Why We Love It: Food connects people. Grab a picnic table by the water or head Budget-friemdly the funky bugdet-friendly, which was featured budget-friendly dining the budget-friendlt budget-friendly dining Kenny Chesney's Money-saving food recommendations "When I See This Bar. Pork shoulders are cooked low and slow over coals in a pit that is adjacent to the service counter. Why We Love It: Good food has a way of bringing people together. Italian El Segundo. The fried chicken gets its spice from a secret recipe batter that the chicken is marinated in.

Budget-friendly dining -

This tiny gem fills up fast, and they have no problem refusing people that don't have a reservation. The oldest eatery in the Keys a Cuban fisherman opened it in , Pepe's is worth a visit for the history alone. While it's still a local's place, visitors have gotten hip to this tiny gem despite its unassuming frontage.

Their motto, "A fairly good place, for quite a long while," says it all. Their outside patio is charming, but the walls inside are packed with flotsam and jetsam from the past decades that will keep you entertained.

Recommended for Best Value because : The oldest eatery in the Keys, Pepe's is worth a visit for the history alone. Claudia's expert tip : Expect to wait for a table, but you can grab a mimosa made with fresh squeezed juice from the bar while you do.

For breakfast and lunch, this charming bistro offers French classics like sweet and savory crepes along with fresh baguette sandwiches at a modest price.

Note: dinner prices go up considerably. Grab a window seat and watch the parade of scooters, bikes and a horse-mounted policeman along Duval Street. Of course the crepes are the star of the menu, but it's hard to choose between the savory and the sweet.

The savory crepes range from a basic egg, ham and Swiss to their La Ratatouille, which combines eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onions and tomatoes, topped with a fried egg.

The sweet crepes wow with simple flavor combinations like banana, sugar and rum or the crowd fave--Key lime sauce with whipped cream. Make sure to check the chalkboard specials for the fresh quiche and soup of the day.

Recommended for Best Value because : This charming cafe offers French classics like crepes and fresh baguette sandwiches at modest prices for breakfast and lunch.

Claudia's expert tip : This little bistro is always hopping, so weekdays are best for a leisurely breakfast or lunch without a wait. Note the dinner prices go up considerably. For over 26 years, locals have been lining up outside this grocery store's grab-and-go window for authentic Cuban coffee and sandwiches.

Even tourists have gotten hip to this spot off the beaten path, the adventurous seek it out at the corner of Southard and Grinnell Streets. The high-test Cuban coffee will start your day off with a jolt at a fraction of the cost of any coffee chain.

Family-owned, they're known for having the best Cuban Mix sandwich in town. The traditional Cuban sandwich has mustard, dill pickles, roast pork, ham and Swiss cheese layered between pressed Cuban bread.

The Key West Mix version adds mayonnaise lettuce and tomato. Closed on Sundays. Recommended for Best Value because : Over 26 years, people have been lining up outside this grocery store for authentic Cuban coffee and the best Cuban Mix sandwich on-the-cheap.

Claudia's expert tip : Try the bollos, a hush puppy style snack made from black eyed peas. The old-timers claim this is the only place that makes them right.

Cash only. Off the beaten path, this no-frills restaurant serves up generous portions of the best Cuban food on the island at reasonable prices. Mid-day the place is usually bustling with the local lunch break crowd mixed with a healthy dose of visitors in-the-know.

The hodge-podge décor includes diner-style tables covered in a red pepper-patterned plastic table cloths, photos of Cuba and a life-size wooden Indian--a nod to the namesake Cuban tribe.

A basket of fresh Cuban bread arrives at your table first with thick fluffy slices slathered in butter. Pair it with a pitcher of the house sangria. Follow up with your order of entrees like tender roast pork or perfectly-spiced picadillo a ground beef entrée. The food comes quickly accompanied by a plate overflowing with fried plantains so sweet you may not even want dessert.

Of course, you'll have dessert. The rich creamy flan is too yummy to ignore. Recommended for Best Value because : Off the beaten path, this no-frills diner serves up generous portions of the best Cuban food on the island at reasonable prices.

Claudia's expert tip : Watch the daily specials for some real treats like the white bean soup on Mondays and Oxtail on Saturdays. Just like the classic waterfront joints of Key West past, the Half Shell Raw Bar serves the freshest seafood in a casual atmosphere.

You can actually watch your dinner being unloaded from the boats at the docks, while looking out over the Historic Seaport.

The Shrimp Po' Boy sandwich and the conch ceviche are two of their timeless menu options. Grab a picnic table by the water or head for the funky bar, which was featured on the cover of Kenny Chesney's single "When I See This Bar.

Recommended for Best Value because : This laid-back joint offers fresh seafood and waterfront dining at prices that won't break the bank.

This seafood shack may look like it's barley standing, but the food certainly holds its own. What began as makeshift food truck in the 70s, opened by local legend Buddy Owen, has become a staple in Key West. The fresh fish sandwiches are simple, yet the best in town. Bobby Flay and his Food Network camera crew even paid a visit for the cracked conch sandwich--tiny strips of fried conch stuffed between fresh Cuban bread and shot with Key Lime mayo.

Conch fritters, salads, burgers, and hot dogs are equally tasty, and the anything goes atmosphere sums up the entire town. The restaurant stays open until p. on most nights they'll close early if they aren't busy , and on Friday nights, you can enjoy an all-out musical jam session.

Recommended for Best Value because : At this funky seafood shack, the best cracked conch sandwich in town will only set you back twelve bucks. Claudia's expert tip : While it may look like a junk heap from afar, there's a hidden gem of a restaurant inside.

For a taste of a true local's joint just five minutes away from Old Town, follow the signs to the Hogfish Bar and Grill, located in Safe Harbor Marina on Stock Island.

Try anything that's made with their namesake specialty like the "Killer" Hogfish Sandwich, which is smothered in Swiss cheese, onions and mushrooms on a fresh Cuban roll. The Hogfish Fingers or Fried Hogfish Tacos are also favorites, or dig into a plate of "Peel 'n' Eat" Key West pink shrimp.

All dishes call for an ice cold beer. This open-air, casual restaurant is a diamond-in-the-rough with live entertainment and a popular happy hour.

The owners try to maintain that Old Key West vibe, and views of Key West's last working waterfront are a bonus. Recommended for Best Value because : A true local's joint just five minutes away from Old Town, Hogfish is a great value with their namesake specialty and waterfront views.

Claudia's expert tip : It's called "a great place if you can find it" for a reason. Punch the address into your GPS and watch for the signs to Stock Island. The Caribbean-inspired Bien formerly known as Paseo keeps a low profile.

There's no large sign, Facebook page--or much seating for that matter. None of those things have kept this spot from quickly becoming a local's fave for its tasty dishes, large portions and low prices.

This Westside mainstay, located in a small Centinela Avenue strip mall, serves 19 types of pupusas that include classics like pork and cheese and loroco and cheese, as well as vegan options like squash and potato or beans and soyrizo. For small-bite options of classic cakes and pies like pecan and sweet potato plus peach cobbler, of course , get over to this decades-old Inglewood spot.

The pastries, made on the premises, recall Hong Kong dessert shops with egg tarts, cookies, and pineapple buns that work great with iced milk tea. A terrific little neighborhood spot for those homesick for Taipei or Hong Kong.

Busy Bee may well be the most famous restaurant in all of San Pedro, owing to its giant and meaty belly-buster sandwich. Find king-sized steamed dumplings at this strip mall spot in Koreatown, along with fried chicken, soup, and more. A post shared by MyungIn Dumplings myungindumplings.

Syrian-born Borjstar owner Abu Jemil serves his Arabic-style shawarma in the South Bay, where his chicken and beef both mixed with lamb come either as shawarma wraps or plates with thin, delicate flatbreads.

This means reasonably priced food that still delivers deep, homemade flavors like banh mi, pork riblets, and truly tasty popcorn chicken. The food is served cafeteria style with hot trays of curry, rice, and more that are available as part of a meal, or a la carte.

A post shared by Aloha Cafe and Catering alohacafe. Just look at the chili dogs at this Whittier Boulevard mainstay, especially when served up with American cheese, lots of mustard, and chunks of raw white onion. Huge Tree Pastry specializes in fan tuan, a Taiwanese breakfast that consists of glutinous rice wrapped around a crispy rod of youtiao and meat floss.

Be advised this place is cash-only, so make sure to stop by the ATM on the way. A post shared by Huge Tree Pastry 大樹 hugetreepastry.

The pani puri are beautifully made delicate whole-wheat shells filled with mung beans, potatoes, and jaljira, a cool liquid imbued with herbs and spices, and drizzled with chutneys. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

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Pocket Flipboard Email. View as Map. by Eater Staff Updated Jan 17, , pm PST. Read More Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices.

Learn more about our editorial process. Cavaretta's Italian Deli. Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. Meghan McCarron. Also featured in:. Los Cocos Panaderia y Pupuseria.

To Free product samples high-res images, visit Discounted pantry staples gallery. Freebie offers online fact, some of the most Discounted pantry staples culinary delights are budget-feiendly Discounted pantry staples on the wallet. Here are budget-griendly few options where you can delight your taste buds without getting a second job. Italian cuisine lovers are going to adore Coltivare. Try grilled figs, pickled butternut squash or chicken wings from the first course or spaghetti, gourmet pizza or a wood-grilled chicken dish for the second course.

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