Eat Well, Spend Less: Philly’s Best Meals Under $20
From bánh mì to birria ramen, here's where to fill up on a budget.
Clockwise from the top: Vegano bowl, yuca en escabeche, arroz con gandules, and polito bowl at Amy’s Pastelillos. / Photograph by Mike Prince
It’s tough to get a great meal under $20 these days, and for good reason. Prices on basically everything have gone up, which means restaurants have to charge more to cover labor, ingredients, and even rent. But it doesn’t mean there aren’t spots where you can get a hearty rice bowl, a bánh mì loaded up with deli meats, pâté, and crunchy pickled vegetables, or even a burger at a very reasonable price. Whether you’re a student on a tight budget or a tourist trying to recreate the Philly episode of Food Network’s $40 A Day with Rachel Ray, here’s where you can find incredible bites for $20 or less.
Amy’s Pastelillos, Fishtown
All of the pastelillos at Amy’s are priced at $5, so you can get three and still have money left for tax and tip. But they also do lots of delicious bowls for around $15, like the pollito bowl, which includes rice, stewed chicken, tostones, avocado, and pickled onion, and is practically guaranteed to keep you full all day. 2001 Memphis Street.
Phở 75, East Passyunk
A large bowl of pho at Phở 75 will run you $13.75 before tip and it’ll be in front of you within eight minutes of sitting down at this Washington Avenue staple. The service here is quick and efficient (you have to serve a lot of bowls of soup if you’re gonna price it that affordably) but that’s part of the charm. 1122 Washington Avenue.
Fountain Porter’s burger / Photograph by Chloé Pantazi-Wolber
Fountain Porter, East Passyunk
Fountain Porter serves only three items: a $6 burger, a basket of fries for $4 and a bowl of pickled vegetables for $4. You could order all three for under $20, but you’ll probably also want a beer, so we recommend getting a burger for yourself and a basket of fries to share, leaving you $12 for a beer and tip. 1601 South 10th Street.
Suya Suya, Northern Liberties
Suya Suya does West African comfort food, and they do it quickly and affordably. Their chicken bowl, which includes a generous portion of spicy chicken marinated in Nigerian peanut spice over a serving of their rich jollof rice, plus a side of Brussels sprouts and sweet plantains, for just under $14. After tax and tip, it still hits under $20, and is arguably enough food for two meals. 400 Fairmount Avenue, #2808.
The Antonio breakfast sandwich at Gilda / Photograph by Kae Lani Palmisano
Gilda, Fishtown
We talk a lot about Gilda’s Antonio breakfast sandwich, their $10 Portuguese-inspired beauty crafted with housemade linguiça dripping in what they call “breakfast sauce.” But if you’re looking for more of a substantial bite, try their platter of char-grilled piri piri chicken, which comes with chili-garlic marinated chicken thighs over a bed of saffron rice topped with a bunch of shoe-string fries, all for $17. 300 East Girard Avenue.
Ray’s Cafe and Tea House, Chinatown
Order the eight-piece dumpling sampler ($10.99) and a couple of shrimp spring rolls ($5.50) on the side, and you’ll still have a few bucks left over for a cup of coffee. They also have lunchbox specials featuring Ray’s Cafe favorites like General Tso’s chicken and beef and broccoli, served with steamed white or brown rice and a vegetable spring roll, all for under $15. 141 North 9th Street.
Churro at El Merkury / Photograph courtesy of El Merkury
El Merkury, Center City and Market East
There are so many under-$20 bites to choose from on El Merkury’s menu, but if you’re in the mood for a meal and dessert, go for the Salvadorian pupusas or the Honduran baleadas. They both cost $11 which means you can treat yourself to an $8 churro ice cream sundae. 2104 Chestnut Street; 51 North 12th Street (inside Reading Terminal Market).
Ba Le Bakery, East Passyunk
There are few sandwiches as satisfying as the bánh mì. The the tangy pickled vegetables, the savory deli meats, and the contrasting textures of the silky pâté juxtaposed with the crunchy baguette hit all of the cravings. At Ba Le Bakery you can get two bánh mì made with their freshly baked bread for under $20 so you can have one now and one later. 606 Washington Avenue.
Birria tacos at Juana Tamale / Photograph by Michael Persico
Juana Tamale, East Passyunk
From the quesabirria ramen soup ($17) to the Mexi-pizza ($15) there are a bunch of hearty Mexican meals available at Juana Tamale that won’t break the bank. Chef Jen Zavala is always running specials, and has even been known to barter with customers, so if you’re looking for a great meal for a great deal, go here. 1941 East Passyunk Avenue.
Hannah K Cafe, Point Breeze
If you love the American-Korean breakfast menu at The Breakfast Den, then you’ll love Hannah K Cafe. Everything on the menu here is $19 and under, so you can’t go wrong. We recommend the $13 sang som’mer rolls, which are like an entire breakfast with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, jalapeños, hash browns, and your choice of breakfast meat all wrapped in rice paper, as well as the $15 lemongrass shrimp and grits. 1200 Point Breeze Avenue.
Alif Brew & Mini Mart / Photograph by Amanda DiDio
Alif Brew & Mini Mart, University City
At Alif Brew & Mini Mart, you can get a beef injera wrap and a cup of coffee for around $13, which makes a really nice breakfast or lunch on the go. As a bonus, injera just so happens to be gluten free, if that’s something you’re into. 4501 Baltimore Avenue.
Karak Cha House, University City
Karak Cha House specializes in Indian street food, but you can make a meal from their snacky dishes without breaking the bank. Try the samosa chaat for $10 and a paratha roll with grilled chicken for just $6, and you’ve got yourself an affordable (and delicious) meal. 4201 Chestnut Street.
Bishos, Northeast Philly
Almost everything on Bishos’s menu falls under the $20 mark, but their chicken shawarma rice bowl is a particular good deal. You get a ton of their rotisserie-roasted chicken over rice, plus tons of vegetables and their savory white sauce to top it off. Even with all the fixings, it’s tough to go over $20. 7950 Oxford Avenue.
