Budget Dining in Zurich: 5 Quality Spots Under 15 CHF

Living in Switzerland makes you creative when it comes to dining out while keeping costs under control. I’ve made it my mission to find places where you can get high-quality food for under 15 CHF. Whether you want a quick lunch or an easy dinner, these spots deliver taste without breaking the bank.

Check out more inspiration in my [Zurich Restaurant Guide]!

1. Putput (Japanese Takeaway)

This small takeaway in Kreis 4 focuses on fresh, quality ingredients at a fair price. It’s perfect for a quick, authentic bite.

• Recommendation: The Gyudon or their Japanese vegetable curry.

• Address: Stauffacherstrasse 101, 8004 Zürich

• Costs: 11.50 – 15.50 CHF

• Opening Hours: Mon 11:30–14:00 | Tue–Fri 11:30–14:30 & 17:30–21:00 | Sat 14:00–21:00

2. Palestine Grill (Lebanese Sandwich)

An absolute staple for a late-night snack or a casual lunch on Langstrasse. The pita bread is incredibly fresh and the portions are generous.

• Recommendation: The vegetarian Sabich (fried eggplant, egg, and hummus—add fries if you want the full experience!).

• Address: Langstrasse 92, 8004 Zürich

• Costs: Starting at 11.50 CHF

• Opening Hours: Mon & Tue 11:30–19:00 | Wed 11:30–21:45 | Thu–Sat 11:30–22:00 | Sun closed

3. Piadina Bar (Niederdorf)

Located in the heart of the Old Town, this is my go-to for authentic Italian flatbread. It’s thin, prepared fresh at the counter, and highly customizable.

• Recommendation: The Piadina with grilled eggplant, arugula, and creamy stracchino cheese.

• Address: Niederdorfstrasse 3, 8001 Zürich

• Costs: Starting at 10.50 CHF

• Opening Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30–23:00 | Sun 15:00–19:00

4. Il Pentagramma (Italian Panini)

This spot feels like a direct trip to an Italian holiday. The owner brings true Italian vibes and high-quality ingredients to the table. The portions are huge, so come hungry.

• Recommendation: The panino with grilled vegetables and mortadella of fully vegetarian with Mozarella & eggplants!

• Address: Josefstrasse 28, 8005 Zürich

• Costs: Starting at 10.50 CHF

• Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–15:00

5. Bridge Zurich (Europaallee)

A hub for local, handcrafted products. It’s a great place to discover new flavors beyond the standard lunch fare.

• Recommendation: Skip the standard deli sandwich and grab a fresh, crunchy Vietnamese Bánh Mì. It’s the perfect budget-friendly, flavor-packed lunch option found here. If you’re still hungry, grab a slice of pizza al taglio from Flour & Water on the upper floor!

• Address: Europaallee 22, 8004 Zürich

• Costs: Various options for every budget

• Opening Hours: Mon–Sat 09:00–22:00 | Sun closed

Looking for more food recommendations? Check out my food guide!

My personal highlight: Developing my coffee taste thanks to premium quality beans Nikos and his staff serve

Bean Bank Coffee is the address you have to mark big on your specialty coffee list in Zurich. Nikos knowledge of coffee is incredible. And believe me or not, the coffee you drink here is served in excellent quality, meaning; you can choose from a  diversity of coffee flavors, have a flat white or filter coffee and enjoy high-quality ingredients, best brewing recipes, and consistency. There are several options for vegans, too to drink and eat.

Their big selection of premium specialty coffee various from some of the best roasters in the world as The Naughty Dog from the Czech Republic, taf coffee from Athens, Greece, or Friedhats from Amsterdam, Hollandwell. I love the nice pottery and all the coffee equipment to brew coffee at home they sell in the shop, too!

Bean Bank Coffee is located in Europaallee at Lagerstrasse 18c, 8004 Zürich.

Opening Hours

Monday thru Friday 7.30 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Sunday it’s closed.

www.beanbank.coffee

In the mood for some restaurant suggestions in Zurich? Find them here!

My personal highlight: Traditional Neapolitan Pizza – I am happy I have found you crispy & wood fired

Living in Zurich is absolutely a privilege. The choice of international food is diverse, you don’t get annoyed so fast. Nevertheless, it took me a while to find a pizza place, that makes the pizza according to my desire and demand.

How a pizza should be if you ask my opinion

The pizza bottom thin and crispy, but slightly chewy on top, the tomato sauce fresh, ideally with San Marzano tomatoes grown in the rich volcanic soil. The cheese only premium Italian Quality Fior di Latte. It’s a second variant of mozzarella created using fresh cow’s milk. The alternative that can be used is Mozzarella di Bufala from the Campania region. This is made by using the fresh milk of water buffalos. Other cheeses do not belong on top of a pizza!

How to recognize the difference: the mozzarella melts and the Fior di Latte forms a string,

I have found a pizza following my requirements at Ristorante Più located at Kasernenstrasse 95 / Europaallee in the old Sihlpost. The restaurant belongs to the well-known family Bindella offering traditional Italian cuisine in several restaurant in Switzerland.

Talking to one of their Managers Davide Di Salvo made me immediately understand, that important ingredients are passion and care in the selection of every single ingredient. He shares with me the secret of the Fior di Latte used on their pizza. I prefer Fior di Latte on the pizza, since it is less fat than typical mozzarella and makes my stomach not fill full after the meal. The dough they prepare at Più gets enough time to rest, at least 48 hours, this makes the dough ideal to digest.

Did you know, that the art of Neapolitan pizza making has joined UNESCO’s list of “intangible heritage”?

The Pizzaiolo team is from South Italy of course, I feel home sharing stories about food and observing them creating the magic that comes in a approx. 400 degrees heated wood fired oven. After only 3 minutes the pizza is crispy and ready for me. The ambience at Più is typical Italian. The building is spacious, stylish and with true Italian vibes. I feel happy here!

Choose between two basic pizza and create your individual one!

In the mood to choose by yourself what comes on your pizza? Try this concept at Più: order between the Marinara pizza (tomato sauce, garlic, oregano) and the Margherita (tomato sauce, fior di latte, basil) as the base. Get toppings to share with your friends. Grilled vegetables, parmesan cheese slices, bresaola, fresh tuna or rucola for example.

Try their antipasto with the burrata and the pane carasau. It is a unique, very thin crispy bread you would only get 1000 Km far away on a Sardinian Island! An absolute must. The matching aperitivo is the Apertas, it has some Aperol, lime juice and a cortese cedrata made of a very special Italian Lemon sort.

Do you like to enjoy a quality pizza to go, try their area next to the main restaurant. The pizza is smaller of course, costs start as of 9 CHF (marinara). In the main restaurant Pizza start as of 22 CHF (Pizza dello Chef with ham and champignons)

Soon I will be exploring their other branch at Schiffbau that has been recommended to me to be a unique place for other true Italian dishes.

Address: Kasernenstrasse 95, 8004 Zürich

Opening hours: Monday – Thursday:  11.30–14.30 / 17.30–23.30 uhr , Friday: 11.30–14.30 / 17.30–24 .00,  Saturday: 11.30–24.00, Sunday: 11.30–23.00

In the mood of more restaurants in Zurich? Get inspiration on my food guide here.

www.piu-ristorante.ch