Alright so yesterday I was craving a proper feed at Kiwami Foodhall, you know the fancy spot downtown? Yeah, that place. Feels like you gotta sell a kidney just for a decent lunch sometimes. Ridiculous. So I figured, screw that, there’s gotta be a way to eat well without coughing up half my paycheck.
The Rip-Off Problem
First off, I walked in and did what I always do: stare longingly at the fancy stalls. Loaded ramen bowls, massive sushi platters, those thick-cut steaks… mouthwatering, right? But then I saw the prices. Oh god, the prices. $25 for some noodles? $35 for a piece of fish that looked smaller than my phone? Nah. That’s just daylight robbery dressed up as gourmet. Felt my wallet crying just looking. Not gonna fly.
My Plan For Cheap Eats
Time for Plan B. I ditched the front glamour sections and headed straight for the back, where the less flashy stuff lives. You know the spots – the big pots of pre-cooked stuff, the ready-to-go containers, the bakery corner. My target: things marked for “takeaway” or “grab & go” but sitting warm.
- The Hot Stuff Hunt: Checked all the warming trays near the entrance. Found a massive tub of roasted root veggies – carrots, potatoes, beets. Looked solid. $6 for a decent portion? Okay, that’s more like it.
- Protein On The Down Low: Scoped out the deli counter tucked away. Instead of the fancy charcuterie, I zeroed in on the big containers of pulled pork. Looked moist, smelled amazing. Asked for a small scoop. Lady gave me a skeptical look but hey, only charged $5! Jackpot!
- Carb Base Hustle: Almost forgot the base! Wandered over to the bakery. They had these big, crusty sourdough rolls fresh out the oven, sold individually near the register. Snagged one for $3. Perfect size for piling stuff onto.
Oh god, disaster! Had my hands full – veggies tub, pork container, lonely roll – then tried carrying a tiny tub of salsa back to the seating area. Fumbled it. Tiny salsa explosion on the floor near the salad bar. Mortifying. Grabbed napkins, cleaned it up real quick, face burning. Lesson learned: Get. A. Tray.
The Magic Trick: Assembly
Finally sat down. Operation Assembly began.
- Grabbed my knife (brought my own, but they have plastic ones).
- Cut the roll in half. Toasted it? Nah, no time or tools, but it was fresh.
- Loaded half with the roasted veggies. Bit dry? That cheap salsa I rescued came in clutch.
- Piled the delicious pulled pork onto the other half.
Pushed them together? Hell no, I’m not fancy. Ate ’em separately like two open-faced mini sandwiches. Messy? You bet. Satisfying? Absolutely.
Did It Actually Work?
Total cost? Did the math: Veggies $6 + Pork $5 + Bread $3 + Salsa $1 (after cleanup tax…) = $15 flat. For a legit hot, filling lunch with protein, veg, carbs. Right there inside the swanky Kiwami.
Compared it mentally to the sad little $15 Caesar salad sitting at the next table? Yeah, no contest. Mine had way more flavour and stuff.
- Win: Cost, flavour, quantity. Felt like a secret mission success.
- Fail: The salsa spill. Embarrassing. Won’t forget the tray next time.
So yeah, turns out you can eat decently at Kiwami Foodhall without needing a bank loan. You just gotta ignore the pretty-but-pricey traps, head for the workhorses hiding in plain sight, and maybe be prepared to assemble your own masterpiece. Works. Tastes great. And seriously cheap.