From bánh mì to birria ramen, here’s where to fill up on a budget.
It’s tough to get a great meal under $20 these days, and for good reason. Prices on basically everything have gone up, which means restaurants have to charge more to cover labor, ingredients, and even rent. But it doesn’t mean there aren’t spots where you can get a hearty rice bowl, a bánh mì loaded up with deli meats, pâté, and crunchy pickled vegetables, or even a burger at a very reasonable price. Whether you’re a student on a tight budget or a tourist trying to recreate the Philly episode of Food Network’s $40 A Day with Rachel Ray, here’s where you can find incredible bites for $20 or less.
Amy’s Pastelillos, Fishtown
All of the pastelillos at Amy’s are priced at $5, so you can get three and still have money left for tax and tip. But they also do lots of delicious bowls for around $15, like the pollito bowl, which includes rice, stewed chicken, tostones, avocado, and pickled onion, and is practically guaranteed to keep you full all day. 2001 Memphis Street.…