Budget-Friendly Bites: Inexpensive Restaurants in Atlanta

Atlanta is packed with great food, but eating out regularly can add up fast. The good news: there are plenty of inexpensive restaurants in Atlanta where you can get a satisfying meal without spending much more than you would on groceries.

Whether you live here, commute in for work, or are visiting on a tight budget, this guide walks through where and how to eat well for less in Atlanta, neighborhood by neighborhood and cuisine by cuisine.

How to Think About “Inexpensive” in Atlanta

Prices move around, but in Atlanta, many people consider a restaurant “inexpensive” if:

• You can get a full meal for about $10–$15 per person before tip.
• Portions are generous enough to share or take home leftovers.
• You don’t have to pay extra for parking or high service fees.

You’ll find these prices most reliably at:

• Casual counter-service spots
• Ethnic restaurants (especially around Buford Highway, Doraville, Chamblee)
• Neighborhood diners and meat-and-threes
• Takeout and food courts in markets and plazas

Quick Overview: Where to Find Cheap Eats in Atlanta

*Approximate and can vary by menu and time of day.

Buford Highway: Atlanta’s Inexpensive Food Powerhouse

If you only remember one thing, remember this: Buford Highway is arguably the best place for inexpensive restaurants in Atlanta.

Stretching roughly from Brookhaven through Doraville and Chamblee, Buford Highway is lined with strip malls packed with:

• Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese restaurants
• Mexican, Central American, and South American spots
• Bubble tea shops, bakeries, and dessert cafes

Why Buford Highway Is So Budget-Friendly

• Many restaurants serve large portions meant for sharing.
• Most places are casual, counter-service, or family-run sit-down restaurants.
• You can often get a full meal for under $15, sometimes under $10.

What to Look For on Buford Highway

• Pho and noodle houses for big bowls of soup or stir-fried noodles
• Taco spots and taquerias for cheap, filling tacos or tortas
• Korean restaurants that include several banchan (small side dishes) with your meal at no extra cost
• Chinese BBQ and dumpling houses for shareable plates

If you’re driving from central Atlanta, Buford Highway runs roughly parallel to I-85, and many plazas have free parking, which keeps your total outing cost lower.

Inexpensive Restaurants in Central & Downtown Atlanta

Downtown, Midtown, and the Georgia State University area cater to office workers and students, which means there are more budget-conscious options than you might expect in the city center.

Where to Look Downtown

• Near Georgia State University (GSU):
  Around Peachtree Center, Edgewood Avenue, and Broad Street, you’ll find:

  • Counter-service Mediterranean spots (gyros, falafel, salads)
  • Pizza by the slice and calzones
  • Burger, chicken, and sandwich shops with combo meals

• Five Points & Underground area (when active):

  • Fast-casual Southern, wings, and soul food
  • Small Caribbean and Latin spots

You can usually find daily lunch specials that include an entrée and a side for around $10–$13.

Tips for Eating Cheap Downtown

• Go during lunch hours when specials are most common.
• Look for “meat-and-three” style plates: a protein plus two or three sides gives you a lot of food for a good price.
• Some office-building food courts have independent vendors with better value than street-level tourist options.

Midtown & West Midtown: Affordable Spots Between Offices and Apartments

Midtown and West Midtown aren’t the absolute cheapest parts of Atlanta, but there are still plenty of inexpensive restaurants if you know where to look.

Lunch-Friendly Options in Midtown

Around Peachtree Street, 10th Street, and Tech Square:

• Fast-casual Asian bowls (rice, veggies, protein)
• Noodle bars and poke with build-your-own bowls
• Sandwich and salad shops that offer under-$15 options if you skip extras

Along Spring Street and near Georgia Tech, student-driven demand keeps some prices moderate, especially:

• Burgers and fries at counter-service spots
• Tacos and burritos near campus
• Simple ramen or noodle bowls

West Midtown & Howell Mill Road

This area has become trendier, but you can still find relatively budget-friendly tacos, burgers, and pizza if you:

• Stick to counter-service places
• Visit during weekday lunch hours
• Share large appetizers or pizzas

East Atlanta, Edgewood, and Little Five Points: Low-Key, Budget-Friendly Eats

Atlanta’s east side neighborhoods are known for their nightlife and arts scene, but they’re also solid choices for people hunting for cheap eats.

East Atlanta Village (EAV)

Along Flat Shoals Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, look for:

• Pizza by the slice shops
• Casual bars with inexpensive burger nights or wing specials
• Taco trucks and pop-ups that set up on busy nights

Prices are often lower than in Midtown or Buckhead, especially if you skip cocktails and stick to food.

Edgewood & Little Five Points

Near Edgewood Avenue and in Little Five Points (L5P), you can find:

• Vegetarian and vegan cafes with reasonably priced bowls, sandwiches, and soups
• Pub-style food (nachos, wings, quesadillas) that can be shared
• Sandwich and gyro shops with hearty portions

Parking can be a mix of free side-street spaces and paid lots, so factor that into your budget if you’re driving.

Decatur & Nearby: Inexpensive Restaurants East of the City

Decatur and the nearby Avondale Estates area around College Avenue, Ponce de Leon Avenue, and Church Street have a mix of higher-end restaurants and very affordable neighborhood staples.

What You’ll Find in Decatur

• Indian restaurants with buffet or lunch combos that can be very cost-effective
• Mediterranean and Middle Eastern eateries with large platters that feed two
• Coffee shops and cafes with sandwiches, quiche, and salads at reasonable prices

Further east toward Clarkston and Stone Mountain, prices often drop even more at:

• Ethiopian and East African restaurants
• Additional Indian and South Asian spots
• Small family-run diners

These can be outstanding choices for family-style meals on a budget.

Southside & College Park: Affordable Comfort Food

Near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and along the southside, you’ll find many inexpensive restaurants that locals use for everyday meals.

College Park, East Point, and Beyond

Look along Main Streets and commercial corridors for:

• Soul food and meat-and-threes
• BBQ joints where a plate with sides stays around $10–$14
• Caribbean restaurants (jerk chicken, curries, oxtail) with rice and peas and plantains

Many of these spots are takeout-focused with limited seating, which often keeps costs down but still offers generous portions.

Types of Inexpensive Restaurants to Look For in Atlanta

Instead of chasing specific names, focus on types of restaurants that are usually budget-friendly in the Atlanta area.

1. Meat-and-Three and Soul Food Cafeterias

You’ll find these scattered all over metro Atlanta, especially:

• Near historically Black neighborhoods
• Around college campuses
• Along older commercial strips

Typical plate:

• 1 meat (fried chicken, baked chicken, pork chop, meatloaf, etc.)
• 2–3 sides (mac and cheese, collard greens, yams, rice, green beans, etc.)
• Often includes cornbread or a roll

These are usually excellent value and very filling.

2. Taquerias & Latin American Cafes

Throughout Atlanta, particularly along:

• Buford Highway
• Cobb Parkway, Marietta, and Norcross
• Jonesboro Road and other Southside corridors

You’ll see:

• Tacos with fresh tortillas and various meats
• Tortas (Mexican sandwiches)
• Burritos and plates with rice and beans

Tacos can often be $2–$4 each, and a couple of tacos plus a drink can make a budget-friendly meal.

3. Asian Noodle Shops and Buffets

Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and pan-Asian restaurants that specialize in:

• Pho
• Ramen or other noodle soups
• Fried rice and stir-fries
• All-you-can-eat buffets (especially in the suburbs)

Many noodle dishes are one-bowl meals that keep costs simple and provide a lot of food for the price.

4. Pizza by the Slice & Take-and-Share Pies

Across intown neighborhoods:

• By-the-slice pizza is ideal for a quick, inexpensive meal
• Whole pies can be split among friends or roommates for one of the lowest per-person costs available

Look along Ponce de Leon Avenue, Moreland Avenue, and college areas for the best value.

5. Cafeteria-Style & Food Courts

Office buildings, malls, and some international markets have small food courts with:

• Chinese takeout counters
• Teriyaki or hibachi stalls
• Mediterranean and salad bars

These can be cost-effective at lunch, especially if they offer “two entrées and rice” combination plates.

Practical Tips for Eating Out Cheap in Atlanta

A few simple strategies make inexpensive restaurants even more affordable.

1. Target Lunch Specials

Many Atlanta restaurants:

• Offer cheaper lunch portions of their dinner dishes.
• Run weekday lunch combos (entrée + drink or side).

🍽 Tip: If you can, shift your main meal to lunch and eat lighter at home in the evening.

2. Share Large Portions

Restaurants on Buford Highway, in some soul food spots, and at many pizza places serve portions large enough for:

• Two people to share an entrée and an appetizer, or
• One person to have an extra meal from leftovers.

Ask a server if a dish is large enough to share; they’re usually candid about portion sizes.

3. Skip the Extras

To keep your bill low:

• Choose water instead of soft drinks or specialty beverages.
• Limit alcohol, especially cocktails, which can cost as much as a meal.
• Share appetizers and desserts instead of ordering one per person.

4. Watch for Parking and Fees

Some Atlanta neighborhoods have:

• Paid street parking or lots
• Valet-only setups at certain commercial developments

To avoid surprise costs, look for:

• Restaurants in strip malls or plazas with free parking
• Spots near MARTA stations so you can ride transit instead of paying to park

5. Use Timing to Your Advantage

• Visit restaurants just before or after peak times to avoid long waits and sometimes catch happy hour or early bird food specials.
• Check if a place has specific discount days, like “taco Tuesday” or discounted wing days.

Budget-Friendly Eating Near Atlanta’s Major Landmarks

If you’re visiting or showing guests around, you may be near tourist-heavy areas where food can be pricey. Here are some general patterns to find cheaper options close by.

Near Mercedes-Benz Stadium & State Farm Arena

Inside the stadiums, food can be more affordable than in some cities, but outside options include:

• Casual BBQ and burger spots west and south of the stadium
• Small takeout restaurants on surface streets a few blocks away, generally cheaper than the big-name spots right next to arena entrances

Plan extra time to walk a few blocks away from the heaviest crowds for better prices.

Near the BeltLine (Ponce City Market, Krog Street Market)

These are popular and fun but often not the cheapest places to eat.

To save money:

• Grab a snack or dessert inside and eat your main meal a few blocks off the BeltLine, where neighborhood restaurants are more budget-friendly.
• Look for small taquerias, Chinese takeout, or sandwich shops on parallel streets.

Near Colleges and Universities

Areas around:

• Georgia State University (Downtown)
• Georgia Tech (Midtown/West Midtown)
• Emory University (Druid Hills/Decatur)
• Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta (West End/AUC)

often have low-cost dining options aimed at students. These can include:

• Discounted wings, burgers, and sandwiches
• Inexpensive Asian and Mediterranean spots
• Cafes with soup-and-sandwich combos

Simple Ways Locals Keep Restaurant Costs Down

Many Atlanta residents who eat out regularly use a few habits to stay on budget:

• Rotate inexpensive favorites: A taco night, a noodle night, a meat-and-three, and a pizza night can cover a week’s eating out without breaking the bank.
• Mix dine-in and takeout: Ordering takeout from spots with lower prices and eating at home saves on drinks and sometimes service charges.
• Use leftovers creatively: Leftover BBQ, grilled meats, or veggies from a restaurant can become next-day tacos, salads, or rice bowls.
• Plan around traffic: Combining errands with cheap eats in areas like Buford Highway or Decatur avoids extra gas and parking runs.

Atlanta has no shortage of inexpensive restaurants if you know where to look and how to order. Focus on ethnic corridors like Buford Highway, student-heavy zones, soul food and taqueria strips, and lunch specials across the city, and you can enjoy a wide variety of Atlanta’s cuisine without spending much more than you would cooking at home.