Best Cheap Eats Restaurants in Uptown & Andersonville (60640)
12 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Sun Wah BBQ
Hong Kong–style barbecue with a signature Beijing duck dinner.
Notable Picks
#1
Sun Wah BBQ
8.6
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
A Hong Kong-style BBQ institution where the move is to treat the roast meats as the main event—crisp-skinned duck, lacquered char siu, and soy-poached chicken that holds up even when the room is busy. Come with a plan (one BBQ platter plus one noodle/rice support) and you’ll get a big-flavor meal that still reads like Uptown value.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beijing duck dinner, Roast duck, BBQ pork buns
What makes it special: Hong Kong–style barbecue with a signature Beijing duck dinner.
8.4
A high-confidence Uptown Ethiopian dining room where the best meals come from a focused spread—one signature meat stew, a strong veggie lane, and extra injera so the table stays cohesive. Their private party facilities make it an easy pick for groups that want a communal meal with real spice depth and steady execution.
Must-Try Dishes:
Doro Wot, Vegetarian Messob, Beef Sambussa
What makes it special: A communal injera-and-stew table that stays reliable at scale.
8.4
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A takeout-first Lebanese counter where the play is fast, filling plates built on garlic-heavy sauces, grilled meats, and sturdy sides that travel well. It’s best when you order like a regular: one shawarma anchor, one dip, and something crunchy for contrast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma sandwich, Hummus, Lentil soup
What makes it special: Big-flavor Lebanese takeout built around shawarma and dips.
8.4
A BYOB Uptown staple built around Thai street-food range—soups, salads, curries, and noodle bowls—where the best meals come from mixing one broth-driven anchor with one punchy salad or stir-fry. Keep the order disciplined (spicy, sour, and herbal on purpose) and it consistently rewards repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Boat noodles, Green papaya salad, Khao soi
What makes it special: Thai street-food breadth with a strong hot-bar-and-noodle-bowl core.
#5
Tank Noodle
8.2
A big, high-throughput Argyle corner built for noodles at scale—pho, vermicelli bowls, and Vietnamese comfort classics that come out fast when you keep the order focused. Treat it like a two-lane meal (one pho plus one dry-noodle bowl for the table) and it reads as dependable Uptown value rather than a chaotic menu tour.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho dac biet, Bun bo Hue, Vietnamese spring rolls (goi cuon)
What makes it special: Big-menu pho house with proven, high-volume Uptown staying power.
8.1
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A bakery-counter classic for crisp baguette bánh mì and quick Vietnamese staples that reward simple ordering—one sandwich per person and a light side if you’re actually hungry. It’s peak cheap eats because the bread-and-protein ratio stays strong and the pace is built for grab-and-go.
Must-Try Dishes:
Banh mi dac biet, Grilled pork banh mi, Pate chaud
What makes it special: High-volume banh mi counter where the bread-and-filling balance stays dependable.
#7
Uptown Deli
8.0
A neighborhood market-and-deli hybrid that quietly delivers some of the most satisfying made-to-order sandwiches in Uptown. The move is to pick one house sandwich (or the Italian beef), grab it hot, and leave the rest of the grocery aisles for another day.
Must-Try Dishes:
Italian beef sandwich, Big Windy turkey pesto panini, Turkey club sandwich
What makes it special: A market-style deli counter that turns out legit made-to-order sandwiches.
8.0
An Uptown dim sum anchor where the best value shows up when you order like a regular—classic dumplings, steamed buns, and a few fried bites that keep the table satisfied without runaway spend. The room is functional rather than pretty, but the cart-and-kitchen rhythm makes it a dependable group cheap-eats play.
Must-Try Dishes:
Har gow (shrimp dumplings), BBQ pork buns, Turnip cake
What makes it special: All-day dim sum in a classic Uptown dining room.
#9
Pho 777
8.0
A straightforward Argyle pho stop where the win is clean broth, fast seating, and a menu that doesn’t need overthinking. Keep it focused—one pho and one supporting plate for the table—and you’ll get a filling, under-control meal that reads as true cheap eats.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho dac biet, Goi du du (papaya salad), Spring rolls
What makes it special: Pho-first cooking with enough volume to trust repeat visits.
Worthy Picks
7.8
A neighborhood café where cheap eats means a complete lunch—soup, salad, quiche, and a slice—without the meal turning into a time sink. Keep it structured (one savory main, then split one slice) and it’s an easy Andersonville workday win.
Must-Try Dishes:
Key lime pie, Polka dot cheesecake, Quiche (daily selection)
What makes it special: Old-school pie shop energy with serious slice variety and consistency.
#11
Nhu Lan Uptown
7.7
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A compact, counter-service Vietnamese stop that’s best treated as a single-purpose mission: grab a bánh mì, keep it simple, and get out. The value hits when you stick to one sandwich lane and let the crisp bread and bright pickles do the heavy lifting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled pork banh mi, BBQ pork banh mi, Vietnamese iced coffee
What makes it special: Fast banh mi counter where the bread does the work.
#12
Gigio's Pizzeria
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A classic neighborhood pizza shop that leans into fast service, big slices, and familiar Chicago-area comfort. It shines when you order simply—thin crust or a slice-and-salad combo—so the value stays the headline.
Must-Try Dishes:
Thin-crust sausage pizza, Pepperoni slice, Stuffed pizza
What makes it special: Big-slice, fast-service pizza that’s built for everyday cravings.