L'Etabli in Lyon's 2e Ainay quarter runs a 22 EUR set lunch each weekday with starter, daily plat from the morning market and dessert. The half-pichet of house wine is 5 EUR extra.
Must order: The set lunch with whatever is on the daily plat board.
Tip: Book 24 hours ahead for the 22 EUR lunch; dinner is pricier and harder to book.
Address: 22 Rue des Remparts d'Ainay, 69002 Lyon
Marche de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon's 4e runs Tuesday to Sunday on Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse: the cheapest way to eat well is buying cheese, bread and charcuterie direct from the 100-stall market.
Try: Seasonal produce, cheese, bread and charcuterie from the stalls
Order: A half-wheel of Saint-Marcellin, a baguette and a slice of saucisson de Lyon.
Tip: Weekday mornings before 10:00 for the quietest browsing.
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.
Try: Three-course bouillon set: oeuf mayo, blanquette, ile flottante
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.
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.
