Have you ever traded blank stares with your coworkers while you all try to think of an affordable place to grab lunch? Hi, welcome to the COLAtoday office.
While it’s easy to think of the growing number of hand-crafted drinks + farm-to-table eats that are on your dinner bucket list, sometimes remembering which lunch place has a great $5 entree + drink combo is tough.
So: We asked you for your favorite <$10 weekday lunch deals – and y’all delivered. In fact, we got so much feedback that we had to break this guide up into four #COLAguides over four weeks.
Presenting: Lunches under $10. Our advice? Screenshot or print this out + stick it on the office fridge for when you need some lunchtime inspiration.
Pizza
🍕 Mellow Mushroom | 💰💰💰 |📍1009 Gervais St. | ✔️ Deal: ‘Pick 2’ deals: 2 one-topping slices for 6.99 / 1 slice + salad for $7.99 / soup + salad for $7.99 / 1-filling calzone or 1 small pizza for $7.99 / 1-filling hoagie + small salad for $8.99 | 🗣 What y’all said: Our readers’ fav combo seems to be one slice + a side salad.
🍕 Za’s on Devine | 💰💰💰 |📍2930 Devine St. | ✔️ all 8" pizzas, sandwiches + calzones are around $10
🍕 Blaze Pizza | 💰💰 |📍 275 Park Terrace Dr. #100 | ✔️ BYO pizza for $7.95 | 💡Fun fact: LeBron James is a Blaze Pizza investor, franchisee + paid endorser.
🍕 Dano’s | 💰💰 | 📍3008 Rosewood Dr. | ✔️ 2 large slices + drink for $4.99
🍕 MOD Pizza | 💰💰 |📍141 Pelham Dr. Suite B | ✔️ BYO pizza for $6-8
🍕 Nicky’s Pizzeria | 💰💰 | 📍2123 Greene St. | ✔️ Any 2 slices come with free drink ✔️ 1 slice + a side salad (drink not included) for $5.50 | 🗣 We hear it’s the best N.Y. pizza you’ll find in Cola + the customer service is great.
🍕 Pizza Joint | 💰💰 | 📍3246 Forest Dr. | ✔️ Half-sandwich or 1 slice + chips or fries for $6.50 (dine-in only)
🍕 Village Idiot | 💰💰 |📍2009 Devine St., 4517 Forest Dr. + 612 Whaley St. | ✔️ 2 slices + drink for $5.99 ✔️ 1 slice, side salad + drink for $6.99 | 🗣 Affordable college (and post-college) staple
🍕 Pizza Kovachi | 💰 |📍 905 N. Lake Dr., Lexington | ✔️ 1 slice + drink for $3.50
🍕 Stoner’s Pizza Joint | 💰💰 |📍1216 Washington St. | ✔️Small two-topping pizza + a drink for $6.99
Sandwiches
🍞 No Name Deli | 💰 |📍 2042 Marion St. | ✔️ Deal: Grilled cheese for $2.29 | 🗣 What y’all said: Bring the Benjamins – this place is cash only
🍞 Groucho’s | 💰💰 |📍 611 Harden St. | ✔️ Apollo Dipper sandwich for $7.19
🍞 The Lunch Box | 💰 | 📍 1305 Lady St. | ✔️ BLT for $3.30 | 🗣 Try the BLT with pimento cheese. So good.
🍞 Drake’s Duck-In | 💰 | 📍 1544 Main St. | ✔️ Chicken Filet sandwich for $3.59 | 🗣 Just chiming in to say Drake’s is dope.
🍞 Beezers Gourmet Sandwich Shop | 💰💰 |📍 919 Sumter St. | ✔️ T-bird turkey sandwich for $3.99
🍞 Subway | 💰💰 | 📍 2020 Taylor St. | Sub of the Day + chips + drink for $6.25 | 🗣 Try the turkey sub on Wednesdays.
🍞 The Other Store | 💰💰 | 📍 4130 Bethel Church Rd. | ✔️ Veggie pita for $6.75 | 🗣 The Greek turkey is everything.
🍞 Hickory Tavern |💰💰💰 |📍 907 Senate St. | ✔️ Tavern Burger for $9.70
Cool Beans photo by @messykitchgirl
🍞 Crêpes & Croissants | 💰💰 | 📍 1465 Sumter St. | ✔️ Paris ham and cheese crepe + side of seasonal greens for $7.10 | 🗣 Their chocolate croissants are imported from France.
🍞 CRAVE Artisan Specialty Market | 💰💰 |📍 2843 Millwood Ave. | ✔️ The Fairview egg salad sandwich + chips for $7.25
🍞 Swanson’s Deli | 💰💰 | 📍 1332 Main St. | ✔️ Gamecock turkey, ham and roast beef sandwich + choice of side for $7.95
🍞 The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli | 💰💰 | 📍 2617 Devine St. | ✔️ Meet the Reubens sandwich + Devine chips + mini cinnamon roll for $7.95 | 🗣 The mini cinnis are 100% worth it.
🍞 Cool Beans Coffee Cafe | 💰💰💰 |📍 1217 College St. | ✔️ Your choice of sandwich, wrap or panini + side + tea or iced coffee + pickle spear + a mint for $9.90 with tax
🍞 1801 Grille | 💰💰💰 |📍 700 Lincoln St. | ✔️ Executive Lunch Menu: half-sandwich + half-salad or whole entree for $9.99
🍞 Tazza Kitchen | 💰💰💰 | 📍 4840 Forest Dr., Suite 20 | ✔️ Smoked turkey + avocado sandwich for $9
🍞 The GRAND | 💰💰💰 | 1621 Main St. | Pick 2 combo: soup of the day, house salad or a half grand club sandwich for $10
🍞 BLD Diner | 💰💰💰 | 4840 Forest Dr., Suite 26 | Get breakfast for lunch: avocado + a poached egg or reverse sear french toast for $10
🍞 Fusco’s Market | 2900 Dreher Shoals Rd. | Choose your soup + sandwich for $10 and take your lunch break on the patio with their outdoor seating
Burgers + Hot Dogs
🍔 Top Dawg Tavern | 💰💰 | 📍 498 Town Center Pl. | ✔️ Tavern burger + fries for $8.50
🍔 Mack’s Restaurant | 💰💰 | 📍 1809 Laurel St. | ✔️ The Julie Special burger + onion rings for $7.81 | 🗣 They have incredible burgers.
🍔Sammi’s Deli | 2009 Green St. | Your choice of cheeseburger or philly cheese steak combo with french fry + drink for $7.98
🍔 Grill Marks | 💰💰💰 | 📍 711 Gervais St. | ✔️ Burger, small fries + sweet tea for $9.99 | 🗣 Ask for the City Hall Special.
Greek + Mediterranean
Sahara on Main | 💰💰 | 629 Main St. | Deal: Special of the day for $4.99 | What y’all said: Monday: Burger, Tuesday: Gyro, Wednesday: Shawarma, Thursday: Pizza, Friday: Gyro
Al Amir | 💰💰 | 1734 Main St. | Thursday special: personal one-topping pizza + drink for $6 / gyro special for $6-7
Mediterranean Tea Room | 💰💰 | 2601 Devine St. | Gyro + salad for $7
Grecian Gardens | 💰💰💰 | 2312 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia | Chicken souvlaki + drink for $8.98
Photo by @streetsandeatsofsc
Mexican
Moctezuma’s Taqueria | 💰 | 506 Beltline Blvd. | 3 tacos, chips and salsa + water for $6-7 / 1 taco (choice of meat), rice + beans for $3.99 | Basically the entire weekday lunch menu is <$5. Get a 10% discount card to use every time.
Real Mexico | 💰💰 | 2421 Bush River Rd. | Chicken enchilada served with rice + beans for $4.99 | Real Mexico is the spot. Cheap and super authentic.
Cantina 76 | 💰💰 | 2901 Devine St. + 1301 Main St. | Roasted chicken taco + veggie taco for $5.98 / 3 tacos for $8.97
Publico Kitchen + Tap | 💰💰 | 2013 Greene St. | Choose a BBQ chicken + cheese quesadilla or a stuffed shrimp + chorizo quesadilla for $7.49
Asian
Sushi Hibachi To-Go |💰💰 | 1100 Elmwood Ave. | BOGO spicy tuna roll for $6.95 | Shockingly good for how sketchy it sounds. Crunchy and spicy tuna are solid.
M Kitchen | 💰💰💰 | 340 Columbiana Dr. | Fried avocado stuffed with tuna + crab for $7.50
Miyos | 💰💰💰 | 1220 Bower Pkwy. + 3250 Forest Dr. + 5594 Sunset Blvd. | Maki rolls special for $8.95
Indian
2 Gingers Express | 💰💰💰 | 1200 Main St. | Mysore masala dosa (spicy chutney or butter on rice crepe with potato masala, lentil soup + chutney) for $7.99
Grocery Stores
Costco | 507 Piney Grove Rd. | 💰 | Deal: hotdog + drink for $1.50 | What y’all said: “Plus, all the the free sample you can eat! Lol”
Sam’s Club | 5426 Forest Dr., 350 Harbison Blvd., 733 Fashion Dr. | 💰💰 | slice of pizza + drink for $6 | 🗣 You don’t need a membership to get in [and eat]
Whole Foods | 702 Cross Hill Rd. | 💰💰 | small salad or hot lunch (from the bar) for $6-10 depending on weight
Trader Joe’s | 4516 Forest Dr. | 💰💰 | sweet potato + kale burrito for $5
Publix | 501 Gervais St., 2800 Rosewood Dr., 4840 Forest Dr., 150 Harbison Blvd., 10128 Two-Notch Rd., 4611 Hardscrabble Rd., 2732 N. Lake Dr. | 💰💰 | pulled pork or fried chicken, with two veggies sides + a roll for $6
Rosewood Market | 2803 Rosewood Dr. | 💰💰💰 | Lumberjack salad bowl for $9 (their deli menu changes weekly, so stay up-to-date on their website)
Photo by @mgschmolze
Coffee Shops
Drip Coffee | 1441 Main St. + 729 Saluda Ave. | 💰💰💰 | veggie curry hummus wrap + small iced coffee for ~$9 | 🗣 Perfect afternoon pick-me-up!
The Local Buzz | 141 S Shandon St. | 💰💰 | Half-grilled cheese + soup for $5 (on Mondays + Tuesdays); basically the whole lunch menu is less than $10 | 🗣 Free scoop of Sweet Cream Co. ice cream with lunch purchase
Starbucks | multiple locations | 💰💰💰 | Sandwich or panini with chips or popcorn, a fruit bar + water for $8 | 🗣 Unfortunately, coffee not included.
smallSUGAR | 💰💰💰 | 709 Gervais St. | Roasted sweet potato salad bowl for $10 or for a light lunch, try one of the tartines for $8
💰 = $1-3 // 💰💰 = $4-7 // 💰💰💰 = $8-10
Disclaimer: This is not a complete list, just a bunch of verified recommendations. Tell us your favorite lunch deals with details + price so we can add them to our growing list.
