Vegetarian€DecréMon-Fri 12:00-14:30; Sat 12:00-15:00; closed Sun
A cooperative vegetarian canteen off the Cours des 50 Otages in Nantes, where the bowl of the day costs €12, the burger €10 and small plates from €3.
Signature: Bowl du moment, Burger du moment, Houmous
Tip: It runs suspended meals through the Le Carillon network, so you can prepay a plate for someone who needs one.
French€Île de NantesMon-Fri 12:00-14:00; closed Sat-Sun
Lunch at this Beaulieu canteen on the Île de Nantes costs €11.50 for a starter, a main and a dessert, weekdays only and outside school holidays.
Signature: Three-course weekday lunch
Tip: It shuts for the summer and reopens on 1 September, so August visitors need another plan on the island.
Sandwich€BouffayTue-Wed 12:00-14:30; Thu-Fri 12:00-14:30 and 19:00-22:30; Sat 12:00-14:30; closed Sun-Mon
Moloss builds proper casse-dalle sandwiches near Feydeau in Nantes at €9.50 apiece, or €11.50 to €15 once you add the sides that make it a full lunch.
Signature: Casse-dalle sandwiches
Tip: Only Thursday and Friday get an evening service; the rest of the week the shutters come down at half two.
Vietnamese€DecréMon-Sat 12:00-21:00; closed Sun
A banh mi counter on Rue Maréchal Joffre working straight through from noon to nine, filled baguettes to eat in or carry off with bubble tea.
Signature: Banh mi, Bubble tea
Tip: Continuous service means it covers the gap between two and seven when most Nantes kitchens are shut.
French€Hauts-PavésMon-Thu 10:00-13:30 and 15:30-19:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-13:30 and 15:30-19:30; closed Sun
Greengrocer and weekday lunch counter in one, near the Talensac market, with a card that turns over weekly and a burger that never leaves it.
Signature: Weekly lunch card, Burger with house frites
Tip: Cooked lunches are weekday midday only; outside that the shop side sells produce, and the queue moves quickly before one o'clock.
Chinese€BouffayMon-Wed 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; closed Thu and Sun
A small Chinese ravioli counter off Place du Commerce in Nantes, where a plate of pork and lotus-root ravioli runs €7.90 and the soup bowls cost the same.
Signature: Pork and lotus-root ravioli, Ravioli in soup
Tip: It shuts Thursday and Sunday rather than Monday, which catches out anyone assuming a French rhythm here.