Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
We originally posted this list a year or so ago and update it at least twice a year. This time around, as we were price-checking everything, we learned a harsh lesson (even though we already knew it): everything actually does cost more. A banh mi went from $5 to $6.50. A cheap burger from $5.45 to $7.57. Breakfast tacos went from $4 to about $6. These aren’t restaurants trying to nickel and dime their customers; rather, they are trying to survive.
Most of the time, what you eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner can define your day, or at least set the tone for what’s to come. With a full year-long calendar ahead of us, we might as well set the tone now and put together a roster of great restaurants on a budget.
It may be getting harder, especially in recent years, to find quality food on a budget. But in a city with a sprawling food scene, it only makes finding those hidden gems even more special. We’ve broken this list into broad sections of the city for ease of use, don’t yell about it. We know Plano isn’t North Dallas, but Plano can generally be described in the northern part of the Dallas area. Can we do that? (Probably not. That’s fine, just comment on your preferred social channel.)
North Dallas
Ba Lee
1927 E. Belt Line Road, Carrollton
We recently visited this Vietnamese sandwich shop in Carrollton and suggested it could have the best banh mi in Dallas – for just $6.50. Get a crunchy baguette stuffed with pate ham, chicken, crushed meatballs, grilled pork, pork roll or shredded pork with skin. Each sandwich is loaded with pickled daikon, carrot, cilantro and jalapenos. 1927 E. Belt Line Road
What the Pho
221 W. Parker Road, Plano
One of the best dinner deals we’ve seen is at What the Pho, where you can snag two bánh mì sandwiches for $9.75. Yes: two sandwiches for under $10, thanks to an all-day everyday buy one get one free deal. Indulge in popular choices like beef and pork or explore one of the other 11 options available, all served with cilantro, jalapeno, cucumber, carrots and daikon. Planning for a potluck but prefer not to cook? Consider a party tray: $40 for 50 chicken dumplings or $50 for 100 pork or vegetable egg rolls.
Buddhist Temple
8484 Stults Road, North Dallas (Sundays only)
On Sundays, the beautiful North Dallas temple turns into a bustling food market, where you can load up on delicious skewers and sticky rice for as cheap as $1 each. There are so many options here from different vendors, all of which are as tasty and cheap as they are authentically Thai. Make sure to come prepared though, vendors open at 9 a.m. and tend to be sold out of some items by lunchtime. Each vendor is also cash-only, and there isn’t an ATM nearby, so carve out some time to prepare on Saturday night, you won’t regret it. 8484 Stults Road
Del’s Charcoal Burger
110 S. McKinney St, Richardson
Del’s Charcoal Burgers has remained a Richardson institution since 1957, narrowly surviving its greatest test yet earlier this year when a fire forced a closure for 42 days. These days, they’re back and just as good as ever, especially when you can get a Del’s Special, and four other burger standards on the menu, for just $8.50.
Del Campo
901 Long Prairie Road, Flower Mound
Savory empanadas at the Argentinian restaurant Del Campo are just $4.75 each, so you can get two for just under $10. Or buy one savory and get a dessert pastry like the Banutella for just $3.25. It’s stuffed with banana, Nutella, chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. There’s also a location at 10724 N. Beach St. in Fort Worth.
Keller’s Drive In
537 E. Northwest Highway and 10554 Harry Hines Blvd., North Dallas
Keller’s Drive-In, a Dallas classic since the ’60s, offers a nostalgic dining experience. Stay in your car as the friendly waitstaff takes your order and delivers it to your car. Don’t miss the signature poppy seed bun burger, onion rings and a chocolate milkshake, all for under $12. Despite its popularity, Keller’s has maintained affordable prices after 70 years in business, with burgers starting at $4.99. Plus, they now accept credit cards. So, enjoy the retro vibe, and keep some extra napkins handy to avoid any mess on your steering wheel.
Firebox
918 Plano Road, Northeast Dallas
At Firexbox in Lake Highlands, a glimpse through the drive-thru delivery window reveals a skilled chef meticulously crafting your sushi behind the counter. This sushi extends far beyond the ordinary California rolls, showcasing a level of quality surpassing typical grocery store fare, all at a fraction of the cost. With most rolls priced at $7.79 and sushi a la carte at $5.55 per order, the value is undeniable. While the drive-thru experience may require a bit more patience, rest assured that the made-to-order aspect results in a tasty culinary experience.
Texas Taco 6
4334 Saturn Road, Garland
Between numerous day trips to Garland Camera Repair, the massive sign touting 99c tacos across the street always seemed too good to be true. Located in the back of Shop N Go #14, a convenience and liquor store, the small counter of Texas Taco 6 made a believer out of a skeptic, who ate an entire meal for about $4.
Burger House
6248 E. Mockingbird Lane and other locations
Burger House, a Dallas institution, has served award-winning burgers, crispy seasoned fries and handmade milkshakes and malts since 1951. Prices start at $7.57, and the burgers embody the epitome of classic flavors, offering a delicious nod to tradition.
East Dallas
Jimmy’s Food Store
4901 Bryan St., East Dallas
Veteran Italian specialty shop Jimmy’s Food Store serves some of the best Italian prepared foods, sausages, baked goods and imported cheese and pasta in the city. However, you’d be remiss if you didn’t indulge in a sandwich from the takeout menu. Try a hearty deli sub, like the Italian sub loaded with mortadella, capicola, soppressata, pepperoni and provolone cheese for $5.99 for a half and $12.99 for a full. Or try the famous Cuban sandwich with roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mojo sauce for $7.99.
Corner Market
3426 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
We’ll take any excuse we can to sing the praises of Corner Market, Lower Greenville’s one-stop deli and flower shop that just celebrated 20 years in business. Somehow, each of their delicious sandwiches remains under $10, and you can get an iced latte on the way out for less than $4.
Green Spot
702 N. Buckner Blvd., White Rock
There’s gas station food, and then there’s Green Spot. The small White Rock outpost does technically sell gas, but it feels like more of a front for a hidden gem of a cafe and eco-friendly marketplace. The food counter at the back offers a great selection of breakfast tacos, plus a bowl with black beans, bacon, egg, sausage and potatoes for just $6.
Havana Cafe
1152 N Buckner Blvd., White Rock
Havana Cafe has two personalities. On Friday nights, a newly revamped music stage and full mojito bar serve as the setting for wild Latin music dance parties, typically with a live in-house band and brass section. During the week, it’s a cozy Cuban spot, perfect for a no-frills night-out or quick lunch break. No matter the Havana Cafe you happen to check out, the Cuban sandwich menu remains as good of a deal as you’ll find. The famous Cuban, complete with ham, roast pork, cheese and pickles, is the standout for just $9.50. A simple roast pork sandwich does the trick too, piled high with lettuce and tomatoes. All sandwiches are served with a heaping pile of lemon pepper-seasoned fries, so you really can’t go wrong.
Moon Wok
8670 Skillman St., Lake Highlands
Tucked away in a sleepy Lake Highlands shopping center, surrounded by roads in the midst of seemingly never-ending construction, Moon Wok offers a sprawling menu of Chinese comfort food. With over 100 meals available to order, sifting through and finding the right choice can feel like a treasure hunt. But ‘X’ marks the spot on Moon Wok’s lunch specials, served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning at $8.95. Choose from a variety of chicken, pork, vegetables and more, in varieties of preparation, from Szechuan to Kung Pao to sweet and sour. Each item comes with a plate of rice and a large eggroll, so make sure you’re hungry when you stop in for lunch.
La Victoria
1605 N. Haskell Ave., East Dallas
They say to eat breakfast like a king, right? The royal treatment has never been easier than at La Victoria, which has been stuffing breakfast burritos to the brim since 2005. Now located in Deep Ellum, start your day off with a sausage, eggs, potatoes and more, all for $5.95.
West Dallas
Mama’s Daughters’ Diner
2014 Irving Blvd. and Other Locations
Complaints about rising food prices persist, but breakfast at Mama’s Daughters’ Diner remains an affordable delight. Indulge in biscuits and gravy for $4., a fried egg sandwich for $5.50 and a short stack of pancakes for $6.95. Alternatively, opt for a budget-friendly feast with two chicken-fried steaks priced at $15 or less, perfect for sharing. Note that prices and options vary by location, so check the menu before heading out for a delicious and wallet-friendly meal. Various Locations
Susan’s Burgers and More
2226 Irving Blvd.
Susan’s is a nice burger and breakfast spot in West Dallas. They offer several sub sandwiches for less than $10, including a ham and cheese and grilled chicken. Get a giant breakfast burrito for $7.50 or a breakfast sandwich for just $6.50.
South Dallas
Cheesesteak House
2015 W. Davis St., Oak Cliff, Plus Other Locations
Indulge your cravings at Cheesesteak House, where the regular-sized cheesesteaks are a steal at $8.99. You can also dive into a world of flavors with one of the specialty sandwiches, priced at $9.50 for a regular. Bring a towel (so much queso and sauce). Various Locations
El Rincon Tapatio
127 Jefferson Blvd., South Dallas
In Oak Cliff, a fantastic Mexican dinner rests just a stone’s throw away from the Texas Theatre. El Rincon Tapatio offers a sit-down restaurant experience with late-night taqueria prices and tastes. You can order street tacos of any variety for just $1.50 each, and with all that money you save, pop a couple quarters into their in-house jukebox, which is loaded with deep cuts galore.
Fito’s
Multiple Locations, South Dallas and Northeast Dallas
Fito’s Taco de Trompo lives up to its name, creating the cumulative trompo capital of Dallas across several locations around the city. The basic corn tortilla with piles of raw and caramelized onions alongside cilantro starts at $2.30. You can put together a pretty sizable meal here for under $10, and in such a competitive taco ecosystem, that’s quite an edge.
Black Jack Pizza
2536 MLK Jr. Blvd., South Dallas
Don’t let the name fool you, the burgers here are as good if not better than the pizza. You can get a Black Jack burger for $6 or upgrade to a cheeseburger for 50 cents more. Heck, the double meat and cheese is just $8.95, but it’s a lot of food. This spot is cash only.
Aunt Irene’s Kitchen
2802 Lagow St. South Dallas
Aunt Irene’s might be famous for its $35 Black Box (a crab cluster, shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes) but they also offer two daily lunch specials on a budget. Get a fish or pork chop sandwich for $10.
Big Daddy’s Convenience Store
4121 Colonial Ave., South Dallas
We last wrote about Big Daddy’s back in 2022, but we haven’t forgotten about this South Dallas gem. It’s a quick, no-frills convenience store. At lunch, get in line for a pork chop basket, burger or even a salad for less than $10 each (actually closer to $5 at last check).
