The twenty best, relatively inexpensive dining values are listed alphabetically below.
The Best
Aladdin – Middle Eastern – Picking up a tray and gazing across the partition into an expanse of enticing, mostly vegetarian preparations – roughly 30 items most lunchtimes well beyond the two types of creamy hummus and baba ganoush – is just a preface to an enjoyable and very affordable meal, as the dishes often taste even better than they look. A well-cooked meat like chicken shawarma, lamb gyro or one of the day’s stews, comes with two sides on filling platter for just $13.99 and usually a dollar cheaper during lunch. Not only the best value Middle Eastern restaurant, Aladdin is one of the best in Houston. Montrose, Garden Oaks
Angelo’z Po Boys – Sandwiches – Serving the once-ubiquitous Houston-style cold po boy better than anywhere else, these feature an airy, crusty roll filled with a just-enough amount of lunch meats or other fillings, usually a thinly sliced cheese, and complemented with its distinctive piquant chow chow that just works really well when done well. They also assemble a top-notch warm muffaletta, with bread from Royal Bakery, which also supplies the rolls for its po boys. NRG area
Baguette and Tea – Banh mi – A tiny place in a small strip center with wretched parking on West Alabama across the street from the Ice House, it can also be quite slow to get an order fulfilled here, but the sandwiches, which all come with a light smear of chicken pâté, are so good and such a fine value that it is worth any possible hassle. Reflective of a large part of its clientele, who might have never ventured to Bellaire Boulevard, you might even be asked if you want jalapeño on your sandwich. Montrose
Don Café – Banh mi – This modest stand-alone structure along Bellaire Boulevard has served up some of the very best banh mi in Houston for about a couple of decades now, and it remains one of the top values with the sandwiches; still costing just $3.50 or so. Don Café serves all of the requisite Vietnamese sandwiches plus the somewhat unique versions with char-grilled beef (banh mi thit bo nuong). In addition to the sandwiches, there are about two dozen items on the menu and a few brightly colored packaged items near the counter. Though take-away is very popular, you can actually linger here – not that it is that comfortable nor charming – as many of the polyglot patrons do. Chinatown
Istanbul Grill – Turkish – Interesting, well-prepared Turkish food in a pleasant, informal setting, often lively atmosphere, and noticeably friendly and eager service. Many of their traditional Anatolian items are baked in a brick oven that is evident in the somewhat open kitchen, including the distinctive Turkish pizzas that can provide a filling meal for $12-$17. The kabob platters are a great value here, easily worth the $16.50 tariff for the beef and lamb doner kabob and $18 for the lash shish kabob. The portions are generous and served with a large amount of moist rice and grilled tomatoes and bell peppers. Fresh and warm house-made thin pide bread nicely complements every table. Beer and wine, too. Rice Village
Laredo Taqueria – Tacos – The lines running out the door of the original location on Washington of this air conditioned taco stand from about 7:30AM to 1:30PM and often beyond, are a testament to its popularity which derives in large part because of healthy-sized tacos on fresh flour tortillas that are just $3 with a range of fillings prefaced by a smear of refried beans. Three is enough for most, and four for a gluttonous meal. Never mind the occasional piece of cartilage or gristle, as these are never enough to ruin a toco. The locations on the near north side operated by other family members might be more consistent – or just less crowded – especially the one on Patton, but this location is far more convenient for most. Washington Corridor
La Chingada – Mexican – The humorous, or somewhat crude, name – the successor to its previous cheeky one – obscures that this fairly humble spot serves some seriously good cooking that often references Mexico City and Oaxaca and is a terrific value on Cavalcade just north of the Heights proper. Made to order breakfast tacos provide a draw in the mornings, then there is an array of chilaquiles dishes, excellent enchiladas verdes, milanesas, tacos in a variety of ways, tortas and much more, with nothing topping $20 except for the fajitas and mixed grill. Margaritas, micheladas and other libations, too. Heights
La Guadalupana – Mexican – Though not much to look at, and really not much at all in terms of size, this is nonetheless an excellent neighborhood place for a pleasing Mexican meal in the morning or afternoon, or to grab some attractive and scrumptious pastries in about two dozen varieties, Mexican and otherwise, and coffee. The dumpy little dining room has become increasingly more crowded, and little less dumpy, in recent years as more have discovered the considerable charms of the inexpensive breakfast and lunch spot. For just $11 you can get lighter-than-typical enchiladas verdes or poblano enchiladas – with a proprietor from Puebla, the mole poblano are worth ordering – or, for about the same price, the terrific stewed pork slathered in a verdant spicy salsa, asado de puerco. The breakfast tacos are not what they once were, but the other, dine-in-type morning preparations are worth a stop. Montrose
Master Taco – Tacos – This food truck that’s been park on Richmond and Woodhead since March of 2020 is run by a friendly family originally from the state of Guerrero, home of Acapulco. “Taco” is in the name for a reason. With both the flour and corn tortillas made in-house and well-done, and with a well-prepared, interesting array of fillings, tasty salsas and the necessary lime quarters and chopped cilantro and onions to complement, the small tacos, taquitos, actually, are why you should stop here. An order of five or six will be necessary for most. Tasty but tiny. The non-taco items are not nearly as reliable. Montrose
Mexico’s Deli – Tortas – Excellent, hot Mexican-style sandwiches, which are not only delicious, but a tremendous value is the simple reason to visit here. There are roughly two dozen tortas, plus soups, tacos, burritos, grilled items (alambres), pambazos (tasty, but very messy guajillo chile-dipped stuffed sandwiches), and breakfast, all prepared to order on the flat grills and a meat-laden spinner in the open kitchen. This comfortable, low-key and informal small eatery with muted brass and copper hues has a proper modern Mexican feel for its torta-centric menu. These large sandwiches are served on airy telera bread, which is light, relatively thin and quite flavorful, if barely containing the bounteous filling. It might take a while to properly digest the very wide array of tempting sandwiches on this small menu. Don’t worry, it is tough to make a mistake here. West Houston
Nickel Sandwich Grill – Sandwiches / Barbecue – There is barbecue, plenty of deep-fried dishes, seafood, a juicy grilled hamburger, and Creole items, some of this is served in sandwich form, at two decade-old neighborhood standby on Lyons just north of I-10 in the Fifth Ward. It’s almost all very tasty, and a terrific value. Portions are large and prices are low, and the kitchen here is much better than most similar type of neighborhood places. The sandwiches are served on thick slices of buttered toast that works quite well, and the po boys on a small, crusty baguette-like roll. The Smoked Cajun Turkey and Chopped Beef are a couple of the sandwich stars here. Fifth Ward
The Original Marini’s Empanada House – Empanadas – This has been around the Houston area off-and-on since 1971 serving empanadas here made in the Argentine-style with wheat flour dough attractively rolled around any number of ingredients and baked until the sturdy, flavorful crust is golden. The fillings are more American, or more properly, Houstonian in nature, than Argentine. Of the nearly twenty savory empanadas and about the same number of dessert ones, there are ones filled with beef brisket and barbecue sauce, brisket and pickled jalapeños, avocado, broccoli and cheeses, refried beans, apples and cinnamon, and raspberry with cream cheese. Befitting the name Marini, there are a number with identifiably Italian ingredients such as mozzarella, provolone, Italian sausage, pepperoni, basil, tomato and oregano. The savory empanadas are served with a side of chimi-churri sauce, which seems to complement nearly everything. Three of the decent-sized empanadas should be more than sufficient for most and that will be around $10. Westchase
Pappa Geno’s – Sandwiches – Philly cheesesteaks with a Houston accent – thankfully, as the Philly one is quite awful, having lived across the river as a kid – these are the best cheesesteaks in town. Always moist flavorful beef stars in these oft-messy concoctions, with fresh rolls, and in local fashion can be nicely complemented with hot sauce that might be just in packages rather than the copious squeeze bottles that once topped every table. Montrose, Spring Branch, Timbergrove, Katy (2), Deer Park
Paulie’s Po Boys – Sandwiches – Not to be confused with Paulie’s on Westheimer, this one is still owned and operated by descendants of Antone’s and does a great job with that sandwich legacy in similar fashion to Angelo’z. Serving the once-widespread Houston-style cold po boy featuring those airy, crusty rolls filled with lunch meats or other fillings and a smear of the distinctive piquant chow chow and wrapped white paper, these are often sitting ready to grabbed with the low, open refrigerator. West U
Pepper Twins – Chinese (Sichuan) – A recent lunch special for just $11.99 featuring the namesake chicken dish showed what this mini-chain does at its best: a preparation rooted in Sichuan with typically spicy and often numbing flavors, recognizably high-quality proteins, fresh vegetables, evident skill in the kitchen, and a delicious result that can be an outstanding value. The meats are much better and much more flavorful than at most local restaurants in this price range, which is easy to notice. The chicken comes from Springer Mountain, no hormone and no antibiotics, and tastier thighs are used. The beef is Certified Angus Beef. The pork is from the Berkshire breed. Currently with three locations scattered around the Houston area, there are two inside the Loop, and these might be the best of the lot. It’s more fun to eat with others here to be able enjoy several of the many enticing preparations and there are a few of the missteps on the menu, but these spots rarely fail to satisfy. This is why there are often more than a few patrons from China dining here (or picking up now). River Oaks, Upper Kirby District, Galleria Area
Roostar – Banh mi / Vietnamese – Now with a trio of locations in various parts of town, this Banh Mi 2.0 operation is both slicker and better, overall, than its predecessors. What began as Vietnam Poblano in Spring Branch, an area with much higher Hispanic and Korean populations than Vietnamese, this has adapted to a growing clientele with a menu and preparations that are broadly popular. Jalapeños, shredded pickled carrots, cucumbers, cilantro with stems, soy sauce and garlic aioli help provide the sandwich platform along with rolls from excellent Slow Dough Bakery that are maybe more traditionally French than is found at other banh mi spots. Not just the bread, but the proteins are generally better quality than elsewhere, too. These are certainly worth a trip, which is now a little easier. Spring Branch, Galleria area, East End
Thien An – Vietnamese – The familiar, fairly lengthy old school Houston-area Vietnamese menu including spring and fried egg rolls, banh mi, rice plates, vermicelli bowls, and pho is provided here. It’s just done noticeably better than most other similar places, and not just budget options. The banh mi are just one longtime highlight, especially for the local favorite, the char-grilled pork, since the restaurant is more generous than most with the pork, which is nicely cooked, tender and richly flavorful, nestled along with the expected fresh, texture-providing accompaniments in a local-standard short Vietnamese-style baguette that is properly fresh, crusty and airy. The no-nonsense setting – often bustling with downtown office workers, Vietnamese-American cops and the occasional Catholic priest – provides an appropriate place for a tasty and wallet-friendly meal. Only opened until 6:00 every day but Saturday. MIdtown
Tio Trompo – Tacos / Tortas – A fairly bare-bones counter service taqueria with a limited menu that specializes in cuts of pork from the spinner, the trompo, the vertical spit used to cook pork al pastor, is a key attraction. That slowly roasted pork, which retains its moistness unlike at far too many taquerias in Houston, makes its way into traditional tacos, excellent tortas and the Torta Arabe, a type of gyro or doner kabob from the Puebla area. The Taco Oriental is another oddity from there that is also worth ordering. This is nicely across the small street from Polanquito on Shepherd just north of Memorial Drive. Washington Corridor
Uberrito – Burritos – What began as Mission Burritos a couple of decades ago is down to just one location inside the Loop, but their design-it-yourself burritos on giant 13” tortillas featuring a choice among now about ten proteins or vegetables as a centerpiece are also much tastier than the similar competitors as are the “Ten Tasty Tacos” are quite tasty, too. The creamy serrano ranch, especially, or fiery green salsa applied during construction seems to help with most burritos and tacos, but the results rarely disappoint, regardless. The burritos are still large, though maybe not as protein-packed as the in past, which is probably a good thing for most of us. Still pretty cheap, too, starting at under $8, and even cheaper on Mondays when the chicken and veggie burritos are just $5. Washington Corridor, Humble
Vieng Thai – Thai – About a mile-and-a-half west of the West 610 Loop, you are traveling there for the food, as there is not much else: décor, service, or alcohol. But the noticeably vibrant, always well-executed Thai fare that is seemingly more authentic than most and always worth the trip. This is “Thai homestyle cooking” and the setting is quite homey. A few of the highlights from the long menu are E-Sarn Sausage, Grilled Eggplant Salad, with shrimp, minced pork, scallion, red onion, cilantro and mint in spicy herb dressing, Green Chicken Curry, and Pad Prik Khing, thin pieces of pork sauteed in a red curry paste with kaffir lime leaves and long green beans. Just remember to bring your wine or beer, as it is BYOB-only and still no corkage fee. It might be a good idea to bring wine glasses, too, as the staff advised me to do before traveling there for a recent visit. Spring Branch
An order of the Pepper Twins Chicken