Good food for $15 or less can still be found across the West Side and near west suburbs — if you know where to look. From soul food in Austin to Italian delis in Elmwood Park, here are 15 meals worth every dollar.
Alice & Friends Vegan Kitchen
104 N. Marion St., Oak Park
aliceandfriendsvegankitchen.com
A vegan sausage with caramelized onions, fried shallots, relish and mustard, served with mashed potatoes or a side salad. Not Dog — $13.95
Sen Sushi
814 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
sensushibar.com
Tofu teriyaki, soup, house salad, shrimp and vegetable tempura, a California roll and rice — all in one box. At $15 flat, the spread is hard to beat. Lunch Special Bento Box — $15.00
Habibi’s Chicken & Falafel
421 N. Harlem Ave., Oak Park
eatathabibis.com
Lebanese street food in the heart of Oak Park. Served over creamy hummus with rice, Arabic salad, garlic smash and pickles. Chicken Shawarma Bowl — $13.99
Mulata Kitchen
136 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
mulatakitchen.com
Lentil or chicken soup with garlic crostini, paired with one of 10 daily empanada flavors. A solid, affordable lunch at Lake and Oak Park. Soup + Empanada — $11.75
Parky’s Hot Dogs
329 Harlem Ave., Forest Park
A corner stand since 1947. Beef and sausage on a single roll with fries. Cash preferred. Italian Combo — $11.18
Submarine Tender
200 Des Plaines Ave., Forest Park
submarinetender.com
A Forest Park institution since 1985, with meats sliced fresh daily. Seasoned gyro meat, tomatoes, onions and sauce piled on a pita, served with fries and a drink. Gyro Combo Meal — $13.25
Junction Diner
7401 Madison St., Forest Park
thejunctiondiner.com
A train-themed diner where a model locomotive delivers food directly to the counter. Cheeseburger with Fries — $13.00
Bodhi Thai Bistro
6211 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn
mybodhithai.com
Soup of the day, an appetizer and a full entree — BYOB. Lunch Special — $11.95
Taqueria El Grande
9132 31st St., Brookfield
taqueria-el-grande.menu-world.com
Authentic Mexican cooking with a devoted local following. Three tacos on corn tortillas with your choice of meat, accompanied by rice and beans. Taco Dinner — $10.99
Irish Times
8869 Burlington, Brookfield
irishtimespub.com
A pub menu that holds up well beyond bar food. Homemade corned beef sliced and served hot or cold on marble rye. Classic Corned Beef Sandwich — $14.00
Alpine Food Shop
7538 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park
alpinefoodshop.com
A deli counter institution. Nine inches of ham, salami, capicola and provolone on fresh bread with homemade oil and vinegar. The Alpine Sandwich — $8.79
Johnnie’s Beef
7500 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park
The Chicago-area standard for Italian beef since 1961. Order it dipped with sweet peppers or hot giardiniera. Cash only. Italian Beef Sandwich with Fries — Under $15. Cash only.
Freddy’s Pizza
1600 S. 61st Ave., Cicero
freddyspizza.com
Part Italian deli, part corner grocery, part neighborhood institution. Chicken in a lemon cream sauce over pasta. Cash only. Chicken Limone — Under $15. Cash only.
Chef Daddy’s
5944 W. Lake St., Chicago
chefdaddys.net
An Austin soul food anchor since 2015. Baked chicken dark with two sides — candied yams, mac and cheese, greens and more. Everything made from scratch. Baked Chicken Dark with 2 Sides — $10.99
Hangry Cluck
6620 W. North Ave., Chicago
hangryclucks.com
Nashville-style chicken on the Oak Park/Chicago border. Three tenders with fries, Cluck sauce, your choice of coleslaw or mac and cheese, Texas toast and a soda. 3 Tender Combo — $13.99