Now go on — ball out on a budget. Shout it in the comments. Making noodles and broth for ramen can be a time-consuming process, resulting in a hefty price tag.

A meal in one, the soups are loaded with noodles, tender meat, fish cake, and a soft-boiled egg. A post shared by Tamashi Ramen Sushi tamashiramensushi. Characterized by its boat-shaped, nautical-themed exterior, this local seafood chain has been an institution for Houstonians seeking casual seafood fare.

Order any of its family dinners, including its jumbo fried shrimp or fried gulf oysters, or go a lighter route and grab the broiled platter with shrimp kabobs and your choice of fish. The sizable entrees come with a good helping of fries or rice, plus a selection of sauces. A post shared by Capt.

Benny's captbennys. Choose from beef, chicken, barbacoa, tinga, or a meatless option like soy pastor. A post shared by Tacos Doña Lena tacosdonalena. Dining on authentic Indian street foods, curries, and more is made convenient and affordable at this counter-service restaurant with multiple locations around town.

A post shared by Tarka Indian Kitchen tarkaindiankitchen. Treebeards has been churning out Southern comfort plates for more than four decades, and despite its expansion with multiple locations across the city, the menu remains affordable.

A post shared by Treebeards Restaurant treebeardsrestaurant. Though only open for about a year, this New York bodega-themed burger shop has already made its name for itself in the vast Houston burger scene. A post shared by Burger Bodega burgerbodegahtx.

A post shared by Cuban and Mexican Cuisine elreytaqueria. Go the a la carte route and build your meal, starting with appetizers like falafel or hummus before moving on to a sampler plate of gyro, shawarma, grape leaves, tabbouleh, pitas, and sauces. Each pack comes with a pound of each of the meats, six pitas, plus large orders of hummus, salad, rice, tzatziki, and garlic sauces.

Be sure to tack on a side of baklava or its dessert pita — its version of a dessert pizza made with fried pita chips tossed in Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust and topped with chocolate syrup. A post shared by AL Quick Stop alquickstop. Sweet tooth? A post shared by Lankford Grocery lankfordgrocery.

A local favorite since , this old-school burger shack has remained a breakfast and lunch favorite for Houstonians looking for a hearty bite, especially when on a budget. The burgers and breakfast sandwiches are no slouch, either — with its Champ burger loaded with bacon and cheese, and its classic sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich.

The black bean or falafel burger rivals some of the meat-based options. For fragrant bowls of pho noodle soup, rice plates, and spring rolls head to this unassuming Vietnamese restaurant. Nothing on the menu exceeds twelve dollars, meaning that you could order a bowl of beef, chicken, and seafood pho alongside an appetizer of the cha gio—Vietnamese egg rolls alongside a few Vietnamese iced coffees for under fifty dollars.

A post shared by Pho Saigon phosaigonhtx. A post shared by Houston Foodie becauseigothungry. Houston is not short of great red sauce joints, and this casual Italian cafe in Montrose is another case in point.

A post shared by Tacos tierra caliente tacostierracalientetx. Since launching in , this fast-casual burger bar has garnered a loyal following, and for good reason.

Its burgers are built with 2- or 5-ounce 44 Farms beef patties and can be customized from bun to bun to your liking. A post shared by burger-chan burgerchanhtx. Sushi night can be pricey, but at Oishii, diners can indulge in all of the house staples paired with beer, wine, or sake without breaking the bank.

The debate of which West African country makes the best jollof rice will forever linger, and this Nigerian hotspot may help make up your mind.

An herbaceous traditional bowl of okra soup is the perfect place to start before diving into one of its signature plates, like the jollof rice or yam porridge, which are complimented with two pieces of meat or one portion of fish, with the option to add on chicken, oxtails, mackerel, beef, goat, or vegetarian options.

Located inside a Galleria-area convenience store, this no-frills counter is the definition of a hidden gem. Known for its mouthwatering Greek eats served fast and at a seriously reasonable price, its Gyro sandwiches are packed full of meat.

A post shared by Nora Houston Cheap Eatz htxcheapeatz. In it for takeout? Offering an affordable assortment of chaat, dosas, and entrees, Shri Balaji gives the option to sample.

Feeling extra hungry? The mark-up is about percent and a profitable item for a restaurant, regardless of refills. And, we're not even discussing the skinny, soy-milk, and whipped cream specialty coffees. Orange juice isn't much different. Imagine a 64 ounce 1.

You don't have to be a math genius to know this is a triple digit markup. On to the food: The majority of breakfast items like pancakes and egg dishes are highly profitable and cheap to make.

Syrup, especially if it's a fancy specialty, may be the costliest part of your meal. Omelets are no different. Bacon, ham, turkey, peppers, tomatoes -- regardless of the type or style are still very inexpensive ingredients and unless specified, fairly generic and purchased in bulk.

In other words, don't expect gourmet mushrooms or organic tomatoes in that omelet. With appetizers and side dishes, restaurant-goers have a hard time determining a good value. Subsequently, these items are more profitable for the establishment.

The entrée is your main focus and that's what sets the standard. Jody Pennette, the founder of CB5 Restaurant Group, told Forbes in October that the prices on appetizers and side dishes had increased disproportionately to the raw food costs of these items.

This gives restaurants a nice cash cow. Another trick of the trade -- use mysterious ingredients that your average person doesn't eat or use. If you don't cook with lavender, use truffles or Beluga caviar in your recipes, you won't know what they should cost.

The presence of that exotic element in your appetizer or side dish justifies the higher price, regardless of the quantity or quality used in the recipe. So, skip the appetizer or extra side dish, and not only for cost reasons.

Ordering them leaves you less likely to finish your entrée. That's leaving money on the table. Another thing leaving money on the table? Most people enjoy pasta , and what's not to love? It's filling, it's tasty, it works with seafood, meat or primavera and it's one of the more affordable items on the restaurant menu.

But appearances can be deceiving. Earlier we mentioned that food costs average between 30 and 42 percent of menu prices, average being the operative word. Pasta, for example, brings that number down which is why restaurant owners love you to choose the penne over the beef.

Pasta costs around 18 percent of menu price, so restaurants can make a killing. Even served with shrimp, veal or fancy mushrooms, there is still a nice profit margin factored into most pasta dishes.

So, if pasta is a restaurant rip-off, what should you order? According to Clark Wolfe, a restaurant consultant from New York in a Forbes article, "Choose labor-intensive, time-consuming complex dishes that call for hard-to-find ingredients.

Wolfe added, "If you can whip it up yourself in 20 minutes with stuff from your kitchen cupboard -- do that. In other words, go hard or go home.

And we think that especially applies to the next item on our list. If you're familiar with comic strips, you know Popeye, the spinach-eating sailorman. One of Popeye's friends, Wimpy, was a bit of a mooch with an insatiable appetite for hamburgers.

Today's restaurant patrons are no different. However, the new gourmet burgers are enough to make anyone, including Wimpy, reconsider his options. But, today's restaurants have found ways to spice up the standard hamburger, and in doing so, command a higher price tag.

Chefs add unique burger toppings like foie gras, special mushrooms or truffles; stuff patties with lobster or gruyere cheese or make them with Kobe beef, ostrich, or salmon. Spices and spreads like pesto, curry or wasabi are other ways to jazz up this standard fare.

In the minds of customers, this also elevates the burger from the sandwich category into fine dining. But, with these sophisticated ingredients, you get a very small portion relative to the price. How many truffles fit on a burger? How much wasabi do you need on the bun?

Do a few lobster pieces justify the cost? To avoid this budget buster, stick to your good, old-fashioned burger. You may not feel as classy, but you'll get a better bang for your buck and still love the taste. People would expect New York City to have some of the more expensive restaurants in the world, and it doesn't disappoint.

In April , Masa, a Japanese and sushi restaurant in Manhattan's Columbus Circle, was ranked as the most expensive NYC restaurant. So after all that, would the best deal be some good old-fashioned Chinese food from the local takeout place?

Yes and no. International is another area where prices can be deceiving. Looking at Japanese fare, most would say sushi is worth the price. It has low food costs but high labor.

After all, it takes talent and time to make the rolls; most people can't do this at home. So, when you get your 4 to 6 ounces to grams of soybeans, remember that it cost the restaurant about 50 cents in food and labor.

If you love Chinese food, chicken-fried rice is probably on that list. Assume any restaurant is buying eggs, rice and oil in bulk. Add tiny bits of chicken, the cheaper veggies of the day, toss it all around and you've got your entrée.

The better deal is the beef and broccoli stir-fry. It's more expensive but it's healthier and a better deal for your wallet. Or go Mexican and consider guacamole. They mash it up, add some spice and it's done. Remember, if you can do it quickly and easily at home, it's probably not worth the restaurant's price.

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Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Budget Meals. By: Kim Williamson. Share Content on Facebook Share Content on LinkedIn Share Content on Flipboard Share Content on Reddit Share Content via Email. Contents Soft Drinks Salads Wine Seafood Specials Breakfast Foods Side Dishes and Appetizers Pasta Gourmet Hamburgers International Dishes.

Getting Your Just Desserts. That's part of restaurant strategy. A Big Bite in the Big Apple. Lots More Information Related Articles 10 Reasons You Should Host a Potluck 5 Easy Cheap Dinners for Families 5 Frugal Gourmet Recipes. Sources Arumugam, Nadia. October 19, November 1, html Bockelman, Christine.

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Not a fast food restaurant, but IKEA has really affordable meals with big servings. Man, cheap fast food ain't that cheap anymore, but way jav-way.site › Manage Money › Save Money McDonald's has truly cemented the art of offering food for cheap. Yes, many burgers and breakfast items are available for around $5, but the Premium McWrap is

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Cheap restaurant meals - 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus. By: Kim Williamson. couple 5 Easy Cheap Dinners for Families; 5 Frugal Gourmet Recipes. Sources. Arumugam Not a fast food restaurant, but IKEA has really affordable meals with big servings. Man, cheap fast food ain't that cheap anymore, but way jav-way.site › Manage Money › Save Money McDonald's has truly cemented the art of offering food for cheap. Yes, many burgers and breakfast items are available for around $5, but the Premium McWrap is

Make crowd-pleasing fajitas the easy way with this one-tray recipe that's full of nutrients and low in fat and calories. It makes a speedy midweek meal. Search, save and sort your favourite recipes and view them offline. Join the BBC Good Food Wine Club.

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Budget dinner recipes. Showing items 1 to 24 of Stir-fried beef with ginger. These veggie enchiladas feature a charred tomatillo salsa verde, Cotija cheese, and, yes, creamy pinto beans. That same filling would work well in burritos, too. If there happen to be leftovers, that meat and mozzarella and marinara make for a great sandwich the next day.

Store-bought puff pastry and a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken are two very helpful shortcuts when it comes to this one-pot meal. We also developed a soup version of chicken pot pie , just for fun. Giving chunky zucchini pieces a hard sear develops lots of texture and color while minimizing sogginess.

The dilly sour cream provides a garlicky counterpart. When you need a weeknight-friendly recipe that doubles as a cheap dinner idea, stir-fry is the answer.

Is there ever a bad time for a quesadilla? This one is easy, cheesy, and a smart way to finish up that jar of kimchi hanging out in the fridge. Although we and most of our readers love the mixture of nutritional yeast , garlic powder, and onion powder on these vegan nuggets, one commenter was less impressed.

If you too crave something bolder, try the method with taco seasoning instead. The humble onion is given center stage in this cheap meal. Seared, then gently roasted with paprika and tomato paste, these onions prove they have star quality.

Transform a can of pumpkin purée into a near-instant pasta sauce—no slow cookers here— that delivers major fall feels.

Bonus: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. With a generous layer of caramelized onions and plenty of sharp Gruyère cheese, this tart packs the depth of French onion soup into every bite. The tofu in this cheap recipe absorbs all of the flavors in the sauce—and there are a lot of them: shallots, ginger, garlic, cumin, red chile, turmeric, coconut cream , and peanut butter.

It all becomes a sauce you have to make and see to believe. Crunchy fried onions transform a simple cabbage salad into a sensorial delight: hot and cold, crisp and soft, sweet and spicy. Make sure to assemble it just before eating in order to capture those different textures.

When the coffers are dry and so is the bread on the counter, this is the one. This cheap meal requires just a few other ingredients, most of which are already in your kitchen. A garlicky mixture of ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup cooks down until almost sticky in this riff on a Chinese-American classic sesame chicken.

An untraditional but logical addition to the sauce: tahini. You might be surprised by just how flavorful a combination of chicken stock, celery, and chickpeas can be. Garlic, red chiles, lemon, and fresh cilantro contribute to making it so—while still keeping it feeling clean. If you can swing it, add a big pinch of asafetida for an extra savory note.

Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them. These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze.

It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness.

The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper.

Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor. This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season.

In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.

This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs. Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them.

A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles. In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright. Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor.

A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers. One head of cabbage goes a long way.

This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four.

The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze. We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion. Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner.

And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method. This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes.

Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling. Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you. Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils.

And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan. The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry.

Cheap restaurant meals - 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus. By: Kim Williamson. couple 5 Easy Cheap Dinners for Families; 5 Frugal Gourmet Recipes. Sources. Arumugam Not a fast food restaurant, but IKEA has really affordable meals with big servings. Man, cheap fast food ain't that cheap anymore, but way jav-way.site › Manage Money › Save Money McDonald's has truly cemented the art of offering food for cheap. Yes, many burgers and breakfast items are available for around $5, but the Premium McWrap is

You've got a powerhouse meal for four or for two, with leftovers ready to go. Get the recipe for Beef Enchiladas. Want to make your whole family feel taken care of? Treat them to a baked pasta dish. It's easy, it's cheap, and it's super filling. Get the recipe for Classic Stuffed Shells.

Who's in the mood for a minute dinner? Besides gnocchi and frozen spinach, all you need for this meal is some cream, some cheese, and a few pantry spices. Get the recipe for Gnocchi with Creamed Spinach. Tuna salad has been the centerpiece of a number of cheap and easy snack dinners in our household.

Add some crackers, some cheese, a little fresh fruit, and you've got a meal! Get the recipe for Tuna Salad. Broken noodles simmer in a tomato broth with sausage and spinach, capped off with a big dollop of blended cheese.

Get the recipe for Lasagna Soup. An easy way to save on dinner costs? Have breakfast for dinner. This simple but delicious mix of eggs, tortillas, and sausage is a fun way to go all out while still saving some cash.

Get the recipe for Migas with Chorizo. If you're craving a tasty pasta dish that's a little more grown-up than jarred red sauce, give this dish a whirl. We're pretty sure it'll become a regular part of your dinner plans. Get the recipe for Salmon and Creamed Spinach Fettuccini. We always seem to have the makings for tuna salad around, and elbow macaroni is not expensive.

So when we're on a budget, this tuna mac makes a dinner that's fun, filling, and fast. Get the recipe for Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad. Is there a more classic cheap dinner than mac 'n cheese? Especially because this recipe shows you how to cook the pasta and make the sauce all in the same pot, no draining required!

Get the recipe for Easy-Peasy Stovetop Mac 'n Cheesy. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy. Don't see the email?

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Author Details. Ingrid Cruz Ingrid Cruz is a freelance writer who covers mental health, personal finance, and pop culture. Her work has been published in The Lily, Business Insider, and CivilEats. The golden arches logo of the largest chain in the country is just as iconic as its Big Mac and Happy Meals.

Though fans of Taco Bell are upset about recent menu reductions, you can still grab some cheap meal deals , even late at night. The home of the Whopper always has meal deals available, and they change often; navigate to the " Offers " section of the BK app to see what's good. For more great restaurant guides and deals, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Square burger patties? You bet. But Wendy's is better known for its spicy chicken sandwiches and nuggets now, not to mention a cult following for chili and Frostys.

Though the 11 herbs and spices in the seasoning are still a mystery , it's no secret that KFC is one of the go-to fast-food restaurants for fried chicken. Related: Fast-Food Deals to Feed the Whole Family.

Related: Best Cheap Pizza: Deals and Price Comparison. The things that make Papa Johns' pizza so good are the extras you get in the box: creamy garlic sauce for dipping the crust, and tangy pepperoncini peppers.

Popeyes created a phenomenon when it released its chicken sandwich, but the restaurant's classic fried chicken pieces are still the star of the show see how we like to pair them with Popeyes sauces. Related: From Cajun Fries to Buttermilk Biscuits: 6 Popeyes Side Dishes, Ranked.

Detroit's Little Caesars is well known nationwide for selling inexpensive pizza that's always hot and ready to be picked up. Panera has made a name for itself with fresh breads and bakery items, sandwiches, coffee shop beverages, and great soups. Related: Secret Menu Items at Your Favorite Family Restaurants.

Probably America's favorite Italian chain , Olive Garden has been dishing up pastas, salads, and those famous breadsticks for decades. Tex-Mex is king at this casual sit-down chain with a chili pepper in its logo.

Chips and salsa, queso dip, and barbecue ribs are favorite menu items. Dairy Queen isn't just for soft serve and Blizzards, especially in rural areas where there's a DQ in practically every town. Found mostly in the western United States, Del Taco is another reliable bet for cheap, fast Mexican eats.

Almost everyone has celebrated a special event at Red Lobster, a seafood chain that's as good for families as it is for date night. Which one of these two names you'll see on the sign depends on which part of the country you're in, but whether it's known as Hardee's or Carl's Jr.

BJ's gets its Brewhouse moniker from the microbreweries at some locations, but every location of this casual sit-down chain has a menu of pizza and homestyle favorites. Found mainly in the Southwest, El Pollo Loco is the place to indulge in Mexican favorites based around savory grilled chicken, including grilled chicken breasts.

Dating all the way back to , Bob Evans serves up hearty comfort food in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic in a country living-themed atmosphere. Cooking up sliders since , White Castle is often credited as the first fast-food burger chain.