Ouch. If you’re feeling the pinch every time you pay at a restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant, you’re not alone. The National Restaurant Association reports that in 2025, 47% of its restaurant operators surveyed said they’d add discounts, deals or promotions to their menus this year.
Bring it on, we say.
We’ve compiled lists of budget-friendly restaurants in North Texas to help you save some money. We’ve picked “cozy and affordable” spots worth your time. But for this story, we asked Dallas Morning News readers to share their favorite affordable restaurants. You picked some places we didn’t know to look!
11|17 in McKinney
Restaurant News
For a nice night out without the hefty price tag, Fairview resident Scott Loudder recommends 11|17 in McKinney’s Stonebridge Ranch. Nearly every entree is $17 or lower, including chicken-fried chicken with cream gravy, blackened catfish, and chopped steak with onions, mushrooms and gravy. Loudder’s go-tos are the meatloaf and the pot roast. On Mondays, the restaurant runs a half-price special on kids meals, and drinks are $1 off at happy hour.
11|17 is at 1910 N. Stronebridge Drive, McKinney. Open seven days a week.
Bistro B in Lake Highlands
Bistro B is known for its spring rolls (pictured), pho, banh mi and more.(DMN)
Dallas resident Shehan Jeyaraja loves Bistro B, the Vietnamese restaurant with a menu so long, you’ll need to spend some time with it. Or just take Jeyaraja‘s recommendation and go with the $5 banh mi, which are buy two, get one free. Yes: $10 for three sandwiches — possibly the best deal on this list.
If you’re feeding several people, Bistro B’s family dinners start at $39.99 and could feed four or more.
Bistro B is at 9780 Walnut St., Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Cafe Italia in Grapevine
For wine drinkers looking for a way to spend less, Cafe Italia in Grapevine allows diners to BYOB — bring your own beverage — with no corking fee. A rarity! Dinner dishes include eggplant Parmesan, rigatoni a la vodka, lasagna and more, each shareable and $18.95. Customers can tack on a side of fettuccine alfredo or pasta fagoli for under $10. Cafe Italia comes recommended by Lantana resident Gregg Mavico.
Cafe Italia is at 2647 Ira E. Woods Ave., Grapevine. Open seven days a week.
Cowboys Restaurant in Lake Dallas
North of Lewisville and south of Denton is Cowboys Restaurant, a diner in Lake Dallas. Generous portions of omelets, fried catfish and chicken-fried steak are the suggestion of Ellice Lovelady, a California transplant who has lived near Lake Dallas, in Corinth, for more than 25 years.
Cowboys Restaurant is at 219 Main St., Lake Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Dallas Diner in Lake Highlands
When you need a price break, breakfast is a great bet. Dallas resident Maureen Wiegert recommends Dallas Diner, the no-nonsense restaurant in Lake Highlands. Breakfast tacos start at $2.99, and a plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon or sausage runs at $8.99. Few items cost more than $10.
Dallas Diner is at 10515 E. Northwest Highway, Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Jaquval in Dallas’ Oak Cliff
Jaquval, a gastropub and brewery, was started by restaurateurs Jason Roberts and Amy Wallace Cowan.(Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)
We love an all-in-one deal. Tyler Kurtz, a Dallas resident, recommends Bishop Arts District bar Jaquval on Wednesdays. Pay $12, get a half-pound burger, fries and a pint of beer.
The Wednesday special runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Should you desire cheap eats before Jaquval opens, its sister restaurant, Trades Deli next door, sells bagels for $2.95.
Jaquval is at 312 W. 7th St., Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Related:Inside Jaquval, Oak Cliff’s newest brewery, and Trades, its next-door deliJD’s Hamburgers in Fort Worth
When actor Jon Hamm was spotted in Fort Worth during ‘Landman’ filming, the co-owner of JD’s Hamburgers seized an opportunity. In 2024, they released the Jon Hammburger, a Wagyu and chirozo burger with blue cheese.(JD’s Hamburgers)
Dallas Morning News reader Peter Levy had a bevy of ideas for affordable dining. “I’m a 26 year veteran of the United States Navy,” he said: “You might guess that I love a great deal.”
He called JD’s an “OMG” type spot: “burger heaven.” Go for the large-cut onion rings and okra fries, Levy said. The burger menu is short, and he likes it that way. Each burger costs about $13. The Cheryl & Bo burger — Hatch chile queso and caramelized onions — sounds like a good bet.
Or, pro tip: Grab brunch at JD’s on Saturdays and Sundays until 2 p.m., and a breakfast quesadilla or a breakfast burger cost just $6.99.
JD’s Hamburgers is at 9901 Camp Bowie W. Blvd., Fort Worth. Open seven days a week.
Related:After 2 Jon Hamm sightings in D-FW, Fort Worth restaurant offers ‘Jon Hammburger’ specialLittle Greek Fresh Grill — 10 D-FW locations
A popular item at Little Greek Fresh Grill is the Greek salad. It comes with the option to add chicken.(Courtesy of Little Greek)
Little Greek Fresh Grill’s food is “delicious, consistent [and] a great value,” said Dallas resident Tammy Cancela. A “light meal,” as the menu calls it, includes chicken souvlaki, $12.99, or spanakopita (spinach pie served with a Greek salad), $11.49. The Olympian pita, a combo of chicken and gyro meat, costs just $9.99.
Portions are so big, you can share.
Little Greek Fresh Grill has restaurants in Addison, Coppell, Frisco, Little Elm, Murphy, McKinney, Preston Hollow, Richardson and two in Plano. Open seven days a week.
Piranha Killer Ramen in Arlington
The key is to visit Piranha Killer Ramen for happy hour, from 3-7 p.m. daily. Sushi costs as low as $4 for a cucumber or avocado roll. Hamachi scallion rolls cost $4.50 and spicy tuna rolls go for $6. If you wish, pair those with $4 beers or $5 wines, and you’ve got an early dinner for a killer price.
“I’m from LA and very picky on sushi, but they pass the test,” said Grand Prairie resident Colette Creighton. “Can’t beat $5 rolls!”
Piranha Killer Ramen is at 309 Curtis Mathes Way, Arlington. Open seven days a week.
El Ranchito in White Settlement
Navy vet Levy found El Ranchito near Fort Worth after a friend raved about it on Nextdoor. His wife loves the Lockheed Special: two cheese enchiladas with rice, beans, salsa, and beef or chicken fajita meat for $10.49 at lunchtime. “It might not be fancy,” Levy said of El Ranchito, “but everything is flavorful, filling and there’s always a little kick to surprise your taste buds.”
El Ranchito is at 9016 White Settlement Road, White Settlement. Closed Sundays.
Sevan G&G in East Dallas
In this 2010 file photo at Sevan G&G, the mazza plate includes hummus, roasted eggplant dip, tabouli salad and dolmas.(Evans Caglage)
“If we tell you, it’s not a secret anymore, right?” asks Dallas resident Pat Reimann before divulging that Sevan G&G on Greenville Avenue in Dallas is a fave. The vibe here is “cozy and romantic, reasonably priced” Mediterranean food. Gyros cost $9.99. Many of the entrees, like kafta kabob, $18.99, or pistachio chicken, $25.99, could be shared.
Actually, yes: Get an appetizer and just one entree. Or else: “We take half of it home,” Reimann said. Leftovers!
Sevan G&G is at 2221 Greenville Ave., Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Scalini’s Pizza and Pasta in Dallas’ Lakewood neighborhood
At Scalini’s, diners can spend as low as $14 for a large plate of manicotti or $14.50 for veal Parmesan.
Lunch at Scalini’s is even more reasonable: $10 for a pizza, $10.50 for a meatball sandwich or $8 for a salad and a cup of soup. Lake Highlands resident Bob Knight made special note of the wine list, and indeed, many bottles are sold for $20 to $25.
Scalini’s Pizza and Pasta is at 2021 Abrams Road, Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Taco y Vino in Oak Cliff
Tacos (from left) chicken tinga, chochinita pibil and crispy pork carnitas at Taco y Vino in Oak Cliff(Rose Baca / Staff Photographer)
Bishop Arts District gem Taco y Vino was recommended by several News readers. Hannah Davis said it’s a cinch for date night, where she and a date can order six tacos and a bottle of wine for $50 — a price so low, that’s “unheard of anymore,” she said on X.
Taco y Vino is at 213 W. 8th St., Dallas. Open seven days a week.
La Tapatia Meat Market in Carrollton
Part grocery, part restaurant, La Tapatia in Carrollton can serve a family in plenty of ways. Carrollton resident Matthew Willoughby suggests ordering tacos, rice and beans — it’s $30 or less to feed a family of four, he said.
We love his description: “Their barbacoa is a rich, succulent slow-cooked meat that feels like a warm embrace for your taste buds. The meat is marinated with an amazing mix of spices and cooked low and slow until it’s meltingly tender.
“When you pull it apart, it’s impossibly juicy, with ribbons of fat that melt into the fibers, infusing every bite. The juices drip luxuriously into warm corn tortillas, soaking them just enough to mingle with fresh toppings like cilantro, a squeeze of lime and a dash of spicy green salsa.”
(Willoughby, do you want a job as a food writer?)
La Tapatia Meat Market is at 3065 N. Josey Lane, Carrollton. Open seven days a week.
Urban Crust in Plano
Urban Crust in Plano has a rooftop bar.(Anja Schlein / Special Contributor)
For gourmands who love a wine dinner but don’t want to spend a fortune, Urban Crust in Plano offers a monthly event for $75 per person. It’s four courses of food and four wines. Now: We wouldn’t call a $75 dinner a bargain, but when compared to tasting menus in Dallas-Fort Worth that can cost $150 per person or more, Urban Crust’s seems quite reasonable.
The next wine dinner is Aug. 11 and focuses on the Italian region of Campania. If you can afford to treat yourself, Plano resident James Roskopf said it’s worth the price tag.
Urban Crust is at 1006 E. 15th St., Plano. Open seven days a week.
Wabi House in Dallas, Fort Worth and Frisco
Dallas resident Philip Kingston offers a cost-saving tip: Go to Asian restaurant Wabi House and just order appetizers. There’s Japanese fried chicken for $7, shishito peppers for $7, meatballs for $7.50, salad for $5.50, beets and Brussels for $8 and more.
Or, go at lunch, Dallasite Brent Daily suggested, for the $8 ramen special.
Wabi House is at 1802 Greenville Ave., Dallas; 3675 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco; and 1229 8th Ave., Fort Worth. Open seven days a week.
Whisk Crepes Cafe in Dallas and Plano
Whisk Crepes Cafe founder Julien Eelsen makes the French dish his restaurant is known for in Dallas.(Rose Baca / Staff Photographer)
For a sweet or savory meal that’s friendly for gluten-free eaters, News reader Creighton recommends Whisk Crepes Cake in Dallas and Plano. Make your own crepe for $7, or choose from a list of recommended combinations like the Parisian: Swiss, ham, bechamel and Dijon mustard for $10.
Also, an espresso costs $2.50. Hooray! Skip the complicated $10 coffee and go with a simple shot of caffeine.
Whisk Crepes Cafes are at 408 W. 8th St., Dallas, and 7800 Windrose Ave. (inside Legacy Food Hall), Plano. A third Whisk is in Nashville. D-FW restaurants are open seven days a week.
Plus: 3 affordable restaurant recommendations from the Dallas Morning News food team
We eat for a living, but we’re tired of paying big bucks for dinner, too. Here are a few more recommendations from The News’ experts:
Food From Galilee in University Park
Food editor Anna Butler calls this Snider Plaza restaurant her “go-to” for “humble, wholesome and laid-back” food.
Some of Anna Butler’s favorite items at Food from Galilee include chicken and rice soup with kubbi and grape leaves with meat filling.(Anna Butler)
“Yes, it’s a go-to for an affordable meal,” she said, “but it’s where you’ll find me annually for my birthday lunch, which typically rings in between $11 and $16 depending on how hungry I am. I always get a bowl of the light, yet satisfying chicken and rice soup ($4.75), with a zing of lemon, fresh parsley and sweet and toasty almonds. Then comes the hard part: picking a side, or two. Kubbi, hummus, grape leaves and cabbage rolls are my personal favorites (all between $4.75 and $4.95). Prices tick up at dinner time, when patrons are encouraged to order plates that come with rice and sides — but it’s good to keep in mind the portions are large. You can still get shawarma-packed pitas and gyros for $8.95, if you’re feeling hungry and frugal at supper time (they run you $7.95 at lunch). The staff is exceptionally kind to kids, which is just the cherry on top. My nieces and nephews also love the hummus and ask for seconds of the chicken shawarma with a simple, thin tahini sauce for dipping.”
Food from Galilee is at 6710 Snider Plaza, Dallas. Closed Sundays.
Keller’s Hamburgers — 3 Dallas locations
The No. 5 at Keller’s Hamburgers is a double-double with lettuce, tomato and special sauce.(Guy Reynolds)
Food writer Imelda García recommends a cheeseburger, fries and a beer from one of Dallas’ classic burger joints, Keller’s.
“For $15 or $20,” she said, “you can eat and drink very well while enjoying the experience of dining in the trunk of your car.”
Keller’s restaurants are at 6537 E. Northwest Highway, 10226 Garland Road and 10554 Harry Hines Blvd., all in Dallas. Open seven days a week.
Resident Taqueria in Lake Highlands
Resident Taqueria’s menu changes. Here’s the braised pork shoulder taco.(Claire Ballor)
Food writer Claire Ballor recommends Resident Taqueria, the strip mall taco shop that is now bigger, after a recent expansion. Most tacos cost $5 or $6.
“It’s also a great spot if you’re dinging out with kids,” Ballor wrote in a 2024 story. “The $3 kids meal comes with a chicken or steak quesadilla, rice and fruit. This place is easy on the wallet without sacrificing an ounce of flavor.”
Resident Taqueria is at 9661 Audelia Road, Dallas. Closed Sundays and Mondays.