10 Meals for Under $10 in Charlotte
Eating a meal without spending a ton of money seems so hard these days, and eating cheap while still having great quality seems even harder. Well, we went to work and put together a list of ten different places where you can get a wonderful meal and manage to stay under a $10 budget. From Chinese and Mediterranean to pizza and burgers, below you’ll find some awesome local restaurants serving up great quality meals for super cheap every time!
Sal’s Pizza Factory
3723 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 219-7108
We’re starting the 10 meals under 10 dollars series off strong with the beloved Sal’s Pizza Factory! This is a great place for takeout or delivery. From philly cheesesteaks to wraps, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches, you can get a filling meal here for well under $10. Try a delicious buffalo chicken or chicken caesar wrap served with french fries for just $9.95. Or go for a footlong ham and cheese sandwich for only $8.50. If you want to split a pizza with a friend and stay to that $10 budget, order a large cheese pizza, calzone, or stromboli for a whopping $7.75 each. NY style pizza is always tasty, but it’s even better when it’s this cheap.
Laurel Market
114 Cherokee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
(704) 347-4989
At this lovely Charlotte favorite, there are only a handful of items on this menu that exceed $10 so you have tons to choose from! Here, they’re known for serving up all kinds of breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Try one of their breakfast sandwiches like the Mercado with two eggs, apple smoked bacon, chipotle pepper spread, and pepper jack cheese for only $6.50. Or stop by for lunch and try their RBC sandwich with roast beef, cheddar cheese, red onion, tomato, lettuce, and horseradish mayo and deli mustard all for just $9.50. They always use the freshest ingredients from their bread to the meats and veggies. There’s something for everyone to love at this one stop shop. Check out this great little deli on your next lunch break for a handful of a sandwich!
Brooks’ Sandwich House
2710 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 375-7808
Brooks’ Sandwich House is a Charlotte staple and once you try it, you’ll understand why. This no frills, cash only spot has been serving the area for decades. They’re known for their hot dogs and hamburgers and you can get them any way you like. They’ll recommend getting your order “all the way” which means your dog or burger will be covered in chili, mustard, and onions! Get a double cheeseburger for under $8. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean they skimp on the size of the patty. They also offer a number of sandwiches like a BLT and chicken filet for $5. Make sure to order one of their great sides like the onion rings, chips, french fries, nachos, or slaw for just a couple bucks. The line gets long here at Brook’s so head on over and get yourself a good old fashioned burger for real cheap.
Johnny Burrito
301 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28282
(704) 371-4448
If you’re from Charlotte, odds are you’ve heard of this burrito spot. Johnny himself says if you don’t like your meal, he’ll buy it for you, so that’s saying something! All of their regular burritos, which are still hefty sized burritos, are $8-$9. Or if you are super hungry, they have a big burrito for $10-$11. If you pay cash, they offer 50 cents off your total. They also serve delicious nacho salads for around 10 bucks and it is so much food you could probably make it last two meals. They have tons of fresh ingredients to fill your burrito with and they make a delicious vegetarian burrito as well. This is another great local spot to check out for lunch, but it gets super busy so if you’re in a hurry, check them out before or after the lunch rush.
Jack Beagle’s
3213 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 334-5140
This NoDa spot is the best for so many reasons. For starters, they have some kind of deal every day like $2 tacos on Tuesday and $3 mimosas all day long on Saturday and Sunday. They have a killer breakfast here with some of the best biscuits around. Go for the chicken tender, egg, and cheese biscuit for just $4.50. They also serve omelets for $8-$9 as well as breakfast burritos, french toast, and eggs benny all under 10 bucks. They keep the deals coming for lunch and dinner with their famous mac and cheese for $6 along with their delicious waffle fries and hot dogs. This spot turns into a bar at night though so come back and late night here and jam out to a live band on the back patio. There is fun all around to be had at Jack Beagle’s.
Coco and the Director
100 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 353-6003
This Uptown coffee shop is the perfect place to grab a coffee to start your day, or bring your laptop and get some work done here. The atmosphere is super calm and relaxing and a really great place to hang out if you have the time. Their coffee is spot on, with so many options and flavors, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. Get a classic drip coffee for under 3 bucks, or get something a little more fun like a dirty chai for just under 5 bucks. Food wise, they have tons of yummy pastries like muffins, croissants, banana nut bread and more coming in at anywhere from $3-$6. If you want more than just a bite, try one of their breakfast sandwiches like the sausage, egg, and cheese on an english muffin for $6. Coffee and a tasty breakfast sandwich is hard to come by for cheap these days, so check this spot out!
Original Chicken & Ribs
1100 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
(704) 332-2902
This mom and pop spot is great for picking up some hot, fresh southern classics like fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens and more. Everything is made to order, so go ahead and call in what you want so you don’t have to wait too long, but it will be worth the wait. They offer chicken meals like the 3 wings and a roll for just under 7 bucks. Another great option is the pulled pork BBQ dinner served with potato salad and a roll for $9.95! Great food, portions, and flavor and it won’t break the bank. They’ve got tons of other options like chicken nugget meals, popcorn shrimp, and tons of sandwiches to choose from so check them out and see what all the fuss is about!
Little Village Grill
710 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 347-2184
Another perfect spot for take out conveniently placed in Uptown serving up all kinds of Mediterranean goodness! This is a place you can count on being served a super flavorful, hot, and fresh meal every time. Their lamb and beef gyro with lettuce, tomato, onion, and taziki sauce is one of the best in the area and only $5.25! It almost seems too good to be true, but it’s not. Nothing on this menu costs over $7 so you have your pick from salads, sandwiches, burgers, pitas and more. Stop by for lunch and sit outside or take it back to the office with you to enjoy.
Taipei Express
731 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
(704) 334-2288
A really good Chinese spot can be hard to find, so once you do, you gotta hold on tight! If you don’t already have a favorite spot for take out in Charlotte, you will soon. Taipei Express is serving up really tasty, nice portions of all the Chinese classics you crave. Order a cup of wonton soup and some vegetable lo mein for right around 9 bucks. Or try one of their dinner specials like the orange chicken plate served with your choice of white, brown or fried rice. It has never been easier to eat fresh, hot, tasty Chinese for such a great price.
Midnight Diner
115 E Carson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
(980) 207-3641
Who doesn’t love a good diner? They’ve got options galore and all super fairly priced. One of the best parts about this diner? It is old school and really gives you that 50’s diner vibe which definitely adds to the experience. For breakfast, you can find egg plates, waffles, breakfast sandwiches and more all under $10. For lunch and dinner, you’ve got tons of sandwich options like turkey and swiss, BLT, chicken salad, and several others all for around 8 or 9 bucks. You can also get a classic cheeseburger here for about $9. Or go a la carte and order a couple of different sides and call that a meal. The midnight diner is awesome, open all day everyday, and will serve you a wonderful meal every time.