The cost of going out to eat can escalate quickly, but there are still deals to be found. Here’s where you can find affordable eats around Portland.
🏃 Cheap Eats to Go
Not only is a bahn mi a great to-go option, but they can usually be found for a very reasonable price. For just $5, you can pick up a bahn mi with homemade bread and a drink at all Hồng Phát supermarket locations. It doesn’t get more “bang for your buck” than that.
Who doesn’t love a meal in a cute box? The Killer Box Lunch is available daily before 4 p.m. and includes a pint burger, small fries, and a fountain drink for $11. Plus, there are Killer Burger locations all over Oregon, in case you’re lost, broke, and hungry.
For me, the burrito is pound-for-pound the best portable meal. It’s also a poetic vessel for the blending of beautiful cultures — a north-Mexican invention with Spanish and Arabic roots, filled with the flavors of the culture where it is being served. Here in Portland, that flavor is served with delicious veggies and in big portions out of a neighborhood cart for $11. Bonus points for the $7 quesadilla.
For something even more hearty, the $13 fried chicken sandwich is such a monstrosity that it can be split into two meals or shared with someone whom you love enough to share your chicken. Using the hungry boy algorithm (that I totally just made up), that’s $7 per meal.
I feel like there’s a whole chicken on this sandwich.
Bryan M. Vance, Stumptown Savings
🍴 Dine-In and Happy Hour
In the words of Beyoncé, “this ain’t Texas,” but the flavor is still big. A scratch-made cheeseburger can be had with fries and a drink for $12 — spend a little extra for the green chile version, it’s worth it.
Skip the dinner rush and stop by for The Bowl, a $13 dish made with fresh vegetables and your choice of protein. It’s the type of meal you’d normally take to-go, but the vibes are so good that it’s worth dining in.
Get a taste of Neapolitan-style pie (with a soft, thin dough) for $9 if you go before 5 p.m. They really care about using fresh, local ingredients, and the pizza is big enough to share with another person.
⭐️ Bonus Reader Recommendation
This one comes from Hey Portland reader Jenny M., who says Bui’s is a great option for inexpensive takeout. Jenny recommends the salad rolls, chicken and rice Xôi Gà, and sesame balls.
Listen to our team chat with Stumptown Savings founder Bryan M. Vance for even more affordable eats around Portland.
