Orlando is home to just about every chain restaurant you can name, but you don’t have to order from the dollar menu to save a buck. Check out this list of fresh, cheap eats for all kinds of affordable cuisine in the Theme Park Capital of the World.
1. Beth’s Burger Bar
This downtown Orlando diner serves creative burgers and hand-spun milkshakes, plus beer and wine. Even though Beth’s Burger Bar has won multiple “Best Local Burger” awards, nothing on the menu is over 10 bucks. Customize your own mouthwatering burger, or try a signature combination. For just $5.24 for a single patty, the popular Peanut Butter Burger features housemade peanut butter sauce, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, and A-1 steak sauce. It’s better than it sounds. Go all out and get the garlic parm fries and a milkshake piled high with whipped cream. Beth’s Burger Bar now has a location in Orlando’s tourism district, close to Universal Orlando Resort on Universal Boulevard, and another in south Orlando.
2. King Bao
Just north of downtown, this chef-owned and operated no-frills spot is part of Orlando’s Mills 50 district, something you should definitely know about before moving to Orlando. As the name suggests, they serve highly addictive baos using high-quality ingredients. Sweet and savory flavors fill soft, airy steamed bao buns, which each cost less than four dollars. Get two baos and a drink for $7. The Hogzilla is made with thick-cut braised pork belly, pickled carrots and daikon, ground honey roasted peanuts, and cilantro. For vegans, The Veganville bao is made with crispy tofu. Try their fancy tater tots, like the TruffleTots, made with truffle oil, truffle salt, and chives, for just three bucks. They even have a couple of dessert bun options, like the Igloo, an ice cream bao, fried with caramel sauce and served with honey and roasted peanuts.
3. Mrs. Potato Restaurant
This cafe located in the Kirkman Oaks Shopping Center (less than 10 minutes from Universal Orlando Resort) was featured by Guy Fieri on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Mrs. Potato specializes in (surprise!) potatoes…rosti potatoes to be exact. The Swiss version of a hashbrown, rosti potatoes are coarsely grated, fried into a pie, and stuffed with your choice of filling, from bacon and cheese to chili. At $8-$10 a dish, you’ll leave with a full wallet and tummy.
4. Tako Cheena
This busy, compact Orlando original is also located in the Mills 50 district. Trust us when we say that if you don’t like theme parks, Mills 50 district is your spot. It’s packed with shops, entertainment, and restaurants like Tako Cheena, which specializes in Asian fusion cuisine, stuffing Latin American dishes like tacos, burritos, and empanadas with Pan-Asian fillings. Try a house taco like the Thai Peanut Chicken for $3.75, or an Asian hot dog like the Banh Mi Hot Dog for less than five bucks. They also serve unique burritos packed with half a pound of protein, like the Indian Butter Chicken burrito. A giant flour tortilla is stuffed with savory, medium heat Indian curry masala blended with chickpeas, tomato, white and sweet potatoes, jasmine or basmati rice, sour cream, and cilantro, and it costs just a little over 10 bucks.
5. Beefy King
Beefy King is the king of cheap Orlando restaurants, due to their signature hot, fresh, roast beef sandwiches. Located close to downtown in Orlando’s Milk District, the family-owned and operated establishment has been around since 1968. A regular roast beef sandwich will run you just under five bucks. They also serve turkey, pastrami, corned beef, BBQ pork, and veggie sandwiches. Get yours with some Beefy Spuds (aka tater tots) and a hand-spun milkshake.
6. Gringos Locos
This award-winning homegrown fast-casual Mexican chain has five area locations serving up tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Everything on the menu is under $10, including the Double D’s taco, a queso-coated soft tortilla wrapped around a crunchy tortilla and filled with your choice ground beef, chicken, or roasted pork, black bean or pinto beans, then topped with cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream for just $3.39. This local favorite is open until 3am, so it’s great for a late-night meal. Or, go for happy hour from 4-8pm for $2 tacos, free chips and salsa, and discounted sangria.
7. Se7en Bites
Fittingly claiming our #7 spot, this beloved bakeshop just east of downtown in the heart of Orlando’s Milk District was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Pastry Chef and Owner Trina Gregory-Propst puts a modern twist on her grandmother’s Southern comfort food recipes. Breakfast and lunch are served all day, with brunch on Saturday and Sundays. The menu is complemented by seasonal and daily specials, made-from-scratch using fresh, local ingredients when possible.
For breakfast, the most popular dish is the 7th Trimester, a buttermilk garlic biscuit, topped with an over-medium egg and applewood smoked bacon, covered with Se7en Bites’ five-cheese mac n’ cheese, and topped with a potato chip bacon crumble. Leave your diet, but bring your budget, this sinfully delicious breakfast rings in under $10. Another popular dish, the Chicken Pot Pie is only available on Thursday and Friday, starting at 11:30am until they run out. Save room for something sweet—this is a bakery after all. The dessert menu features scones, pies, cake, cookies, and more. Their signature Vanilla Bean Bourbon Bacon Moonpie is available daily until the supplies run out.
8. Lazy Moon Pizza
For a ridiculously large slice of pizza at an incredibly small price, head to Lazy Moon Pizza. Not only is it cheap (slices start at $4.45), it’s delicious too, made with aged dough, homemade sauce, and fresh toppings. They also serve beer, wine, and cocktails. A Boxcar Willy deal includes a slice and a pint of PBR for $5.50. You can create your own slice or pie, but we suggest trying a “Lazy Fave” like The Buff (pictured above) made with red sauce, blue cheese crumbles, buffalo chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch for $6.50. Calzones are around $8, too. Both locations of the hip pizzeria at University and Mills/50 have a bocce ball court, so you can order a microbrew and play a game while you wait.
9. Sticky Rice
This casual Laotian street food restaurant is located just east of Mills 50. They serve tapas-style meals, with small plates under $10. The menu stars the restaurant’s namesake, a snowball sized sphere of sticky rice, which is meant to be paired with one of the other small plates like the lemongrass pork sausage. They also have salads, sweets, and specialty drinks.
10. Bartaco
Located in the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips shopping center, this taco chain is known for its reasonably priced, upscale street food made with fresh ingredients. There are 12 tacos on the menu, none of which cost more than $3.50, so you can get a couple. Try the masa-crusted Crispy Rock Shrimp taco served on a four-inch corn tortilla, topped with remoulade sauce and lemon parsley slaw. If you’ve got an extra six bucks, get the guacamole, too. High Tide happy hour happens from 5-6:30pm every weekday, with discounts on sangria, beer, wine, and cocktails.
Get started on your apartment search by checking out thousands of rentals on Zumper and you’ll be one step closer to trying one of these budget-friendly eateries next time you want some good food minus the big bill.
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