Cheap Eats: 25 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Where You Can Get a Meal Under $15

Gomez Salsa

107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
This Mexican-style eatery offers walking tacos for $6 each, as well as bowls and burritos starting at $12. But perhaps the most mouthwatering of all its affordable offerings is the Turtle — owner Andrew Gomez’s greatest invention. Take a tortilla, stuff it with rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies and cheese, layer in a tostada for crunch, put some cheese on the top and then brown it. It’s a fat little crunchy burrito envelope that’s worth every penny of its $12 price tag.

Tuba Baking Co.

517 6th Ave., Dayton, Kentucky
Specializing in artisan sourdough Swabian-style soft pretzels, this German gastropub in Northern Kentucky packs a punch of flavor. Everything on the current menu clocks in under $15, so you can enjoy some quality made-from-scratch Southern German cuisine on a budget. On the menu, you’ll find fare like Flammkuchen (a sort of German flatbread/pizza), Schnitzel (a sourdough pretzel-encrusted chicken thigh pounded thin and served with your choice of side) and the Wurst Platter, featuring Avril-Bleh bratwurst, mettwurst or kielbasa and a choice of side. Tuba Baking Co. also has a bar with German-centric beers, wines, liquors, cocktails and ciders that you can enjoy inside or out in their new “brezelgarten.”

Dope! Asian Street Fare

2912 Wasson Road, Oakley; 100 E. Court, Downtown
Featuring a menu inspired by street-food favorites from cities like Tokyo, Saigon, Singapore and more, Dope! Asian Street Fare serves up quick-grab items like ramen, bao, and huge, juicy wings. BYO ramen starts at $8 and add-ins range from $1-$4. The bao comes in five varieties for $4 each. You can also try a $12 or $13 rice bowl or bánh mì for $7. As for those thicc Dope! and Korean BBQ wings, those are $11 for six.

Zip’s Cafe

1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Zip’s Cafe has been open since 1926 and is known for its Zip Burger, which Food & Wine named the best in Ohio, and which you can get for just $9.75. The turkey burger and vegetarian black bean burger are also under $10, and you can pair those with a side of fries, onion rings, Saratoga chips or coleslaw, which run between $2.50-$4.50. Or pick a sandwich or coney, which will cost you between $4.50 for a classic grilled cheese and $13.25 for the fried fish.

Galactic Fried Chicken

624 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky
Dayton, Kentucky’s retro sci-fi-themed Galactic Fried Chicken serves up crispy delights for carnivores and herbivores alike, all made using gluten-free batter. The tenders that made them famous are $11 for 3 or $14 for four. You can also get the eight-piece Little Dipper tender bites or veggie jackfruit bites for $10, the two-piece tender and Texas toast sandwich for $9 (or a wrap with the Galatic sauce for $10) or a mix of bone-in chicken pieces, which range from $3-$4 each. Add drinks and fries for just $4, or get the Baby Baller — a two-piece sandwich with fries and a 16-ounce beer included for $15.

Island Frydays

2826 Short Vine St., Corryville
Featuring authentic Caribbean cuisine made by Jamaica native and former University of Cincinnati football captain Leo Morgan, Island Frydays is the definitive restaurant to break out of culinary monotony. Though the restaurant has a petite and unassuming interior, they pack a whole lot of flavor at great prices. Get a sandwich or wrap combo, ranging from jerk chicken and fish to curry and brown stew, for just $12 or a dinner with a choice of two sides for $15.

J&J Restaurant

6159 Glenway Ave., Western Hills
This old-school diner serves huge double-decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili, cheese coneys and all-day breakfast at a great price. Tucked into a strip mall, this is a no-frills neighborhood staple with lots of regulars and quick service. Double-deckers run from $9 for a cheese and tomato sandwich to $13 for the double meats, or you can get their biggest burger for a modest $4.30 or turn it into a platter for $7. If you’re in the mood for breakfast any time of day, most dishes are under $8, or you can indulge in the ham and cheese omelet for $11. As for the chili, cheese coneys are $2.75 each, while ways fall between $6.95 for a 2-way and $7.40 for a 5-way, or enjoy a plain bowl of chili for $7.

Kealoha’s Kitchen

529 Main St., Covington
For authentic Hawaiian and a touch of the Aloha spirit, you can’t go wrong with Kealoha’s Kitchen. The restaurant, named in honor of the owner’s brother, features a selection of Hawaiian barbecue and Asian- and Polynesian-inspired dishes. Try the Bento Box with your choice of protein and scoop of rice for just $11. À la carte proteins are between $9-$12 and include short ribs and brisket marinated with a house-made pineapple-teriyaki sauce; teriyaki chicken; pork loin marinated in soy sauce, mustard and garlic sauce; slow-roasted pork with cabbage and onions; garlic shrimp and ahi tuna poke. Get their spicy papaya salad ($4) or Spam Musubi ($3.50) on the side for even more flavor.

Tortilleria Garcia

11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale; 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 4200 Aero Drive, Mason
Omar Garcia, the restaurant's owner, grew up on a family farm in Michoacán, Mexico and learned how to make corn tortillas the old-fashioned way from his mother and grandmother. Garcia has committed to honoring his family's culinary history and his restaurants uncompromisingly follow the family recipe for fresh tortillas — never using flour or preservatives. Garcia's menu, which is mostly under $15, consists of straightforward Mexican classics like tamales, burritos, housemade salsas and rotisserie chicken, in addition to tacos.

Pleasant Ridge Chili

6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
This local multi-generational diner has been serving Cincinnati-style chili and American classics for over 50 years. On the menu, all-day breakfast will run you anywhere from $4 for an egg and toast to $9 for French toast, hot cakes or a meat and cheese omelet. Regular sandwiches and burgers will cost you anywhere between $4 and $8, while double-deckers run between $6 and $9. And the chili parlor’s famous fries smothered in gravy start at $3 for a small order or $5.50 for a full order. Add chili and cheese to those for a cost of $5.50 (small) and $10.20 (full).

Knockback Nats

10 W. Seventh St., Downtown
Often lauded as having the best wings in Cincinnati, downtown sports bar Knockback Nats offers a variety of appetizers and sandwiches that won’t break the bank while you enjoy a beer and watch the game. The famous smoked chicken wings are about $8, but the nachos ($7.95 for chicken or $8.95 for the Knockback-style), Hanky Panks ($6.95) and pizza rolls ($5.95) are also worth a try. The menu features a variety of sandwiches, from a hot Italian club to the smoked brisket, and classic cheeseburgers, all of which will run you between $5.95-$9.95.

Baladi Restaurant

3307 Clifton Ave., Clifton
Baladi is not your typical strip mall restaurant. It offers delicious Middle Eastern and Arabic specialties like shawarma ($11.25), gyros ($10), falafel ($8.75 for a wrap or $10.75 for the chef special) and more, all made with fresh ingredients. They also offer fresh, savory baked goods and pastry favorites like baklava ($4).

Teranga Restaurant

8438 Vine St., Hartwell
This African-American fusion restaurant offers a diverse and affordable menu. Find inexpensive meals, like the Senegalese Senburger for $7, or full dinners like grilled tilapia and dibi (marinated lamb with seasoned onions) for $15 each. Sides are $3 apiece and range from couscous and French fries to fufu and attiéké.

Saigon Subs and Rolls

151 W. Fourth St., Downtown
The refreshingly minimal Saigon Subs & Rolls is an underrated and often overlooked Vietnamese destination that serves spring rolls ($5); beef, chicken, pork and vegetarian rice plates or vermicelli noodle bowls ($9.50) and bahn mi ($6.50); and beef and chicken pho ($8.50).

Café Alma

6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Health-focused Mediterranean restaurant Café Alma offers delicious but healthy dishes that use high-quality ingredients packed with good flavors. For breakfast, you can enjoy a build-your-own, three-ingredient omelet for $14; eggs and toast for $10 or a bagel and cream cheese for $8 with a side of fresh fruit or roasted apples with cinnamon for an extra $4. You can also try one of Café Alma’s Shakshuka, a traditional Middle Eastern/Mediterranean favorite, which comes with lightly poached eggs in a flavorful sauce and challah. There are four different kinds and they range from $13-$15. For lunch, try a flavorful salad, bowl or sandwich, most of which clock in under $15.

Pickles & Bones

877 OH-28, Milford
Pickles & Bones is a carry-out and catering establishment located in Milford. They offer traditional barbecue plates, sandwich meals, meat by the pound and scratch-made sides. For $15, you can get: a pulled pork, pulled chicken, hot link sausage or cheddar mett plate with pickles and two sides; a smoked fried bologna sandwich ($14); the Spicy Beef & Cheddar (chopped brisket, spicy queso, pickled jalapenos and fried onions on a toasted bun); the pulled pork sandwich; or the pulled chicken sandwich. All are served with a choice of two sides. And for breakfast, try the lemon-blueberry pancakes for $13 or the Breakfast Poutine for $12. Or build your own breakfast with selections from their à la carte menu, which features goetta, eggs, buttermilk biscuits and more.

KungFood AmerAsia

521 Madison Ave., Covington
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 shortcuts and do everything with passion and love." Everything on their menu is delicious and almost all of it is under $15.

CCS Empanadas

2082 Montgomery Road, Loveland
CCS Empanadas is a hidden gem offering over 18 different Venezuelan-style empanadas, which will run you between $5.99 for the chicken, cheese, shredded beef or ground beef ones up to $7.99 for the seafood empanada, with a lot of ingredient and price variety in between. But that’s not all they’re dishing up: They also offer savory arepas ($11.50-$15.50), paella ($15), fresh and fruity drinks and sweet desserts, like churros and Tequeño de Nutella (Nutella sticks), that’ll keep you coming back for more.

Santorini Family Restaurant

3414 Harrison Ave., Cheviot
Every item on Santorini Family Restaurant’s menu is under $15 (except the Greek pizza, but we won’t say anything if you decide to splurge an extra $2) so you can try a variety of its offerings. This West Side Greek diner has everything from pizza to gyros to an all-day breakfast and a section of its menu dedicated to “Greek-style” chili, which we all know means Cincinnati-style. If you’re not completely stuffed and still have a few bucks left over, try a Greek pastry or some cobbler.

Greenwich Pita & Grill

5220 Kings Mills Road, Mason
Greenwich Pita and Grill is a low-key and reasonably priced cornucopia of stellar, flavorful food from the Mediterranean and beyond. Try the masala chicken or beef Burger for $11 or the vegetable or falafel wrap for just $10. They also have several meat and rice platters, including the chicken malai boti, chicken shawarma, lamb gyro and beef kofta kebab, for $15, or try a seafood and rice platter (fried fish, fried shrimp, buffalo shrimp, etc.) for $14.