Austin likes to keep things weird, but these days it’s also getting pretty good at keeping things expensive. Eating out regularly in this city can feel like a full-time financial commitment — unless you know where to look.
The good news is that some of the best food in town doesn’t cost more than a matinee movie ticket.
Here is a list of 15 places in Austin where you can eat well for under $15 a meal, from legendary taco trucks to no-frills burger stands that locals have been swearing by for decades.
Habanero Mexican Cafe
This South Austin spot on West Oltorf Street is one of those rare places that makes both the ‘best restaurants in Austin’ list and the ‘cheap eats’ list at the same time. The huevos gringos — over-easy eggs smothered in queso and served alongside carne guisada, refried beans, fries, and tortillas — is a full plate for well under $15…