29 of the Best Cincinnati Restaurants to Get A Meal For Under $15

Ollie's Trolley

1607 Central Ave., Over-the-Rhine/West End
Located in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollie’s Trolley is a soul food staple in the Cincinnati area. Ollie's serves a variety of smoked pork, including ribs, turkey tips and pulled pork, plus plenty of sides, like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. For $9 you can get a 'buffet' where you can choose one entree and two sides.

Quatman Cafe

2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood; 224 West Main St., Mason
Since 1966, Quatman has provided Cincinnatians with cheap burgers, soup and "the coldest beer in town." There are canned beers as well as a draft selection and rotating seasonal brews. They've also got daily specials where you can get a main dish plus fries and a drink for $8.50.

Unataza Coffee

603 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky
With a mission to bring Honduran coffee and food to the Cincinnati area, Unataza Coffee in Dayton, Kentucky serves a piece of culture to every customer. Order a wrap, taco, salad or bowl for under $10.

Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Named one of the “10 Best Restaurants in Cincinnati” by USA Today, there’s no question as to why Camp Washington Chili has been operating since 1940. It is good eats! And cheap eats with everything on their menu priced under $10. Despite having ‘chili’ in the name, this establishment also offers many chili-free options, including burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw and salad.

Comal Restaurant

18 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas
This new Fort Thomas spot is both cheap and delicious. The tacos and house-made tortillas are all topped with fresh ingredients. Each are $5, and you’ve got to try El Zapata (Barbacoa style beef topped with pickled onions and jicama) and an order of their unbelievable $3 elote that is always piled high.

Wunderbar

1132 Lee St., Covington
Wunderbar is truly one of those restaurants that's considered a "hidden gem." The authentic German-inspired menu features housemade wursts with locally sourced meats, like the restaurant's super popular $8 currywurst, a peculiar invention of post-World War II Germany. It's a spiced sausage served with a ketchup-Worcestershire-curry sauce. The rotating sausage menu is written on a blackboard behind the bar, but a must-try is the $6 giant pretzel, a gigantic, plate-sized pretzel that easily complements any of the bar's refreshing beers.

Kung Food Chu's AmerAsia

521 Madison Ave., Covington, Kentucky
Quaint and comfortable with a huge beer list, AmerAsia offers all the usual Chinese dishes and chef specialties, but the food is anything but the usual. Chef Chu makes it all from scratch. His motto: "Do not take short cuts and do everything with passion and love." Everything on their menu is delicious and under $15.

Eli’s BBQ

3313 Riverside Drive, East End; 133 W Elder St., Findlay Market
Eli's BBQ is well known for hickory-smoked barbecue and signature barbecue sauce. While the inside of the original East End location is definitely considered tiny, there is plenty of outdoor seating and Southern hospitality. The no-frills affair specializes in meats, pulled and smoked and served in a red plastic basket. Sandwiches topped with their smoked meats range from $7-8 and sides are all priced at $3.

Carl's Deli

2836 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park
Carl's Deli is the closest thing you're going to get to a New York deli. Open seven days a week since 1938, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and everything on their menu is under $11. A hidden neighborhood gem, the striped awning and bistro chairs beckon sandwich seekers in for favorites like hot crab and artichoke salad on a croissant, a hot pastrami and cheese or a damn good egg salad. There are daily housemade soup offerings, quiche, casseroles and a nice selection of wine and beer.

CityBird

Multiple locations including 1344 Vine St., Over the Rhine; 7893 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township; 2887 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills
From the team behind popular Over-the-Rhine eatery The Eagle, the Thunderdome Restaurant Group created CityBird, a restaurant that specializes in chicken tenders and sandwiches. Order the snack pack of three to five tenders and fries, or the medium pack of six-to-seven tenders and fries for under $10.

Cincy Steak and Lemonade

2607 Short Vine St., Clifton
Cincy Steak and Lemonade is the place to get the most bang for your buck. For under $15, you can get a massive gyro cheeseburger, fries and a drink. They also sell super colorful lemonades, with flavors ranging from rainbow to blue raspberry, and pina coladas. With only a few booths in the restaurant, it's a cozy spot for fast, casual bites.

Alabama Que

2733 Short Vine St., Corryville
Alabama Que was founded by Dwan Ward in 2008, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and former UC football player. An Alabama native, Ward’s restaurant oozes Southern charm and a food truck was added to the business to keep up with growing demand. Some meat options include smoked chicken, beef ribs, smoked salmon and their famous turkey tips; prices for smaller servings range from $7-$15.

The Whole Bowl

364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
This is the perfect spot for people who don't like to make decisions, since Whole Bowl offers only one menu item. While there is an easy vegan alternative, Whole Bowl's titular dish is comprised of brown rice, beans, black olives, Tillamook cheddar, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream and a lemon-garlic sauce. The only real choices a diner should need to make in the matter is whether to get a 12 oz. Bambino Bowl for $6.50 or a 16 oz. Big Bowl for $6.95.

La Mexicana

642 Monmouth St., Newport
No-frills in décor or online presence, but all serious with the cuisine, La Mexicana is deemed to be one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in the area. From asada to bistec to milanesa, they've got the meats, but they also serve up a host of veggie options. Everything on their menu (minus the $22 pitcher of margaritas) is under $15; grab an order of three pilled-high enchiladas for $11.99.

Chicago Gyros & Dogs

201 W McMillan St., Clifton
For about 35 years, Chicago Gyros & Dogs has been cooking with passion every single day. At this Clifton restaurant, you'll find gyros, hot dogs, various sandwiches, burgers and more for $3-$13 — perfect for the broke college student.

Harmon's Barbecue

3481 Valley Plaza Pkwy., Fort Wright
This Fort Wright barbecue spot smokes all of its meat in-house for 14 hours. For $11, grab a piled-high meat platter with two sides. Sides range from mac and cheese to green beans to creamed corn. There are also sandwiches that start at $7.75 that come with the option of brisket, pulled pork, sausage or turkey.

Sugar n’ Spice Diner

4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine
Open since 1941, Sugar n' Spice's original pink Paddock Hills diner is known for its fun atmosphere and being a comfortable and family-friendly place to eat (ask for a free rubber duck with your meal). Favorite menu items include "wispy thin" pancakes and giant omelets. Lines at the petite original can be long, but there is also a second, larger location in Over-the-Rhine. Pancakes range from $3.50-$6.50 depending on how many you get and what topping you want.

Ché

1342 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine; 3009 O’Bryon St., O'Bryonville
Ché's menu spans from Fundido (traditional Argentine stew with steak, squash, corn and sausage) to Choripan (flame-grilled sausage) and chimichurri wings to a slew of empanadas: jamon y queso, four cheese, short rib, de carne, mushroom, feta and more.

Ramundo's Pizzeria

3166 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout
Enjoy a New York-style slice of pizza from Ramundo's for under $5. If pizza isn't quite your thing, enjoy any of Ramundo's garden fresh salads ranging from $5-$10.

Covington Yard

401 Greenup St., Covington
Can't compromise on a place to eat? Covington Yard can help! With four different restaurants serving out of shipping containers, everyone is sure to find something they'll like. Nacho Average Taco Cart serves tacos for $4; Mr. Bulgogi offers Korean bowls for $8-$9 and dumplings for $5-$6; Talons Cincy Fried Chicken offers 6 "Party Wings" for $10; and Hangry Omar's serves sliders for under $9.