Round Rock Donuts in Round Rock is the Lone Star doughnut counter since 1926, a 4:30am opening with egg-yolk-yellow yeast doughnuts at a buck or two each, daily.
Tip: The original yellow doughnut is the order; the Texas-size novelty doughnut is for sharing.
Address: 106 W Liberty Ave, Round Rock, TX 78664, Austin
Pueblo Viejo on Tillery Street in Austin is the 2010 East Side taco truck from Nestor and Margarita, the city's regular-rotation breakfast-taco trailer at the low end of the price scale.
Try: Breakfast tacos
Tip: Bean-and-cheese on a homemade flour tortilla is the most-ordered budget pick; pair with a side of barbacoa.
Halal Bros in Austin is the West Campus halal chicken-and-rice counter on Guadalupe, the cheapest reliable halal plate in town and the closest meal to UT for under $13.
Try: Chicken-and-rice platter
Tip: The chicken-and-rice platter is the campus default; the white-sauce-and-hot-sauce combo is the menu hack.
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner, a counter and booth room serving migas, queso and gingerbread pancakes at a low-double-digit price all day.
Try: Love migas plate
Tip: Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
Tacodeli in Austin is Roberto Espinosa's Spyglass Drive flagship since 1999, the local breakfast-taco chain at the low end of the price scale with Salsa Dona for the table.
Try: Breakfast tacos and tacos al Pastor
Tip: Cult Salsa Dona is sold by the bottle to take home; the Heather taco is the cheap office-lunch order.
Kerbey Lane Cafe in Austin is the all-day diner since 1980, the Central Austin bungalow that runs queso, gingerbread pancakes and breakfast tacos at a low price all day.
Try: Pancakes or queso
Tip: Two-egg breakfast comes with home fries and toast around $11; the queso-and-chip cup is the cheapest snack.
Veracruz All Natural in Austin is the Webberville Road breakfast-taco truck from the Vazquez sisters, the Food Network Top 5 tacos pick and the cheapest world-class plate in town.
Try: Migas breakfast taco
Tip: Migas on a homemade corn tortilla is the order; arrive before 9:30am to dodge the office-worker rush.
