Pack Your Lunch Day - The Best Grab-and-Go Lunch Spots in Pretoria

Written by Willem Lombard

Deciding what to take to work for lunch is not always easy. When you have to get up very early, rush to get ready for work or university and make sure you are on time, the last thing you want to worry about is preparing something for lunch. Or worse yet, you prepared lunch the night before and realised halfway on your way to work that you forgot it at home. 

Luckily, there are several places in Pretoria where people on the go can grab lunch, and we have made a list of five places we would recommend.

Irene Farm

First on our list for a lovely grab-and-go lunch, is Irene Dairy Farm Village. This is an actual working farm with real cows and chickens, situated on Nelmapius drive in Irene. They have a lovely deli with their own dairy next door. The deli is stocked with delicious foods and treats, and if you are looking for a grab-and-go lunch, they`ve got you covered.

You have a choice of beef lasagne with basil pesto and sun-dried tomato, traditional bobotie, cottage pie, macaroni and cheese, a huge selection of cold meats and cheeses, as well as a variety of freshly baked pies. But be careful, you might just lose track of time while you are  taking in the scenery and enjoying the farm style atmosphere, and not make it back to work in time.

My suggestion would be to visit Irene Dairy Farm Village on your day off from work or on a weekend. They have several restaurants onsite, as well as tables where you can sit and eat your lunch while enjoying scenic views of the farm.

Pantry Hazelwood Village

Second on our list and situated on Hazelwood road, is Pantry Hazelwood Village. It offers a fantastic variety of grab-and-go lunches for everyone from the health fanatics to the “not so healthy” foodies.

With options like sirloin prego, chicken prego, and a wide variety of burgers, pizzas and salads, they are guaranteed to satisfy your hunger. They even have a dedicated section for grab-and-go lunches and their menu is updated very regularly.

Groenkloof Spar

Third on our list of grab-and-go lunches is Groenkloof Spar. Situated close to Virgin Active Gym and Pretoria Sports Village, its location is ideal for when you need a healthy lunch after your morning workout. 

With choices like crab stick salad, couscous basil pesto salad, sweet potato quinoa salad and more, it`s not difficult to see why Groenkloof Spar is a favorite among people who want a healthy grab-and-go lunch.

Wok n Roll Parkview

Situated close to Netcare Pretoria East Hospital, Wok n Roll is a fantastic option for hospital staff and visitors who have to spend some time at the hospital. This is our fourth choice for a grab-and-go lunch and a very convenient option when you have to visit a friend or loved one in hospital and don't have time to prepare your own lunch.

 Although not strictly a grab-and-go lunch spot, this restaurant can prepare your fresh sushi order while you visit your friend or family member. Phone them on 068 823 4567 to place your order and collect it after your visit. I have phoned them before, and their staff is very friendly and helpful.

Fruit Stop

Not everyone necessarily wants to eat something that requires some kind of tedious food preparation. If you prefer to rather eat some fruit, nuts, vegetables, or a salad, Fruit Stop is the ideal place for a healthy grab-and-go lunch and is our fifth choice on the list.

The Fruit Stop in Gezina has a variety of fruit rolls, pasta salads, curry fish and even “salad chakakala”. Definitely worth visiting.