You want takeaway in Sandringham that survives the trip home, doesn’t cost restaurant money, and won’t leave you regretting the lazy option. Start with The Village Kitchen, then use this shortlist when price, timing, or fried chicken cravings change the brief.
The Verdict
The Village Kitchen at 43 High Grove is the takeaway pick in Sandringham if you only want one answer. It is open Monday to Saturday from 5:30pm to 11pm, sits in the middle of the local price range at $14-32 per person, and does the two things people actually order here properly: fried chicken and burgers. The fried chicken is the repeat order because it stays consistent, while the burgers feel built with care rather than assembled like a chain-store obligation. If you are feeding two people and want the least-risk dinner, this is the one.
Cleo Store at 125 Queen Street is the counter-argument, and it matters. It is less polished, smaller, and tighter, but it gives you more flavour per dollar at $15-28 per person. The kebab has the depth you get from a kitchen repeating the same dish until it becomes instinct, and the fish and chips at $15 are simple in the best way. Leo Place at 149 King Parade is the cheap, fast move: no table service, three outdoor tables, and a $14 fried chicken that makes the quality-to-price ratio hard to beat. Don’t default to Good Social just because it sounds like the safe all-rounder. It is solid, but at $24-36 per person, you should only choose it when you want the kebab, the fish and chips, or the better wine list; otherwise you’ll regret paying the premium for a regular Tuesday takeaway.
Local Reality
Sandringham takeaway is not one scene. It splits between proper sit-down rooms that happen to travel well, like The Village Kitchen and Cleo Store, and straight takeaway logic at Leo Place. The Village Kitchen seats about 45 and fills on Friday and Saturday nights, so the smart play is midweek or an early order before the rush has the room moving. The owner is usually behind the bar, service is efficient without feeling rushed, and the specials board changes weekly. Order from that board when it looks stronger than the printed menu, because it usually is.
Cleo Store is the local’s move when you can handle a smaller space. It has about 30 seats, does not take bookings on weeknights, and works best before 6:30pm or after 8pm. Tuesday BYO wine with $5 corkage is useful if you are eating in, but for takeaway the real point is that the small team makes everything to order. Sol Social at 159 Swan Grove is newer, open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, and its short eight-dish menu is a good sign rather than a limitation. Sunday lunch is the sweet spot because you get the same food with half the crowd.
Parking around Good Social on Homer Crescent is metered until 6:30pm, with side streets usually two-hour. After 6:30pm, most are free. Skip this list if you need guaranteed vegan or gluten-free without a phone call; vegetarian requests are handled across the venues, but vegan and gluten-free need confirmation. If you are ordering delivery, Leo Place and The Village Kitchen are on Uber Eats and DoorDash, but direct ordering is better for quality and kinder to the restaurant than a platform bag taking 30%.
Who This Suits
If you are feeding people who cannot agree, pick The Village Kitchen. Fried chicken, burgers, changing specials, and a $14-32 range make it the safest shared order. If you are chasing value and flavour, pick Cleo Store, especially for the $15 fish and chips or the kebab. If you want the cheapest strong order with no fuss, pick Leo Place and take the $14 fried chicken home. If you want a quieter, newer option with a tight menu, pick Sol Social on Sunday lunch. If you care about wine with your takeaway, pick Good Social, but accept that it sits at the expensive end.
Cost-wise, Sandringham takeaway starts around $14 per person and climbs quickly once you move from Leo Place and Cleo Store into Good Social territory. Most people will land between $15 and $32 unless they are adding drinks or stretching the order. The Village Kitchen and Sol Social both sit at $14-32, Leo Place runs $14-25, Cleo Store runs $15-28, and Good Social is $24-36. That means a casual two-person dinner can be cheap enough to repeat, but the wrong venue can turn takeaway into a proper restaurant bill.
Timing matters more than the menu here. Friday and Saturday are the danger zone, especially at The Village Kitchen and Good Social, where the top two spots need booking three to five days ahead. Cleo Store is best before 6:30pm or after 8pm because the room is small and weeknight bookings are not an option. Sol Social is easiest at Sunday lunch. For a fast solo or couple order, Leo Place is the least complicated because counter ordering is the whole model.
What to Do Next
Order The Village Kitchen midweek, go direct instead of delivery if you can, and check the specials board before committing. If budget is the whole point tonight, use Sandringham Cheap Eats instead and save the premium takeaway for Friday.
Last updated: March 2026
