Save some money the next time you go out to eat in Austin by picking from any of the restaurants on this list. Austin is littered with plenty of restaurants where you can save money without having to eat sub par food.
Dirty Martin’s Place
4.6 ★
Located on Guadalupe St, Dirty Martin’s Place is where you go when you want to get the best bang for your buck. Don’t let the name fool you, every inch of this establishment is generally spotless and the portion sizes with every meal make your already cheap bill feel like more of a steal. Small burgers cost practically nothing, generally ranging under 10$ with large burgers not crossing the threshold by much. Even when you manage to spend a little more on an appetizer, the servings are large enough to almost guarantee the need for a to-go box. Visit Dirty Martin’s Place from 11 am – 9 pm every day of the week, they stay open most days and are happy to feed you for a fraction of what nearby restaurants like to charge. For almost 100 years, Dirty Martin’s Place has been a staple of Austin’s food scene so visit now and become a part of living history when you eat cheap at this local treat of a restaurant.
El Primo
4.7 ★
Family owned and operated since their opening almost twenty years ago, El Primo waits for you on 1st St from 8 am – 3 pm every day except Sunday. These breakfast tacos are the talk of the town and are cheap enough that you can try one of each with the right appetite.Look for this food truck when you need more flavor than you bargained for and know that El Primo will take care of what you need. If you are in the mood to build something bigger, El Primo can also be found in the Dobie food court on Guadalupe St Monday through Friday from 11 am – 8 pm. Whether you want to eat outside with the truck, or create something brand new at the food court location, El Primo is affordable and full of friendly faces with a meal’s worth of food for a fraction of the expected price. Around here, we can’t resist a good food truck and Austin is full of them. El Primo is just the start, but one of the best starts you can find.
Koriente
4.6 ★
In general, trying to stick to a budget while eating healthy can be quite the struggle. Health conscious eating even when you’re not on a strict set of finances can prove tough on the days when you don’t feel up to preparing a meal. Koriente on 7th St is a restaurant that was established with the struggle in mind, and that is why they don’t include any MSG in their plates. Vegan and gluten free options just add to how much consideration was put into the menu at Koriente, with every meat dish able to be substituted for tofu. Even better than the menu, Koriente has a free parking lot and that alone is worth some heavy weight. Though their only available seating is outside on the patio, they manage to keep the area relatively cool with a series of fans. Try out Koriente from 11 am – 9:30 pm next time you want some tasty Asian food that is prepared with a healthy body in mind.
Taco Xpress
4.5 ★
Keeping Austin weird is part of the Taco Xpress mission statement, along with providing tacos, burritos, and enchiladas for less than 20$ per person. From 8 am – 2 pm every day (8 pm close on Thursday/Friday) the menu waits for you with tons of choices, even a breakfast section that could convince even the heaviest of sleepers to wake up early for a meal. Vegetarians can also take comfort in knowing that a special sector of the menu is dedicated to meatless meals. Keep an eye out for this hip little eatery on Barton Springs next time you want some tacos and you want them fast. Taco Xpress will serve you quickly and with the most friendly of smiles.
Sandy’s Hamburgers
4.5 ★
Since 1946, Sandy’s Hamburgers has been sitting on Barton Springs Rd serving up tasty treats without all the extra frills. Straight to the point with burgers, fries, chicken tenders and all the ice cream you could want, Sandy’s Hamburgers has more than just burgers but not too much that the menu will lose you. Try a blt, some chili fries or a chicken sandwich but make sure to leave at least a little room for dessert. Pick out a malt shake or float with your favorite classic flavors and step back in time to an era where life seemed easier. Any day that you’ve got the urge to not splurge on some hamburgers, fries, and good times, Sandy’s Hamburgers is open from 10 am – 10:30 pm. Even when you order double the meat, the meals are still cheap and filling at Sandy’s Hamburgers. Drive through or dine in knowing that your experience with Sandy’s Hamburgers will be stellar from beginning to end.
Taco Joint
4.7 ★
You are never going to run out of taco options in Austin and Taco Joint is another way to satisfy Mexican food cravings without spending a ton of money. Two locations in Austin on San Jacinto Blvd and Riverside Drive serve breakfast and lunch deals nearly every day of the week. San Jacinto is closed on Sundays while Riverside is closed on Mondays but no matter what, at least one of the two establishments is open and slinging cheap but tasty food the entire time. Even if all you have is 5$ to spare, Taco Joint will take good care of your taste buds with choices like chorizo & egg or potato, egg & cheese. Load up with as many as your wallet (and stomach) will let you take on at either of Taco Joint’s Austin locations and let this little spot become one that you decide to visit more often.
Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant
4.7 ★
Mentioned before at The Austin Insider, Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant is a little place that is growing in popularity quickly. If you have not had a chance to try a meal at Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant and have a larger appetite than their regular menu can handle on a budget, their lunch buffet is always a great option. Since 1991, this family owned business has graced Austin with Ethiopian food that doesn’t have to be ridiculously overpriced to remain authentic. Look for the blue brick building located on N Interstate Hwy 35 from 11 am – 2 pm to get the most out of your dollar spent at Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant. They close around 9 pm during the week and offer a full menu until closing time. College kids can’t say enough great things about Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant given its close proximity to the University of Texas campus.
Gyro Delicious
4.8 ★
In today’s era of Yelp reviews and constant influencer videos telling us about where we should eat and drink at all times, a low key hidden restaurant that doesn’t even keep a website is a real treasure. Gyro Delicious is one of those rare places that people usually hear about by word of mouth and then end up dragging all of their friends out to try. Gyro Delicious is a food truck that is easily spotted by anyone walking down Whitis Ave, and they are known for being thrilled to see any and everyone who comes up. Order some well priced Mediterranean food from this little truck and see what makes these gyro’s so notorious. People can’t quit talking about the plates they receive from Gyro Delicious and there’s always a grinning face waiting to take your order. During the week, Gyro Delicious opens at 10:30 am and at 12 pm on the weekends. They remain open every evening until 11 pm so next time you need to fill up on something other than fries, Gyro Delicious will take care of everything.
Biscuits + Groovy
4.6 ★
At The Austin Insider, we can never resist a good pun and Biscuits + Groovy knows exactly how to catch our attention. Two locations in Austin offer options like the Bee Gee or The Aretha, all affordable and tasty. Any menu item can be changed up to include Vegetarian options in place of meats. Biscuits + Groovy is already an adorable place to sit down for some breakfast without spending an obscene amount on your eggs. To really take advantage of savings, bring your own champagne to mix in with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. They do not take cash so prepare ahead as Biscuits + Groovy accepts most major cards or tap pay. Look for the Barton Springs location right across from Peter Pan Mini Golf or the Duval St location right by the market. Both restaurants are open daily from 9 am – 2 pm every day of the week and are ready to seat your group with a smile.
Texas Chili Parlor
4.4 ★
Known for a menu that seems to feature a little bit of everything, Texas Chili Parlor also knows how to keep their meals on the affordable side. Even the pork chop dinner is less than 15$ where other restaurants usually try to charge at least twenty for that plate. Since this establishment’s initial opening in 1976, this low key restaurant almost seems to hide from the public despite being such a popular location for everything from date night to family dinner. Tex-Mex traditions line the whole menu, giving your flavor pallet enough reasons to get excited from reading just the first page. Look for the red Texas Chili Parlor sign on Lavaca St any day that you’re craving a lot of food on a smaller budget. They remain open from 11 am – 10 pm every night so the Texas Chili Parlor staff is happy to have you for a meal every day of the week if you want. With these prices being so reasonable, seven meals a week could still manage to be considered an affordable option.
K-Bop
4.4 ★
Inexpensive, straightforward, and served with a respectable air of authenticity, plates ordered from the K-Bop menu are always made with an efficiency that is known throughout the area. Next time you’re craving Korean food just look for the yellow building located on Guadalupe St. Even the bubble tea at K-Bop does not seem to be affected by rising prices that seem to surprise us so often. Get your order quick and efficiently at K-Bop from sushi to fried rice and upscale ramen. From 11 am – 9 pm every day, K-Bop is the kind of place that you can stop at for lunch knowing that your whole break won’t be wasted with waiting. Even orders that get messed up (which is rare) are handled with a fast elegance that you just can’t beat. If you need top quality service and food without going broke, K-Bop has got you covered completely.
CONCLUSION
Now that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on your meal in Austin, that means you can go try out every option on the list without having to worry. Here at The Austin Insider, we are always in the art of answering any questions you might have about visiting with us. Don’t skip out on the best insider info, head over to our “Articles” tab and learn everything you need to know about this area. Food, drinks, activities, we have got it all covered and are constantly adding to our list of resources.