Dining out can cost you a small fortune, but it certainly doesn't have to. It just takes a little pre-planning, and perhaps someone to guide you along the way. From organic fare to a tasting of dim sum to special date night promotions, here's our guide for you on places to go for cheap eats in Palm Beach County.
C.R. Chick's, seven locations in Palm Beach County
If you're craving a home-cooked meal, C.R. Chick's will do the trick every time. Their from scratch kitchen serves up a menu of rotisserie chicken, sandwiches, house-made sides, chicken soup and pasta — including their famous “Smokey” pasta. Prices are in the $7-$16 range with a 1/4 chicken with two sides being $9.75 and the Smokey selling for $15.90.
Grand Lake Chinese Restaurant, 7750 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach; (561) 681-1388
Some people like to order a main entree for themselves, while others enjoy sampling a little of everything. For those tasters out there, gather together a group and head to Grand Lake Chinese Restaurant on Okeechobee Boulevard for a feast for the senses. While they offer a lengthy menu of authentic Chinese dishes, we tend to skip over the entrees and go straight to their menu of dim sum. From steamed BBQ pork buns to crispy shrimp dumplings, items fall in the $4-8 price range, so it's easy to eat like a king (or queen) for only a fraction of the cost.
Guarapo's Cuban Cuisine, 1795 N Congress Ave, Boynton Beach; (561) 752-0272
Tucked away in a strip mall on Congress Avenue, you'll find Guarapo's Cuban Cuisine, where they're serving hefty portions of traditional Cuban favorites without a large price tag. In addition to the wallet-friendly everyday prices where you can enjoy lunch specials for $6.95, a variety of appetizers and sandwiches for under $10 and dinner entrées for $10 to $20, Guarapo's offers daily specials, making this place even more attractive — and on some nights you can even score yourself a $0.99 sangria.
HotDog Opolis, multiple locations in Palm Beach County
Having been born in the midwest, there are some things that I do miss and one is a traditional Chicago-style hot dog. To fulfill my cravings, I head over to HotDog opolis and dig into their menu of Vienna Beef hot dogs, sausages and specialty dogs (they even sell a vegan dog for all of you non-meat eaters). With prices ranging from $5.99 to $7.59, it certainly beats a plane ticket back to the Windy City.
Lupita's Tex-Mex, 301 N Dixie Highway, Lake Worth; 561-533-0933
For your Mexican food fix, head to Lupita's Tex-Mex in Lake Worth, where they serve up your Mexican food favorites starting at 8 a.m. From Huevos Rancheros to Wet Burritos with all of the fixings, your day will get a little bit brighter with a visit to Lupita's. With plenty of options in the $4-$9 range and a single taco starting at $2.99, visiting Lupita's could become a daily excursion.