Stuck on a budget, but want to eat like a big spender? These Top 10 Cheap Eats Restaurants in the United States offer meals with plenty of flavor and creativity for not much dough. Enjoy everything from Chinese food prepared by a James Beard Award-winner to chocolate bacon brownies without a lot of wear and tear on the wallet.
1. Camellia Grill
626 S. Carrollton Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
504-309-2679
A prime source of hamburgers, classic breakfasts, zesty chili, fresh-from-the-oven fruit pies and other good diner food, Camellia Grill is iconic to the city of New Orleans.
2. Chai Pani
406 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-378-4030
Chai Pani's menu draws inspiration from Indian street fare, ranging from well-done thali to such inventive dishes as lamb "Sloppy Joes."
3. Burger Tap & Shake
2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-587-6258
Washington, D.C.'s Burger Tap & Shake serves up patties with interesting toppings and house-made buns. Signature burgers include the Southern Comfort served with pimento cheese, fried green tomato and Vidalia onions.
4. Hash House A Go Go
6800 W. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89146
702-804-4646
Giant portions of hearty American comfort food are hefted to the table at Hash House A Go Go in Las Vegas. Among the favorites is the towering Andy's famous sage fried chicken with eggs and bacon mashed potatoes.
5. Ken’s Artisan Pizza
304 SE 28th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
503-517-9951
You almost certainly will wait for a table at Ken's Artisan Pizza in Portland, but it's worth it for the wood-fired pies turned out by the blisteringly hot oven.
6. Mission Chinese Food
2234 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-863-2800
Mission Chinese Food offers some of the spiciest, most creative Sichuan-inspired cuisine in San Francisco. Diners line up early for dishes such as Thrice Cooked Bacon, Kung Pao Pastrami and Mouth Watering Chicken.
7. Pok Pok NY
127 Columbia St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-923-9322
With its above-average Thai food, Pok Pok NY in Brooklyn stands out in an urban sea of mediocre Southeast Asian restaurants.
8. Slater’s 50/50
6362 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
714-685-1103
Slater's 50/50 is known for being the home of the "50/50 patty," a burger made up of equal parts ground beef and ground bacon. There's also a strange yet appealing peanut butter and jelly burger, and chocolate bacon brownie à la mode for dessert.
9. All Star Sandwich Bar
1245 Cambridge St.
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-868-3065
All Star Sandwich Bar in Cambridge goes beyond burgers and BLTs with untraditional options like a grilled falafel burger with tahini sauce.
10. Big Star
1531 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773-235-4039
At this mock dive bar-meets-taqueria, renowned Chicago chef Paul Kahan serves both stylized and pretty authentic takes on Mexican faves.
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