It’s no secret that finding cheap eats in Orlando is getting increasingly difficult.
However, thankfully there are still a number of restaurants both in the city and near the popular theme parks that offer incredibly delicious meals for a fantastic price.
We’ve tried to include as many local independently owned restaurants as possible on this list, although there is a few chain restaurants for those of you who like familiarity.
1. Bread Box
📍 Location: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819 ⌨️ Learn More: Bread Box
If you’re looking for a great value lunch near the Universal Orlando Resort, then Bread Box is a great option.
This gourmet sandwich shop is one of the most affordable restaurants in the Universal CityWalk area, making it a fantastic place to stop and grab a bite to eat.
Bread Box serves a mouth-watering selection of fresh deli sandwiches and melts priced at $12.99 or less. With the option to add a side of fries, tater tots, or coleslaw to any sandwich for just $2.50 as a result, you can easily get a filling meal plus a drink for under $20 here.
2. Sofrito Latin Café
📍 Location: 8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836 ⌨️ Learn More: Sofrito Latin Café
Located just a few miles from Walt Disney World, Sofrito Latin Café is a great choice for either lunch or dinner.
From Cuban sandwiches to Venezuelan arepas, you’ll find plenty of filling and reasonably-priced items on the menu at this restaurant.
If you’re really hungry, order one of their plates like roast pork ($12) or chicken ($16) which comes with three sides of your choice and a salad. While Sofrito Latin Café has a fairly meat-heavy menu, there are options for vegetarians too.
3. TaKo Cheena
📍 Location: 948 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Tako Cheena
In downtown Orlando, TaKo Cheena is a fantastic place to eat lunch or dinner if you’re looking for a delicious meal that offers great value.
This bustling eatery serves tacos, burritos, and arepas with an Asian twist. You’ll find inventive menu items like Thai Peanut Chicken tacos and Korean Beef burritos and with generous portion sizes and affordable prices, you can easily eat a filling meal here for under $15.
4. Mamak Asian Street Food
📍 Location: 1231 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Mamak Asian Street Food
Situated in Downtown Orlando you’ll find Mamak Asian Street Food. Inspired by the street food stalls and night markets of Southeast Asia, this local restaurant serves up hearty and delicious Malaysian food and other Asian favourites at an affordable price.
Some of the best menu items include Char Kway Teow or Indian Mee Goreng, two signature noodle dishes that are extremely popular in Malaysia. You also can’t miss the Roti Canai, a delicious flatbread served with spicy coconut gravy.
5. Bartaco
📍 Location: 7600 Dr Phillips Blvd Suite 28, Orlando, FL 32819 ⌨️ Learn More: Bartaco
One of the best places for tacos near the Universal Orlando Resort is Bartaco. This place is open until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends, as such it’s a great option for grabbing a cheap, affordable meal after a full day at the parks.
Better still with mouth-watering tacos costing just $2.50 each, a meal here won’t break the bank!
6. Se7en Bites
📍 Location: 617 Primrose Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Se7en Bites
If you’re looking for authentic Southern comfort food, Se7en Bites in downtown Orlando then be sure to check out Se7ven Bites. This restaurant and bakery serve an all-day breakfast and lunch menu, at prices that won’t hurt your wallet.
Some of the best menu items include their delicious buttermilk garlic biscuits and gravy, or their award-winning chicken pot pie.
7. Gringos Locos
📍 Location: 517 E Michigan St, Orlando, FL 32806 ⌨️ Learn More: Gringos Locos
Gringos Locos is sure to be a hit with the whole family. Famous for their Double D’s tacos, which consist of a soft tortilla with queso or guacamole wrapped around a hard shell tortilla and stuffed with taco fixings of your choice.
Gringos Locos has a happy hour every day from 4pm until 8pm with $3 tacos, $7.49 burritos, and free chips and salsa.
8. Chicken Guy!
📍 Location: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr Suite A, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 ⌨️ Learn More: Chicken Guy!
The newly opened Chicken Guy! is one of the best options for quick bites to eat at an affordable price at Disney Springs. This fast-casual restaurant from celebrity chef Guy Fieri specialises in (you guessed it) chicken.
With combo meals including chicken tenders or a chicken sandwich, fries, and a drink starting from $11.49, this is a budget-friendly place to eat.
9. Beefy King
📍 Location: 424 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Beefy King
Beefy King is a family-owned restaurant that has been in business for over 50 years.
While there isn’t much variety to the menu here, it’s this is the best place to come if you’re in the mood for a roast beef sandwich – or a full meal that costs less than $10!
10. Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria
📍 Location: 67 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria
Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria is one of the best lunch spots in Downtown Orlando. This gourmet sandwich shop serves delicious and unique creations that won’t break the bank.
Don’t miss the wide selections of teas to enjoy with your meal, and be sure to take a look at the creative works from local artists displayed in the restaurant.
11. Mrs. Potato
📍 Location: 4550 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando, FL 32811 ⌨️ Learn More: Mrs Potato
This award-winning restaurant less than ten minutes from the Universal Orlando Resort is one of the best places for Brazilian food – and meals for under $20!
As you might have guessed from the name, this restaurant has a potato-heavy menu, with loaded fries and loaded baked potatoes being the base of most meals.
12. Border Grill Fresh-Mex
📍 Location: 5695-A Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32819 ⌨️ Learn More: Border Grill Fresh-Mex
One of the best cheap restaurants in Orlando near Universal Studios is Border Grill Fresh-Mex. This is a great place to go if you’re looking for delicious Mexican food at an affordable price. Although the restaurant is fairly small, they have a large made-to-order menu.
Burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas are some of the items you’ll find on the menu, at prices that are much less expensive than nearby theme park restaurants.
13. Tu Casa
📍 Location: 9251 S Orange Blossom Trl STE 10, Orlando, FL 32837 ⌨️ Learn More: Tu Casa
Another great restaurant near Universal Orlando Resort is Tu Casa. This family-run Dominican restaurant serves authentic and tasty food at unbeatable prices.
You can fill up on a plate of rice, beans, and your choice of steak, chicken, pork, or shrimp for under $10. They also serve cheap and delicious breakfast sandwiches, making this a great place to stop and fuel up in the morning.
14. Sticky Rice
📍 Location: 1915 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Sticky Rice
Sticky Rice is a popular restaurant in downtown Orlando known for its mouthwatering Laotian street food.
This is a fantastic place to eat for a quick lunch or dinner that’s budget-friendly. The menu mainly consists of small plates, which are great for sharing with a group.
This restaurant serves a variety of salads (the papaya is my favourite) alongside a number of rice bowls and noodle soups.
15. Banh Mi Nha Trang
📍 Location: 1216 E Colonial Dr Suite # 9, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Banh Mi Nha Trang
Located in downtown Orlando, this Vietnamese sandwich shop is consistently ranked as having the best banh mi in the Orlando area. If you’re looking for a quick and cheap bite to eat, this takeout-only sandwich shop is the perfect place to go.
You can’t beat the price at this no-frills banh mi shop. Sandwiches are only $5 and freshly made, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options on the menu.
16. Q’Kenan
📍 Location: 8117 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821 ⌨️ Learn More: Q'Kenan
One of the best affordable restaurants near Disney World is Q’Kenan. This family-owned Venezuelan restaurant will leave you feeling full and satisfied, with a variety of hearty menu items like arepas, cachapas, and burgers, and appetizers like empanadas.
The best time to visit Q’Kenan is between 4pm and 7pm as during this time the restaurant runs a promotion where you’re able to get selected menu items such as a burger and fries for $9.99.
17. Hot Dog Hall of Fame
📍 Location: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819 ⌨️ Learn More: Hot Dog Hall of Fame
If you’re searching for hot dog heaven, then be sure to check out Hot Dog Hall of Fame at Universal’s CityWalk. This baseball-themed fast food restaurant serves the best hot dog we have ever had – as well as a variety of options for vegetarians and vegans.
Surprisingly, given the incredible location and delicious food, this place still offers super reasonable prices. We’re talking hot dogs for $8.99 – $8.99, sides (such as the amazing chili cheese fries) for $6.99 and combos for under $15!
18. Beth’s Burger Bar
📍 Location: 9938 Universal Blvd #120, Orlando, FL 32819 ⌨️ Learn More: Beth's Buger Bar
With several locations around Orlando, Beth’s Burger Bar is a local favourite. This vibrant, diner-style restaurant features build-your-own burgers plus a selection of inventive signature burgers, along with beer and wine.
This burger joint has something for everyone, with a number of plant-based options. It’s a great place to go for an affordable dinner, with live music most nights of the week.
19. King Bao
📍 Location: 710 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: King Bao
In downtown Orlando, King Bao serves up mouth-watering bao buns stuffed with inventive fillings. This small counter-service restaurant is great for a budget bite to eat, with bao buns priced between $3 and $3.75 each.
Try several bao buns, like the Mr. Potato Head stuffed with sweet potato croquette or the Kickin’ Chicken filled with kimchi fried chicken, plus a side of loaded tater tots.
20. Lazy Moon Pizza
📍 Location: 1011 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 ⌨️ Learn More: Lazy Moon Pizza
One of the best Orlando restaurants for pizza is Lazy Moon. Although it’s on the cheaper side, the pizzas here are delicious – it’s no surprise this place consistently gets rave reviews!
These gourmet pizzas can be ordered by the slice (and the slices are huge) or as a whole pie.
Along with pizza, they have a wide selection of craft beer and other drinks on the menu, making this a great dinner spot in downtown Orlando.