The Best Cheap Eats in Dallas

Wildwood - Smoke - Craft - Whiskey, located in the Southlake neighborhood of Dallas, is a dining destination with some of the best cheap eats Dallas has to offer! It’s a perfect spot for a business lunch, date night or weekend brunch, and everything on the menu is downright affordable! The interior features over-sized booths, private dining rooms, a spacious bar and an outdoor patio. Try one of the hand-cut steaks fresh off the grill! They have a great wine list and an extensive selection of craft beers as well.

For great food that won’t attack your wallet, check out the Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Corridor. It’s a modern gastropub that serves up an eclectic variety of multicultural cuisines with an emphasis on scratch recipes! The goal is to evolve the gastropub business by combining traditions from both European and American pubs to create a place where friends and family can dine and sip on handcrafted food, beers and cocktails together.

NM Cafe at Neiman Marcus is the definition of laid-back luxe. The cafe, located on Level Three of the NorthPark Center in Neiman Marcus, features a chic and modern atmosphere without the upscale prices! It’s a great spot to stop into after shopping ‘til you drop at the department store. They serve affordable sandwiches, seasonally-inspired entrees, and small dishes like soups, for a low cost.

Sundown at Granada, located in Upper Greenville, is a casual farm-to-table restaurant that brings extra charm to the neighborhood. Next door to the Granada Theater, it boasts an expansive patio overlooking Greenville Avenue and the restaurant's own organic garden. They feature fresh, seasonal dishes with locally-sourced produce and free-range meats. Prices are totally reasonable and you can even enjoy nourishing Vegetarian, Vegan and gluten-free fare without hiking up the cost.

TacoLingo is the place to go for cheap tacos that won’t break the bank. Located right in the heart of Downtown Dallas, it’s a popular spot for folks who are exploring all that Dallas has to see. The interior features a swanky combo of raw and refined industrial and natural materials, warm lighting and a lively, comfortable atmosphere where you can kick back with friends and have fun. Customers fill up the space throughout the day to take advantage of specials like the Cheeseburger Taco and the Crispy Buffalo Taco.

Located on Virginia Street in the heart of downtown McKinney, Layered is a casual Breakfast, American and Israeli restaurant that serves some of the best cheap eats Dallas has to offer. It’s a place to find great coffee, baked goods and delicious small plates like the Charcuterie Board, Falafel Plate and the Slider Trio. It’s easy to dine here on the cheap so make sure to fill up! If you come during happy hour there are ½ price bottles of wine, too.

House of Blues Restaurant and Bar is one of the best places for cheap eats in Dallas, especially if you’re looking for comfort food. They feature made-from-scratch, Southern-inspired cooking and classic dishes like New Orleans jambalaya and gumbo. It’s surprising that the prices are so cheap here because the food is some of the best in town! Go all out and try the Voodoo Shrimp or the Carolina Mess and double down with a specialty cocktail from the bar.

Sushi Zushi, located on McKinney Ave in the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas, is a Japanese place that offers a totally unique, and affordable, dining experience. Come in to try authentic Japanese food that fuses Japanese traditions with modern tastes. It’s a great opportunity for sushi lovers to try new flavor pairings and for adventurers to branch out with some really fresh and funky selections. They masterful chefs here offer the freshest ingredients in all of their appetizers, soups, salads, rolls and grill plates. You can eat like a king for under $20!

V-Eats Modern Vegan at Trinity Groves is a cool, laid-back neighborhood restaurant that’s one of the top vegan places in Dallas. Executive chef Troy Gardner is passionate about vegan food and this place stands out from the rest. He brings years of kitchen experience to the menu, which is 100% plant-based using real food and no microwaves. Main courses include vegan specialties like the General Tso’s Chick-Non, Penne Arrabbiata and the Green Curry Chicki-Changa. And their small plates menu has some especially cheap eats!

Public School is one of the trendiest spots in Dallas - Fort Worth and you’ll find in hopping with people every night of the week. Located on the bustling Belt Line Road in North Dallas / Addison, it’s an American gastropub offering a wide selection of casual eats like Roasted Chicken and Quinoa Salad, Carne Asada Tacos and a sampling of burgers, including The Impossible Burger. All their food is on the cheap side but you can order a few small plates for the table to keep costs even lower. Regulars love the Deviled Eggs and Bacon Cheddar Tots!

Cafe 43, tucked into the George W. Bush Presidential Center, is a perfect place to find cheap eats in upscale digs. It’s a contemporary American restaurant that features a locally-sourced organic, seasonal and sustainable menu for both visitors to the Center and anyone who happens to be hanging around downtown in need of a cheap and tasty snack. They have a full menu of hearty soups, tasty salads, sandwiches, savory entrees and desserts to choose from.

If you want to try some of the best cheap eats in Dallas and also enjoy live music on a gorgeous outdoor patio, head to eight 11 Place on Main Street. A locally owned and unique American Kitchen, Craft Cocktail and Brew House, it makes for a lovely stopping point when you’re our and about in Historic Downtown Frisco. They have killer drinks, including wine flights, a Smoked Old Fashioned and a Deluxe Hot Chocolate. And also foodie favorites like The Board, Sugar-Bacon Seasonal Fruit and the Godfather Pizza. Everything here is super reasonably priced so dig in and enjoy!

3Eleven Kitchen and Cocktails is an American eatery located in the West End Historic District of Downtown Dallas. You’ll find plenty of cheap eats on the menu here, so feel free to splurge on a scratch cocktail with a vintage twist or a delightful glass of wine with your meal. They are open daily for lunch and dinner service and Owner Jay Khan and Chef John Moore prepare meals with the simple philosophy that every ingredient has a purpose. Try one of the shareable plates that you can pass around the table, like the Carpaccio Bites.

RA Sushi, located on Lone Star Drive in Plano, is the perfect place to grab a delicious bite of Japanese food without going over budget. They serve up fresh, creative Japanese-inspired cuisine in a casual dining room. You can choose to dine al fresco on the patio, take a table in the dining room or sit at the sushi bar to watch the chefs whip up your sushi rolls! Start out with some of their affordably priced appetizers, like vegetable spring rolls or the pineapple cheese wontons.

The Heritage Table is an elegant, but affordable restaurant located on Main Street in Frisco Texas. Located in a 1917 converted Victorian Home, this eatery is all about delivering quality, hand-made meals in a comfortable, charming atmosphere. Locals consistently cite it as one of the top places to dine in town and many of their menu options, especially starter plates like the Farmhouse plate, are super cheap. They also have a great double-patty burger and lots of housemade craft cocktails to try.

For amazing cheap eats in Plano, located in the suburbs just outside Dallas, head to Mexican Bar Co. Cocina! They offer a full scope of Mexican food, including handmade corn tortilla tacos, ceviches, guacamole, fresh salsa and plenty of their own regional specialties. Chef Patricio Sandoval whips up a delicious menu of authentic Mexican while adding his own famous touch. The best bang for your buck here is to do the MBC Tasting Platter - a shared dining experience tailored to your table’s liking.

When you’re in the mood for affordable American food with a contemporary twist, you can’t go wrong with Bazille. Located on the third floor of upscale North Park Center in North Dallas, Bazille is the perfect place to stop when you’re out shopping at the mall. They have a casually sophisticated atmosphere with bistro cuisine and a full bar with house cocktails and a great wine list. They have plenty of offerings for under $10, like the Crab Bisque, French Onion Soup and Simple Salad.

Chelsea Corner, located in the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas, is a casual dining spot known fro its great cheap eats. It’s once again in the original location on the famous corner of McKinney Avenue and Monticello and the restaurant maintains a focus on its rich heritage. It’s a great place to hang out and enjoy the quality food, watch a sports game on one of the 15 TVs or sip a cocktail out on one of the beautiful patios. To keep costs down, go for a few of the shared plates or try one of the beloved Chelsea Corner burgers.

Looking for a great eatery that serves both sushi and steak and won’t cost you an arm and a leg? You’re in luck! IVY Kitchen, located in North Dallas/Addison, is one of the city’s best “anytime” restaurants and bars in the ‘hood. They feature a whole smattering of delicious foods, including cheap starters like the Rhode Island Style Fried Calamari, Pimento Cheese Dip or the Smoke Bacon Jalapenos, all under $10. They also serve flatbreads, Sushi and Entree Salads at reasonable prices.

Pink Magnolia, located on Davis Street in the Bishop Arts District, is one of the best spots to go for cheap eats in Dallas. The restaurant takes inspiration from the magnolia flower as a symbol of southern strength and hospitality. Diners will find the nostalgic charm of southern home cooking in an elegant yet casual setting. Come in for some of the delectable southern cuisine at reasonable prices. Standout dishes include the Summer Vegetable Quesadilla and the house fried green tomatoes.