Dining Out on a Budget: Atlanta Restaurants Offer Wallet-Friendly Meals
After extravagant holiday splurges, Atlanta restaurants make it easy to rein in spending with plenty of options for dining on a budget. From free sandwiches and monthly specials to fast, delicious regular menu items, these eateries help guests enjoy great meals that won’t break the bank.
Multiple Locations
NaanStop, with locations in Atlantic Station, Buckhead and downtown, serves a mouthwatering menu of naan wraps, rice bowls, fresh salads and more. At NaanStop, guests can customize their orders by starting with a base of fresh greens, rice or naan wrap before moving to a choice of proteins, vegetables, toppings and chutneys for every heat level. NaanStop offers savings opportunities for its rewards members throughout the year. Guests can sign up at the restaurant.
PITA Mediterranean Street Food, a favorite for fresh, made-to-order Mediterranean cuisine, serves delicious and affordable dishes including traditional and chicken gyros, street pitas, mezza spread, rice bowls, salads and dessert. To feed a family on a budget, PITA’s family meals feed four people and include a choice of two proteins such as falafel or chicken, a choice of three sides, tzatziki sauce and fluffy pita bread for $39.99. Guests can place orders in person at any PITA location, online or via the convenient PITA app for takeout.
Rreal Tacos, with locations in Midtown, West Midtown and Chamblee, satisfies cravings for an authentic, high-energy Mexican street food experience. The eatery’s affordable menu boasts tacos and other specialties from Mexico’s various regions. Taco highlights include asada from northeastern Monterrey, birria barbacoa from Guadalajara and taco al pastor, one of Mexico City's signature tacos—all complemented by a variety of desserts, sides and refreshing margaritas.
All locations of Twisted Kitchen—Midtown, Smyrna and Marietta—allow guests to put their own “twist” on meals at prices that won’t break the bank. Guests start by choosing a pasta, salad or wrap and then add ingredients from a kitchen full of fresh meats, cheeses, vegetables and sauces. Guests also can choose from a selection of signature dishes—most priced less than $10.
Dunwoody
Sankranti offers a nutritious fast casual option for Indian cuisine. The growing brand, whose name translates to “positive change,” makes Indian cuisine more approachable with affordable, customizable options. The menu boasts curry bowls, kathi rolls, pulao, kabobs, traditional appetizers like samosas, salads and desserts inspired by both the northern and southern regions of India. Protein options include classics like tikka chicken, malai chicken and lamb. Vegetarian options such as paneer tikka masala and mixed vegetable kurma also are available. Sankranti is located at 237 Perimeter Center Parkway NE, Suite #H-56, in Dunwoody in the State Farm office building near the Dunwoody MARTA station.
Marietta
Cozy Coop, an innovative fast-food restaurant that celebrates authentic Southern flavors, is the perfect destination for an affordable meal. The eatery serves a chef-driven menu of mouthwatering fried chicken, chicken tenders, baby back ribs and delicious Southern staples in a cozy, comfortable setting. Cozy Coop offers a 15% discount to all first responders and a 10% discount to Kennesaw State University students showing an ID. The eatery, located at 2500 Barrett Creek Blvd. in Marietta, is open daily from 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sandy Springs
SabaRaba’s, the authentic Israeli street food experience in Sandy Springs, offers a menu focused on fresh ingredients with dishes ranging from falafel and shawarma to hummus and tabouli. Guests can pick their protein and choose to have it in a pita, laffa or as a deconstructed plate, and the average check is just $16. Each month, SabaRaba’s offers an enticing special such as January’s za’atar hummus with french fries and a choice of either harissa mayo or harissa ketchup for $8. The eatery, which operates out of a yellow shipping container located in Parkside Shops, is open daily from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. View the full menu and place orders online.
West Midtown
Zunzi’s, the Savannah-based fast casual concept known for its award-winning sandwiches, offers one of the best money-saving deals in town during its quarterly ZUNZIFEST! celebration. On the second Tuesday of the month in January, April, July and October, the eatery invites members of its text community for a free regular Conquistador or Rising Sun Sandwich (vegan upon request) from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. To sweeten the deal, Zunzi’s donates 26% of the proceeds from each day to a local nonprofit. Guests can join Zunzi’s text community and receive a link for more details about ZUNZIFEST! by texting “ZUNZIFEST!” to 912-207-7551. On the morning of ZUNZIFEST!, guests will receive a code to show the team upon arrival.