The Original Marini's Empanada House in Houston is the Argentine family kitchen on Westheimer in Westchase since 2007, with 80 savoury and 39 sweet empanadas under $4 each.
Tip: Order half-dozen savoury plus a sweet flan empanada to share. Baked is closer to the Argentine original than fried.
Address: 10001 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042
Lankford Grocery & Market in Houston is the 1939 Midtown corner-store-turned-burger-shack on Dennis Street, with the Grim Hatch-chile burger under $15 and a Diners feature.
Try: The Grim Hatch-chile burger
Tip: Get the Grim with sweet potato fries. Closed weekends. Counter and outdoor picnic tables only.
Pho Binh on Bellaire in Houston is the 1983 Vietnamese counter from the Le family, with rare-beef pho under $14 and a Vietnamese-iced-coffee tradition that is the Bellaire constant.
Try: Pho tai (rare beef)
Tip: Pho tai (rare beef) is the standard. Cash strongly preferred. Add Thai basil and lime at the table.
Shri Balaji Bhavan in Houston is the Mahatma Gandhi District South Indian vegetarian counter on Hillcroft, with masala dosa and a vada-sambar combo under $13 each.
Try: Masala dosa
Tip: Masala dosa with extra coconut chutney. Cash and card. Order the rava dosa for a thinner crisp version.
Cali Sandwich & Pho in Houston is the Midtown Vietnamese counter on Travis Street, with a $5 BBQ pork banh mi that has been the best Houston cheap lunch for forty years.
Try: BBQ pork banh mi
Tip: BBQ pork is the canonical banh mi. Cash strongly preferred. Closed Sundays.
Tacos Tierra Caliente in Houston is the West Alabama Montrose taco truck, with $3-4 tacos al pastor sliced off the trompo and the West Alabama Ice House next door for beers.
Try: Tacos al pastor
Tip: Three al pastor with pineapple is the canonical order, under $12. Take them into the ice house for a Lone Star.
Frenchy's Chicken in Houston is the 1969 Third Ward Creole fried chicken counter on Scott Street, with a three-piece dark with two sides for $11 that fills you for the day.
Try: Three-piece Creole fried chicken with sides
Tip: Dark meat over white. Dirty rice and red beans. The Sunday queue is 30 minutes; weekday lunch is the move.
