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A cheeseburger and fries from Tasty Burger in South Boston, photographed April 3, 2013.
A cheeseburger and fries from Tasty Burger.
Essdras M Suarez/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

14 of Boston’s Best Affordable Meals

Save money while eating well

by Rachel Leah Blumenthal and Erika Adams Updated
View as Map
A cheeseburger and fries from Tasty Burger.
| Essdras M Suarez/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
by Rachel Leah Blumenthal and Erika Adams Updated

From tacos to dumplings to noodles, here are 14 of the best inexpensive dining destinations in the Boston area — filling, delicious meals that won’t put too much of a dent into one’s wallet.

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Porter Exchange

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A fantastic mostly Japanese food hall (there’s a bit of Korean food, too) is hiding inside of a Lesley University building right in the heart of Porter Square, and it’s full of inexpensive dining options, from ramen to sushi to udon. The restaurants are small, but most offer full-service dining. Some only accept cash; there’s an ATM onsite. Top picks include the spicy miso ramen at Sapporo Ramen, the Tokyo hamburg set at Cafe Mami, and the niku udon at Yume Ga Arukara.

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
A brown bowl filled with miso ramen, springled with red spice, corn, and a soft egg, with a white spoon resting in the bowl
Spicy miso ramen at Sapporo.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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P & K Delicatessen

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Sub shops are a reliably affordable option; each neighborhood tends to have its own favorites. If you find yourself in Somerville, check out one of the best around, P & K Delicatessen. Venture into this old convenience store on Beacon Street and head right to the back for large, wonderful subs, full of sliced-to-order deli meats and more. (Don’t miss the meatball sub.)

244 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 868-0772
(617) 868-0772
A meatball sub and an Italian sub on white deli paper
Meatball sub and Italian sub at P & K Deli in Somerville.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Charlie's Kitchen

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Home of the double cheeseburger, this Harvard Square staple is the place for late-night pub grub, plus karaoke, trivia, and other events. There’s also a beer garden.

10 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA
(617) 492-9646
(617) 492-9646
Double cheeseburger with waffle fries on a white plate on the edge of a red table. A red tiled floor is visible underneath.
Double cheeseburger at Charlie’s Kitchen.
Katie Chudy/Eater Boston

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Cactus Grill

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Located in East Boston’s Maverick Square, this popular Mexican and Salvadoran restaurant serves gigantic burritos stuffed with a choice of steak, chicken, beef tongue, and more. Also on the menu: chimichangas, flautas, tacos, and plenty of other options.

44 Maverick Sq, East Boston, MA
(617) 561-2800
(617) 561-2800

Twin Donuts

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You’ve seen the retro signage at this classic Allston spot; now eat the doughnuts. Flavors include chocolate butternut, powdered, honey dip, Boston cream, and lots more. There’s also a full breakfast menu of omelets, pancakes, and such.

501 Cambridge St, Allston, MA
(617) 254-9421
(617) 254-9421
Overhead view of a simple doughnut on a white paper plate on a black-speckled white table
A doughnut from Twin Donuts.
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater Boston

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Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe

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Gene’s gained a cult following out at its original location in Chelmsford (now closed) before expanding here to Boston proper, becoming a downtown mainstay. It has since expanded to Woburn and Westford as well. It’s one of a fairly small number of places that serve Xi’an-style Chinese cuisine in the Boston area, highlighting hand-pulled noodles that are garlicky, chewy, and so filling. Add a lamb skewer and/or tea egg to boost the (already ample) portion.

86 Bedford St, Boston, MA
(617) 482-1888
(617) 482-1888
A black plastic bowl of thick hand-pulled noodles, heavily dusted with chile powder and topped with greens and a generous dollop of garlic. A wooden skewer of lamb pieces sits across the rim of the bowl, which is on a Chinese Zodiac placemat on a red tray.
Hand-pulled noodles with a lamb skewer at Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Super 88 Market

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This longtime Allston market is a treasure trove of counter-service, inexpensive meals spanning several Asian cuisines. Roam from stall to stall and fill up on dry-fried noodles, bubble tea, mochi doughnuts, ramen, and lots more.

1 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA
(617) 787-2288
(617) 787-2288
A takeout container of dry-fried noodles with beef at Silk Road Express in Allston, served on a striped wooden table with a pair of chopsticks.
Dry-fried noodles with beef from Silk Road Express in the Super 88 food hall in Allston.
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater Boston

Lofts Avana Building Food Court

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Just to the left of the Lofts Avana door on Beach Street, there’s signage for Friendship BBQ: Go in there to find not only Friendship BBQ (Chinese barbecue skewers) but a whole magical food court, albeit it a tiny one, that also serves inexpensive sushi (Avana Sushi, which also has a larger location at 58 Franklin St.), dumplings and buns (Dumpling King), and simple egg puffs (a cart called Egg Puffs). Plus, there’s a kiosk that sells cell phones, so this little food court covers all the bases. (Note that Friendship BBQ is on the basement level.)

42 Beach St, Boston, MA
A pink cart that serves egg puffs inside of a small food court. It’s decorated with a large photo of egg puffs.
The Egg Puff cart inside the Lofts Avana food court.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Anna's Taqueria

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Now over 25 years old, beloved local burrito chain Anna’s Taqueria has six locations in and around Boston. It’s still one of the best places in town for a fast, inexpensive meal. Best bet: a super burrito with choice of filling.

446 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 277-7111
(617) 277-7111

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Tasty Burger

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Local chain Tasty Burger is always a reliable pick for a not-too-expensive hamburger that is, well, tasty. The “starvin’ student” is a useful deal: hamburger or cheeseburger, fries, and a beer for $12.

1301 Boylston St, Boston, MA
(617) 425-4444
(617) 425-4444

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Sullivan's

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Open since 1951, Sullivan’s is the classic South Boston spot for burgers, hot dogs, and fried seafood, eaten alfresco at picnic tables among Castle Island’s seagulls. Don’t fear: The line gets long but moves quickly. The seasonal spot operates from the last weekend of February through the last weekend of November.

2080 Day Blvd, Boston, MA
(617) 268-5685
(617) 268-5685
A double cheeseburger, hot dog topped with relish, container of fries, and cup of soda sit outside in the sun
A burger, dog, and fries at Sullivan’s.
Sullivan’s

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Pikalo

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Giant empanadas. There are pizza, Buffalo chicken, eggplant parm, and lots of other empanadas available. The JP shop — which also has locations in East Boston, Lowell, and Lawrence — also serves sandwiches, smoothies, and more.

378 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA
(617) 522-1210
(617) 522-1210

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Singh's Roti Shop

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Get a hearty taste of Trinidad with roti stuffed full of meats and sides, and don’t miss the hot sauce. Also a must: the doubles, pictured here. Singh’s also carries a variety of Caribbean soft drinks and juices, from soursop to sea moss to peanut punch, as well as desserts, such as tamarind balls and coconut rolls.

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 282-7977
(617) 282-7977
A serving of doubles — spicy and sweet chickpeas sandwiched between two pieces of fried dough — sits on white paper on a counter, illuminated by a glowing blue light.
Doubles at Singh’s Roti Shop.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Bánh Mì Ba Le

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One of Boston’s most iconic dishes can be found at Bánh Mì Ba Le, one of Dorchester’s excellent options for Vietnamese food. Ba Le’s banh mi includes a baguette stuffed with spiced pork and shredded pork skin, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber, cilantro, a choice of hot peppers, and special sauce.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA
(617) 265-7171
(617) 265-7171
Hands hold two banh mi over pavement
Banh mi from Ba Le in Dorchester.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Porter Exchange

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA

A fantastic mostly Japanese food hall (there’s a bit of Korean food, too) is hiding inside of a Lesley University building right in the heart of Porter Square, and it’s full of inexpensive dining options, from ramen to sushi to udon. The restaurants are small, but most offer full-service dining. Some only accept cash; there’s an ATM onsite. Top picks include the spicy miso ramen at Sapporo Ramen, the Tokyo hamburg set at Cafe Mami, and the niku udon at Yume Ga Arukara.

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
A brown bowl filled with miso ramen, springled with red spice, corn, and a soft egg, with a white spoon resting in the bowl
Spicy miso ramen at Sapporo.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

P & K Delicatessen

244 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

Sub shops are a reliably affordable option; each neighborhood tends to have its own favorites. If you find yourself in Somerville, check out one of the best around, P & K Delicatessen. Venture into this old convenience store on Beacon Street and head right to the back for large, wonderful subs, full of sliced-to-order deli meats and more. (Don’t miss the meatball sub.)

244 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 868-0772
(617) 868-0772
A meatball sub and an Italian sub on white deli paper
Meatball sub and Italian sub at P & K Deli in Somerville.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Charlie's Kitchen

10 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA

Home of the double cheeseburger, this Harvard Square staple is the place for late-night pub grub, plus karaoke, trivia, and other events. There’s also a beer garden.

10 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA
(617) 492-9646
(617) 492-9646
Double cheeseburger with waffle fries on a white plate on the edge of a red table. A red tiled floor is visible underneath.
Double cheeseburger at Charlie’s Kitchen.
Katie Chudy/Eater Boston

Cactus Grill

44 Maverick Sq, East Boston, MA

Located in East Boston’s Maverick Square, this popular Mexican and Salvadoran restaurant serves gigantic burritos stuffed with a choice of steak, chicken, beef tongue, and more. Also on the menu: chimichangas, flautas, tacos, and plenty of other options.

44 Maverick Sq, East Boston, MA
(617) 561-2800
(617) 561-2800

Twin Donuts

501 Cambridge St, Allston, MA

You’ve seen the retro signage at this classic Allston spot; now eat the doughnuts. Flavors include chocolate butternut, powdered, honey dip, Boston cream, and lots more. There’s also a full breakfast menu of omelets, pancakes, and such.

501 Cambridge St, Allston, MA
(617) 254-9421
(617) 254-9421
Overhead view of a simple doughnut on a white paper plate on a black-speckled white table
A doughnut from Twin Donuts.
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater Boston

Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe

86 Bedford St, Boston, MA

Gene’s gained a cult following out at its original location in Chelmsford (now closed) before expanding here to Boston proper, becoming a downtown mainstay. It has since expanded to Woburn and Westford as well. It’s one of a fairly small number of places that serve Xi’an-style Chinese cuisine in the Boston area, highlighting hand-pulled noodles that are garlicky, chewy, and so filling. Add a lamb skewer and/or tea egg to boost the (already ample) portion.

86 Bedford St, Boston, MA
(617) 482-1888
(617) 482-1888
A black plastic bowl of thick hand-pulled noodles, heavily dusted with chile powder and topped with greens and a generous dollop of garlic. A wooden skewer of lamb pieces sits across the rim of the bowl, which is on a Chinese Zodiac placemat on a red tray.
Hand-pulled noodles with a lamb skewer at Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Super 88 Market

1 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA

This longtime Allston market is a treasure trove of counter-service, inexpensive meals spanning several Asian cuisines. Roam from stall to stall and fill up on dry-fried noodles, bubble tea, mochi doughnuts, ramen, and lots more.

1 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA
(617) 787-2288
(617) 787-2288
A takeout container of dry-fried noodles with beef at Silk Road Express in Allston, served on a striped wooden table with a pair of chopsticks.
Dry-fried noodles with beef from Silk Road Express in the Super 88 food hall in Allston.
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater Boston

Lofts Avana Building Food Court

42 Beach St, Boston, MA

Just to the left of the Lofts Avana door on Beach Street, there’s signage for Friendship BBQ: Go in there to find not only Friendship BBQ (Chinese barbecue skewers) but a whole magical food court, albeit it a tiny one, that also serves inexpensive sushi (Avana Sushi, which also has a larger location at 58 Franklin St.), dumplings and buns (Dumpling King), and simple egg puffs (a cart called Egg Puffs). Plus, there’s a kiosk that sells cell phones, so this little food court covers all the bases. (Note that Friendship BBQ is on the basement level.)

42 Beach St, Boston, MA
A pink cart that serves egg puffs inside of a small food court. It’s decorated with a large photo of egg puffs.
The Egg Puff cart inside the Lofts Avana food court.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Anna's Taqueria

446 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Now over 25 years old, beloved local burrito chain Anna’s Taqueria has six locations in and around Boston. It’s still one of the best places in town for a fast, inexpensive meal. Best bet: a super burrito with choice of filling.

446 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 277-7111
(617) 277-7111

Tasty Burger

1301 Boylston St, Boston, MA

Local chain Tasty Burger is always a reliable pick for a not-too-expensive hamburger that is, well, tasty. The “starvin’ student” is a useful deal: hamburger or cheeseburger, fries, and a beer for $12.

1301 Boylston St, Boston, MA
(617) 425-4444
(617) 425-4444

Sullivan's

2080 Day Blvd, Boston, MA

Open since 1951, Sullivan’s is the classic South Boston spot for burgers, hot dogs, and fried seafood, eaten alfresco at picnic tables among Castle Island’s seagulls. Don’t fear: The line gets long but moves quickly. The seasonal spot operates from the last weekend of February through the last weekend of November.

2080 Day Blvd, Boston, MA
(617) 268-5685
(617) 268-5685
A double cheeseburger, hot dog topped with relish, container of fries, and cup of soda sit outside in the sun
A burger, dog, and fries at Sullivan’s.
Sullivan’s

Pikalo

378 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA

Giant empanadas. There are pizza, Buffalo chicken, eggplant parm, and lots of other empanadas available. The JP shop — which also has locations in East Boston, Lowell, and Lawrence — also serves sandwiches, smoothies, and more.

378 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA
(617) 522-1210
(617) 522-1210

Singh's Roti Shop

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125

Get a hearty taste of Trinidad with roti stuffed full of meats and sides, and don’t miss the hot sauce. Also a must: the doubles, pictured here. Singh’s also carries a variety of Caribbean soft drinks and juices, from soursop to sea moss to peanut punch, as well as desserts, such as tamarind balls and coconut rolls.

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 282-7977
(617) 282-7977
A serving of doubles — spicy and sweet chickpeas sandwiched between two pieces of fried dough — sits on white paper on a counter, illuminated by a glowing blue light.
Doubles at Singh’s Roti Shop.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Bánh Mì Ba Le

1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA

One of Boston’s most iconic dishes can be found at Bánh Mì Ba Le, one of Dorchester’s excellent options for Vietnamese food. Ba Le’s banh mi includes a baguette stuffed with spiced pork and shredded pork skin, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber, cilantro, a choice of hot peppers, and special sauce.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA
(617) 265-7171
(617) 265-7171
Hands hold two banh mi over pavement
Banh mi from Ba Le in Dorchester.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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