Best Cheap Eats Restaurants in Englewood
15 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Ho Ho Chop Suey
A neighborhood chop-suey counter with dependable combo-plate execution.
Notable Picks
8.1
Auburn Gresham’s classic chop-suey counter built for fast, reliable takeout with a deep fried-rice and combo-plate lane. The best orders stay traditional—one fried rice base, one sauced entrée, and an egg roll—so everything lands hot and cohesive.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg Roll, Shrimp Egg Foo Young, Mongolian Beef
What Makes it Special: A neighborhood chop-suey counter with dependable combo-plate execution.
8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
A South Ashland counter that wins on breadth: tacos, quesadillas, burritos, tortas, and bowls in a simple, quick-order format. It’s best when you treat it like a build-your-meal spot—pick one taco lane, then add a second item for variety without over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos, Quesadillas, Tortas
What Makes it Special: Big, mix-and-match menu that covers tacos through tortas fast.
A fried-chicken specialist where wings are about seasoned crust and late-hours convenience rather than dining-room polish. It hits best when you order wings fresh, stick to one signature sauce direction, and keep sides minimal so the chicken stays the star.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried chicken wings, Wing dinner with fries, Wings with mild sauce
What Makes it Special: Seasoned fried wings built for late-night and takeout reliability.
8
A South Side hoagie-and-steak counter built around hefty, nostalgia-driven sandwiches—especially the steak supreme and “supreme hoagy” builds that come loaded and are best eaten immediately. It’s a grab-and-go operation where value and portion power the loyalty, while service consistency can vary by rush.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Supreme sandwich, Supreme Hoagy, Sweet potato fries with mild sauce
What Makes it Special: Big, loaded South Side steak-and-hoagie builds with serious portion value.
Worthy Picks
#5
Fat Albert's
7.9
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A South Side comfort counter where the burger move is the no-nonsense double-patty build—best eaten immediately while the exterior still has bite. It’s a practical stop for big cravings and classic sides, with the strongest experience coming from keeping the order focused and hot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double-patty burger, Fries, Italian beef sandwich
What Makes it Special: A neighborhood counter known for a hefty double-patty burger format.
7.8
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
An old-school sweets counter in Auburn Gresham that plays like a neighborhood snack shop—best for fast dessert runs and after-school treats. The strongest orders stay in the hot-and-cold combo lane: a fresh funnel cake plus a frozen add-on.
Must-Try Dishes:
Funnel Cake, Funnel Cake Sundae, Pint of Italian Ice
What Makes it Special: A candy-and-dessert shop that also does made-to-order funnel cake treats.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A no-frills fish-and-chicken counter where wings are a reliable, straightforward play—fried hard, boxed fast, and meant to be eaten hot. The smart order is wings plus one side, keeping the meal balanced and the fry texture intact.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buffalo wings, Fried chicken wings, Mix-and-match fish & chicken combo
What Makes it Special: Fast, fried-to-order wings that hit best as a simple box meal.
#8
Haute Brats
7.8
A smaller, less-obvious stop where fries show up as a real menu driver—especially in “fries-as-a-meal” builds like jerk chicken fries. Best used as a targeted takeout play: pick one specialty fry item and one handheld so the order doesn’t sprawl.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jerk Chicken Fries, Chicken Sausage + Fries, Hot Dog + Fries
What Makes it Special: Specialty fries that eat like an entrée, not a side.
7.6
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A late-night, drive-thru-style taco stop that wins on convenience: long hours, fast turnover, and a menu built for quick cravings. Reviews point to a real “hit-or-miss” service experience, but the sheer volume of traffic suggests it’s a dependable neighborhood option when you need food after hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos, Huevos a la Mexicana, Burrito
What Makes it Special: Long-hours taco counter built for late-night convenience.
7.6
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A Chinese takeout counter where wings show up as a sleeper hit—best ordered as a snackable side or paired with rice for a full, budget-friendly meal. It’s strongest when you keep the order focused: wings plus one rice/noodle base so flavors don’t blur together.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jumbo chicken wing with fries, Fried chicken wings, Chicken fried rice with wings
What Makes it Special: A non-obvious wings stop inside a classic Chinese takeout menu.
#11
Happy's Pizza
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
A neighborhood pizza counter built for straightforward takeout: order a classic pie, keep expectations aligned with quick-service execution, and eat it hot. Best used as a practical “feed the table” option rather than a destination Italian night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese pizza, Pepperoni pizza, Chicken wings
What Makes it Special: A simple neighborhood pizza stop focused on fast, familiar favorites.
7.5
A fast-food combo shop where wings are a supporting star alongside cheesesteaks, fries, and house lemonade. The best wing order is the simple whole-wing plate with fries—lean into seasoning and keep the order focused.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baba's Famous Wings, Party Buffalo Wings, 10 Pcs with Fries
What Makes it Special: A wings-and-fries lane built into a bigger sandwich-and-lemonade menu.
7.5
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A taqueria-and-snack shop hybrid that mixes tacos with quick Mexican street snacks and sweet treats, making it a practical one-stop for a casual bite and a cold finish. The best move is to treat it like a small-order spot: one savory item, one snack, then something frozen.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos, Elote preparado, Paletas
What Makes it Special: Savory tacos plus paleteria treats in one quick-stop format.
7.5
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
A no-frills takeout spot with an expansive, value-leaning menu where the steak hoagie lane shares the spotlight with fried fish and wings. It’s best approached as a quick, budget-friendly pickup—order straightforward classics and keep expectations aligned with a simple counter-service setup.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak hoagie, Fish sandwich, Chicken wings
What Makes it Special: An ultra-casual takeout counter pairing steak hoagies with fish-and-wings value.
7.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family Friendly Favorites
A neighborhood seafood-and-chicken market format where the draw is straightforward fried comfort—catfish, nuggets, and wings—meant to travel well. The ceiling is less about ambiance and more about value and portion-driven satisfaction when you keep the order simple and fresh.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried catfish steaks, Chicken wings, Fish nuggets
What Makes it Special: A buy-and-cook seafood market setup that prioritizes value and fast fried staples.