Spur and Wimpy are the two chains most South Africans grew up eating in. Wimpy landed first, opening in Durban in 1967, and Spur followed in Cape Town in 1967 as well, which makes them near enough contemporaries. When we make comparison between Spur vs. Wimsy, both are sit-down family restaurants rather than counter-service takeaways, both run breakfast alongside a full main menu, and both are found in almost every town of any size. They are also not competing for quite the same meal, and the pricing shows it.
Overview
Wimpy is cheaper across almost every category. Its burgers start at R49.90 against Spur’s R86.90, its breakfasts start at R54.90 against R44.90 at Spur, and its cheapest full meal comes in well below anything on the Spur menu.
Spur is the better restaurant. It has steaks, ribs, a salad bar, larger portions, and a kids offering that Wimpy cannot match. You are paying more, and you are getting more food and a fuller sit-down experience for it. The question is whether you want a quick affordable meal or a proper dinner out.
| Wimpy | Spur | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1967, Durban | 1967, Cape Town |
| Branches in South Africa | 500+ | 500+ |
| Cheapest burger | R49.90 | R86.90 |
| Cheapest breakfast | R54.90 | R44.90 |
| Steaks on the menu | No | Yes, from R129.90 |
| Ribs on the menu | Yes, R149.90 | Yes, from R159.90 |
| Salad bar | No | Yes |
| Known for | All-day breakfast, coffee | Steaks, ribs, family dining |
Burgers, Where the Gap Is Widest
This is the clearest difference between the two menus. Wimpy runs a Quick Bite tier that Spur has no equivalent for, and it starts almost R40 below Spur’s cheapest burger.
| Tier | Wimpy | Spur |
|---|---|---|
| Entry burger | Quick Bite Wimpy Burger, R49.90 | Original Spur Burger, R86.90 |
| Entry cheeseburger | Quick Bite Cheese Burger, R54.90 | Cheese Burger, R96.90 |
| Standard burger | Wimpy Burger, R79.90 | Original Spur Burger, R86.90 |
| Standard cheeseburger | Cheese Burger, R89.90 | Cheese Burger, R96.90 |
| Bacon and cheese | Smoked Beef & Cheese Burger, R99.90 | Bacon & Cheese Burger, R109.90 |
| Signature burger | Crispy Stack Burger, R104.90 | Cheddamelt Burger, R114.90 |
| Largest burger | Big Champion Burger, R139.90 | Goodie Burger, R119.90 |
Wimpy is cheaper at every tier except the very top, where its Big Champion at R139.90 costs more than Spur’s most expensive standard burger. The Quick Bite range is the real story though. At R49.90 for a burger, Wimpy has an entry point that simply does not exist at Spur.
One thing worth knowing: Spur offers every burger as a double patty for a set upcharge, typically R18 to R43 depending on the burger. Wimpy handles this with separate Double Wimpy and Double Cheese items in the Quick Bite range instead.
Breakfast, Where It Gets Interesting
Breakfast is the one category where Spur undercuts Wimpy at the entry level, which surprises most people given Wimpy’s reputation for it.
| Item | Wimpy | Spur |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest cooked breakfast | Mzansi Brekkie, R54.90 | Unreal Breakfast, R44.90 |
| Avo on toast | R79.90 | R44.90 |
| Standard breakfast | Classic Brekkie, R59.90 | Kickstarter, R64.90 |
| Chicken livers on toast | Creamy Peri-Peri Chicken Livers & Eggs, R69.90 | Spicy Chicken Livers On Toast, R50.90 |
| Large breakfast | Mega Breakfast, R114.90 | Trailblazer, R87.90 |
| Biggest breakfast | Mixed Grill, R179.90 | Ranch Breakfast, R119.90 |
Spur is cheaper on almost every comparable breakfast item, and the gap on the big plates is substantial. Wimpy’s Mixed Grill at R179.90 against Spur’s Ranch Breakfast at R119.90 is a R60 difference.
What Wimpy has instead is availability. Its breakfast is genuinely all-day, served from open to close, which is the whole point of the category for a lot of people. Spur’s breakfast is a morning menu. If you want eggs at 3pm, Wimpy is the answer regardless of price.
Steaks, Grills and Ribs
Here the two menus stop overlapping. Spur is a steakhouse. Wimpy is not, and does not pretend to be.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Spur Chargrilled Rump, 200g | R129.90 |
| Spur New York Sirloin, 200g | R129.90 |
| Spur Famous Pork Spare Ribs, 400g | R159.90 |
| Spur Fillet, 200g | R169.90 |
| Spur T-Bone, 350g | R174.90 |
| Spur Famous Pork Spare Ribs, 600g | R219.90 |
| Wimpy Famous Ribs | R149.90 |
| Wimpy Thrill of the Grill | R99.90 |
| Wimpy Triple Grill | R159.90 |
| Wimpy Ultimate Meaty Feast | R249.90 |
Wimpy’s ribs at R149.90 undercut Spur’s 400g portion at R159.90, though Spur specifies the weight and Wimpy does not, so it is not a clean comparison. If steak is what you want, Spur is the only option of the two.
Chicken and Schnitzel
| Item | Wimpy | Spur |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter chicken | R69.90 | R69.90 |
| Half chicken | R125.90 | R99.90 |
| Full chicken | R219.90 | R189.90 (spatchcock) |
| Single schnitzel | R99.90 | R134.90 |
| Cheesy schnitzel | Not on menu | Cheddamelt Schnitzel, R156.90 |
| Chicken wings | R149.90 | Buffalo Wings, 8 for R86.90 |
The quarter chicken is identically priced at R69.90 at both, which is a genuine coincidence rather than anything else. Above that, Spur is cheaper on half and full chicken while Wimpy is cheaper on schnitzel. Spur’s wings at R86.90 for eight are notably better value than Wimpy’s R149.90 wings portion.
Kids’ Menus
This is Spur’s strongest category and the main reason families choose it.
| Item | Wimpy | Spur |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest kids item | Kids Waffle, R38.90 | Ice-cream Cone, R10.90 |
| Cheapest kids meal | Kids Frank Combo, R69.90 | Mac & Cheese, R32.90 |
| Kids burger | Kids Cheese Burger Combo, R79.90 | Beef Burger, R56.90 |
| Kids chicken | Kids Crumbed Chicken Sticks, R69.90 | Crumbed Chicken Strips, R49.90 |
| Largest kids option | Kids combos at R79.90 | Birthday Combo, R89.90 |
Spur is meaningfully cheaper on kids’ meals, offers more choice, and includes salad bar access. It also runs its long-standing birthday deal, where a child eats free on their birthday with a paying adult, subject to branch terms. Wimpy has nothing equivalent.
Desserts, Coffee and Milkshakes
| Item | Wimpy | Spur |
|---|---|---|
| Plain waffle | R49.90 | R46.90 |
| Chocolate bar waffle | Bar-One Waffle, R67.90 | Bar-One Waffle, R52.90 |
| Ice cream | Snowfreeze Cup, R25.00 | Ice Cream & Chocolate Sauce, R42.90 |
| Standard milkshake | Classic Milkshake, R47.90 | Milkshake, R39.90 |
| Premium milkshake | Bar-One Gourmet Shake, R57.90 | Bar-One Milkshake, R46.90 |
| Cappuccino | R26.90 | R29.90 |
| Filter coffee | R22.90 | Americano, R26.90 |
Spur is cheaper on waffles and milkshakes. Wimpy is cheaper on coffee, which fits its identity as the place people sit with a cup for an hour. The Bar-One Waffle gap is the largest here, R67.90 at Wimpy against R52.90 at Spur for what is essentially the same dessert.
What Only One of Them Has
Only at Spur: steaks, the salad bar, nachos, quesadillas, calamari and seafood, the Beyond Burger, and the birthday deal for kids. Spur also has an alcohol licence at many branches.
Only at Wimpy: all-day breakfast, the Dagwood, Pap & Wors, a proper coffee menu with lattes and frappes, and its Quick Bite budget burger range. Wimpy is also far more common at petrol stations and highway stops, which matters on a long drive.
Vegetarian Options
Spur has the stronger offering. Its Crumbed Veggie Burger is R78.90, the Beyond Burger is R136.90, and the Veggie Schnitzel is R89.90, plus salad bar access at every branch. Wimpy counters with the Supreme Veggie Burger at R79.90 and meat-free breakfast options, but the range is narrower.
If you want a plant-based patty specifically rather than just a meat-free meal, Spur’s Beyond Burger is the only genuine option between the two.
Trading Hours
Spur trades considerably longer. Most branches run 07:00 to 22:00 daily. Wimpy typically closes far earlier, often around 16:00 on weekdays and 14:00 on weekends, though highway and petrol station branches run longer.
This is a bigger practical difference than it sounds. If you want dinner rather than lunch, Spur is usually the only one of the two still open.
Which One Should You Choose
Choose Wimpy if you want a cheap burger, you want breakfast at an odd hour, you are stopping on a long drive, or you just want coffee and something small. Its Quick Bite range at R49.90 has no equivalent at Spur.
Choose Spur if you are feeding a family, you want steak or ribs, you want a proper sit-down dinner, or the kids’ menu matters. It is cheaper on breakfast, kids’ meals, desserts, and half chicken despite being the pricier restaurant overall, which is a genuine surprise in the numbers.
The honest summary: Wimpy wins on burgers and convenience; Spur wins on almost everything else, including several categories where you would expect it to cost more.
See the Full Menus
Spur vs Wimpy: Quick Answers
Is Spur or Wimpy cheaper?
It depends on the category. Wimpy is cheaper on burgers, with an entry burger at R49.90 against R86.90 at Spur. Spur is cheaper on breakfast, kids’ meals, desserts, milkshakes, and half chicken. Overall, Spur is the more expensive restaurant, but not in every category.
Which has better breakfast, Spur or Wimpy?
Spur is cheaper, with its Unreal Breakfast at R44.90 against Wimpy’s Mzansi Brekkie at R54.90, and the gap widens on larger plates. Wimpy serves breakfast all day, though, while Spur’s is a morning menu, so Wimpy wins on availability.
Which is better for families with kids?
Spur, clearly. Its kids’ meals start at R32.90 against R69.90 at Wimpy; it offers more choice, includes salad bar access, and runs a birthday deal where kids eat free with a paying adult.
Does Wimpy have steak?
No. Wimpy has grills and ribs but no steak range. Spur sells rump, sirloin, fillet and T-bone, starting at R129.90 for a 200g cut.
Which stays open later?
Spur, by a wide margin. Most Spur branches trade until around 22:00 daily. Wimpy often closes around 16:00 on weekdays and earlier at weekends, apart from highway and petrol station locations.
Which has more vegetarian options?
Spur. It offers a Crumbed Veggie Burger at R78.90, a Beyond Burger at R136.90, a Veggie Schnitzel at R89.90, and salad bar access. Wimpy has the Supreme Veggie Burger at R79.90 and meat-free breakfasts but a narrower range overall.
Both chains are franchise networks, so prices at your local branch may differ from the national lists above. Trading hours vary by location. Always confirm before you order.