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IndianCity Bowl
Eastern Food Bazaar is a canteen-style food court in Cape Town's City Bowl, serving affordable Indian, Turkish and Cape Malay stalls every day.
OrderA giant bunny chow from the Punjabi counter, or a dosa from Madras.
TipEat with your hands like the locals and use the basin halfway through the hall; the upstairs seating off the Darling Street entrance is quieter.
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SandwichSea Point
Kleinsky's Delicatessen brings New York-style Jewish deli food, bagels and pastrami included, to Regent Road in Sea Point, Cape Town, daily.
OrderThe pastrami sandwich, which the kitchen will upsize if you are really hungry.
TipBreakfast runs to challah French toast and a potato latke benedict, and as a non-kosher deli it will add bacon on request.
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GreekSea Point
Mykonos Taverna has served family-recipe Greek taverna food on Main Road in Sea Point, Cape Town, since first opening in the 1980s to today.
OrderPeter's kleftiko lamb shank, cooked to the original family recipe since opening.
TipAsk for the meze platter if your table wants to sample several dishes without committing to one main.
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ChineseSea Point
HeSheng Chinese Restaurant keeps a no-frills menu of dumplings, xiao long bao and noodle soups on Main Road in Sea Point, run by new owners since 2023.
OrderThe xiao long bao, made fresh and consistently named as the reason regulars return.
TipThe kitchen closes between 15:00 and 17:00 and all day Tuesday, and a 10 percent service charge is added to the bill.
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MexicanGreen Point
El Burro serves hand-pressed corn tortillas, fresh salsas and margaritas on Main Road in Green Point, Cape Town, and takes no reservations at all.
OrderSoft tacos on hand-pressed corn tortillas, filled with grilled prawns in arbol chilli and cumin.
TipIn summer take a table on the balcony, or in winter one by the fireplace or on the upper level looking over the room.
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ThaiGardens
Yindee's serves Thai grills, curries and salads in a Victorian house on Kamp Street, at the top of Kloof Street's dining strip in Gardens, Cape Town.
OrderThe phad phed beef, a curry made without coconut milk, or the green curry.
TipChoose between low tables with floor cushions on one side and conventional tables on the other; the cushion side suits a relaxed group dinner.