Cheap Eats!
This is defined for us as being able
to feed two people for $15 or less and enjoy it. Our Holy Grail is to take home
leftovers too.
Part of the strategy is to eat family style. We order for the table and dive
in. More fun, costs less. Order carry-out on the way home and save even more
$$$ as you feast by wine and candlelight on your porch or deck. Wine and drinks
are not considered in the Cheap Eats price.
** At places marked like this, you'll spend more than fifteen bucks, but you take home another meal for two. Per-meal, it's the same price, and we have the yummy leftovers with wine at home. Yo!
La
Fonda Latina
Five locations around ATL, open 'til 11:00pm. Limited menu, but we always split
Paella for one and a bowl of Sopa de Pollo
(awesome chicken soup). The Paella is a one-dish meal, crawling with seafood,
sausage, chicken, lotsa rice. Homemade salsa for your chips, pretty addictive.
Ingredients are fresh and tasty, paella served in a cast-iron skillet. Love
their bull logo too.
Malaya
** Collier Road in NW Atlanta
Malaysian place with some Thai dishes. Beef Rendang is addictive, we always
order it. Ask for some steamed veggies to go with the meat-laden dishes.
Taqueria Del Sol - Three locations, hit the link to see 'em.
A la carte menu with awesome variety of tacos and enchiladas. They might have other awesome stuff, but we can't stay out of the tacos and enchiladas. This can be cheap eats or not depending on how much you pig out. We share five tacos and an enchilada, which provide much variety and enjoyment while filling up pretty well.
Non-restaurant specific:
Pho - Several places, many on Buford
Highway. We've been going to Pho
Hoa lately.
Vietnamese noodle soup (and various rice dishes worth exploring). No-frills
good eatin'. $5.50 for a medium bowl (I gotta be hungry to finish a medium),
hot tea for two, and maybe some spring rolls. Pho has whatever you choose in
it (combos on the menu). Pick something basic at first, or you can go native
and get one with some tripe and tendon.
You'll get a tray of fresh herbs and veggies too. When the pho arrives, shred the herbs and toss in, add sprouts, squirt in all the lime you get. I recommend some Hoisin Sauce (the brown bottle) and some chili sauce (start small) too. Chopsticks in one hand, soup spoon in the other. Damn, I'm hungry now...
Generic - Mexican places
Order an appetizer and Fajitas (for
one, or two if you huuuungry). Chips and salsa get you started, then play with
your food when the main event arrives. Unleash your inner mad scientist as you
create the perfect fajita.