When I was a member of the gainfully employed, I LOVED going out for lunch. There’s something about food that someone else cooks (likely in a deep fryer) that’s more exciting than something we cooked the night before.
It’s probably because my family rarely went out to eat when I was a kid. McDonald’s was a serious thrill.
If you know anything about me, you’re probably thinking, “Wait a minute, Cool Dad. You’re a frugal miser of a cheapskate. How can you love dropping $7-10 on lunch every day??”
Aha! The answer is that I didn’t. Anything over $3.50 gave me regret. Here are some of my favorite cheapo lunches. (prices include tax)
MOE’S
The Funkmeister, water
A soft taco with meat, beans, and the regular toppings with chips. They almost always stuffed the taco as much a Moo Moo Mr. Cow (the choice of the normally frugal), which cost $5.29. You can get a hard taco instead, but I bet it can’t be stuffed as much as the soft.
$2.43
WHITE CASTLE
2 jalapeno cheeseburgers, 1 hamburger
I tried this just yesterday while on the go. Not bad. Some of you may be repulsed. Others may have left their chair spinning to race to their local WC (for our European readers: the restaurant, not the restroom ).
$2.46
SONIC
Jr. Burger Wacky Pack Kid’s Meal
A junior burger, fries or tots, and kid’s drink or slush. A little on the light side, but you get a toy, too! What other meal can give you hours of enjoyment after you eat it? (I’ll refrain from making the Taco Bell reference that I’d love to make. Oops, I guess I just did.) This meal works as long as you can handle the server skating out and yelling “Wacky Pack Kid’s Meal?” in front of your car window.
$2.53
BACKYARD BURGER
Jr. Burger, regular fries, water
The jr. burger at Backyard is actually substantial. I daresay it approaches BK Whopper-proportions. And either waffle or seasoned fries, depending on your mood. This lunch is on the extravagant side, but quite satisfying.
$3.37
There a couple of local places, but I want to keep this list to chains that you can try. So the lesson is: I hope you like burgers!
I’m sure I’m missing a lot. What other lunch deals are to be had out there?
This is part of Works For Me Wednesday.
I wish our Sonic kid meals were that price. Ours are 3.39. They do have 2 combo meals for 2.99 though which are great. One is a double cheeseburger meal and the other is a chili cheese dog meal.
$2.99 for a double cheeseburger meal?? Man, I miss Sonic…
College taught me to go straight for the dollar menu. Or the PB+J in the cafeteria. Blegh.
Taco Bueno (better than Taco Bell, but not exactly a winner in my book) has good/cheap bean burritos. Then again, all they consist of is refried beans and cheese in a tortilla. I could make that in 3 minutes at my house, and add much more desirable ingredients.
As far as “substantial” but cheap meals go (according to the manly appetite)…I’ve got nothing.
Just found your site! Your about me is so intriguing-often “green” frugal sites are so often not high on the loving Jesus scale. You are going on my favorites list for sure! Marcella
rachel – Taco Bueno sounds very tasty to me. I mean, how can you go wrong with a place that feels that its tacos are sooo good, that they name the whole place “Good Taco”??
marcella – thanks!! keep in touch.
Costco is a good one, pop and 1/4 lb hot dog $1.50, pizza and pop $2.59, chicken chilli potato $2.99.
-kattmaxx
CiCis Pizza! The all you can eat buffet is like $5, depending on where you are, but kids 3 & under eat free all the time. And it's not just pizza! They have good salad and dessert, too!
anon – 1/4 hot dog sounds tasty. $1.50 with a drink sounds even tastier!
amy – yeah, i remember the buffalo chicken pizza. that could not have been good for me.
love burgers and miss Backyard dearly.
mmmm, burgers… mmmm.
no Backyard Burgers in Tallahassee? that’s odd b/c they’re around FL.