunch and early dinner only; closed Sunday. Take-away through the side window after 14:00.
Les Freres Barioz in Lyon's 3e on Rue Duguesclin runs a lunch-only Italian sandwich counter with focaccia panini and rotating daily fillings from house charcuterie, all under 12 EUR.
Try: Mortadella and pistachio focaccia sandwich
Order: The mortadella-and-pistachio focaccia plus a Tarocco orange juice.
Tip: Lunch only; counter closes at 14:30 sharp. Cash and card.
Brasserie Georges on Cours de Verdun in Lyon's 2e serves the 1836 brasserie formula at accessible prices: choucroute, sole meuniere and a half-litre of house lager under 28 EUR.
Try: Choucroute royale
Order: The choucroute royale and the house-brewed lager.
Tip: Open daily until 23:00; the dining hall takes walk-ins after 21:00.
Sibilia inside Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon's 3e sells hot saucisson brioche slices at the counter from 09:30, the cheapest and most Lyonnais breakfast in the city.
Try: Saucisson brioche slice
Order: One slice of saucisson brioche with a coffee at the stand-up counter.
Tip: Hot from 09:30; counter closes at 14:00 then reopens at 15:30.
Zoi Kitchen at the foot of the Croix-Rousse slope cooks a Greek street-food counter menu: souvlaki, gyros and house tzatziki on pita, with most plates under 15 EUR.
Try: Pork souvlaki plate with fries and tzatziki
Order: The pork souvlaki plate with fries; the combo under 13 EUR.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Wed; full dinner Thu-Sat from 19:00.
