Next time you find both your stomach and your pockets nearly empty, these are a few Asheville-area favorites that can offer some relief:
(Note to readers: Please jump into the conversation by adding your suggestions for local meals that cost $10 or less to the comments section below the story.)
Mamacita’s — California-style burritos and tacos; most everything is less than $10. The $2 Taco Tuesday special is worth fighting the crowds and waiting in line.
67 Biltmore —Try the grab-and-go casseroles or mix and match the salads, sides and cuts of meat in the deli counter to build your own cheap meal.
Tastee Diner — A classic old diner recently rebranded and refurbished, serving $4.50 burgers, $5 fried chicken and $3 hot dogs, not to mention draft beer.
Nine Mile — While the majority of the dinner menu checks out under $20, the Natural Mystic, linguini in marinara sauce, is a mere $5.15 for a giant portion with a side salad and bread; the lunch portion, which is significant, clocks in just under $3. The entire lunch menu is under $10, and the servings are carb-heavy and large.
The Local Joint — A short drive outside of town, hidden away in a gas station. Breakfast sandwiches for around $5; sandwiches, burgers with sides and salads for around $8.
Tod’s Tasties — A neighborhood favorite from the owners of Table, serving a variety of biscuit sandwiches for around $5 and a selection of breakfast bowls and sandwiches for under $10.
Heiwa Shokudo — The ramen is $9 and one of the better bowls of broth in town. And it’s pretty easy to mix and match an à la carte meal under the $10 mark.
The Noodle Shop — Asian soups and noodle dishes starting at around $5. Simple and filling, but be sure to ask for the chili oil.
Gypsy Queen Cuisine — Shawarmas, baba ganouj and salads all from $6-$9. Look for the food truck or head to the brick-and-mortar location in West Asheville.
Jerusalem Garden Café — The lunch menu is always a steal, with all wraps and most entrées clocking in at or under that $10 level. But everything on the dinner menu is over that price point.
Loretta’s Café — Monster sandwiches are served with chips and a pickle for $7. Half sandwiches and fixin’s are available for under $5. The soup-and-sandwich combos are always a winner, too.
The Mediterranean — The small Greek salad is enough to make a meal and rings in at $5.95. The large is just a dollar more and is enough for a meal and a half. With this menu, it’s actually quite hard to spend $9 and not be gorged.
Roman’s — Burger made with Hickory Nut Gap meat and a side are $8.25; large salads go for $7 and half sandwiches with a side are under $7.
Johnny Mac’s BBQ — New to South Asheville, this low country-style outpost offers large portions for a gentle price: half a roasted chicken, a biscuit and a side for $8, jambalaya for $9 and a host of sandwiches for under $10. Draft local beer is a mere $3.75.
El Querubin Food Truck — Empanadas, tacos, burritos, with scratch-made tortillas, all à la carte, all quite affordable.
Tacos Jalisco — Traditional Mexican tacos, tamales and tortas for a penny and a song. Great salsas and hot sauces to boot.
Rosetta’s Kitchen — A wide selection of vegetarian sandwiches, small plates and even entrées for $8-$9. Rosetta’s also offers an Everybody Eats program with $2 vouchers for anyone who walks in the door and asks for one. And that $2 can go a long way with — the bowl of beans and rice is sold on a sliding scale of $2-$6.
The Rankin Vault — Its award-winning burger just slides into home at $9.99, but the tacos and salads sit comfortably below the $10 line.
Woolworth Soda Fountain — Sandwiches, salads and sides all hover around or under $10. Try the bologna sandwich for a thick-cut classic for around $5.
Happy Jack’s — A variety of omelets and breakfast combos are available for at or under $10. Sandwiches are $7 and the Big Jack Combo — three eggs, biscuits, Hickory Nut Gap sausage gravy and choice of a protein — is $8.75.
Universal Joint, Westville Pub and the WALK — The menus all feature accessible bar food, and most of the sandwiches and other items offer substantial portions for less than $10. Be sure to pay attention to the large and ever-rotating specials menu at WALK.
The Bull & Beggar —Its legendary double cheeseburger is served for half price — a meager $6 — with the purchase of a beverage on Monday nights.
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack — Most everything on the menu not portioned for the Sasquatch among us costs less than $10, with sandwiches coming in at around $7.50 with a side.
HomeGrown — The à la carte menu has a lengthy list of sandwiches and wraps that fall between $7-$9, and entrées with two sides start at $7.
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