Al pastor tacos from the trompo starting at $2.30 each, making a filling four-taco meal with an agua fresca under $12. The outer crust of the spit-roasted pork caramelizes by midday.
Must order: 4x al pastor de trompo with pineapple; agua de jamaica
Tip: Best after noon when the spit has been spinning a while and the outer crust is caramelized. Multiple South and Northeast Dallas locations.
Address: 4117 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75246
The oldest Tex-Mex restaurant in Dallas, operating since 1918. The enchiladas and combo plates come in at under $15 and represent the unbroken lineage of Dallas Tex-Mex cooking over more than a century.
Order: Combo plate: enchiladas, tamale, taco; cheese dip; sopapillas
Tip: The McKinney Ave location is the most accessible. The Tuesday special is the best value night. No reservations needed; the turnover is fast.
All-vegan Vietnamese inside Hong Kong supermarket where pho, banh mi, and com tam plates rarely top $12. A standout budget find for vegans who want serious cooking without the premium.
Order: Vegan pho; lemongrass tofu banh mi; spring rolls
Tip: Bring cash. Inside Hong Kong supermarket at Walnut and Audelia. Dishes are consistently under $12; a full meal runs $10-12.
The brisket taco at Mia's costs around $6 individually, making it an affordable way to experience Dallas's most iconic Tex-Mex taco. Two brisket tacos and a house margarita stays under $25.
Order: Two brisket tacos; house margarita (happy hour); rice and beans
Tip: Happy hour runs daily from 4-7pm with discounted margaritas. Two tacos and a drink is the sweet spot for a budget Mia's visit.
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. The quality of the tortillas and fillings rivals restaurants twice the price.
Order: Two tacos (cauliflower and pork shoulder); cafe de olla coffee
Tip: Taco prices range $4.50-5.50 each. A two-taco order with coffee is a satisfying and affordable breakfast under $15. Busier on weekends; come on Tuesday or Wednesday for shortest waits.
Design District BBQ spot with brisket plates under $17 that receive consistently high praise. Less famous than Pecan Lodge, which means shorter queues and more seats.
Order: Brisket plate with two sides; jalapeño cheddar sausage; homemade peach tea
Tip: No reservations, first-come. The queue moves faster than Pecan Lodge. Thursdays and Fridays at 11am have the fastest service.
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. One of the most affordable sit-down lunches in Dallas.
Order: Dal makhani; seasonal sabzi; rice; barfi dessert
Tip: Priced by weight on the plate. A full meal costs $10-12. The garden patio seating is free with your meal purchase. No meat, onion, garlic, or eggs anywhere on the menu.
