Many people are feeling some degree of financial stress these days, especially when it comes to the notable increase in the cost of food. Some restaurants in Houston are helping offset this reality by offering kids eat free options, while others are able to keep their menu prices low. It’s not difficult to eat out, eat local and eat well on a tight budget here, either, with numerous spots offering up a variety of options that come in at under $10 before taxes. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list — especially when one considers the proliferation of excellent taco trucks Houston boasts — but it summarizes a few great places where you’ll enjoy a fine meal without making your wallet weep. 

Do you know of additional Houston restaurants with affordable food? Leave a comment below! (We moderate comments — it keeps out the trolls — so it may take a little time for yours to appear.)  

Braeburn

Finger Licking Restaurant, 9815 Bissonnet: The snacks at this West African mainstay are hearty enough to work as a small meal, and won’t set you back much. It only costs  $2.50 for a beef, chicken or vegetable meat pie, $2 for a sausage roll, $3 for a Scotch egg, $3.50 for beef or chicken suya or $4 for moi moi, a steamed bean porridge. If you need bigger portions, fill up on jollof rice for $9, beans and plantains for $9.50 and fried rice for $10. 

Downtown

Zero’s Sandwich Shop, 1110 Lamar and 507 Dallas: Classic, no-frills sandwiches — exactly the kind you’d tote to school in your lunchbox — are the name of the game here. And the prices are just as deliciously nostalgic as the fare. None of the sandwiches cost more than $4.54, including tuna and cheese, ham and cheese, multiple turkey and cheese options, veggies, meatball and more. Pita sandwiches, like the gyro or chicken fajita, aren’t that much more expensive, at $5.49 each. Get a boxed lunch consisting of a sandwich, chips, a pickle spear and a cookie for $7.10 or a sandwich, side of pasta and a cookie for $6.75.

Don’t feel like a sandwich? Soups of the day start at $1.99, and the salads range in price from $1.95 for a garden salad to $4.75 for a marinated grilled chicken salad.

Galleria Area

Pete’s Fine Meats, 5509 Richmond: Long-time purveyor of exotic meats Pete’s also maintains a café and deli for dine-in and to-go orders, slinging delicious, simple sandwiches and sides at affordable prices. Only a few menu items are above $10, so you have an embarrassment of riches to choose from, including grilled cheese ($5.49), a chicken, tuna or egg salad sandwich ($8.99), a roast beef or pastrami sandwich ($9.75), a hamburger ($9.75) or a corned beef, sliced turkey, sliced brisket or ham sandwich ($9.95).

Most jaw-dropping of all, a chopped brisket sandwich only costs $2.19. We confirmed that the price is not, in fact, a typo. Add in a deviled egg or two for $.80 and a fountain or bottled drink and you can enjoy a filling lunch for under $10 total. 

Greenway/Upper Kirby

Argentina Cafe Empanada Factory, 3833 Southwest Freeway: Empanadas pull double-duty as both meals and snacks, and even if you order a few at this cozy spot, you’ll still leave with both your tummy and your wallet stuffed. The sweet beef empanada ($3.65) blends spiced ground beef with raisins for a succulent, complex flavor, and the morcilla empanada ($3.65) boasts some of the best blood sausage in Houston. Empanada Factory’s menu expands into numerous chicken, beef, ham, seafood and dessert offerings, all for under $4.

Don’t fret, vegetarians! There are eight options for you, too, including the creamy artichoke empanada loaded with mozzarella and basil ($3.65), a mushroom empanada with caramelized onions, Parmesan and mozzarella ($3.50) and a curry vegetable empanada with eggplant, mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower and peppers. 

Oishii, 3764 Richmond: Sushi-loving Houstonians flock to this tiny izakaya-style outpost for its legendary happy hour, which runs from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. It offers buy-one-get-one-free specials on appetizers, $3 domestic beers, $3.50 imported beers and $4 sake. Appetizers cost $5.50 each, and include crisp vegetable tempura, a miso soup and green salad combo, pork gyoza and edamame, among others. Multiple six-piece sushi roll options are also available under the BOGOF appetizer specials, too, like the California Rolls, cucumber and avocado rolls and the mixed-fish Dynamite Rolls. Consider making a reservation, since the happy hours get packed fast.

Gulfton/Shenandoah

Adulis, 5856 Dashwood: Part restaurant, part lounge, this Eritrean delight serves up generous portions of boldly spiced shuro (chickpea stew with berbere, garlic, butter and cumin) and ful (mashed fava beans served with egg, mixed vegetable salad and yogurt) for just under $10. The price includes injera or bolillo to eat with. Other affordable options include the fata (bread and salsa salad with vegetables, butter and yogurt) and ga’at (a pounded dough porridge filled with berbere and seasoned butter), both for $9.99. 

Buffet de Pupusas Salvadorean Kitchen, 6451 Hillcroft: The only thing better than a piping-hot pupusa with all the trimmings is all-you-can-eat pupusas with all the trimmings. While a little pricier than some of the other spots on this list, it still costs less than $15 per person to enjoy a staple Salvadoran comfort food. You’ll easily eat your money’s worth, especially if you come hungry. The menu does change, but cheese pupusas and chicharrón pupusas are some of the most popular offerings. 

Keep an eye out for specials, too. The restaurant doesn’t update its social media often, but past deals have included single pupusas for $1.50 and a hamburger with fries for $5.99. 

Meadows Place

Suya Hut, 11720 West Airport: A satisfying, yet affordable, meal of skewered and grilled meat and rice awaits at this Meadows Place longrunner. Prices per skewer range from $2.49 for beef suya, $2.99 for chicken suya or gizzard suya and $3.99 for shrimp suya. Sides include coconut rice or jollof rice at $5.99 for a small portion and $9.99 for a large, or you can opt for lansir (tomato, onion, cilantro and powdered peanut salad) for $5.99 or fried plantains for $1.79 instead.

Montrose

La Guadalupana, 2109 Dunlavy: Some of Houston’s best meals are found tucked into blink-and-you’ll-miss-it strip centers, but that doesn’t stop La Guadalupana from having to set up extra tables in the parking lot to accommodate its expansive brunch crowd. Along with its stellar bakery packed with pan dulce, the Montrose mainstay offers up a breakfast menu bursting with generous portions at affordable price points. A large bowl of classic menudo or caldo de pollo runs for $10, or you can tuck into $6 breakfast tortas, $8 chilaquiles, huevos rancheros or omelets or $9 migas. A stack of three buttermilk pancakes runs for only $4.

TexChick Puerto Rican Restaurant, 712 1/2 Fairview: This charming Montrose eatery is set up inside an old house and has been dishing up deliciously homey Puerto Rican fare for over 40 years. Empanadas are available for $2.25 (pizza), $2.50 (chicken or ground beef) and $4 (shrimp or crab). For more filling meals, there’s pollo guisado for $8.99 and carne guisado, bacalao (cod) or chuleta (pork chops) for only $9.99. Each comes with a choice of side, including mofongo, trifongo or rice and beans with tostones.  

If your wallet allows, the mofongo ordered as its own meal — served with either shrimp or fried beef tips — and the ultimate steak-and-onions comfort dish bistec encebollado are all incredible menu options and still only cost $10.99.

Near Northside

Poppa Burger, 1622 North Main: For over 60 years, this food stand has offered Houstonians low-cost, filling and delicious meals at unbeatable prices. It also happens to be open 24/7, so you can stop in whenever the craving hits. The most expensive items on the menu are the shrimp basket ($8) and catfish basket ($7), but carnitas, ham and cheese or breakfast tortas and a titular double burger with bacon, cheese and jalapeños only cost $5.54. You can easily eat your fill for less than a ten spot here. Please note that Poppa Burger only takes cash. 

Trash Panda Drinking Club, 515 Patton: Mark your calendars, deal chasers. Nearly all of the daily specials offered at Trash Panda cost $10 or less before tax and tip. On Mondays, buy a refreshing Toki highball for a mere $5 and get 50-cent wings (minimum of six wings; one flavor per order). Taco Tuesday offers picadillo or chicken tacos for $1 (minimum of three per order). All whole pizzas cost only $10 on Fridays, and on Saturdays you can grab a Trash Burger or chicken sandwich for $5. On Sundays, catch hot dogs for just a buck after 4 p.m.

Third Ward

Cream Burger, 3481 Elgin: University of Houston students and staff swear by this food stand and its can’t-beat-’em prices. A small hamburger only costs $3, and you can upgrade it to a small cheeseburger for only $.50 more. Prices go up from there depending on size and toppings, with the double chili cheeseburger at $7.00 as the most expensive option. A side of chips goes for 60 cents, and if you want fries with that, it’s $3.70 for a small and $5 for a large. 

If you’re not a hamburger fiend, you can still nosh on a hot dog for $1.50 or splurge on a chili cheese dog for $3. A large Frito Pie is also available for $4.50. Remember to bring cash, however. Like its fellow food stand Poppa Burger, Cream Burger doesn’t take cards. 

Sparkle’s Burger & Daiquiri Spot, 4420 Emancipation: Although Sparkle’s menu has a lot of meal options over $10, there are more than enough to please patrons with tight food budgets. A hamburger or a cheeseburger with all the fixins’ goes for $8, or you can pick up a Swiss Cheeseburger for $8.50. Jalapeño cheeseburgers, hickory bacon cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers and chili cheeseburgers are all available for $9.50. 

If beef isn’t your favorite protein, Sparkle’s still has you covered! A six-piece chicken wing dinner, served with fries, a roll and a jalapeño goes for $8.50. A chicken tender basket with four tenders, fries and ranch dressing costs $8. Or sink your teeth into chicken, fish, turkey burger or porkchop sandwiches for only $8.50. Even more substantial are the chicken baked potatoes for $9.50. 

Westchase 

Original Marini’s Empanada House, 10001 Westheimer: Open since 1969, this Westchase staple has had plenty of experience feeding hungry Houstonians on a tight budget, boasting an extensive menu of empanadas — including a plethora of vegetarian options — for no more than $4.50 each. You can make an entire meal out of two, just make sure that one of them is off the delectable dessert options menu, like the comfortingly spiced pumpkin empanada or the bright, tangy guava empanada.

Multiple Locations 

Al Quick Stop, 2002 Waugh and 518 West 11th: Long-term Houstonians know the original Al Quick Stop location in Montrose as the place for late-night shawarma sandwiches, gyro sandwiches, veggie sandwiches and falafel sandwiches, all for $8.69. If Tex-Mex is what you’re looking for, try the beef or chicken fajita tacos for $3.69 each or the beef or chicken fajita burrito for $8.99. And if you’d rather have a hamburger, then guess what? That’ll only set you back $8.69.

On the lighter side, a 12-ounce lentil soup ($6.99) and five grape leaves stuffed with rice and parsley ($6.39) provide spiced satiety. 

Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine, 912 Westheimer and 1737 West 34th: Although the prices listed here are a little higher than what you see elsewhere in this article, Aladdin has earned its spot as a budget-friendly restaurant because of its large portion sizes. An entrée plus two sides runs for $16.99 (two sides for $14.99), but unless you’re feeding a teen’s bottomless pit, you’re going to wind up with enough food for two meals. That’s especially since you have to make room for the pillow-soft pita, hot out of the wood-fired oven, which comes two per platter. Entrées do change daily, though the chicken, kaftka or lamb kebabs, baked chicken and chicken shawarma are available every day.  

Vegetarians can order a plate consisting of four large portions of sides for $14.99, and they won’t hurt for options, either. Try the roasted cauliflower, perfectly crisp fried okra, green lentil salad or refreshing pesto eggplant. Note: we’ve been informed that the restaurant will be raising prices 15 to 20% around the end of July 2024. Even so, we think it’s still going to represent a great value.

Antone’s Famous Po’Boys, 2724 West TC Jester and 4520 San Felipe: With the exception of The Original (salami and ham with provolone, chow chow, mayo and dill pickles) and The Tuna (tuna salad with provolone and dill pickles), which cost $7.95 each, all of the “famous po’boys” here go for only $8.95. A single portion of muffuletta will only set you back $9.95, too. All of the po’boy sandwiches, which can also be found at select Houston-area grocery stores, are big enough to split in half to share with a dining companion or save for another meal. Pair it with a side of fries or hush puppies for an extra $3.95. 

Flying Idlis, 9411 Richmond and 720 Rusk: As the name implies, this eatery specializes in the popular South Indian and Sri Lankan breakfast dish idli, a steamed lentil and rice cake served with different toppings and fillings. There are nine different idli options to choose from all day (not just breakfast!), served four per order (six for the miniature Bullet Idlis) at prices ranging from $5.99 to $7.99. 

Dosa fans have even more choices to face, with 22 delicious kinds available. All but one costs $9.99 or less. They’re huge, too, and could be stretched to last two meals. 

Frenchy’s Chicken: The only fast food chain on this list, because we have to acknowledge the hometown hero. Frenchy’s is known for its juicy Creole-style fried chicken and stellar sides like dirty rice and collard greens. A two-piece meal deal goes for $8.95 and includes a side, your choice of bread, a pepper and a 20-ounce fountain drink. The three-piece meal deal costs just a dollar more.

Tacos Tierra Caliente, 2003 West Alabama and 1535 North Durham: Best known as the iconic food truck next door to West Alabama Ice House, Tacos Tierra Caliente has since expanded into a gas station in The Heights. Prices between the two locations are different, but at the food truck, breakfast tacos cost $2 each, tacos cost $2.50, quesadillas cost $4 and tortas cost $7. These prices do not change based on the filling you choose.

Meredith Nudo

Meredith Nudo is a Houston-based writer, comedian, and voice actor with bylines in Houstonia, Chron.com, Houston Press, Texas Signal, Houston Landing, and San Francisco Chronicle. You can learn more at https://linktr.ee/meredithnudo.