Mediterranean$$monroe-avenueMon-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-20:00
Aladdin's Natural Eatery on Monroe Ave in Rochester has served Mediterranean food since 1979, with falafel wraps and hummus plates for $9-$13 per item.
Tip: The falafel wrap is $9-$10, one of the best budget options on the Avenue. Lunch specials run until 15:00 on weekdays.
Ethiopian$monroe-avenueMon-Fri 11:00-14:00, Wed-Sat 17:00-20:00
Natural Oasis on Monroe Ave serves Ethiopian combination platters with 5 or more items on injera for under $15, one of Monroe Avenue's best-value group meals.
Tip: The combo platter at $13-$15 is more than enough for one person and works well for sharing. Wednesday through Friday lunch specials include a drink.
Artisan Bread and Cafe$public-marketTue-Fri 07:00-14:00, Sat 06:00-14:00, Sun 09:00-13:00
Flour City Bread at Rochester Public Market sells organic sourdough and pastries for $3-$6 per item, the best-value morning stop for artisan bread.
Tip: A loaf runs $6-$9, pastries $3-$4 each. Saturday market stall sells out of popular loaves before 10:00. The cafe inside the market building is open for sit-down coffee and pastry.
Frozen Custard$park-avenueApr-Oct daily 11:00-22:00
Abbott's Frozen Custard at Lake Ave serves Rochester's original frozen custard for $4-$6, open late April through October with a dozen metro locations.
Tip: The Lake Ave location on Lake Ontario is the original; others are throughout the metro. Concrete mix-ins follow the custard base. Closes late October for the season.
Indian$brightonMon-Sun 11:30-14:30 and 16:30-20:30
Thali of India on South Winton Rd serves a lunch buffet daily for $13-$15 per person, covering 8 or more Indian dishes from dals to biryani.
Tip: Lunch buffet runs daily until 14:00. One of the best-value meals in the Rochester metro. The full buffet includes samosas, soup, rice, and fresh-baked naan.
Hot Dogs and Plates$downtownTue-Fri 11:00-19:00, Sat 11:00-19:00
Nick Tahou Hots on W. Main St in Rochester serves the original trademarked Garbage Plate for under $10, one of the best cheap meals in Upstate New York.
Tip: A two-item plate runs $8-$10 depending on protein. White hots, cheeseburgers, or eggs over the top. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays.