Too hot to cook and searching for a delicious meal under $10 that is something besides a sub, a Chinese takeout combo plate, or something served from a drive-up window? The Queen City has no shortage of budget friendly dishes, ranging from diner comfort food to seasonal specialties.
Derryfield: Enjoy the deck scene and a Monte Cristo ($8.50), Cubano panini ($8.99), or fresh fried haddock sandwich ($8.99) all served with fries
Ignite: Here all burgers priced under $10. Try the bison burger topped with Louisiana sauce and Gorgonzola cheese ($ 9.99) or the Alpha Omega Burger topped with grilled onions, peppers, and melted Feta and tzatziki sauce ($9.99)
Johnny Troy’s: A cozy option among the chain restaurants on S.Willow Street, this spot offers a variety of entrees under $10. Look for house made meatballs ($8.50), eggplant Parmesan ($9.99), chicken Parmesan ($9.99) or chicken piccata ($9.99), all served over pasta.
Red Arrow Diner: It seems like almost the entire menu is under $10. Ranging from breakfast anytime – two-filling omelet ($7.99), to the popular chicken fried steak ($9.99), and the daily Blue Plate Specials ($6.99-10.99) like stuffed pepper, roast pork, fish and chips and pot roast. Tip: from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, take $2 off the Blue Plate special.
900 Degrees: The menu offers more than 20 personal size pizzas all in the $8 range. A fun outdoor patio, fresh ingredients, and made to order pizzas- it is tough to beat. Also, all pizzas available gluten free.
Souvlaki Pizza: This popular East Side eatery offers Greek dishes, like a chicken kabob plate ($8.75), gyro or souvlaki plates ($8), all served with fries or rice and salad or, if you want pasta, they have a bunch of specials under $10 served with salad, like the homemade lasagna ($7.75) and eggplant parmesan ($7.75).
Annula’s Pizza & Deli: The big secret here is the baked lamb special on Thursday’s ($11.95) – get it before it sells out, but also check out the chicken kabob platter with fries ($7.95) or gyro platter with fries ($7.95)
//
Airport Diner: Lots of options under $10, including roast turkey dinner ($9.79), chopped sirloin with mashed potatoes and gravy ($8.99), house made pork pie with mashed potatoes and veggies ($8.99) and American chop suey with garlic bread ($7.99). Bonus: Kids eat free on Mondays from 4 – 7 p.m. One free meal from the kid’s menu for each adult entree purchased. Children must be age 12 or under.
The Patio @Hilton Garden Inn: Sit on the patio overlooking Fisher Cat stadium and enjoy a pepperoni or four-cheese flatbread ($10)
El Rincon: The majority of the menu at this popular family owned restaurant is under $10, including entrees.
Goldenrod Drive: While there’s lots of options under $10, you won’t want to miss the fresh belly clam roll ($8.49), strip clam roll ($7.49), or scallop roll ($8.49)
Fratellos: Enjoy a meatball sub with their homemade meatballs, house made marinara and mozzarella for ($10)
Gyro Spot: this Elm Street location offers a lamb gyro ($8.99), pork gyro ($6.50) and veggie gyro ($5.75) on white or wheat pita
Republic: Here you’ll find a selection of panini, such as tuna and egg ($7.50) and chicken and goat cheese ($8.50) for under $10. Also, look for flatbreads, like the wild mushroom ($9), the garlic broccoli, fried eggplant and herbed ricotta ($10)
Pappy’s Pizza: In addition to subs and pizza, check out fish & chips with slaw ($6.95), homemade lasagna with salad and garlic bread ($7.95), or beer battered shrimp platter with fries ($6.50)
Moe Joe’s: This Portuguese restaurant offers the classic linguica, pepper and onions on a pizza ($9) or on a burger ($8), plus the Good Morning burger, topped with a fried egg, ham, cheese on a Portuguese English muffin, with fries ($9), and Shepherd’s Pie ($10) and Liver and Onions with bacon ($10)
Portland Pie: The menu here offers more than a dozen sandwiches for under $10. Look for the Eagle Ridge ($9.99) a Montreal-seasoned steak topped with mushrooms, green peppers and onions sautéed in garlic, a layer of American cheese or the The Loaf ($9.99) meatloaf, layered with cheddar cheese, tomatoes and caramelized onions, topped with Dijon mustard.
Murphy’s Taproom: Offers a huge menu and most of it is under $10. In addition to pizza, entrée salads and sandwiches, you’ll find hearty dishes like chicken pot pie ($8), Guinness beef stew ($9), shepherd’s pie ($9) bangers and mash ($9) and fish and chips ($9.50)
Murphy’s Diner: The Taproom’s retro cousin offers a wide selection of option sunder $10. Look for Taproom favorites, plus meatloaf dinner ($8), turkey dinner ($9), buffalo chicken pizza ($10), and a selection of burgers ($8-$10)
Billy’s Sports Bar: Besides an extensive menu of sandwiches and appetizers, look for a chicken tender plate ($9.25), a grilled chicken breast ($9.75) both served with choice of potato and veggie or the Billy Burger Sliders ($9.25)
The Farm Bar and Grille: Offers a nice selection of ½ lb. burgers and sandwiches with fries or slaw for under $10 ($5 burger specials on Sunday). Look for the West Coast burger with guacamole and bacon ($10), a smoked, pulled pork sandwich ($10) and the Caesar wrap with chicken or shrimp ($9)
Café Momo: This popular Nepalese eatery offers entrees such as Choila, a jerked chicken ($10) Momo, which are Nepali dumplings ($10), chicken chili or tarkari ($10) and mushroom curry ($10) 
Mr. Mac’s: Offers a classic mac & cheese ($6.99), or more than a dozen variations, including taco mac ($8.99), chicken bacon ranch mac ($8.99) and garden veggie mac ($7.99)
Tano’s: This West side eatery offers a selection of pasta dishes with homemade sauce and garlic bread for under $10. Check out the homemade meatballs, sausage or eggplant with pasta ($7.25), homemade lasagna ($8) and stuffed shells ($8)
Shaskeen: While the menu offers an array of sandwiches for under $10, like the Cuban Reuben ($8) or fried haddock on a bulkie ($9), check out the meatloaf and mash – made from ground sirloin and Irish sausage. Topped with fried onion strings and served with colcannon, garlic-butter green beans and Guinness gravy ($10)
Skinny’s Pizzeria: This fairly new West side eatery is not just about pizza. Check out the homemade lasagna ($8.99), hand-breaded chicken parmigiana with pasta ($8.99) and spaghetti with homemade meatballs ($7.99) all served with choice of soup or salad and fresh baked bread.
Wild Rover: The menu offers more than a dozen hearty sandwiches for under $10, including prime rib dip ($9.99) and their famous nacho crusted chicken ($8.99) but check out the cottage chicken pie with Irish sausage ($9.99)
KC’s Rib Shack: Here, the classic Carolina pulled pork sammie, topped with slaw and a pickle ($9), three different types of pulled chicken sammies ($9-$10) and the Barbecubano- their take on a classic Cuban sandwich ($10) – all sandwiches served with a side- and the options include all the BBQ classics. 
Puritan Backroom: club sandwiches ($8.25-$9.50), burgers ($6.95-$8.50). Don’t forget their signature Mud Slide!
Belmont Hall: has a huge menu and a number of items under $10. Check out the homemade salmon pie with white sauce ($9.39), and pork pie with brown gravy (8.99) both with choice of two sides
Hot Stone Pizzeria: dine on homemade entrees, like lasagna with salad ($9.99), baked mac & cheese with salad (8.99) or a spinach pita plate with rice and salad ($8.99)
Did we miss your favorite cheap eats? Add it in the comments section!
You’re one click away! Sign up for our free eNewsletter and never miss another thing