20 best cheap eats in Boston under $20

Join students and nearby office workers for hand-pulled noodles, spicy soups and the takeaway spots namesake beef flatbread sandwiches. The choices of regional Xi’an noodle dishes will leave you satiated and smiling for a little over ten dollars. You can't beat Gene’s Hot Sour Noodle Soup: a bowl of chewy noods in a hot, spicy and sour broth with bean sprouts, carrots, cilantro and pork. You can add lamb for an extra $3.50.

This East Somerville gem specializes in flavor-rich and wallet-friendly Central American fare. While this place offers plenty of tempting traditional dishes—including sopa de res, pork adobada tortas and tamales de elote—if you’re staying on budget, order the kitchen’s delectable pupusas. For $3.99 each, these super filling corn cakes are stuffed with tasty goodness like beans or loroco, and come with the customary topping duo of salsa roja and curtido (a spicy, slightly fermented slaw). When it comes to this El Salvadorian speciality, we usually grab a couple filled with slow-cooked shredded pork and melty cheese—and then take a food coma nap.

Banh Mi Ba Le serves up authentic Vietnamese classics each day, starting bright and early at 7am. Their daily specials vary depending on the freshest produce and meats available. The result is delicious banh mi sandwiches at a great price. Newbies to this sandwich should start with the well-priced dac biet, a pork and pate sandwich served with homemade mayo, fish sauce, scallion oil, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro and soy sauce.

From founders Melissa Stefanini and Sebastian Galvez, Buenas’ doughy pockets of deliciousness draw inspiration not only from their South American heritage, but also from foods from around the globe. Every weekday, the shop offers two empanadas and a side of ensalada roja for $11.11, which is an ideal lunch. Stick to some tried and true combos, including the Buenas Beef, the store’s best selling empanada packed with ground beef, onion and chimichurri sauce, as well as its classic Ham and Cheese.Some days, they’ll feature creative empanada flavors, like Chicken Parm and Crab Rangoon, which comes with house-made duck sauce for your dipping pleasure. You can also order bulk empanadas frozen and heat them up at home.

If you’re looking for incredible and authentic Ethiopian food, look no further than Fasika Cafe in Roxbury—and if you’re hungry and on a budget, the beef tibs sub is what you need. This eatery offers a mouth-watering array of traditional dishes bursting with North African spices and waiting to be devoured with injera. For just over $10, order one of the most flavor-packed sandwiches they’ll probably ever taste: the beef tibs sub, which is brimming with juicy sauteed beef, onions and green peppers that have all been punched up, thanks to fragrant, aromatic spices.

The menu is filled with sandwiches created by Boston's top chefs, like Flour Bakery’s Joanne Chang and Bar Volpe’s Karen Akunowicz, and while $19.95 (or a few dollars more) may sound high for a sandwich, these things could feed an army. So grab a friend, split one of the sandwiches, order a skinny marg and you are in for a swell night on the patio.

Regulars line up at this old-school North End takeout spot as early as 10:30am, because they know not to risk missing out on delectable, super cheap Sicilian slices. Even folks trying to get a table at nearby restaurants have been known to grab a slice while they wait, so Galleria Umberto usually sells out. It’s cash only, but two slices and a soda might be the ideal cheap lunch.

Anna’s has been a go-to for anyone seeking homestyle Mexican food at a decent price since 1995. With seven locations around town, nothing beats the al pastor burrito for a filling meal. It'll curb your hunger with marinated pork cooked on a rotisserie alongside pineapple and onion. With healthy portions of rice, beans and any additional toppings, and you're all set for the day.

This longtime workday lunch go-to is the place to score an affordable and filling small sub with chips and a soda to bring back to your desk! For a belly warming treat, order a large Steak Bomb with cheese (and the secret to an extra creamy variation is to add mayo too!).

The Speed Dog is a Boston tradition dating back to 1975, when Ezra “Speed” Anderson started selling them out of his famous cart in Roxbury’s Newmarket Square. After Ezra’s passing, Troquet owner Chris Campbell inherited the weiner’s secret recipe and brought back this bunned beauty. Order one of these beasts of a dog, and you’ll see that they’ve remained unchanged and still make a whole meal unto themselves; they’re still the half-pound, all-beef Pearl frank topped with special chili sauce, sweet relish, mustard and chopped onions that our city knows and loves.

Hailing from the streets of Emilia Romagna in Italy, the popular piadina has found its place here in Boston’s very own North End. Caffe Ducali sells these traditional and tasty, wood-fired flatbread sandwiches for takeaway during lunch service only. The kitchen at Ducali crams its piadine with a whole selection of different fillings, but the most affordable options are the caprese (tomato, mozzarella and basil) or melanzane (grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke aioli and fresh ricotta), which both ring at $9.

This South Boston sub shop has generations of loyal fans, and why wouldn’t they? They serve massive subs that are quickly made, for not a lot of money. “The cheesesteak is hearty, cheesy, and served on crunchy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside bread. You really can’t ask for more at the price, just have your order ready when you step up to the counter at lunchtime.

You’ll probably find a line down the block at this small, Porter Square ramen shop. Bowls are big, flavorful and inexpensive. The House Ramen here (delicious broth and noodles topped with pork, egg, beansprouts, nori, corn and scallions) is big and filling, and starts at a reasonable $14, while the spicy miso and others are just a bit more at $14.50. 

This homegrown burger joint offers a retro vibe, reasonable prices and late hours, making it a local favorite. You’ll find the standard selection of burgers and fries, plus turkey burgers, veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs. The standard burger, which comes with lettuce, tomato and pickles, is the lowest priced handheld on the menu. Want a little more? Get it with cheese and/or bacon for not much extra money.

For more than 60 years, Sullivan’s has been dishing out cheap dogs in Southie to loyal, hungry locals who love a bargain. It’s a simple, steamed dog served in a toasted bun that's then loaded up with hearty chili and cheddar cheese. It's filling and satisfying—and the water view from Castle Island doesn't cost a cent extra.

This Fenway mainstay gets packed before Red Sox games with fans who crave a quick and cheap pre-game bite. The interior is small and cheerful, while the food is filling and flavorful. Tacos de la Casa menu and get the Rajas con Queso. You’ll get two tortillas stuffed with black beans, roasted poblano chiles and Jack cheese with salsa fresca.

Effie’s, a family-run favorite in Roslindale, serves exceptional Greek takeout at affordable prices. Flavorful meats are cradled in thick, warm pita, salads are overflowing with feta and chicken, tzatziki is prepared fresh in-house and spinach pies are full and flaky. For your best bet, the traditional chicken souvlaki pita is everything you want for a filling meal, served with red onion, tomato, tzatziki and a generous side of fries.

The ubiquitous Chicken and Rice Guys dot the local food landscape with trucks, pop-ups and brick-and-mortar spots. Inexpensive and flavorful, their halal street fare is great for a quick and satisfying lunch or takeaway dinner. The Guys’ plate includes well seasoned grilled chicken, rice, pita, salad and your choice of sauce.

Saloniki offers fresh, farm-to-table Greek fare for a very reasonable price. Souvlaki sandwiches feature tender grilled meats and local produce. Rice plates and pitas include lemon-oregano grilled chicken, roasted pomegranate-glazed eggplant and spicy lamb kefte. For an even more frugal selection, we suggest the vegetarian zucchini fritters pita, featuring zucchini-feta fritters, greens, tomato, onion, herbs, fries, garlic yogurt and secret sauce.

The original Kelly’s Roast Beef location has been serving hungry Revere Beach-goers since it first opened in 1951. Kelly’s is a one-stop shop for all things quintessentially New England, including lobster rolls, clam chowder and fried scallops. But its thinly sliced roast beef, piled high on a buttered and griddled bun, is the winner here. Top it with the customary combo of mayo, barbecue sauce and cheese to make it a true North Shore threeway, and you’re good to go.