Whether you’ve conveniently forgotten to pack that soggy sandwich for lunch, or need a quick bite on the way to the next errand, there are endless options in Hobart for a substantial snack or light lunch in a hurry. This list is by no means comprehensive, so let us know where your favourite snacks are.

Sunbear – 145 Collins Street

Toasties are a universal meal fitting for all times of the day and almost anything goes if toasted between good bread. The toasties from Sunbear are ever changing, but their recent cauliflower with both cheese sauce and a red tomato-ey romesco was a stand out. Thick slabs of sourdough encase the fillings and you may struggle to get through a whole toastie in one sitting.

Kinoko Deli – 10 Collins Street, Hobart

This one won’t be a surprise to city goers of Collins Street. Kinoko Deli lies on the bottom floor of the Trafalgar Building and is buzzing at lunchtime. Bento Boxes are definitely a crowd favorite, with a bunch of different size and filling options available. Start with a rice or noodle base and then add on hot meat/veggie mains with a salad or two. Line up for teriyaki Nichols chicken, vegetable croquettes, sticky lemon chicken or stir fried squid and broccoli. Pop on a smashed cucumber or potato salad or spiralised sweet potato and finish off with a little pickle or two. Yum.

Sawak Cafe – 131 Collins Street, Hobart

This place heaves at lunchtime with woks going non stop to feed the sometimes lined up city goers streaming through the door. Nasi Lemak is a popular lunchtime choice – coconut rice with your choice of protein (a good sized serving of beef rendang was yum), cucumber, peanuts, sambal, egg and some crispy anchovies – these are a must! Prawn toast squares and char kway teow are an office favourite here too!

Twister Sister – 143 Collins Street, Hobart

Twister Sister is a fresh take on quick Vietnamese/Thai street food. Offering a rotation of hot curries and stir fries with noodles and rice as a base, dishes are kept hot in clay pots at the counter, you’ ll be in and out in only a few minutes. There is space for a small number of diners to sit in and a quaint a la carte menu if you’re after something soupy or salad-y.

Tom McHugos – 87 Macquarie Street, Hobart

With an all day kitchen, Tom McHugos has snacks for all times and cravings. Baked parmesan cheese breads are welcome light puffs of dough, topped with a grating of more cheese for good measure. Bowls of bean fritters or naughty serve of black pepper fried chicken will satisfy a more substantial snack and if they are ever back on the menu, you must say yes to a Pigeon Whole Bakery bun smothered in beef drippings. A bowl of chippies dunked in mushroom gravy never goes astray either.

Dumpling World – 50 Liverpool Street, Hobart

This nondescript restaurant is an unsuspecting haunt but perfect if you’re keen on dunking masses of handmade dump- lings in homemade sauces and slurping laksa soups with oodles of noodles and fresh grated carrot and cabbage. A little peek through the ordering area shows a team churning out dumplings at all times of the day, and although the dining area might be a little basic, it’s a convenient spot to sit in the window and beat the dumpling blues.

Tasty Buns – 152 Collins Street, Hobart

For a light lunch or a snack, Tasty Buns has a little bit of everything and most are ready to go in their steamers and bain-marie. Slightly sweet BBQ Scottsdale pork is encased by airy dough in the steamed buns (lots of flavours available), or pick up a cheeky fried radish cake with a soft gelatinous filling, best dunked in soy sauce. There are plenty of yum cha favourites, but a visit wouldn’t be complete without an egg tart – warm, sweet egg custard just set in a crispy pastry shell.

Honorable mentions

Katsu sandwich Sundays at Institut Polaire (77 Murray Street, Hobart) are next level snacks. Fried chicken, lettuce, a lick of mayo and squished between soft white bread, it’s a boujee snack but worth the lash out. If carbs don’t induce a nap for you like they do for some, Cultura Espresso Bar + Restaurant (123 Liverpool Street, Hobart) has cheap lunch take-away pastas as well as their full a la carte menu to satisfy a more substantial lunch.