Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is a budget eat in St Louis Hills, St. Louis.
Serving since 1941 on Route 66, Ted Drewes sells cheap, thick frozen-custard concretes, the landmark dessert handed over upside down to prove it.
Tip: A concrete is a few dollars and a city rite of passage. Cash-friendly; expect a summer line at the window.
Address: 6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109
An LGBTQ-friendly coffeehouse across from Tower Grove Park, Mokabe's serves a cheap all-day vegetarian-leaning brunch, a welcoming budget spot.
Try: All-day vegetarian brunch
Tip: The all-day vegan and vegetarian brunch is rare and affordable. It fills after the Saturday farmers market.
Steve's Hot Dogs on South Grand loads creative toppings onto cheap griddled dogs and has been voted the city's best, a budget counter with a cult following.
Try: Loaded St. Louis-style hot dogs
Tip: The loaded specialty dogs are the draw and stay cheap. Counter service keeps the turnaround fast at peak.
The chain that made St. Louis-style pizza a city standard, Imo's tops cracker-thin crust with Provel, cut in squares, a cheap and essential local taste.
Try: St. Louis-style Provel pizza
Tip: Order it tavern-cut into squares to eat it the local way. A large feeds a group for not much money.
A family-run Overland taqueria, Durango plates a chile-drowned torta ahogada and tacos with big portions, where a full meal lands under ten dollars.
Try: Torta ahogada and tacos
Tip: The torta ahogada is the signature; tacos round out a cheap feast. Everyone can eat for under ten dollars.
A Cherokee Street taqueria with a patio, La Vallesana serves cheap tacos al pastor, tortas and aguas frescas, a budget anchor of the Mexican Cherokee strip.
Try: Tacos al pastor and tortas
Tip: A few al pastor tacos and an agua fresca make a cheap, satisfying lunch. The patio suits a warm afternoon.
David Choi's Korean-Mexican counter griddles cheap bulgogi tacos and kimchi-fried-rice bowls, a fast and affordable food-truck-born local favourite.
Try: Bulgogi tacos and gogi bowls
Tip: The gogi bowl feeds two lighter eaters; add chips and queso. Fast counter service keeps it quick.
