Eat well in Durham for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.

Cheap eats worth seeking out

Cosmic Cantina ★ 4.0

Mexican$ninth-streetDaily 11:00-04:00

Open until 04:00 every night since 1995, Cosmic Cantina on Perry Street near Duke is Durham's definitive budget late-night. Burritos and tacos under $14.

Try: Build-your-own burritos and tacos

1920 Perry St, Durham, NC 27705

Elmo's Diner ★ 4.0

American diner$ninth-streetMon-Fri 07:00-15:00; Sat-Sun 07:00-15:30

Ninth Street institution serving the full Durham demographic since the 1980s. Pancakes, eggs and sandwiches at honest diner prices; coffee is bottomless.

Try: Pancakes, eggs and sandwiches

776 9th Street, Durham, NC 27705

Fonda Lupita ★ 4.1

Mexican$brightleafMon-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-20:00

Hand-pressed corn tortillas fuelling tacos and tamales at Brightleaf Square's best prices. Named Eater Carolinas Restaurant of the Year 2021.

Try: Tacos al pastor and tamales

905 W Main St, Suite 21A, Durham, NC 27701

Boricua Soul ★ 4.2

Puerto Rican$american-tobacco-campusMon 11:30-14:00; Tue 11:30-15:00; Wed 11:30-19:00; Thu-Sat 11:30-20:00

Lunch pricing for Puerto Rican food made from scratch at American Tobacco Campus. Empanadas and pernil under $12; the lunch crowds say it all.

Try: Empanadas, pernil and rice-and-beans

705 Willard St, Durham, NC 27701

Hatch Burritos ★ 4.0

New Mexican$downtownMon-Fri 07:00-15:00; Sat 09:00-15:00

New Mexico green chile burritos in a city of BBQ and tacos. Hatch Burritos on N Mangum has quickly become a weekday morning-to-lunch favourite downtown.

Try: Hatch green chile breakfast burritos

721 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701

King's Sandwich Shop ★ 4.1

American$golden-beltMon-Sat 11:00-16:00

A Durham institution since 1942, King's on Foster Street holds a menu where nothing exceeds $10. Grilled cheese, burgers and sandwiches without any fuss.

Try: Grilled sandwiches and burgers

701 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701

Taqueria La Vaquita ★ 4.1

Mexican$old-west-durhamMon-Sat 10:00-21:00; Sun 10:00-20:00

Marked by a bovine statue, Taqueria La Vaquita is one of Durham's best-value taqueria counters. Tacos at $4-5 each; al pastor and birria are the best choices.

Try: Tacos and burritos

2700 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707

Pie Pushers ★ 3.9

Pizza$downtownTue-Sat 11:00-21:00

A by-the-slice pizza counter on W Main Street at $3-4.50 per slice. Rotating styles and toppings from classic to creative; Wednesday is 50-cent wing night.

Try: Pizza by the slice

117A West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701

Chicken Hut ★ 4.4

Southern$downtownMon-Fri 11:30-15:30

Open since 1957 and Eater-named one of America's best in 2022, Chicken Hut does weekday lunch only and sells out before mid-afternoon. Arrive before noon.

Try: Southern fried chicken

3019 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27707
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