The best Tampa Bay restaurants when you have $15 or less

Thinh An

8104 W Waters Ave., Tampa
The pho noodle soups at Thinh An range from $12 to $18, mostly on the lower side. You'll also find $5 eggrolls and freshrolls, $13 lotus shrimp and pork salad, $6 wonton soup and more. Eat some of the best Vietnamese food in Tampa and don't skip the house-made tofu.
Photo via Thinh An/Facebook

Xtreme Tacos

5609 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-304-2639
Prepare for your mouth to be overwhelmed, as Xtreme Tacos offers some of the most bold flavors in all of Tampa, including its signature $3.79 Xtreme taco and $9.99 Xtreme burrito and bowl. You’ll also find $5.49 tostadas, $6.99 sopes and $8.99 quesadillas.
Photo via Xtreme Tacos/website

Mel’s Hot Dogs

4136 E Busch Blvd., Tampa, 813-985-8000
For nearly 50 years, Mel’s has served the people of Tampa its signature hot dogs for an affordable price. Mel’s special and Chicago-style dogs cost $5.25, cheese and chili dogs set you back $5.95, slaw dogs run $6.25 and bagel dogs are $7.70, not to mention the fries, baked beans and onion rings.
Photo via Mel’s Hot Dogs/Facebook

SuperNatural Food & Wine

305 E Polk St., Tampa, 813-758-6230
Looking for a quick, downtown Tampa breakfast spot to grab a bite at before work? SuperNatural offers $2.25 fresh sourdough donuts, $5 breakfast sandwiches (the Alton Brown-approved BEC is $8), $3 fresh roasted coffees and $4.50 iced matcha lattes. Expect it to become a morning routine.
Photo via SuperNatural/website

Antojitos Latin Cravings

2302 W Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-251-9499
Tampa’s taste of Columbia can be found at Antojitos. The small joint serves Latin classics like its $1.85 empanadas, $4.50 pork rinds, $3 stuffed yuca and $7-9 sandwiches. Bring an online translator, the menu is in Spanish—and definitely get a bunuelo.
Photo via Google Maps

Skyway Jack’s

2795 34th St. S, St. Petersburg
Look for the Humpty Dumpty on the front lawn or the large rooster and motorcycle outside of Skyway Jack’s for a hearty Southern breakfast or lunch. The menu includes omelettes for under $8, soups for under $3, $3.50 hotdogs, $5.95 patty melts, $6.75 reubens and more.
Photo via Skyway Jack’s/Facebook

El Cap

3500 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
Check out this barlike dig for some freshly sandwiches, burgers and beer. El Caps’ menu has remained unchanged since it opened in 1964, including its inflation-resistant prices. There's not an item on this menu more than $10.
Photo via El Cap/Facebook

Kooky Coconut

760 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, 727-517-1300
After laying around IRB all day, wander into Kooky Coconut for a wide selection of tasty foods. The beach bite cafe offers classic American staples like a $4.99 cheeseburger and $2.99 hotdog, famous $8.89 9-inch Cuban sandwich (which some say is the best in Tampa Bay) and Mexican favorites like $6.99 taco, burrito and quesadilla meals—all of which come with free chips and salsa. You also might decide to cool off with one of their 32 homemade ice cream flavors for $3.04 for a single scoop cone.
Photo via Google Maps

Chicago Paulie’s

1301 N Howard Ave., Tampa
With meat becoming a more expensive commodity and a rise in veganism, places like Chicago Paulie’s is that rare roadside temple to beef. The restaurant grinds and mixes their ingredients, and sears the food in hickory smoke. Paulie's serves $3.69 Chicago-style hot dogs, $3.59 Polish sausage sandwiches, $8.49 cheesesteaks and $10.29 large Italian beef sandwiches.
Photo via Chicago Paulie’s/Facebook

Bodega

1180 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-623-0942
Located in the heart of downtown St. Pete, Bodega offers freshly-made Latin American dishes, including $10-$12 authentic sandwiches, $12.50-$13.50 pork, chicken and tofu plates and $11.50 chopped romaine salads. It’s the perfect spot after exploring the city.
Photo via Google Maps

Thai Temple

5306 Palm River Rd., Tampa
Leave the iconic Thai Temple stuffed full of pho, pad thai and curry for under $15. From 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays, the temple serves steaming food to your cars. Make sure to arrive early, the lines look like Busch Gardens rides on a sunny day. Plenty of picnic tables are available right by the Palm River. The temple also offers Buddhist services and meditation spaces. As the website says, breathe in and out, especially after a big meal.
Photo via Gretchen Cothron

Chile Verde

2801 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg
The life-size horse and giant red and green “Chile Verde” sign out front will be hard to miss. This unique Mexican spot offers $2.61 tacos, $3.14 pork and chicken tamales and $12.59 chimichangas.
Photo via Chile Verde/website

Dead Bob’s Too

3681 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa
At Dead Bob's Too, enjoy cheap drinks, good food and watch all the live sports games. During the week from 3 to 6 p.m., domestics are $2.75, house wine is $4.50, white claws are $3.50 and off all calls are $0.50. As for food, one and a half pounds of chicken wings is $11.97, a pound of steamed shrimp is $13.97 and cheeseburgers for $9.47.
Photo via Dead Bob’s Too/Facebook

Detroit Coney Island

32922 U.S. Hwy-19, Palm Harbor
Detroit Coney Island is another breakfast, lunch and dinner stop right off of Highway 19. The restaurant serves breakfasts under $10, including famous $4.95 biscuits and gravy, lunch bites like the authentic $3.95 Coney Island hot dog and dinners such as the $12.95 bacon burger.
Photo via Detroit Coney Island/Facebook

Eddie and Sams

203 E Twiggs St., Tampa
Crunchy and cheesy, just like pizza ought to be. The downtown stop charges between $8 for eight boneless wings, $4.50 for french fries and $13 for its well-known 14-inch pizza. If you want a signature 'za, grab a friend and split the price to stay under $15.
Photo via Eddie and Sams/Facebook

Havana Harry’s

14219 Walsingham Rd., Largo, 727-596-5141
If you're looking for a taste of authentic Cuban food, swing by Havana Harry’s to grab one of the best cubans in town. Along with the classic $7.99 cuban, you’ll also find a variety of filling sandwiches for under $10 each, including the roast mojo pork, Cuban gyro and smoked pork melt. The large $8.99 1904 Cuban tossed salad is also a staple on the menu.
Photo via Havana Harry’s/website

Kristina’s Cafe

3590 34th St. N, St. Petersburg
Another diner, Kristina’s Cafe, is open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. This St. Pete spot is family-owned with beachy decorations and warm service. Most breakfasts cost under $10, including all of Kristina's famous omelettes. Cheeseburgers cost $7.25, bacon chicken melts cost $7.95 and meatball hoagies cost $9.95.
Photo via Kristina’s Cafe/Facebook

La Fiesta Mexican Store

1202 S 22nd St., Tampa
This Mexican grocery store and restaurant is as authentic as it gets. Its Monday through Friday lunch special costs $8.99 for nearly everything, including flautas, enchiladas and burritos. The spot also charges $1.99 for steak, chicken, pork and beef tacos. All the authentic dinners cost under $13 too.
Photo via Google Maps

Hungry Harry’s Famous BBQ

2006 S Parsons Ave., Seffner, 813-643-0063
Established in 1985, Hungry Harry's (located under large oaks and next to a Hungry Howie's) serves melt in your mouth BBQ beef brisket, plus chicken, pork (hot sausage is A+), plus all the good southern sides. Five different sauces, too. Lunch specials always clock in cheap, and all you can eat specials depend on the day but start as low as $14.99.
Photo via Ray Roa

Largo Subs

102 Missouri Ave. N, Largo, 727-584-1484
Right across the street from Largo Central Park, you can get a mouth-watering cheesesteak with bell peppers, mushrooms and hot banana peppers for $10.99 that is sure to fill you up. The sub shop also serves gyros for $9.49, cold Italian subs for $8.89 and signature hot subs like the pizza or cheeseburger sub for $8.89.
Photo via Google Maps