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Orange chicken with Sichuan pepper
Orange chicken at Royal China
Royal China [Official Photo]

13 Excellent Dallas Lunches Under $13

Skip the chains and hit one of these local eateries for burgers, pho, and more

by Amy McCarthy Updated
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Orange chicken at Royal China
| Royal China [Official Photo]
by Amy McCarthy Updated
1 comment / new

Sometimes, “what’s for lunch” can be a seriously complicated question. For folks who are trying to save cash, brown-bagging it is the most financially sound choice, but there’s only so many times that you can eat the same boring sandwich or leftovers before getting completely burnt out.

Looking for a solid lunch option that won’t break the bank? These 13 eateries are among the city’s best, and boast a seriously strong selection of lunch options — from pizza and pasta to vegetarian buffets and juicy burgers — all priced at $13 or less.

Is your favorite well-priced lunch option missing from this map? Shout it out in the comments.

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Zoli's NY Pizza

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Ok, it’s a little bit more than $10, but the lunch special at Zoli’s absolutely cannot be beat. Score a 10-inch pie topped with pepperoni or sausage and a half a Caesar salad for just $13, or keep it under a tenner with an order of the restaurant’s decadent “Return of the Mac” pasta ($9).

14910 Midway Rd, Addison, TX 75001
(469) 754-9654
(469) 754-9654

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Royal China Restaurant

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This beloved Preston Royal Chinese eatery is a buzzy lunch destination, and it’s definitely worth the drive thanks to entrees like stir-fried Sichuan beef ($12) and pork in garlic sauce ($11). Perhaps most importantly, the portions are pretty generous which means that light lunchers will probably have enough for two meals.

6025 Royal Ln, Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 361-1771
(214) 361-1771

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Resident Taqueria

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At this wildly popular taqueria, budget-friendly diners can seriously feast on tacos stuffed with fillings like pecan-smoked chicken ($3), caramelized cauliflower ($3), and chorizo that’s freshly made at the restaurant. Sides, like garlicky pinto beans and street-style esquites, are equally affordable.

9661 Audelia Rd #112, Dallas, TX 75238
(972) 685-5280
(972) 685-5280

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Keller's

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This longtime staple of Dallas’s burger scene boasts some of the best burgers — and prices — in town. Score a cheeseburger, tots, and drink for less than $10, and eat it all in the comfort of your own car.

6537 E NW Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 368-1209
(214) 368-1209

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Snuffers

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In what may be one of the best budget-friendly lunch deals in town, Snuffer’s serves its famed classic cheeseburger for just $5 on Tuesdays.

3526 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-6850
(214) 826-6850

Unleavened Fresh Kitchen

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Gluten-free bowls of veggie goodness await at this health-obsessed spot, where pretty much everything on the menu is completely customizable. Consider the Deep South wrap ($9.75), filled with bourbon-glazed pulled pork, kale, horseradish pickles, and ranch, or go for a classic avocado toast ($6) topped with cucumber, hard-boiled egg, and everything bagel spice.

1900 Abrams Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75214
(214) 828-8700
(214) 828-8700

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Kalachandji's

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Enjoy a veritable vegetarian feast at this East Dallas eatery operated by Dallas’s Hare Krishna temple. The menu for the lunch buffet, which will set diners back $13, changes daily, but always boasts a massive salad bar, crispy pakoras, homemade cinnamon-raisin bread, and entrees that range from curries to enchiladas. Right now, Kalachandji’s staffers are packing takeout boxes full of the buffet options, available for to-go or dining in the restaurant’s lovely outdoor courtyard.

5430 Gurley Ave, Dallas, TX 75223
(214) 821-1048
(214) 821-1048

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AllGood Cafe

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At this all-day Deep Ellum favorite, breakfast for lunch just makes total sense. Score a 3-egg omelet loaded with cheese and veggies for $10, or get decadent with the borracho biscuit, a homemade biscuit that’s topped with sausage, over-easy eggs, queso, jalapenos, and bacon.

2934 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 742-5362
(214) 742-5362

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TEN Ramen

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A project of vaunted Dallas chef Teiichi Sakurai, Ten boasts bowls of ramen that punch well above their price point. Order the classic tonkotsu, or go with the pork mazemen, a broth-less bowl of noodles that’s a Ten specialty.

1888 Sylvan Ave, Dallas, TX 75208
(972) 803-4400
(972) 803-4400

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Sandwich Hag

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The banh mi at this Cedars spot is a bit more expensive than some of the city’s Vietnamese sandwiches, but they’re definitely the best. Proteins like lemongrass chicken, meatballs, pork sausage, and ginger-laced tofu are served on crusty French bread alongside crunchy pickled veggies, cilantro, and garlic aioli — all priced at under $10, which means that you can order a fruity tea or Vietnamese iced coffee.

1902 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75215
(214) 484-5971
(214) 484-5971

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Bubba's Cooks Country - Dallas

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It might be located in one of the city’s ritziest neighborhoods, but Bubba’s Cooks Country’s prices are perfectly reasonable. Score a two piece chicken dinner with a roll and side for $10, or load up a veggie plate full of mashed potatoes, green beans, candied yams, and cabbage, for $9.

6617 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 373-6527
(214) 373-6527

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Big Guys Chicken & Rice

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The massive platters of chicken and rice at this Deep Ellum favorite are easily big enough for two meals, making them an especially budget friendly deal at just $12. There’s also vegetarian aloo wraps, falafel platters, and more snacks, all priced under $14.

2614 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 810-1955
(214) 810-1955

Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen

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Filipino favorites like crispy lumpia and pancit palabok are all on offer at this hidden gem in Las Colinas. Diners will also have a couple bucks extra to score a calamansi limeade, a perfectly refreshing summer drink.

4835 N O'Connor Rd, Irving, TX 75062
(972) 433-5535
(972) 433-5535

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Zoli's NY Pizza

14910 Midway Rd, Addison, TX 75001

Ok, it’s a little bit more than $10, but the lunch special at Zoli’s absolutely cannot be beat. Score a 10-inch pie topped with pepperoni or sausage and a half a Caesar salad for just $13, or keep it under a tenner with an order of the restaurant’s decadent “Return of the Mac” pasta ($9).

14910 Midway Rd, Addison, TX 75001
(469) 754-9654
(469) 754-9654

Royal China Restaurant

6025 Royal Ln, Dallas, TX 75230

This beloved Preston Royal Chinese eatery is a buzzy lunch destination, and it’s definitely worth the drive thanks to entrees like stir-fried Sichuan beef ($12) and pork in garlic sauce ($11). Perhaps most importantly, the portions are pretty generous which means that light lunchers will probably have enough for two meals.

6025 Royal Ln, Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 361-1771
(214) 361-1771

Resident Taqueria

9661 Audelia Rd #112, Dallas, TX 75238

At this wildly popular taqueria, budget-friendly diners can seriously feast on tacos stuffed with fillings like pecan-smoked chicken ($3), caramelized cauliflower ($3), and chorizo that’s freshly made at the restaurant. Sides, like garlicky pinto beans and street-style esquites, are equally affordable.

9661 Audelia Rd #112, Dallas, TX 75238
(972) 685-5280
(972) 685-5280

Keller's

6537 E NW Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231

This longtime staple of Dallas’s burger scene boasts some of the best burgers — and prices — in town. Score a cheeseburger, tots, and drink for less than $10, and eat it all in the comfort of your own car.

6537 E NW Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 368-1209
(214) 368-1209

Snuffers

3526 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

In what may be one of the best budget-friendly lunch deals in town, Snuffer’s serves its famed classic cheeseburger for just $5 on Tuesdays.

3526 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-6850
(214) 826-6850

Unleavened Fresh Kitchen

1900 Abrams Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75214

Gluten-free bowls of veggie goodness await at this health-obsessed spot, where pretty much everything on the menu is completely customizable. Consider the Deep South wrap ($9.75), filled with bourbon-glazed pulled pork, kale, horseradish pickles, and ranch, or go for a classic avocado toast ($6) topped with cucumber, hard-boiled egg, and everything bagel spice.

1900 Abrams Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75214
(214) 828-8700
(214) 828-8700

Kalachandji's

5430 Gurley Ave, Dallas, TX 75223

Enjoy a veritable vegetarian feast at this East Dallas eatery operated by Dallas’s Hare Krishna temple. The menu for the lunch buffet, which will set diners back $13, changes daily, but always boasts a massive salad bar, crispy pakoras, homemade cinnamon-raisin bread, and entrees that range from curries to enchiladas. Right now, Kalachandji’s staffers are packing takeout boxes full of the buffet options, available for to-go or dining in the restaurant’s lovely outdoor courtyard.

5430 Gurley Ave, Dallas, TX 75223
(214) 821-1048
(214) 821-1048

AllGood Cafe

2934 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226

At this all-day Deep Ellum favorite, breakfast for lunch just makes total sense. Score a 3-egg omelet loaded with cheese and veggies for $10, or get decadent with the borracho biscuit, a homemade biscuit that’s topped with sausage, over-easy eggs, queso, jalapenos, and bacon.

2934 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 742-5362
(214) 742-5362

TEN Ramen

1888 Sylvan Ave, Dallas, TX 75208

A project of vaunted Dallas chef Teiichi Sakurai, Ten boasts bowls of ramen that punch well above their price point. Order the classic tonkotsu, or go with the pork mazemen, a broth-less bowl of noodles that’s a Ten specialty.

1888 Sylvan Ave, Dallas, TX 75208
(972) 803-4400
(972) 803-4400

Sandwich Hag

1902 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75215

The banh mi at this Cedars spot is a bit more expensive than some of the city’s Vietnamese sandwiches, but they’re definitely the best. Proteins like lemongrass chicken, meatballs, pork sausage, and ginger-laced tofu are served on crusty French bread alongside crunchy pickled veggies, cilantro, and garlic aioli — all priced at under $10, which means that you can order a fruity tea or Vietnamese iced coffee.

1902 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75215
(214) 484-5971
(214) 484-5971

Bubba's Cooks Country - Dallas

6617 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205

It might be located in one of the city’s ritziest neighborhoods, but Bubba’s Cooks Country’s prices are perfectly reasonable. Score a two piece chicken dinner with a roll and side for $10, or load up a veggie plate full of mashed potatoes, green beans, candied yams, and cabbage, for $9.

6617 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 373-6527
(214) 373-6527

Big Guys Chicken & Rice

2614 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226

The massive platters of chicken and rice at this Deep Ellum favorite are easily big enough for two meals, making them an especially budget friendly deal at just $12. There’s also vegetarian aloo wraps, falafel platters, and more snacks, all priced under $14.

2614 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 810-1955
(214) 810-1955

Inihaw Avenue Filipino Kitchen

4835 N O'Connor Rd, Irving, TX 75062

Filipino favorites like crispy lumpia and pancit palabok are all on offer at this hidden gem in Las Colinas. Diners will also have a couple bucks extra to score a calamansi limeade, a perfectly refreshing summer drink.

4835 N O'Connor Rd, Irving, TX 75062
(972) 433-5535
(972) 433-5535

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