Great food, great prices? 18 places to eat in Fort Worth for under $20
The Star-Telegram’s “On a Budget” series helps you find great food at Fort Worth-area restaurants for affordable prices — most of the time, under $20 a person. Here’s a look at the deals we’ve found so far in 2026.
A Ridglea-area deli called The Lunch Box turns any sandwich into a four-item lunch by adding three sides — like fresh fruit, pasta salad or chips — with a BALT (a BLT with avocado) lunch box ringing up at $15.75. Sandwiches by themselves are $7.95 to $9.25.
Daybreak Cafe and Grill off White Settlement serves a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast and coffee for $7 (the same price as a McDonald’s Big Breakfast). Breakfast tacos are also as low as $1.25. Owner Mario Garcia says he keeps prices low so families can afford to eat out.
A north Fort Worth food truck called Super Taco serves $1 street tacos on Tuesdays (normally $2.50) at 2023 N.E. 28th St. Meat options include tromp el pastor, which is pork roasted on a spit (like gyro meat) and shaved off.
A local DFW chain, Burger Box, sells a large cheeseburger combo with crinkle fries or tots and a drink for about $10. Star-Telegram restaurant columnist Bud Kennedy says the meal is “fresh-made and cheaper than at Whataburger.” The fun part is every location offers different menu items – some serve soft-serve, some don’t. Some serve breakfast, some don’t.
Chadra Mezza & Grill in Near Southside serves lunch and dinner between $12 to $20. Most dishes, like the chicken shawarma ($12 as a wrap, $16 as an entree) is also big enough to split between two people. You can find them in a box-shaped container looking building at 1700 South Freeway.
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David’s Barbecue between Fort Worth and Arlington (2224 W. Park Row Drive, Pantego) hasn’t changed since 1965 – and we are talking about their prices. Brisket goes for $23 a pound, or $14.95 when ordered on a small dinner plate.
Back in January, we told our readers about a dozen or so wallet-friendly restaurants near Dickies Arena, TCU and the Cultural District, for those who were visiting the Stock Show & Rodeo. This list is still good — it includes breakfast tacos, sourdough bagels, smashburgers, pizza and sushi happy hours, all under $20 per person. Check it out here.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.