Dallas has no shortage of cheap eats, provided you know where to look. Plenty of the city's time-honored institutions specialize in inexpensive meals, but we'll get to those later — for now, we're focusing on the hottest cheap eats of the moment. Read on for 12 newer additions to the budget dining scene that will satisfy your hunger without emptying your wallet.
The Cuban (and Cuban-inspired) food at this former taco stand in Bishop Arts is simply sublime. The traditional pressed Cubano sandwich is $8 and plenty big enough for two meals; yucca fries are a bit pricey at $3.50, but they're crazy-delicious when paired with the included mango ketchup. The real bargains here are the tacos, mini tortilla-wrapped versions of the sandwiches that clock in around $2 each. Try the mahi with cabbage slaw and the signature C. Senor with shredded braised short ribs.
[Photo: C. Senor/Facebook]
This Oak Cliff gem just down the street from the Kessler Theater serves up inexpensive made-to-order cheesesteaks topped with melty white American cheese, caramelized onions, and (highly recommended) jalapenos and bell peppers; a large sandwich with fries and a drink is just $9.25. The bread is shipped in from Philly, but you can add a dose of Texas flavor by dousing your sandwich in housemade queso. Pro tip: On Wednesdays after 5 p.m., chicken cheesesteaks are half price.
[Photo: Lori Bandi]
Crushcraft Thai is likely fresher, tastier, and cheaper than the Thai takeout you've grown accustomed to. Entrees — such as the khao man gai, a gingery rice pilaf with copious amounts of shredded chicken and cucumber relish — are all priced from $8 to $10, and the portions are so generous you'll almost certainly have leftovers to take home. Bonus: You can stock up on spicy provisions at the self-serve chile bar.
[Photo: Garrett Hall]
No-frills takeout joint Harvey B's recently arrived to quell the burger drought affecting this particular corner of Old East Dallas, and it's easy to assemble a meal here for less than $10 — even if that meal consists of a cream cheese jalapeno burger, tater tots, and a chocolate shake.
[Photo: Harvey B's/Facebook]
Korean fusion spot LA Burger recently expanded with a new location in Richardson. Most of the burgers here, such as the super-deluxe namesake burger topped with cheese, teriyaki sauce, kimchi, and a fried egg, are priced between $6 and $7; tack on a side of fries or rings for another 2 or 3 bucks. (There's a full bar, too, if you've got some additional cash burning a hole in your pocket.)
[Photo: Charley K./Yelp]
Meso Maya's younger sibling just expanded to Addison, and there's an excellent patio to go along with the cheap prices. Tacos are $1.95 each, or you can get a burrito or a rice bowl for less than $6. Margaritas, even the seasonal fruit varieties, are 4 bucks or less, and you can add a freshly-fried, cajeta-filled churro for $1.75.
[Photo: Brian C./Yelp]
Cheap, tasty eats abound at Brian Luscher's Deep Ellum sausage shop. The fully-dressed handmade "red hot" is priced right at $5, meaning you can also get an order of the excellent fries and a beer or a soda and come in right at ten bucks.
For a quick and inexpensive meal in Deep Ellum, Monkey King is the place to be — which is why there's almost always a line outside the former taco stand. An $8 order of eight soup dumplings is hearty enough to make a meal of, and the same goes for the $8 noodles (such as the spicy beef soup or the garlicky dan-dan with ground pork).
Nick Badovinus's cheap eats wonderland is bigger and better than ever in its new Trinity Groves location. Everything here is priced well under $10, which is good because you definitely need fries ($2.50 and worth every penny) to go with that Murph-style burger. Hell, even if you throw caution to the wind and get a frozen Moscow Mule ($5) and one of the mindblowingly delicious mini pecan pies, you'll still come in under $20. Kick back on the patio and then play some ping-pong after your meal to ensure real bang for your buck.
[Photo: Lori Bandi]
Richardson's Bistro B is famous for its 3-for-$1 eggrolls, and now you can get 'em right here in Dallas thanks to sister restaurant Rollngo. Other killer deals here include 3-for-$10 banh mi and generously portioned rice or vermicelli plates with various proteins for about $8.
You may remember restaurateur Jonn Baudoin from such swanky spots as Driftwood and Casa Rubia, but his newer Trinity Groves spot is way more affordable. Tacos here are generously stuffed and served on excellent housemade tortillas; prices range from $2.25 for more traditional street tacos like barbacoa and chicharron, to $4.25 for fancier versions like fried snapper with cabbage slaw, and two or three will make a meal.
[Photo: Lori Bandi]
Teiichi Sakurai's standing-room-only ramen shop at Sylvan Thirty is the perfect place for a quick, inexpensive lunch. Tonkotsu and shoyu bowls are $10, though you might want to add an egg for $2.50; an egg is included with the soupless mazemen, $12. Generous portions of broth and noodles mean you'll leave stuffed, and you don't have to buy a drink unless you really want to because there's a self-serve water cooler.
[Photo: Whitney Filloon]
The Cuban (and Cuban-inspired) food at this former taco stand in Bishop Arts is simply sublime. The traditional pressed Cubano sandwich is $8 and plenty big enough for two meals; yucca fries are a bit pricey at $3.50, but they're crazy-delicious when paired with the included mango ketchup. The real bargains here are the tacos, mini tortilla-wrapped versions of the sandwiches that clock in around $2 each. Try the mahi with cabbage slaw and the signature C. Senor with shredded braised short ribs.
[Photo: C. Senor/Facebook]
This Oak Cliff gem just down the street from the Kessler Theater serves up inexpensive made-to-order cheesesteaks topped with melty white American cheese, caramelized onions, and (highly recommended) jalapenos and bell peppers; a large sandwich with fries and a drink is just $9.25. The bread is shipped in from Philly, but you can add a dose of Texas flavor by dousing your sandwich in housemade queso. Pro tip: On Wednesdays after 5 p.m., chicken cheesesteaks are half price.
[Photo: Lori Bandi]
Crushcraft Thai is likely fresher, tastier, and cheaper than the Thai takeout you've grown accustomed to. Entrees — such as the khao man gai, a gingery rice pilaf with copious amounts of shredded chicken and cucumber relish — are all priced from $8 to $10, and the portions are so generous you'll almost certainly have leftovers to take home. Bonus: You can stock up on spicy provisions at the self-serve chile bar.
[Photo: Garrett Hall]
No-frills takeout joint Harvey B's recently arrived to quell the burger drought affecting this particular corner of Old East Dallas, and it's easy to assemble a meal here for less than $10 — even if that meal consists of a cream cheese jalapeno burger, tater tots, and a chocolate shake.
[Photo: Harvey B's/Facebook]
Korean fusion spot LA Burger recently expanded with a new location in Richardson. Most of the burgers here, such as the super-deluxe namesake burger topped with cheese, teriyaki sauce, kimchi, and a fried egg, are priced between $6 and $7; tack on a side of fries or rings for another 2 or 3 bucks. (There's a full bar, too, if you've got some additional cash burning a hole in your pocket.)
[Photo: Charley K./Yelp]
Meso Maya's younger sibling just expanded to Addison, and there's an excellent patio to go along with the cheap prices. Tacos are $1.95 each, or you can get a burrito or a rice bowl for less than $6. Margaritas, even the seasonal fruit varieties, are 4 bucks or less, and you can add a freshly-fried, cajeta-filled churro for $1.75.
[Photo: Brian C./Yelp]
Cheap, tasty eats abound at Brian Luscher's Deep Ellum sausage shop. The fully-dressed handmade "red hot" is priced right at $5, meaning you can also get an order of the excellent fries and a beer or a soda and come in right at ten bucks.
For a quick and inexpensive meal in Deep Ellum, Monkey King is the place to be — which is why there's almost always a line outside the former taco stand. An $8 order of eight soup dumplings is hearty enough to make a meal of, and the same goes for the $8 noodles (such as the spicy beef soup or the garlicky dan-dan with ground pork).
Nick Badovinus's cheap eats wonderland is bigger and better than ever in its new Trinity Groves location. Everything here is priced well under $10, which is good because you definitely need fries ($2.50 and worth every penny) to go with that Murph-style burger. Hell, even if you throw caution to the wind and get a frozen Moscow Mule ($5) and one of the mindblowingly delicious mini pecan pies, you'll still come in under $20. Kick back on the patio and then play some ping-pong after your meal to ensure real bang for your buck.
[Photo: Lori Bandi]
Richardson's Bistro B is famous for its 3-for-$1 eggrolls, and now you can get 'em right here in Dallas thanks to sister restaurant Rollngo. Other killer deals here include 3-for-$10 banh mi and generously portioned rice or vermicelli plates with various proteins for about $8.
You may remember restaurateur Jonn Baudoin from such swanky spots as Driftwood and Casa Rubia, but his newer Trinity Groves spot is way more affordable. Tacos here are generously stuffed and served on excellent housemade tortillas; prices range from $2.25 for more traditional street tacos like barbacoa and chicharron, to $4.25 for fancier versions like fried snapper with cabbage slaw, and two or three will make a meal.
[Photo: Lori Bandi]
Teiichi Sakurai's standing-room-only ramen shop at Sylvan Thirty is the perfect place for a quick, inexpensive lunch. Tonkotsu and shoyu bowls are $10, though you might want to add an egg for $2.50; an egg is included with the soupless mazemen, $12. Generous portions of broth and noodles mean you'll leave stuffed, and you don't have to buy a drink unless you really want to because there's a self-serve water cooler.
[Photo: Whitney Filloon]
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