Here at the office we love finding great meal deals – lunches under $5 or dinner under $10 is a total score. We asked our readers in our email + on Instagram what their go-to meals were + from where when staying on a budget of $10 a person. And, y’all sent in some killer responses.
Asheville has a lot of great restaurants, so we’ve rounded up a list of spots that are a total #MustDo if you’re trying keep it quick + easy. Not fast food, but cheap food.
Keep reading for a list of 20+ places that you’ve shared where a dinner for one will cost you 10 bucks or less. And, if we missed your favorite spot tell us below. ⬇️
Tacos + Burritos
Taco Billy | Photo by @healthyeatstreats
🌮White Duck Taco Shop |📍388 Riverside Dr. + 12 Biltmore Ave. + 16 Miami Circle | 📸 @whiteducktacoavl | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: BBQ Carnitas made with baked beans or Thai Peanut Chicken topped with peanut sauce + mango salsa | ~ $3.75 per taco
🌮Taco Billy |📍201 Haywood Rd. | 📸 @tacobillyasheville | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Yard bird made with fried chicken or Good Lovin packed full of fresh veggies. Also, a great option for breakfast tacos. | ~ $4 per taco
🌮Neo Burrito |📍1341 Parkwood Rd. + 2 Town Square Blvd. + 12 South Tunnel Rd. | 📸 @neoburritoavl | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Jerk Chicken Burrito made with Rice, Beans, Jerk Chicken, Cheese, Sour Cream, Guacamole + Pineapple Salsa. Bonus: Every Wednesday burritos are only $5. | ~ $9
🌮Zia Taqueria |📍521 Haywood rd. | 📸 @ziataqueria | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Baja Fish Taco topped with red cabbage, cilantro, and Baja sauce or the Portobello Mushroom Taco topped with avocado, black bean purée, crema, and cilantro. | ~ $5
🌮Tacos Jaliscos |📍1328 Patton Ave. | 📸 @tacosjalisco28806 | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Burrito Jaliscos filled with lettuce, sour cream, beans, queso, tomato + your choice of meat. Served with rice + beans. | ~ $7
🌮Taco Temple |📍132 Charlotte St. | 📸 @tacotempleavl | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Al Pastor taco with red chile spiced pork or Avocado taco with sweet potato, baby kale, black beans + queso. | ~ $3.50 each
Fried Chicken, Burgers, Pizza + more...
Standard Pizza Co. | Photo by @chelseareynolds_2
🍔Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack |📍1455 Patton Ave. + 3749 Sweeten Creek Rd. | 📸 @rockyshotchickenshack | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: 1 fried leg + 1 fried thigh with mac + cheese on the side. | ~ $9
🍔Asheville Pizza + Brewery |📍675 Merrimon Ave. + 77 Coxe Ave. + 1850 Hendersonville Rd. | 📸 @ashevillebrewingco | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: a giant slice of pizza with your choice of whatever toppings you like for 75 cents each. Vegan cheese + gluten free crust are available. | ~ $3.75 + toppings
🍔Standard Pizza Co |📍631 Haywood Rd. + 755 Biltmore Ave. | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Slice of Supreme Pizza made with pepperoni, italian sausage, sliced meatball, mushroom, onion, green pepper, green & black olives, extra cheese or slice of Greek Pizza topped with artichoke, spinach, feta, green & black olives, fresh garlic. | ~ $2.50 per slice
🍔Farm Burger |📍10 Patton Ave. + 1381 Hendersonville Rd. | 📸 @farmburger | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Build it Burger + make your burger just the way you like with a number of free toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles + FB sauce or add toppings like cheeses, beer-battered onion rings or a fried egg for $1 each. | ~ $7 + toppings.
🍔Tiger Bay Cafe |📍373 Haywood Rd. | 📸 @tigerbaycafe_ | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: The Granny BBQ Sandwich made with smoked chicken tossed in BBQ sauce, smoked gouda, cilantro + red onion. | ~ $6
🍔The Soda Fountain |📍25 Haywood St. | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Take your basic chicken salad sandwich to the next level with their Curry Chicken Salad on wheat. | ~ $6
Try something new…
Baba Nahm | Photo by @nomadicnesthome
🥘Rosetta’s Kitchen |📍116 N Lexington Ave. | 📸 @rosettaskitchen | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Organic Tofu + Avocado Sandwich made with baked organic smoky tofu with avocado, spring mix, red onion, and herb-walnut sauce on sourdough + house-made slaw on the side. | ~ $9
🥘Bomba |📍1 SW Pack Square | 📸 @bombaavl | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Bomba Roll made with scrambled egg, avocado, black beans, potato + feta. | ~ $5
🥘Baba Nahm |📍Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave. | 📸 @babanahm | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Chicken Shawarma Pita made with hummus, Israeli salad, Arabic pickled veggies, lettuce, parsley salad, tahni, amba + zatar. | ~ $7
🥘Zoe’s Kitchen |📍14 Swannanoa River Rd. | 📸 @Zoeskitchen | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Chicken Roll ups stuffed with grilled chicken, tomatoes, feta + caramelized onions. Add Tzatziki Sauce + Pasta Sauce on the side. | ~ $8
🥘Asaka |📍801 Biltmore Ave. | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Teriyaki Chicken with broccoli, fried rice, Japanese carrots + shrimp sauce. | ~ $8
🥘Boone’s Corner Grill | 📍1899 Brevard Rd. | ⏰ hours | Meal Recommendation: Get your classic diner-style breakfast – Big Boy Breakfast: two eggs, bacon or sausage + two sides. | ~ $5
🥘Karma Cafe Asheville |📍8 Brookdale Rd. | 📸 @karamcafeasheville | ⏰ hours | Meal recommendation: Avocado Toast with locally-made focaccia, olive oil, lemon + sea salt. | ~ $6
Between spicy tenders from Rocky’s, a sandwich from Rosetta’s, or chicken roll ups from Zoe’s Kitchen – our team at the office loves these cheap + tasty meals that are perfect for the workday or weekend dinner.
Did we miss any of your favorite places? Let us know your tricks for eating out on a budget here.
