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

Cheap eats worth seeking out

Arnold's Country Kitchen ★ 4.6

Soul food$the-gulch

Arnold's meat-and-three lunch in Nashville delivers a protein plus three vegetables and tea for under $15. Located in The Gulch. At 605 8th Ave S.

Try: Meat-and-three plate

Tip: Lunch only, Monday to Friday 10:30-14:30; cafeteria line moves fast. Cash and card.

Mas Tacos Por Favor ★ 4.4

Taqueria$east-nashville

Mas Tacos in East Nashville feeds you two tacos and a bowl of chicken tortilla soup for under $13. Closed Mondays; line builds by noon. At 732 McFerrin Ave.

Try: Two tacos and a soup

Tip: Two fried avocado tacos and a bowl of chicken tortilla soup is the canonical order.

Bolton's Spicy Chicken and Fish ★ 4.6

Hot chicken$east-nashville

Bolton's on Main Street in East Nashville plates a hot chicken thigh sandwich and slaw for under $12. The cheapest serious hot chicken option in Nashville.

Try: Hot chicken sandwich

Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Tiny counter; takeaway is the move.

Slim & Husky's Pizza ★ 4.3

Pizzeria$north-nashville

Slim & Husky's on Buchanan Street in North Nashville builds a personal pizza for under $13 including drink. Three Tennessee State alumni opened it in 2017.

Try: Personal pizza

Tip: Build your own beats the signature pies for cost; cinnamon rolls are the cult dessert run out by 14:00.

Yeast Nashville ★ 4.4

Brunch$east-nashville

Yeast Nashville's Woodland Street kolache counter in East Nashville builds a breakfast or lunch around savoury and sweet kolaches for under $10.

Try: Kolache and coffee

Tip: Closed at noon every day. Sausage and cheese kolache plus a cherry kolache is the lunch order for $8.

Robert's Western World ★ 4.2

New American$downtown

The Recession Special at Robert's Western World on Lower Broadway in Nashville is fried bologna with chips and a PBR for $7, plus free live country music.

Try: Fried bologna sandwich with chips and beer

Tip: Cash for the bar; tip the band $5 per set. The Recession Special is one of the city's most reliable cheap meals.

I Dream of Weenie ★ 4.0

New American$east-nashville

I Dream of Weenie's school-bus hot dog counter on Woodland Street in East Nashville builds loaded dogs with house chili for under $9. Cash and card.

Try: Loaded hot dog

Tip: Combo with chips and a fountain drink under $11. Gluten-free buns the same price; ask at the window.

Elliston Place Soda Shop ★ 4.2

Soul food$midtown

Elliston Place Soda Shop near Vanderbilt in Nashville plates a meat-and-three lunch for $11 and a hand-dipped milkshake for $5. Since 1939 in Nashville.

Try: Meat-and-three with milkshake

Tip: Hand-dipped chocolate milkshake plus a meat-and-three plate keeps the lunch bill under $15.

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