K-Food is like the Adelaide CBD's equivalent to 7-Eleven. I'm not too sure why 7-Eleven never…read morebranched out into Adelaide, but K-Food seems to be an appropriate response to Adelaide's 24 hour convenience needs. It seems like every few months more and more of these stores are popping up in new locations (albeit sometimes in very close proximity) - and I'm glad to see that business is thriving. What can be said about K-Food? They have everything you'd expect from a 24 hour convenience store, namely plenty of junk food, sodas, cigarettes, and personal necessities like pain-killers - a lot of things you shouldn't be having late at night! But the fact that they're there saves you from waiting until morning to get your late night fix, and that's a reality I'm pretty happy with. The thing I like particularly about this location is that the staff is always good to talk to - especially when the streets quiet down and the majority of the weekend warriors have called it a night. Not too long ago I came into K-Food late one night after playing a gig, and the store clerk and I spoke for almost 30 minutes about the Misfits and the evolution of punk music, as well as exchanging our band contacts. I've also had great conversations with a lot of the other store clerks here too, and it seems like the personnel at this shop is all-round good people. It's tough working the graveyard shift, especially with all the drunken hooligans making things even more difficult. So if you're feeling nice, go in and have a chat and make they're night a little more entertaining!

Oh K-Food! If it wasn't for you I may have passed out from dehydration when only a red bull will…read moredo. I may have suffered stink-breath (and the associated social rejection), if it wasn't for your chewy range waiting and ready to freshen my mouth in between brushes. I may have felt purposeless without your aisles to peruse in repeated circles, looking for that perfect munchie that will complete me. Of course I only visit you at 2am when these simple things seem like a matter of life and death. So for being open 24-7, I thankyou. In a nutshell - I heart my Kwik E Mart!

I'll come out and admit, I'm a little turned on by a packed display of meat and antipasto offerings…read morein a chilled glass cabinet and this was what made me first fall for the City East IGA. Combine that with a consistently well stocked fruit and veg cabinet, fresh Kitchenhand Salads and Prepacked Gluten Free meals by Enzos this place is my go-to supermarket if I have had "one of those weekends," and haven't gotten a chance to go to Foodland. It's open late - even at the time of the evening when you're just starting to decide you might want a little bit of late night chocolate or gelati - this place will cater for you. I'm a big fan of their falafels which they get from Abdul's Kitchen but sometimes these are not as fresh as I would like. Even better is that this IGA has some of the friendliest staff around, particularly for check out chicks!

I used to live very close to this little independent grocer, so would stop in to pick up odd bits…read moreand pieces. I preferred to do most of my shopping at the Central Markets, as it was vastly cheaper, but they aren't open every day. Which brings me to the big winning point of IGAs, including this one. Opening hours. Despite their slightly higher prices, they manage to compete by being open later at night on weekdays and weekends. Each IGA is slightly different, and this one is quite vastly different to the IGA at the other end of Hutt St. This one is on the up-market side, stocking a wide range of gourmet products. The City East deli stocks a range of cakes, pastas, salads, quiches and antipasto. In the fridges you can pick up pre-made meals from a range of local producers. I used to keep my eye on the discount fridge, where deli products went to die. The fruit and veg section isn't awful, but pricier than most. There is a rudimentary few aisles of basic home needs like toilet paper and light bulbs. Next to the regular tinned veg and pasta section is a little stand with fancier Italian products - nice sauces and egg pastas. In the icecream freezer you'll find the Maggie Beer range. Not a bad supermarket all round, and I'm sure it hits the target market of young professionals or wealthier types living in the city.

Lucky 7 is one of those overpriced convenient stores where you pay more for things because they're,…read morewell, convenient. Being right next door to where I live Lucky 7 is extra convenient. It's got your usual stuff like drinks, chips, mi goreng noodles, as well as the things you discover you need at the last minute like washing powder, stationery, and birthday candles. The main downside is the fact that they don't sell metro tickets, but they will change my notes into smaller coins so I can pay to do my laundry. It's a family owned business, and the owners are always friendly, and that's the real reason that I like popping in here.

There's not too much to say about this convenience store, in all honesty. It sells all the junk…read morefood, carbonated drinks and basic toiletries/necessities that you'd expect to find in any 24-hour convenience store in the city, and there's not much else to it than that. But I've got a sweet spot for this little shop, purely because the store clerks are some of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting. I used to work a hospitality job in the vicinity of Lucky 7 some years ago, and would always pay them a visit after work to stock up on cigarettes. I became acquainted with the manager of the branch (whose name I continually seem to forget - sorry man!), and stuck up a friendship with some of the people that worked there. Soon after we got over the small talk, I was getting free cups of coffee when I went in after work; because the manager felt bad for me having to work in hospitality - and this was coming from a guy that did shift work in a 24-hour convenience store! Whilst there's nothing all that special about this store, apart from the occasional 2-for-1 deal on Red Bull and their cigarettes being a fraction cheaper than other retailers, these guys really know how to put a smile on a customer's face. Stop in and have a chat if you're around and you have time to kill.

The General is your go to for bits and bobs on campus…read more As an Adelaide University Union member you get 10% off pretty much everything, which is handy particularly given that The General does seem to charge that little bit more for convenience (like most convenience stores do). If you need lunch (pies, pasties, and prepackaged salads/sandwiches or noodles), a sugar hit between lectures, or some exam cram munchies The General is the place to go. They also stock a small selection of stationary and are the primary stockist of University of Adelaide merchandise. Oh... The staff are also super lovely. So that's a bonus!

I'm definitely not Adelaide's expert on good coffee. People tell me places are good, and I trust…read morethem, but I'm not the most discerning caffine drinker. But feel free to ask me about convenient coffee. It's not coming from the latest hipster cafe to spring up, and there aren't any crazy cool brewing methods, but I'm still a fan of On the Run North Terrace. See when I'm heading off to TAFE in the wee hours of the morning I can stop in here to grab a coffee or a hot chocolate to beat the chill. I can also pop in here at 9pm, 12am, 2am, etc. when I'm pumping out an assignment or need some throat lozenges so that my throat actually functions (hello tonight). Drunk? Why not get a slushee. Or chocolate. Or chips. They really do sell just about anything you'd expect to find at the supermarket, I'm sure at jacked up prices, but who can complain at 3am? The people working here all seem friendly, and the place is very clean for somewhere that probably services many seedy people throughout the night.

I'm giving On the Run one star for one reason. Because I can't give less. A few months ago I…read moreprobably would have given them three or four. Totally agree with Lee and Natasha on the convenience and there coffee isn't bad. My issue is with their tea. When they started selling tea they had three tea bags in a max sized cup. That's about right as they use four or five shots in a max coffee (or used to). Then all of a sudden they dropped to one tea bag. So for the same price you now get no flavour. I'm not sure who the bright spark was that decided this but there's your zero for customer service that we are so well known for. I'm also a long black drinker and I'm pretty convinced they've dropped the number of shots in their coffee as well. So obviously it's all about the buck. Open 24 hours, awesome. Convenience, awesome. Value for money? Nope.