For $10 or Less, You Can Get a Great Meal at These St. Louis Restaurants

It can be difficult to find a good lunch downtown, but Havana’s on Washington Avenue makes it happen. Known for their Cuban sandwiches ($12), Havana’s also has a large number of $10 and under sandwiches on the menu, including a “Classic Ham and Cheese,” a Medianoche sandwich and more. If you have a couple of extra bucks you can try their empanadas and pastries, too.

It seems like Asian Latin American fusion food would be expensive (twice the flavors, right?). But Saucy Porka is here to hook you up. Located on the edge of Midtown, Saucy Porka’s exciting blend of culinary traditions has given us a variety of new foods to obsess over like Nutella doughnut bites and chorizo egg rolls — and most things on the menu are under ten bucks.

Located on the northern edge of Forest Park Southeast, Songbird is a great spot to get quality breakfast food for way less than you’d spend at most brunch establishments. Grits, poundcake and English muffins are all favorites here, but you’d be making a big mistake if you didn’t order the “Classic” which is aged white cheddar on toasted sourdough topped with sea salt and honey.

Vegans often have to pay extreme prices for specially-made quality food, but not at Station No. 3 in Benton Park. Set in a former gas station, this quirky spot sells vegan food, vegetarian food and food for omnivores, but it’s all the same level of amazing. Most of the food here is vegan, but you’d never know it because it’s all so tasty and so cheap. Don’t skip the burnt ends or the nachos.

From the $10 falafel to the $9 hummus, J’s has no problems filling a belly on a budget. Located in Sappington, J’s is a favorite spot for Mediterranean food in St. Louis and it’s easy to see why. Not only is the food delicious, but the prices are more than fair. You can get a meat, cheese, or potato pie or a cabbage and beef stew for just $9. Bring a friend so you can split the $7 Somun Bread & Nutella for dessert.

Even if you don’t live near Maryland Heights or Webster Groves, it’s totally worth it to take a special trip to one to dine at DD Mau. The fast-casual Vietnamese spot to sample their stellar banh mi ($10), fried rice ($10), spring rolls ($8) or bao sliders ($8). The bao sliders are particularly delicious. They’re freshly-steamed bao buns topped with veggies and your choice of protein.

For a taste of an old-time greasy spoon, hit up Chuck-A-Burger in St. John. The retro joint serves food that is nostalgic in taste and in calorie count. There’s no concern that something is too greasy or too bad for you here. The prices are retro, too. The Original Chuck-A-Burger with single chuck is just $5.40 and the french fries are $1.85, so you can feed the whole family for about $30 before tax and tip, you cool cat.

Nick and Elena’s Pizzeria has so much more to offer than just pizza. Located in Breckenridge Hills, this place is famous for its St. Louis-style pizza. But for those of us who think Provel is an abomination, there are plenty of other cheap eats on the menu. Get a big order of golden brown toasted ravioli for $8.80 or breaded mushrooms for $7.70. The chicken tenders are just $8.25 and a small dinner salad is $5.25. It’s easy to eat well on a budget at Nick and Elena’s.

Honey Bee’s biscuits are even better than they look in the pictures, believe it or not. The Kirkwood biscuit joint serves up all different kinds of ways to eat those biscuits, too, and they’re all $10 or less. The savory bacon + egg + cheese biscuit sandwich is $10 and an order of biscuits + gravy is $9. Or go wild and get the $6 french toast biscuit. You won’t regret it.

Open exclusively at night, this south city spot is exclusively for the night owls, the weirdos, the drunks and the dreamers. Up Late is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and they serve just the kind of food that you want to consume during those dark hours. From tacos to sandwiches and donuts and more, this spot will easily fill you up for less than $10. Word on the street is that the tacos, in particular, are a must-order item.

Located in Crestwood, this breakfast and lunch spot is a great way to stuff your face with great food for a low price. All of the food here is made from scratch and the quality shows through at first taste. Catch a breakfast burrito, a frittata or a big order of biscuits and gravy for half the price you’d pay at a fancier location. And, friend, make sure to get an order the potatoes. You can thank us later.

Union Loafers is known for their incredible baked goods and their fantastic Little Gem Salad. For less than $10, you can score a LIttle Gem or any number of their amazing sides, including a pretzel, potato salad, cheesy bread or even just a simple order of bread with butter — their high-quality bread makes all the difference.

Fire Chicken is the talk of the town and it’s easy to taste why. This Overland spot located on Page Avenue is serving some of the best chicken in town and the prices are right, too. The menu serves fried chicken served through a Korean lens and the flavor combinations are, indeed, fire. Portions are huge so you and a friend can easily split an order of Teri Chicken Gangjung (deep-fried chicken, teriyaki sauce, scallions) and throw in an order of deep-fried pork dumplings, too.

For some of the best traditional Korean food you’ll find in St. Louis, get to Sides of Seoul in Overland. Our food critic describes their kimchi pancake as a “fluffy masterpiece” and their kimchi jjigae as “liquid gold.” The Cheese Kimbop is legendary and the fish pancake is a must-try. Though there are some more expensive things on the menu, you will be plenty satisfied with even just the cheaper items from this amazing take-out spot.