Leith Walk Police Box on Pilrig Street in Edinburgh, opened 2016 inside a 1950s blue police box, a 3-square-metre coffee counter pouring filter and espresso.
Tip: There is no seating; coffee in hand on Leith Walk's central reservation. Cash only on most days.
Address: Pilrig Street, Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5AS
Harajuku Kitchen counter on Gillespie Place in Bruntsfield Edinburgh, opened 2013 by Kaori Simpson, a Tokyo-style izakaya counter selling Japanese dumplings.
Try: Gyoza dumplings and Japanese curry
Tip: Lunch bento set at GBP 12 is the value play; the Stockbridge offshoot is brighter and easier on weekends.
Clamshell fish bar on the High Street of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, opened in the 1970s, a Royal Mile chippy serving haddock suppers, hot pies and the famous.
Try: Fish supper and deep-fried Mars bar
Tip: Late-night Royal Mile counter; service runs to 02:00 most nights. Deep-fried Mars bar is a tourist novelty done properly here.
Valvona and Crolla deli counter on Elm Row in Edinburgh, opened 1934, Scotland's longest-running Italian deli with a sandwich counter making prosciutto rolls.
Try: Italian deli sandwich on house bread
Tip: Sandwich list runs from a chalkboard; the porchetta with rocket and house mayonnaise is the long-running favourite.
Bertie's Proper Fish and Chips on Victoria Street in Edinburgh Old Town, a sit-down and takeaway chippy opened in the former Grassmarket arch, cooking fresh.
Try: Haddock and chips
Tip: Downstairs seating is first-come only; the takeaway counter is faster for a lunchtime bag of chips.
L'Alba D'Oro on Henderson Row in Edinburgh New Town, opened 1975 and named UK's best fish and chip shop by The Times, sourcing haddock fresh daily from Peterhead.
Try: Battered haddock and chips
Tip: Evening-only, no lunches. Arrive at 17:00 on a weeknight to avoid the post-work queue that builds fast.
Oink hog roast counter on Victoria Street in Edinburgh Old Town, opened 2008, the city's whole-pig-on-a-spit lunch counter with three branches selling.
Try: Hog roll with stuffing and apple sauce
Tip: Order the haggis-stuffed roll for the proper Edinburgh combo; they close when the pig runs out, often before 15:00.
