Join the 250,000+ others who rely on Austonia for local news, info and fun
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed
(Veracruz Tacos/Instagram)
Austin has plenty of good food to go around, yet sometimes we want the best meal without spending too much. Instead of cooking from home, try these affordable restaurants around town.
Here are 21 Austin restaurants for the best cheap eats in town.
Kebabalicious, 1311 E. 7th St.
Big eats for a small price. Kebabalicious offers Turkish style wraps with all organic ingredients. Lamb and beef lovers, vegetarians and sauce fanatics can get their kick for under $10 by ordering a kebab, hummus and so much more.
You can find the Kebablicious menu here and order online here.
P. Terrys, multiple locations
The beloved Austin restaurant has more to offer than just local pride. What started as a burger stand on South Lamar and Barton Springs has ventured out to multiple locations around the greater Austin area still offering great burgers for low prices. With beef, chicken and vegetarian burgers, P. Terrys is the spot to hit for a cheap and quick pick me up.
You can find the P. Terry's menu here and order online here.
Tyson's Tacos, 4905 Airport Blvd.
Austinites know finding the perfect taco stand is a big deal in a town full of options. Tyson's Tacos offers unique tacos for a cheap and delicious meal. For under $10, you can explore the menu and find any taco calling your name and fuel your taco dreams.
You can find the Tyson's Tacos menu here and order online here.
Teji's Indian Restaurant, multiple locations
Spice up your evening meal by trying affordable indian cuisine from Teji's Indian Restaurant. With different locations and menus around town, the restaurants offer single entrees for $10.99 and appetizers, drinks, desserts and more all under $10.
You can find the Tej's Indian Restaurant menu here and order online here.
Thundercloud subs, multiple locations
Another Austin classic, Thundercloud Subs offers fresh subs and salads for a quick, cheap and refreshing meal for any time of day. With signature subs, salads, sides, and more, you can find yourself indulging in a full meal for less than $10.
You can find the Thundercloud Subs menu here and order online here.
Veracruz All Natural, multiple locations
For an authentic, homemade Mexican food experience, Veracruz All Natural is the place to hit. The local taco stand has taken Austin by storm with fresh ingredients and delicious tacos, salsas and juices. Make everyday taco Tuesday for less than $10 at this Austin joint.
You can find the Veracruz All Natural menu and order online here.
Snarf's sandwiches, multiple locations
What started in Boulder, Colorado as a sandwich shack is now bringing Austin fresh and delicious oven toasted sandwiches for an affordable price. The family-owned business offers made-to-order sandwiches, salads, soups and so much more, all under $10.
You can find the Snarf's Sandwiches menu here and order online here
Gourdough’s Big Fat Donuts, 1503 S. 1st St.
Gordough's Big Fat Donuts offers an incredibly unique Austin menu of donuts for anyone looking to give into their sweet cravings. With different toppings and types of donuts, the food truck is your place to hit if you're looking for a delicious sweet snack under $10. You can also find donut sandwiches, burgers and so much more at Gourdough's Public House at 2700 S. Lamar Blvd.
You can find the Gourdough's menu here and order online through a third-party app such as Grubhub and Doordash.
Amy’s Ice Cream, multiple locations
Although not technically a restaurant, Amy's Ice Cream is an Austin favorite offering a delicious treat for all ice cream lovers. With over 350 flavors in rotation, the ice cream shop has all the flavors you can imagine for under $10, plus milkshakes, ice cream cakes and more.
You can find Amy's Ice Cream menu here and order online here.
Koriente, 621 E. 7th St.
Koriente offers healthy Asian inspired dishes at a low cost for a healthy, quick meal. With fresh ingredients, seafood, meat vegan and gluten-free options, this restaurant is the perfect takeout option under $10.
You can find the Koriente menu here.
Cenote, multiple locations
Not sure what you want to eat? Cenote has it all. From breakfast tacos and coffee to salads, sandwiches, burgers and drinks, the restaurant offers a great deal and even better food for a reasonable price.
You can find the Cenote menu and order online here.
East Side King, multiple locations
Japanese street food From Chefs Paul Qui and Moto Utsunomiya created East Side King during their time at beloved Uchi and Uchiko to create affordable Japanese street food for Austinites. The menu offers Asian inspired classics at an affordable cost and delicious meals for all food lovers.
You can find the menu and order online here.
Chi’lantro, multiple locations
With so many Asian inspired restaurants in Austin, it's hard to find our favorite. Chi'lantro, home of the Kimchi fries, is definitely at the top of the list. With rice, salads, noodles and rice bowls, wraps and fries for under $10, who can avoid the delicious temptation of this Korean barbecue inspired restaurant?
You can find the Chi'lantro menu and order online here
.
El Primo, 2011 S. 1st St.
Mexican food trucks aren't hard to find in Austin but if you haven't tried El Primo yet, add it to your list of places to try. With options of tacos, burritos and tortas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, El Primo offers a delicious meal for under $10.
Xian Sushi and Noodle, multiple locations
Lovers of food and cheap eats can appreciate Xian Sushi and Noodle for traditional, fresh Japanese and Chinese cuisine. With hand-pulled noodles, a long list of sushi rolls and so much more for under $10, this restaurant has it all for all foodies.
You can find the Xian Sushi and Noodle menu and order online here.
Biscuits + Groovy, multiple locations
Breakfast lovers can get their morning fix at Biscuits + Groovy for all under $10. With freshly baked buttermilk biscuits and different types of toppings, no morning will feel the same without these biscuit sandwiches.
You can find the biscuits + Groovy menu here and order online here.
Dirty Martin's Place, 2808 Guadalupe St.
These award winning burgers from Dirty Martin's Place have been giving Austinites their burger fix since 1926. The burger joint has extremely affordable options and shouldn't be mistaken for anything but delicious.
You can find the Dirty Martin's Place menu here and order online here.
Bao’d Up, multiple locations
Bao'd Up offers authentic Chinese cuisine with a Texas twist for an ultimate food experience unlike any other. Offering signature baozi, oodles, boba tea and more, the steamed buns are a delicious pick me up for under $10.
You can find the Bao'd Up menu here and order online through their app here.
Delray Cafe, 1133 E. 11th St.
This Austin food truck offers Detroit style coneys, sliders, wings and more that fit the $10 budget. From original style coney dogs to Texas-inspired ones, Delray Cafe has all types of delicious hot dogs for an affordable price located outside of Nickel City.
You can find the Delray Cafe menu here.
Jewboy Burgers, 511 Airport Blvd.
Jewboy Burgers offers Austinites burgers unlike any other. With a mixture of U.S, Mexico and Jewish inspired dishes, the killer menu options from Jewboy Burgers features burgers, burritos and latkes for a unique food experience.
You can find the Jewboy Burgers menu here and order online here.
La Tunita 512, 2400 Burleson Road
If you've never tried birria tacos, La Tunita 512 is the place to hit. With fried tortillas and covered in a traditional slow cooked Mexican beef stew, birria tacos have taken the food world by storm. The food truck offers birria and queso tacos, mulitas, consome and birria tortas.
You can find more information on the La Tunita 512 menu on their Facebook or Instagram and order online here.
- Austin black-owned restaurants see support after protests - austonia ›
- Where to get a drink outside in Austin - austonia ›
- Where to order Takeout comfort food in Austin - austonia ›
- Brazilian food places to try in Austin - austonia ›
- Comfort food recipes to try as the weather cools in Austin - austonia ›
- austin-food - austonia ›
- 11 Austin restaurants to buy to-go Valentine's Day meals - austonia ›
- Hidden oasis, Aba, on South Congress grows in popularity - austonia ›
- 9 unique and deliciously quirky foods to try in Austin - austonia ›
- A sunny day and a cold beer: 15 Austin breweries worth exploring - austonia ›
- 9 of the best happy hours in Austin, Texas - austonia ›
- Edible Austin: guide to local gastronomy - austonia ›
- 5 new Austin eats for you to try this summer - austonia ›
- 7 of the best places in Austin to get ice cream this summer - austonia ›
- Bad Larry Burger Club serves burgers in a chute - austonia ›
- 9 dog-friendly Austin eateries and patios - austonia ›
- Tacodeli shakes up menu with dinner and alcohol options - austonia ›
- Don’t sacrifice safety for a good time at these 15 socially-distanced outdoor patios in Austin - austonia ›
- Austin-based chef of Suerte named in “Best New Chefs” List - austonia ›
- Grab a late-night snack at these 10 24-hour restaurants around Austin - austonia ›
Popular
Austin could see the first glimpse of fall with a cold front after the expected hottest day of the year.
Expect some whiplash this week, Austinites: with an expected high of 103 degrees, Monday is predicted to be the hottest day of the year, but a midweek cold front is on the way to bring that first glimpse of fall.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport could see its first 100-degree temperature this year on Monday as temperatures citywide are expected to exceed this year's record of 102 degrees.
So ready!!!!
The cold front arrives Tuesday afternoon to evening.#atx #atxwx #cbsaustinwx https://t.co/rQni6ug3y4 pic.twitter.com/PoFeHPYtnM
— Chikage Windler WX (@ChikageWeather) September 20, 2021
After a typical summery Tuesday with highs in the mid-90s, Wednesday will welcome the first signs of fall as a cold front drops lows into the 50s.
Expect more wind and a chance of rain come Tuesday with a 40% chance of scattered storms. The cold front, which should last through Friday, will bring drier, crisper air that could cause fire hazards on Wednesday.
Highs will be in the upper 80s and lows in the 50s and lower 60s for the front's final two mornings.
After near record heat today, a cold front arrives tomorrow! Hang in there South-Central Texas, we have almost made it. pic.twitter.com/yd9UbNo7hY
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) September 20, 2021
- 5 places to visit in Austin this summer - austonia ›
- 5 new Austin eats for you to try this summer - austonia ›
- Top summer travel destinations and where Austin ranks - austonia ›
- Heat wave shows up in Austin this weekend—and stays - austonia ›
- Beat the heat at these iconic swimming holes in and around Austin ... ›
- Seattle and Austin swap weather forecasts this week - austonia ›
(Bob Daemmrich)
After months of speculation, a new report says political personality Beto O'Rourke is mulling a run for Texas governor that he will announce later this year.
Sources tell Axios the former congressman is preparing his campaign for the 2022 election, where he will likely vie for the position against incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott. The only other candidate that has announced he will take on Abbott for governor is former Texas GOP Chairman Allen West—no Democrats have announced they are running as of yet.
"No decision has been made," Axios reports David Wysong, O'Rourke's former House chief of staff and a longtime adviser, said. "He has been making and receiving calls with people from all over the state."
A new poll from The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler shows O'Rourke is narrowing the gap between himself and Abbott's prospects for governor. In the poll, 37% said they'd vote for O'Rourke over Abbott, while 42% said they'd vote for Abbott.
Abbott has been in the hot seat due to his handling of COVID-19 and the signing of landmark legislation into law, including new abortion and voting rights laws; 54% of poll respondents voted they think the state is headed in the "wrong direction." Still, Texas hasn't had a Democrat as governor since the 90s.
O'Rourke's people-focused approach to the 2018 Senator race, which he lost to Sen. Ted Cruz, gave him a widespread following and many hoped he'd throw his hat into the ring since he said he was considering it earlier this year.
"We hope that he's going to run," Gilberto Hinojosa, the state chair of the Democratic Party, told Axios. "We think he'll be our strongest candidate. We think he can beat Abbott because he's vulnerable."
Jordi is an Austin-based rapper who represented Texas at the 2021 Red Bull Batalla. (Esparza)
Austin rapper Jordi Esparza may not have won the 2021 Red Bull Batalla, the world's largest Spanish freestyle rap competition, but for a spirited two rounds, the 22-year old Mexican native looked like he had every right to.
On Saturday evening in Los Angeles, the event itself looked like Cobra Kai meets Star Search with graphics adding a very Batman Beyond aesthetic. Over a dozen rappers hoping to represent the U.S. in the international round of the competition took to the stage with in-your-face jabs at accents, sexual orientation and odors, among other things.
This was Esparza's second rodeo; he had placed third at the 2020 National Finals, automatically securing him a spot this year.
However, things were different this year. He was not nervous about the contest. Unlike in 2020, when he made his Red Bull Batalla debut, the anxiety of the event led him to "feeling so bad."
Affecting a casual calm, the locally-based landscaper said he just felt "so relaxed, so happy" and primarily wanted to "enjoy everything."
Choosing his first-round opponent, Esparza, whose stage name is Jordi, elected to go against LA-based Boss.
Esparza freestyled an attack on his opponent's weight and cholo style of dress.
Boss—bracketing his Latin freestyle with English appeals to the crowd—mocked Jordi's lack of education, made fun of how clean Jordi's shoes looked and suggested that Jordi just came back from a Footlocker.
That first round went to Jordi.
But his next opponent Eckonn would prove to be his undoing.
Eckonn compared Jordi to Hannah Montana, while Jordi soulfully explained that he had learned from the best.
Esparza's verbal dexterity is matched by a rattling rhythm and a game face that is as mawkish as it is mockish. The overall effect is that of an underdog with bite.
Eckonn beat Esparza in that round with the overall championship going to Palm Beach-based rapper Reverse.
However, Esparza was just happy to be there. He recently told Austonia going to the finals again was a dream come true—a pinnacle that he said he won't know how to top.
With his nimble jabs and sneaky prowess, honed from pop culture and the swagger of a young working man hungry to be more, Jordi Esparza is just getting started.
