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[title]As much as we love treating ourselves to a fancy meal at some of Chicago's best fine dining destinations, our wallets appreciate a break every now and then. So we turned to our Tastemaker community with a simple question: What's your favorite place for budget-friendly eats in Chicago? We're talking hot dogs, burritos, tacos and egg rolls. Here's where nine real Chicagoans eat when they're pinching pennies.
"I am a Wiener's Circle loyalist. Every summer for the last five years, I've created an event on Facebook [called] 'I want a hot dog.' It's the one time of year I invite friends to indulge on a Chicago-style dog and the amazingly fresh cheese fries at Lincoln Park's sassiest hot dog stand. The best time to go? Always after 11pm." —Mary McMahon
"I live for Jaimito's Burritos on Clybourn. They do a gyro burrito (you read that right) and they are open until 3am. I’m also [very] into Chicago Bagel Authority and Las Delicias Restaurant’s pupusas up in Albany Park." —Emma Meyer
"Stanley’s has a salad bar that is $1.50 [per pound]. It’s a little minimalist, but I have never succeeded in building a lunch that costs more than $3." —Charles Blake
"Cemitas Puebla is an excellent choice for highly flavorful and authentic meals. I recommend the pollo cemita, which is loaded with shredded chicken, Oaxacan cheese, smashed avocado and chipotle sauce on a house-made sesame roll. At under $10, this hearty torta is satiating for a great value!" —Kanchan Garg
"Jake's Pup in the Ruf: It's the best in my neighborhood for cheap and delicious food. It's best at Chicago's authentic dishes, like Chicago-style hot dogs and chili dogs. They have almost everything you could ever want on the menu. Plus, their ice cream machine always works." —Molly Tullis
"SGD Dubu Tofu House and Korean BBQ, located in H-Mart’s West Loop food court, serves authentic, flavor-forward food. My favorite dish is the bibimbap, a hot stone plate with seasoned tofu, steamed rice, fresh sautéed veggies, kimchi and bean curd." —KG
"Aloha Eats is my absolute top cheap restaurant. Authentic Hawaiian food wrapped up in a casual, friendly atmosphere keeps me coming back more than I'd like to admit. My favorite thing to order is the mini tofu katsu: breaded tofu, rice and tangy sauce. At just $6, [it's] a perfect meal for anyone on the go." —Carolyn Moore
"Big Star all day. Two tacos, a Tecate and high-end tequila shot for under $10? I leave one happy girl with a slight buzz and a belly full of delicious mexican goodness." —Hilary Mikulich
"Clark Street Dog: great food from hot dogs to Italian beef. It's a great spot for late-night eats, as they are open until 3am most nights. Friendly staff and super cheap. There's also a bar there with cheap drinks." —Marissa Auslander
"Little Vietnam in Uptown. The food is authentic, cheap, incredibly fresh and downright amazing. Get the vermicelli rice noodle bowl with pork for under $10. Add the egg rolls for just $2, and you’ll have left overs for days. The Banh Mi sandwiches are the best I’ve had in the city and only $6." —Kristy Katzmann