23 Best Cheap Eats Near You!

Let’s face it, we’re all trying to save money. But we still want to enjoy things in life like eating out. That’s why so many people wonder, “Are there any cheap restaurants near me?”

And, in today’s post, we’ll answer that question.

I’ll cover 20 cheap restaurants near you where you can eat without breaking the bank.

Cheap Places to Eat Near Me

You’ll find all sorts of cheap foods on our list, like pizza, tacos, burgers, and pasta.

Whether you’re a budget-savvy foodie or simply looking for a tasty bite without the hefty price tag, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to explore a culinary adventure that’s satisfying for your taste buds and friendly to your wallet.

1. Taco Bell

I’m a huge Taco Bell fan. Mexican is my favorite cuisine after all. You can get tacos there for less than $5. And there’s a value menu where you can get items like burritos and soft tacos for $1 to $3.

2. McDonald’s

If you want a burger for cheap, then head on over to your local McDonald’s. Items on the menu are cheap anyway with meals costing around $2 to $15.

Burgers by themselves are pretty cheap too. And, there’s even a Dollar Menu, where you can find items for $1, $2, or $3.

Not only is McDonald’s cheap, but many of its locations are open 24 hours, so you can get food when you need it. The one near me is actually open 24 hours.

3. Wendy’s

At Wendy’s, you can get burgers for as cheap as $1.49! Burgers on the menu are less than $10. And, you can get Wendy’s combos for around just $10 also. Wendy’s also has meal deals.

4. Chili’s

Chili’s has a 3 for me value meal that starts at just $10.99. You can eat in or order online for curbside pickup and delivery.

5. Applebee’s

Applebee’s has a great selection of foods from burgers to pastas to seafood. It’s also reasonably priced, particularly its 2 for $25 meal deal. This is a meal deal for two where you can choose two entrées and an appetizer or two side salads to share.

6. Chick-fil-A

Chicken lovers who are on a budget should visit their local Chick-fil-A. The restaurant offers chicken sandwiches for as little as around $5, and other menu items for around just $2. You can get meals from Chick-fil-A for less than $10.

7. White Castle

White Castle offers sliders for less than $5, making it one of the best places to eat if you’re on a budget. Many menu items cost just $1 or $2, and you can get combos for less than 10 bucks.

8. Subway

Subway is so cheap. Eat there and you’ll keep more cash in your wallet! You’ll find a great selection of cheap subs and other items on the menu. You can get subs for just $6.99.

9. Arby’s

Fill your belly without putting a big dent in your wallet at Arby’s. Get slow-roasted roast beef, turkey, and premium Angus beef sandwiches for cheap at the restaurant.

Arby’s has reasonable prices on pretty much every item, with sandwiches costing less than $8, and many menu items costing less than $5.

10. Del Taco

Enjoy American-style Mexican cuisine at a low cost at Del Taco. With burritos and tacos available for less than $3, it really is one of the most affordable places to eat.

Meals are less than 15 bucks too. And there’s a 20 under $2 menu that includes value items.

11. Little Caesars

Little Caesars is cheap to start with. Add in the discount codes that the restaurant regularly has available and it’s even cheaper.

You can get pizzas from the restaurant that cost only around six or seven dollars. There’s a “Today’s Deals” section on the site where you can find some great savings.

12. In-N-Out Burger

If you live in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, or Oregon, and love a good burger, then try In-N-Out Burger. Get burgers there for less than $5 and combos for under ten bucks.

13. Burger King

For frugal diners, Burger King is a good choice. Diners can enjoy burgers, fries, and other items at low prices. You can get burgers there for just 5 or 6 bucks. Offers are available too that can save you some cash.

14. Cook Out

If you live in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, or Mississippi, then try Cook Out.

It’s great for cheap eats. There

, you can find burgers, BBQ, hot dogs, and shakes all at reasonable prices. You can find items on the menu for under $5.

15. Culver’s

Culver’s is a restaurant known for ButterBurgers, fresh frozen custard, and Wisconsin cheese curds. Many items on the menu are in the $3 to $10 range, making Culver’s a good option if you’re looking for affordable food nearby.

16. Dunkin’ Donuts

If it’s sweet treats that you’re craving, then head on over to Dunkin’ Donuts. With many items on the menu priced at less than $2.00, you get good bang for your buck at Dunkin’ Donuts.

17. Sonic Drive-In

For super affordable eats, Sonic Drive-In is an excellent choice. Enjoy a burger from there for around 5 bucks. Combo meals are inexpensive too, costing under $10.

18. Tim Hortons

At Tim Hortons, you’ll find a bunch of super wallet-friendly foods. Many menu items cost less than $5, so you can fill your belly without straining the budget.

Tim Horton’s has locations in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

19. Golden Corral

Anyone who loves a good buffet at a reasonable price should visit Golden Corral. It’s great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! You can get meals there for less than 15 bucks. And, with more than 150 choices, there’s something for everyone at Golden Corral. You can get everything from eggs to steak to fish to pot roast to pizza there.

20. IHOP

Get pancakes, waffles, omelets, burgers, and more for a low cost at your nearby IHOP. This is another restaurant where the food is already reasonably priced, with many foods costing 15 bucks or less, and they also offer money-saving deals.

21. Red Robin

Red Robin has an awesome selection of burgers, salads, shakes, and more that will satisfy your hunger cravings while keeping your budget intact. Food there is reasonably priced, with many foods costing under $15.

What makes Red Robin particularly appealing to the budget-conscious diner is the restaurant’s bottomless deals. You can get unlimited refills on all of Red Robin’s bottomless items.

Some of the bottomless items on offer include steak fries, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, macaroni and cheese, garlic parmesan broccoli, steamed broccoli, coleslaw, and root beer floats.

22. Panera Bread

Anyone looking to get a bite to eat without spending too much money should visit their local Panera Bread. There, you’ll find items on the menu that cost under $10. You can get affordable breakfast sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries, and coffee drinks at the bakery-café.

23. Chipotle

Chipotle is a good place to get affordable Mexican food. You can get food there for under 10 bucks.

Tips for Eating Cheap at Restaurants Near You

Sure, there are plenty of cheap restaurants out there. We’ve listed them above!

But, did you know that there are actually ways to make these restaurants even cheaper, or make any restaurant more affordable for that matter?

Well, there are. Using the tips below, you can save yourself even more money at cheap food joints nearby, and any restaurant really!

This means you can keep even more cash in your wallet while still enjoying your favorite foods and drinks.

24. Check Your Receipt

Don’t throw out your receipt next time you visit a fast-food joint. Many places will give customers discount codes and other money-saving deals on the receipt.

Although each receipt is different, most of the time, all you need to do is complete a quick survey, and you’ll get a deal like free food, discounts, or a BOGO offer from the restaurant as a reward.

25. Play Games and Do Other Fun Tasks to Earn Free Food

One of the easiest ways that you can get cheap food near you is to use reward websites.

If you don’t already know, reward websites, which are also called get paid to or (GPT) sites, pay you for doing super simple tasks right from your phone or computer.

This can include something as simple as playing a game, watching a video, trying out a new app, or even just browsing the internet.

These sites will reward you for doing these tasks with things like PayPal cash or gift cards to restaurants.

You can use reward sites to scoop up some gift cards to fast food places and restaurants like McDonald’s, Chili’s, IHOP, Burger King, Applebee’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Panera Bread, and Olive Garden.

Some good reward sites that give you free restaurant gift cards include:

• Swagbucks
• PrizeRebel
• MyPoints
• InstaGC
• Idle Empire

You can use your gift card to get food for free or at a discount at your favorite restaurants.

26. Share Your Opinion and Save on Food

Trade your opinion for some free food with paid survey sites. Survey websites will pay you to share your opinion.

Many pay you with cash right to your PayPal account, and others pay you with free gift cards.

Many survey sites offer restaurant gift cards, including Applebee’s, Chipotle, Red Robin, Dunkin’ Donuts and Burger King gift cards.

Here are some survey sites that you can use to earn free gift cards for restaurants:

• Branded Surveys
• Offernation
• TimeBucks

27. Join the Rewards/Loyalty Program

Many restaurants have reward programs that can give you some great savings. These typically offer you points on your purchases, which you can redeem for rewards such as discounts and free stuff.

Some examples of restaurants that have reward programs include:

• Taco Bell
• McDonald’s
• Chipotle
• Burger King
• IHOP

Check to see whether your favorite restaurant has a reward program. It’s definitely worth joining, as reward programs give you such an easy way to get free food and save money eating out.

28. Join the Email List

Some restaurants have an email list that you can subscribe to, which sends you deals and offers that can save you some money. So, check to see if your favorite restaurant has an email list that you can sign up for.

29. Get a Birthday Bonus

Many restaurants give you free food on your birthday. Applebee’s and Chili’s, for example, will give you a free dessert on your birthday. It’s definitely worth checking to see if your favorite restaurants offer a birthday reward, such as a discount or a freebie.

30. Use Coupons

Save yourself some cash next time you eat out or order food by using coupons. Coupons can get you a discount or even free items. You could save on sides, entrées, appetizers, and more.

Here are some websites that offer restaurant coupons:

• Groupon
• BeFrugal
• RetailMeNot

31. Explore Local Diners

Hungry for more budget-friendly dining options?

Keep exploring your local culinary scene to uncover even more delicious deals and hidden gems. From cozy cafes to hole-in-the-wall eateries, there’s always something new to discover.

And usually, it seems the worse a place looks, the better their food is, lol. I know a diner/bar in my local area that when you walk in you think the ceiling is about to cave in, but they serve the best burger I have ever eaten.

And the price, for a half-pound burger?

Just $3!

Remember, great food doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

So yeah, try to find those “hole-in-the-wall” eateries around you. They have some of the cheapest and most delicious food around!

Dine on a Dime!

In 1967, the average cost of a burger was just $0.22, versus now when you’d be lucky to find a burger that costs less than $5!

Unfortunately, our dollar doesn’t seem to stretch too far these days – even at fast food restaurants.

Still though, there are lots of affordable options if you’re searching for “cheap foods near me,” as you can see from our list of cheap restaurants.

With the places on our list, you can enjoy a delicious lunch, dinner, or breakfast without breaking the bank, whether you’re eating at a restaurant or ordering takeout.