Pizzeria$north-nashvilleMon-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Slim & Husky's on Buchanan Street in North Nashville builds a personal pizza for under $13 including drink. Three Tennessee State alumni opened it in 2017.
Try: Personal pizza
Tip: Build your own beats the signature pies for cost; cinnamon rolls are the cult dessert run out by 14:00.
Brunch$east-nashvilleWed-Sun 7:00-12:00
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 $8.
New American$downtownDaily 10:00-3:00
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 $5 per set. The Recession Special is one of the city's most reliable cheap meals.
New American$east-nashvilleMon-Thu 11:00-16:00, Fri 11:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:30-17:00
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 $11. Gluten-free buns the same price; ask at the window.
Soul food$midtownMon-Sat 7:30-16:00, Sun 9:00-15:00
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 $15.
Soul food$the-gulchMon-Fri 10:30-14:45, Sat 11:00-15:00
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.