Houston's Best Cheap Eats 2008

Inexpensive downtown Vietnamese hot spot for a quick workday lunch or weekend munchies.

Reviews:

• “Best Vietnamese, even for a Cat!”
• “Great Food. Great Value. Great Atmosphere.”
• “Please, do yourself a favor, travel a few minutes”
• “Best Vietnamese Sammiches!”
• “Best Cheap Eats around!”

Tips: The menu features a variety of Vietnamese teas and fruit juices. Ask the waitstaff to explain what’s what, and try something new.

Les Givral’s Kahve

A focus on the food and a spartan approach to advertising make this little Mexican joint a hidden treat.

Reviews:

• “Disappointed”
• “WORST DRIVE THRU SERVICE AND WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE IN TOWN..”
• “Watch out for the 7.5% inflation surcharge!”
• “Will not return for average food and bad service!”
• “Drive in quick!”

Tips: Choose between a cavernous room with a Tejano jukebox and an outdoor patio that faces a menagerie of topiary woodland creatures.

Chacho’s Mexican Restaurant

Bare bones barbecue shack known for their long lines, inexpensive prices and authentic Texas flavors.

Reviews:

• “Customer Service is HORRIBLE!”
• “Bad attitudes… good food”
• “WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE”
• “THE BEST IN TOWN”
• “Food (B-); Price (B+); Quantity (A); Service (Z-) and lower if that rating exists!!!”

Thelma’s Bar B Que

Bring a big appetite and a little money to this hole-in-the-wall landmark for great Greek grub.

Reviews:

• “Still the best”
• “Lots of sizzle but no steak.”
• “Best Gyro "
• “Huge plates, great location”
• “Three cheers for Niko Nikos!”

Tips: To-go orders are popular here. If you don’t take it home, you’ll be stuck with Styrofoam plates and plastic forks. Don’t forget to take the addictive honey-drizzled baklava home with you, too.

Niko Niko’s Greek

Good American standards set in a quirky atmosphere attract midtown and downtown crowds.

Reviews:

• “Good place to break up”
• “WOW!!!”
• “Great food and customer service!”
• “Come hungry, leave full”
• “healthy”

Barnaby’s Cafe

Nondescript Vietnamese table service restaurant serves low-priced sandwiches and vermicelli noodle dishes in southwest Houston.

Reviews:

• “Nice Place”
• “Great value for great food”
• “Decent Food”
• “Don’t Stop at the Sandwiches!!!!”
• “Best $2 sandwich I ever ate”

Tips: A popular lunch stop, the restaurant is often very crowded during the noon hour.

Cali Sandwich & Fast Food

A walk-up eatery serving highly coveted fried chicken and Cajun sides.

Reviews:

• “No inside dining!”
• “Great Chicken”
• “Frenchy’s Chicken”
• “Best Fried Chicken EVER!”
• “Houston’s best, perfect for pre-game meals”

Tips: Desserts include a knockout bread pudding and on special days, peach cobber that’ll have you sighing with satisfaction.

Frenchy’s Chicken or email Frenchy’s Chicken

When it’s three in the morning and you must have pie, turn to this egalitarian River Oaks hangout.

Reviews:

• “Cross Dresser”
• “Everything you always hope a diner will be”
• “Plenty of Pies, Some Improvements Possible”
• “Best 24 hour restaurant in HOUSTON!”
• “Poor customer service!”

Tips: Two other locations, one in Spring Branch, the other in the Galleria area, offer the same menu fare but not the same atmosphere.

House of Pies

A “come as you are” South American eatery from the people who brought you Americas and Churrascos.

Reviews:

• “Good, well priced Brazilian style food!”
• “gotta love it.”
• “no beef!”
• “Trailer Park Heaven”
• “Good food”

Tips: Breakfast is served on weekends, starting at 9am.

Amazon Grill

What this long-standing location may lack in updated decor, is more than made up for in affordable Tex-Mex.

Reviews:

• “Worth a weekly trip!”
• “Best Mexican food in Town”
• “Food is excellent!”
• “Needs cleaning & a new paint job”
• “Fatntastico! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED”

Tips: Enjoy happy hour prices on margaritas from 11am to 7pm Monday through Wednesday.

Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe

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