Cheap Eats in Palm Beach County

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.

Bay Bay’s Chicken & Waffles, multiple locations in Palm Beach County

For a guilty pleasure and one that’s worth every calorie, head to Bay Bay’s Chicken & Waffles in West Palm Beach. Serving up a menu of classic southern recipes with an international flair, Bay Bay’s has become quite popular for their fresh, made-to-order fried chicken and waffles.

At lunch, Monday through Thursday, you can enjoy two pieces of dark chicken with a side and a soda for just $7.95. Add on $2 more for a dinner serving. In addition to the fried chicken and waffles, Bay Bay’s also offers southern appetizers, subs, wings, ribs, free coffee for those dining in the restaurant and $2 draft beer.

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 $5-$10 range with a 1/4 chicken with two sides being $6 and the Smokey selling for $10.50.

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 a variety of options for under $10, Guarapo’s offer 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 $3.29 to $5.99, 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 $5-$6 range and a single taco starting at $1.85, visiting Lupita’s could become a daily excursion.

Whole Foods Market, multiple locations in Palm Beach County

While Whole Foods Market and saving money don’t usually go hand-in-hand, have you ever taken a look at their special events? While their calendar changes monthly and varies from store to store, Whole Foods offers everything from cooking classes to outdoor BBQs to healthy eating demos — and they’re usually priced between $0 – $15. For one of our favorites, stop by the West Palm Beach location and check out their freshly made crepes.

Local Dines, various restaurants

Are you looking for a great deal? Look no further than LocalDines.com. While it’s not quite a restaurant, it is one of our favorite sites to check out when searching for dining deals — and you’ll save money instantly.  The site offers hundreds of half-price dining certificates to local restaurants from Miami to Vero, with the majority being in Palm Beach County. While many of these certificates can be purchased and used the same day, for some restaurants, a physical certificate will need to be mailed to you.

Whether you are looking to dine at your favorite restaurant or discover something new, Local Dines has you covered — and for an even better deal, check out their Blue Plate Specials, bringing you additional savings.