Best Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance Restaurants in Little Italy

A short walk from the UIC campus, Kurimu leans into Asian-inspired soft serve, boba drinks, and coffee in a compact counter-service space. Since opening in 2019, it’s become a student staple for photogenic swirls and rotating flavors that run from taro to black sesame.

The University Village outpost of Joy Yee serves a huge pan-Asian menu with a strong Chinese backbone, from stir-fries and rice plates to bubble tea. Students and neighborhood regulars rely on it for generous portions, fast casual service, and late-day cravings that stay within a reasonable budget.

ML Kitchen is a University Village standby for Chinese and broader Asian fusion favorites with big portions and reliable takeout. Locals lean on it for saucy combo plates, fried rice, and wings that travel well whether you’re eating at home, in a dorm, or between classes.

A counter-service Vietnamese cafe in University Village where pho and banh mi are the main draw, Lotus Cafe & Banh Mi serves fragrant broths and soft, overstuffed sandwiches at student-friendly prices. Locals lean on it for quick lunches and low-key dinners, especially when a straightforward bowl of pho is the priority over scene or design.

The famed New York slice shop’s Chicago outpost brings thick Sicilian squares and big New York-style slices to Randolph’s restaurant row. It’s a fast-casual, mostly-standup operation geared toward quick lunches and late-night runs for pepperoni-cupped, sauce-forward pies.

The Momo World brings Himalayan street food to Maxwell Street with a tight menu of momos, biryani, and noodle dishes that overlap Indian and Nepali flavors. Students and nearby workers stop in for quick dumpling plates, saucy C-momos, and casual counter-service meals.

On Taylor Street in University Village, One More Sushi Express is a fast-casual counter focused on budget-friendly maki, combo trays, and ramen for dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Portions run generous for the price, making it a clutch move for students and nearby workers chasing quick rolls.

Yummy Thai is a busy Taylor Street spot known for big portions of curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes that travel well for delivery or takeout. Regulars lean on it for customizable spice levels and value-focused combo ordering when feeding roommates or families.

Mr Greek Gyros’ Taylor Street outpost brings a decades-old Greektown brand’s gyros, burgers, and kabob plates to University Village with long hours and counter-service convenience. It leans into big portions and late-night service more than polish, making it a reliable option after classes or games.

A no-frills Indo-Pak counter built for huge portions, fast pickup, and low-stakes repeatability—especially for UIC-area regulars. It’s at its best when you order one rice anchor and one paratha wrap, leaning into bold, saucy comfort over polished dining-room finesse.

Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food channels Indian roadside snacks into bowls, rolls, and chaat at student-friendly prices. UIC regulars stop in for dahi puri, stuffed parathas, and chai late into the night when they want something lighter and more snackable than a full curry spread.

A compact, family-run counter along Taylor Street turning out classic burritos, tacos, and tortas for the UIC crowd. Portions are generous, prices stay low, and regulars praise it as a dependable stop for straightforward Mexican comfort food.

On Taylor Street, this offshoot of the long-running Rickette’s brand leans into Chicago-style fried chicken, rib tips, and fish dinners packed into foam clamshells. It’s more about saucy wings and backyard-leaning barbecue plates than fussed-over ambiance, drawing steady locals for takeout-heavy orders.

IDOF’s University Village location is a fast-casual build-your-own line for falafel, shawarma, and grain bowls aimed squarely at students and office workers. The menu leans customizable and relatively light, with plenty of vegetarian-friendly options and portions that make it an everyday lunch candidate.

Conte Di Savoia is a Little Italy deli and grocery where the lasagna lives in the catering and prepared-foods case rather than on a white-tablecloth menu. Cheese, spinach, and meat lasagna trays share space with party subs and Italian sandwiches, making it a practical option for at-home lasagna feasts.

Thai Bowl is a long-running counter-service stop near UIC serving fast, inexpensive Thai standards with outdoor seating when weather allows. Students and staff count on it for quick lunch combos and familiar noodle dishes between classes or shifts.

Curry On Fire is a casual Taylor Street counter that leans into delivery-friendly curries, biryani, and Indo-Chinese dishes. Portions run generous and spice levels are adjustable, making it a practical choice when you want straightforward, filling Indian food at home or in a dorm.