21 Cincinnati Restaurants to Visit When You’re Broke AF

Tortilleria Garcia

5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Tortilleria Garcia opened their second Cincinnati location in spring of 2019. The eatery will change everything you think you know about tacos. One might assume that the highlight of a taco is the protein or the salsa, but once you take a bite of a fresh corn tortilla made by restaurant owner Omar Garcia and his team, you’ll come to understand that — if made with respect for tradition and natural ingredients — what was once a mere vessel for taco fillings is now the centerpiece of the meal. Menu options here run the gamut from tamales, nachos and burritos to tacos, rotisserie chicken and fresh corn tortillas by the pack. (Note to self: Taco Tuesdays offer $1 tacos, less than half the standard price.) Recipes are inspired by those of Garcia’s mother and grandmother and the Mexican family farm where they grew corn when he was a child.
Photo: Paige Deglow

Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Open 24/6 (they’re closed on Sundays), Camp Washington Chili has been serving the Cincinnati community since 1940. They have a massive menu with everything under $10. Stop by for breakfast for their $7.75 Meal Deal that features two eggs, a choice of meat, hashbrowns and toast. For lunch and dinner you can get a cheese coney and fries for under $5.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Whole Bowl

364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
This is the perfect spot for people who don’t like to make decisions, since Whole Bowl offers only one menu item. While there is an easy vegan alternative, Whole Bowl’s titular dish is comprised of brown rice, beans, black olives, Tillamook cheddar, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream and a lemon-garlic sauce. The only real choices a diner should need to make in the matter is whether to get a 12 oz. Bambino Bowl for $6 or a 16 oz. Big Bowl for $6.50.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheWholeBowlCincinnati

Bridges Nepali

Multiple locations including: 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 133 E. Court St., Downtown
Bridges Nepali brings a unique flavor at an affordable price. It’s one of the few places in the area to offer Nepalese cuisine. The menu features a wide range of options including some vegan menu items for those living that veggie life. Samosas are available to get you started at $4. Then you can build your own rice bowl for $10 with your choice of delicious meat or vegan options. You can make it a combo with a side for $12.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Alabama Que

2733 Short Vine St., Corryville
Alabama Que has an everyday budget-friendly special that includes your choice of six different meats, a side, bread and a small drink, all for under $10. The variety of meat choices include smoked chicken, pork rib tips, pulled pork, beef ribs, beef brisket or their famous turkey tips.
Photo via Facebook.com/AlabamaQueFanPage

Ollie’s Trolley

1607 Central Ave., Over-the-Rhine
Located in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollie’s Trolley is a soul food staple in the Cincinnati area. The eatery serves a variety of smoked pork, including ribs, rib tips and pulled pork, plus plenty of sides, like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. Get a pulled pork sandwich, side and a slice of pie for under $9.
Photo via Facebook.com/OlliesTrolleyCincinnati

Fred and Gari’s

629 Vine St., Downtown
This quaint downtown lunch spot is an unassuming gem that’s been in the business of slinging classic diner bites for over 30 years. Offering both hot and cold sandwiches, soups and pizza, the retro-styled take-out eatery packs a whole lot of flavor and charm in a tiny little space. Get a soup and salad combo for $8.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Tortilleria Garcia

Multiple locations including: 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale; 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Popular Springdale Mexican eatery Tortilleria Garcia opened a second location in College Hill. The restaurant uses old-fashioned techniques for their straightforward cuisine — like freshly-made corn tortillas, tamales, burritos, housemade salsas and rotisserie chicken — in addition to their beloved tacos. The real deal happens on Taco Tuesday where they offer $1 tacos all day.
Photo: Paige Deglow

Tucker’s Restaurant on Vine

1637 Vine St., Over-The-Rhine
This small family-owned eatery has been serving up classic diner dishes since 1957. Through the decades Vine Street has seen many changes, but Tucker’s hasn't budged. With Findlay Market around the corner, Joe and Carla Tucker have been able to put a fresh twist on many classics, as well as have a steady source of produce for their housemade condiments and goetta. From vegetarian chili to double decker burgers, there’s a little something for everyone, at a price point all diners can appreciate. Just about every item on the menu — with the exception of the $13 steak and eggs — are $10 and under, with many sticking around $5.50 and under.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Marx Hot Bagels

9701 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
There are over 30 varieties made fresh daily, plus tuna salad, egg salad and nova lox that come with their own mascot: Bagel Man, the superhero-outfit-clad owner who may or may not be behind the counter offering a side of sass with your order. Get a pizza bagel and a small soup for under $10, regular bagels are $1.12 each or get a specialty bagel for $1.17.
Photo via Facebook.com/MarxHotBagels

Wunderbar

1132 Lee St., Covington
Rhineland ambiance with wooden picnic tables and German signage and a beer garden out back. Food options include giant pretzels, sauerkraut, sausage and doner kebabs, one of Germany’s favorite street-food dishes. The beer menu features staples such as Franziskaner and Warsteiner. Get budget combos like bratwurst and Brussels sprouts for $8 — a rather hearty meal for under 10 bucks. A giant pretzel and beer cheese will run you an easy $9.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Tom + Chee

1 Levee Way, Newport
Tom+Chee tied Court Street Lobster Bar in the 2019 Mac and Cheese Throwdown. You can try their winning grilled mac+chee which includes three cheeses, homemade mac and cheese and applewood smoked bacon for $7.49 — a price point most of their sammies fall under or near.
Photo: Facebook.com/4TomAndChee

Zablong Peculiar Pizza

23 E. 6th St., Downtown
If you want some interesting flavors to go with your budget, Zablong has plenty of choices. With 10 different pizzas for under $10, this is a great spot to stretch those last few dollars. Try a classic MargheritZA or get wild with one of their more peculiar pizzas, like the Buffalo Bob — with hot sauce, cheese, chicken, red onion and ranch — or the Tripping Goat, with mushroom truffle, roasted mushrooms, fig marsala, crushed red pepper oil, crumbled goat cheese and black pepper.
Photo: Provided by Zablong

Kitty’s Coffee

Multiple locations including: 121 E. Court St., Downtown; 120 E. 4th St. #5, Downtown
Kitty’s Coffee has hot or iced coffee, tea, sandwiches and paninis. Gary Gabbard and his wife Kitty Syphax opened the shop in 2004. The laid-back coffee shop has a saying, too: “Great coffee… no corporate aftertaste.” Get a panini, side salad and drink for under $10
Photo via facebook.com/kittyscoffee

Mad Mike’s Burgers and Fries

342 Monmouth St., Newport
Mad Mike’s Burgers and Fries are offering up many of their burgers for under $7, daily. With 10 different burger options there is something on the menu sure to fill your appetite.
Photo via Facebook.com/Mad-Mikes-Burgers-

Areti’s Gyros

1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Areti and George Papastergiou own Areti’s Gyros in Findlay Market. This grecian gem is one of the most budget-friendly food spots in the city. Get a gyro sandwich and a chili coney for $8.
Photo via findlaymarket.com

Ramundo's Pizzeria

Multiple locations including: 3166 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout; 2210 Beechmont Ave. #1519, Mount Washington
There are plenty of chain pizza places where you can get a lunch deal, but they are not nearly as good as Ramundo’s Pizzeria. Get two slices of amazing New York style pizza, two pieces of garlic bread and a drink for $9.99. A deal that good for under $10?! Fuggedaboutit.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Red Fox Grill

232 E. 6th St., Downtown
This unassuming downtown diner may not look like much, but if you like delicious burgers and great deals, this could be your new favorite downtown lunch spot. Get a double decker burger with fries, soup and coleslaw for under $9. If you are not a burger fan they pile meats high on their signature sandwiches for under $6.
Photo via Facebook.com/Red-Fox-Grill

Silver Ladle

580 Walnut St. Suite S700, Downtown
Silver Ladle is a fast-casual downtown dining destination that makes for an ideal, affordable lunch spot, offering a killer combo deal and a wide variety of items to choose from. Their menu is broken into chicken or burgers, Silver Ladle specials (like barbecue pulled pork or hot ham and gouda sammies), chili, soups, deli sandwiches and salads. Diners can make it a combo (drink and a cheese coney, fries or soup) for under $13.
Photo via Facebook.com/SilverLadle

Quatman Cafe

Multiple locations including: 2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood; 224 W. Main St., Mason
A no-frills burger joint with two locations — the original in Norwood and a second in Mason. Fans of the burger especially love dining on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, when $7.50 will get you a cheeseburger, fries and a drink. It’s hard to go wrong with that, but if you want to change it up, Quatman’s also sells some grub you don’t find very often — fancy a bowl of mock turtle soup?
Photo via Instagram/quatmancafe