We love fine dining as much as the next person, but eating well doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Thanks to longtime mom-and-pop staples and the ever-reliable stretch of beloved Buford Highway, Atlanta is packed with spots where big flavor comes without the splurge.
Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch, fueling up after a long day, or simply craving something comforting, there’s no shortage of options that deliver on both taste and value. From global street food favorites to classic Southern plates, Atlanta’s dining scene proves that some of the most memorable meals are also the most approachable. Below, you’ll find everything from banh mi to burgers—all for $15 or less.
Lee’s Bakery
No matter how you take your banh mi—with tofu, scrambled egg, chicken, grilled pork, or avocado—it’ll only cost $5.45 at Buford Highway staple Lee’s Bakery. To stretch your dollar even further (and to feed a crowd for cheap), place a phone or in-person to-go order and take advantage of the buy-five, get-one-free deal. 4005 Buford Hwy. NE, Ste. C, Atlanta, leesbakeryatl.com
Mediterranean Bakery
Mediterranean Bakery’s under-$15 options are aplenty, ranging from chicken or beef shawarma sandwiches to fatoush salads. In the mood to sample? Grab a falafel sandwich for $8.99 and then pick something from the oven—we recommend the spinach pie or lahmajoun, both $5.49—to top it off. 3362 Chamblee Tucker Rd., Atlanta, mediterranean-bakery.com
LottaFrutta
Sitting on a busy corner of Inman Park, the painted exterior of LottaFrutta is just as colorful as its self-proclaimed Pan-Latin menu, drawing from founder Myrna Perez’s childhood memories in Mexico and her extended family’s experiences in Ecuador and beyond. Take your pick between rich smoothies or fruit cups topped with sweet creams—both under $8—or hearty grilled sandwiches for $7.50, our favorite of which is the Hav To Ham It with its creamy havarti. 590 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta, lottafrutta.com
Pollo Primo
Enjoy California-style pollos asados in East Atlanta on the cheap at Pollo Primo. For $12.50, the quarter bird meal options include breast and wing or leg and thigh combos with two flour tortillas, rice, beans, pico de gallo, and salsa. Even the whole bird meal is wallet-friendly, at $35.50 for a portion size that could feed a family. 792 Moreland Ave. SE, Atlanta, polloprimoatl.com
Little’s Food Store
The go-to neighborhood market for residents of quaint Cabbagetown, Little’s serves as both a general store and a grill. Atlanta’s most slept-on burgers come from the griddle in the back of the store and will keep you full without breaking the bank—for $8.99, the Cabbagetown Classic Cheeseburger Basket gets you double-stacked beef patties made from the store’s prime-cut, store-ground blend, with farmers-market fresh toppings and hand-cut fries or spicy slaw. 198 Carroll St. SE, Atlanta, littlesfoodstore.com
Brooklyn Bagel Bakery & Deli
There might be a mom-and-pop-versus-private-equity bagel war being waged on the Beltline right now, but you can easily avoid taking sides by heading to one of Brooklyn Bagel’s four (non-Beltline) metro locations. The deli serves up what we believe are Atlanta’s best bagel sandwiches, all under $9. You can’t go wrong with the $8.99 Empire State and its sausage, bacon, ham, and egg, though the jalapeno cream cheese-laden Rio Grande is a fan favorite, too. Multiple locations, brooklynbagel-deli.com
Souper Jenny
For a comfort meal, look no further than one of Souper Jenny’s five metro locations. The recommended combo is a $10 bowl of soup (SJ is on our list of best soups for a reason) and a $5 salad cup, but you could also grab a sandwich for $10 and add a $3.75 homemade whoopie pie for dessert. Multiple locations, souperjennyatl.com
Home Grown
Michelin-recommended, but in no way pretentious, Home Grown offers plenty of under-$15 options for breakfast and lunch, including a famed open-face chicken biscuit smothered in pork sausage gravy for $14, the signature Home Grown hamburger for $12, and a breakfast bowl made spicy by ranchero sauce for $11. 968 Memorial Dr. SE, Atlanta, homegrownga.com
Fellini’s Pizza
Whether or not you agree that Atlanta-staple Fellini’s is among the best pizza in the city, there’s no denying that it’s one of the best places for a cheap meal, and one of the most convenient, too, with a location on seemingly every corner. Get one slice for $3.75 or a whole medium pie for $15. Multiple locations, fellinisatlanta.com
Eats
Though the closure of Eats’ longtime home on Ponce last year brought tears to many an ATLien’s eyes, it fortunately re-opened in Wild Heaven Beer’s location on the West End. Here, you’ll find the same jerk chicken goodness for which they’re known, as well as other reasonably-priced a la carte items. Meats, including lemon pepper chicken, turkey meatloaf, and Friday-only jerk tilapia, are $6.50; pastas are all $12 and under; and the $10 special offers any meat with black beans, rice, and cornbread. 1010 White St. SW, Atlanta, eatsonponce.net
