Eat well in Dallas without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Dallas for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
15 places
Order Half-pound brisket by weight; one jalapeño cheddar link; free bread and pickles
Dallas's most celebrated BBQ pit is genuinely affordable: a half-pound brisket with a side costs under $20 and represents some of the best smoked meat.
Order Three taco plate (adobada, barbacoa, nopales); agua fresca
Three Mexico City-style tacos and a agua fresca for under $10. The adobada and barbacoa are made from scratch and the tortillas are pressed fresh.
Order Lunch plate: two enchiladas, rice, beans; chile con queso; coffee
Tex-Mex institution since 1949 with a lunch special under $12 that includes enchiladas, rice, beans, and a drink. The best-value sit-down Tex-Mex in Dallas.
2 of the budget eats on this list are in Deep Ellum. So are these tours and tastings.
Viator · 2.5 h
Eat your way through Deep Ellum, where legendary music, bold food and street art come together in one distinctly Dallas experience. Enjoy 8 generous tastings at 4 rest...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste the bold flavors of Texas in Dallas’ Deep Ellum. Enjoy BBQ brisket, Texas chili, biscuits, pie, and more while exploring the city’s street art, music culture, an...
Musement · 3 hours
Bold Texas flavour meets rich local heritage on this intimate tasting experience through one of the most storied neighbourhoods in Dallas. With a local guide leading t...
Order 4x al pastor de trompo with pineapple; agua de jamaica
Al pastor tacos from the trompo starting at $2.30 each, making a filling four-taco meal with an agua fresca under $12. Located in Oak Cliff.
Order Combo plate: enchiladas, tamale, taco; cheese dip; sopapillas
The oldest Tex-Mex restaurant in Dallas, operating since 1918. Open mon-thu 11am-9pm, fri-sat 11am-10pm, sun 11am-9pm. At 1601 McKinney Ave.
Order Vegan pho; lemongrass tofu banh mi; spring rolls
All-vegan Vietnamese inside Hong Kong supermarket where pho, banh mi, and com tam plates rarely top $12. Open mon 10am-7pm, tue closed, wed-sun 10am-7pm.
Order Two brisket tacos; house margarita (happy hour); rice and beans
The brisket taco at Mia's costs around $6 individually, making it an affordable way to experience Dallas's most definitive Tex-Mex taco. Located in Uptown.
Order Two tacos (cauliflower and pork shoulder); cafe de olla coffee
Two chef-driven tacos and a coffee comes to around $13 at Resident, making it one of the best value breakfast experiences in the city. At 9661 Audelia Rd.
Order Brisket plate with two sides; jalapeño cheddar sausage; homemade peach tea
Design District BBQ spot with brisket plates under $17 that receive consistently high praise. Kitchen leans texas bbq. Open wed-sun 11am-3pm or sold out.
Order Dal makhani; seasonal sabzi; rice; barfi dessert
Pay-by-weight Indian vegetarian buffet at the Hare Krishna temple in East Dallas. A full plate of dal, rice, sabzi, and dessert costs around $10-12.
A sample of Dallas hotels from our booking partner, who list 673 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Dallas Love Field Inn
When you stay at Dallas Love Field Inn in Dallas, you'll be in the business district, within a 5-minute dri...
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Trinity Suites Downtown Dallas
With a stay at Trinity Suites Downtown Dallas in Dallas (Cedar Crest), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of...
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Siegel Select Dallas
Located in Dallas, Siegel Select Dallas is in the business district, within a 10-minute drive of Richland C...
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Studio 6 Dallas, TX
Located in Dallas (Northwest Dallas), Studio 6 Dallas, TX is within a 5-minute drive of MoneyGram Soccer Pa...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Dallas from USD 73/night · Expedia in Dallas
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Order Chicken shawarma plate with rice; falafel wrap; garlic sauce side
Zabihah-verified halal shawarma and falafel plates in North Dallas that consistently land under $15, serving one of the best-value halal meals.
Order Migas breakfast tacos; unlimited coffee bar; sweet crepe with Nutella
Dallas's most-relied-upon 24-hour diner, serving migas, crepes, and pancakes with unlimited coffee bar refills. Kitchen leans all-day diner.
Order Bistek taco; chorizo taco; carne asada; agua fresca
Oak Cliff street taco institution where five tacos rarely cost more than $10, with bistek and chorizo fillings that regulars drive across the city to eat.
Order Half-pound brisket; jalapeño sausage link; pinto beans
The most accessible of Dallas's top BBQ spots, open seven days a week unlike Pecan Lodge or Cattleack. Open mon-thu 11am-9pm, fri-sat 11am-10pm, sun 11am-9pm.
Order Weekday lunch buffet; hummus with pita; grilled chicken shawarma
The weekday lunch buffet at Fadi's is one of the best-value restaurant meals in Knox-Henderson, unlimited Lebanese mezze, grilled proteins. At 3001 Knox St.
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