IL · Cheap eats
The 10 best cheap eats in Chicago.
Cheap, and over the odds on quality. Harry's list is ranked by Worth It score: how much quality you get for what you spend, not just how little you spend.
Chicago is generous with its cheap eats. The Italian beef sandwich is an institution and costs less than it deserves to. Chinatown has good dim sum at honest prices. The Ukrainian Village bakeries are underrated. A Chicago hot dog with all the accoutrement is one of the best cheap meals in America and anybody who disagrees is wrong.
How Harry ranks cheap eats
Value is not just price.| Cheapest tier | The cheapest price tier, or the second tier when a real source confirms it and Harry rates the place Great Value or Cheap but Cheerful. |
|---|---|
| Worth It score | The ranking. It measures quality against price, so a high number means the place punches above its price class. Not just cheap; cheap for what you get. |
| Harry Score 70+ | Cheap eats still have to be good eats. Nothing under seventy, and nothing Harry rates a tourist tax, a false economy or paying for the scene. |
Harry's ten — Chicago
Ranked by Worth It score.- 01Waffle Vibes
breakfast · acai-shop — 315 W North Ave Ste 1, Chicago
5.0 across 176 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; punches well above its price point.
Great ValueWorth It
85
Harry
96
- 02Serena's Grill (Gold Coast, Chicago)
greek · gyro — 13 W Division St, Chicago
4.9 across 443 Google reviews; more than you'd expect at this price.
Caveat: Google is the only voice on this one yet; treat the number as an early read.
Great ValueWorth It
82
Harry
91
- 03Tribu Caffe
breakfast · brunch — 3856 N Ashland Ave, Chicago
4.9 across 300 Google reviews; unusually good for what you'll pay.
Caveat: Only Google has weighed in so far — a single source, so read the score as provisional.
Great ValueWorth It
82
Harry
91
- 04Onions & Cilantro
2235 N Western Ave, Chicago
4.9 across 239 Google reviews; unusually good for what you'll pay.
Great ValueWorth It
82
Harry
90
- 05Chim Thai Cuisine
thai — 3254 W Montrose Ave, Chicago
4.8 across 299 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; more than you'd expect at this price.
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
89
- 06Sabroso! Mexican Grill
mexican — 624 N Ashland Ave, Chicago
4.8 across 1.0k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; low-key venue offering a range of tacos, fajitas & burritos, plus enchiladas, tostadas….
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
88
- 07Eggs with Benefits
6441 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago
4.8 across 259 Google reviews; punches well above its price point.
Caveat: One source so far (Google) — the score firms up as the others report in.
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
87
- 08Halaleez NY Chicken & Gyro Rice Bowls
middle-eastern — 400 S Financial Pl a5, Chicago
4.8 across 318 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; punches well above its price point.
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
87
- 09Mario's Italian Lemonade
dessert-shop · ice-cream-shop — 1068 W Taylor St, Chicago
4.8 across 3.3k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; long-standing walk-up dessert stand serving a variety of Italian ice flavors during….
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
87
- 10Sando Street
1547 N Ashland Ave, Chicago
4.8 across 255 Google reviews; more than you'd expect at this price.
Caveat: Google is the only voice on this one yet; treat the number as an early read.
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
87
How this list is built Places across Chicago with a Harry Score of 70 or more in the cheapest price tier, or a confirmed second tier that Harry rates Great Value or Cheap but Cheerful. Nothing Harry rates a tourist tax, a false economy or paying for the scene. Chains with several branches get one entry. Ranked by Worth It score. No restaurant pays to appear. Scores last recomputed .