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Feast on nicely-priced chicken sandwiches, Asian street food, and excellent burgers
Inflation is up, and our bank accounts are down. For those hoping to save a few dollars, every little bit counts. You can treat yourself on a budget. These Dallas restaurants offer good eats at a price that won’t take your whole wallet out.
There’s something for every taste and budget at these local spots.
Read MoreBasic tacos and bao buns at this spot are $3.75, but it is known for its fusion dishes. Diners can get a trio of birria with angry pho for $13.75 or birria bao buns for $15.50 Or grab six wings in an array of spices for $8, with fries for $4 extra. All the noodle dishes are $11 to $12.
With a one-piece meal under $10 and a three-piece under $17, eating some of the best fried chicken in Big D is on the menu at a price point a family can manage. It also offers chicken fried steak, chicken tenders, and catfish at comparable prices.
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With tacos at $3.75 each (or $4.50 for shrimp or Mahi Mahi) and bowls for $7.50, this affordable spot in Lake Highlands serves up some of the best gas station tacos in the city that won’t give you the heebie-jeebies. The meats are all locally sourced, and the eggs are cage-free. And a sighting of Erykah Badu might happen — she’s known to come in for a vegetarian taco occasionally.
Chef Uno Immanivong serves up Asian street food at an affordable price, with dishes inspired by her childhood in Thailand. Try a banh mi sandwich with beef or shrimp or drunken noodles for $13. Mix-and-match bowls start at #42 and can be made with steamed duck fat rice, buttered garlic noodles, Chinese barbecue pork, and teriyaki chicken, among numerous other options. And they are quite large.
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Priced at eight dumplings for $11 and under, this is a steal for house-made dumplings — the pork with Napa cabbage and beef with carrots and onion are especially good. There are equally yummy rice dumplings, baozi, and soup noodles that top out at $15 for an order and amazing crispy basil chicken for $8.
Its breakfast sandwiches are universally lauded, but this spot also serves excellent lunch sandwiches. And the price is right at $11 to $14 for most offerings — but for the budget-minded, grab a grilled cheese for $5.50 and pair it with tomato soup for $4.
This cafe with two locations in Dallas serves an affordable breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and brunch on weekends. Pop in for a $13 Southwest salad (that includes the grilled chicken), $14 pasta pignoli, or $14 shrimp tacos among its many offerings.
Dairy-ette has been serving burgers, fries, and milkshakes to Dallas since 1956. Drive up or come in and order a basket. This good old-fashioned American food will make you nostalgic for car hops and these prices — burgers are $5.50. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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Heaping helpings of Thai street food, including kap khao with ground pork, wok fried noodles with tofu or eggs, coconut curries with chicken and eggplant, and lettuce wraps, are all available here for around $12. As a bonus, it’s gorgeous inside this Uptown spot.
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Get one of the city’s best chicken sandwiches for right around $15. The Cardi, a classic fried chicken sandwich with dill mayonnaise and pickles is always a solid choice, but the Hottitana (a Nashville hot chicken inspired sandwich) and the Oishi (serve with ying yang sauce, crispy onions, and red bell peppers) are also great choices.
Since Fletcher’s parked a corny dog food truck at Klyde Warren Park year-round, those treats from the State Fair are available any time a craving strikes. And the price is right, at $8 for an original with a side of curly fries for $5 more.
This Dallas original has loads of classic Tex-Mex dishes at price points that don’t make us wince. Chile relleno, three beef tamales, or most taco platters can be had for under $13, and those all come with sides of beans and rice. The chips and salsa are gratis.
Head to any of the Dallas locations for this local chain and get a classic burger for $9.50 and an array of fancy burgers, like the Western with pepper jack cheese and bacon, the Lotsashroom with mushrooms and swiss, or the Big Tex with cheddar and avocado for under $12.
Enjoy a set of three mix-and-match tacos for $13 at this great Oak Cliff spot or order one of the best deals in town: six tacos and a bottle of wine for $45. There are over a dozen taco options on the regular menu and loads of specials that pop on and off.
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Basic tacos and bao buns at this spot are $3.75, but it is known for its fusion dishes. Diners can get a trio of birria with angry pho for $13.75 or birria bao buns for $15.50 Or grab six wings in an array of spices for $8, with fries for $4 extra. All the noodle dishes are $11 to $12.
With a one-piece meal under $10 and a three-piece under $17, eating some of the best fried chicken in Big D is on the menu at a price point a family can manage. It also offers chicken fried steak, chicken tenders, and catfish at comparable prices.
With tacos at $3.75 each (or $4.50 for shrimp or Mahi Mahi) and bowls for $7.50, this affordable spot in Lake Highlands serves up some of the best gas station tacos in the city that won’t give you the heebie-jeebies. The meats are all locally sourced, and the eggs are cage-free. And a sighting of Erykah Badu might happen — she’s known to come in for a vegetarian taco occasionally.
Chef Uno Immanivong serves up Asian street food at an affordable price, with dishes inspired by her childhood in Thailand. Try a banh mi sandwich with beef or shrimp or drunken noodles for $13. Mix-and-match bowls start at #42 and can be made with steamed duck fat rice, buttered garlic noodles, Chinese barbecue pork, and teriyaki chicken, among numerous other options. And they are quite large.
Priced at eight dumplings for $11 and under, this is a steal for house-made dumplings — the pork with Napa cabbage and beef with carrots and onion are especially good. There are equally yummy rice dumplings, baozi, and soup noodles that top out at $15 for an order and amazing crispy basil chicken for $8.
Its breakfast sandwiches are universally lauded, but this spot also serves excellent lunch sandwiches. And the price is right at $11 to $14 for most offerings — but for the budget-minded, grab a grilled cheese for $5.50 and pair it with tomato soup for $4.
This cafe with two locations in Dallas serves an affordable breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and brunch on weekends. Pop in for a $13 Southwest salad (that includes the grilled chicken), $14 pasta pignoli, or $14 shrimp tacos among its many offerings.
Dairy-ette has been serving burgers, fries, and milkshakes to Dallas since 1956. Drive up or come in and order a basket. This good old-fashioned American food will make you nostalgic for car hops and these prices — burgers are $5.50. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Heaping helpings of Thai street food, including kap khao with ground pork, wok fried noodles with tofu or eggs, coconut curries with chicken and eggplant, and lettuce wraps, are all available here for around $12. As a bonus, it’s gorgeous inside this Uptown spot.
Get one of the city’s best chicken sandwiches for right around $15. The Cardi, a classic fried chicken sandwich with dill mayonnaise and pickles is always a solid choice, but the Hottitana (a Nashville hot chicken inspired sandwich) and the Oishi (serve with ying yang sauce, crispy onions, and red bell peppers) are also great choices.
Since Fletcher’s parked a corny dog food truck at Klyde Warren Park year-round, those treats from the State Fair are available any time a craving strikes. And the price is right, at $8 for an original with a side of curly fries for $5 more.
This Dallas original has loads of classic Tex-Mex dishes at price points that don’t make us wince. Chile relleno, three beef tamales, or most taco platters can be had for under $13, and those all come with sides of beans and rice. The chips and salsa are gratis.
Head to any of the Dallas locations for this local chain and get a classic burger for $9.50 and an array of fancy burgers, like the Western with pepper jack cheese and bacon, the Lotsashroom with mushrooms and swiss, or the Big Tex with cheddar and avocado for under $12.
Enjoy a set of three mix-and-match tacos for $13 at this great Oak Cliff spot or order one of the best deals in town: six tacos and a bottle of wine for $45. There are over a dozen taco options on the regular menu and loads of specials that pop on and off.
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