While most of the tastiest and cheapest eats in Austin are undoubtedly found right in my own kitchen, once in a while even the most dedicated of shoestring budgeteers has to venture forth in search of sustenance slung by a stranger. Whether you’re looking for tacos, treats or the truly bizarre, Austin has a variety of inexpensive restaurants and food trucks that cater to the budget lifestyle.

Here are just a few of my favorites from around town, along with links to our more detailed write-ups.

• Ice cream at Amy’s Ice Cream – Celebrity Intern and I will argue about this one all day, because he loves his Häagen-Dazs (and I can’t lie, so do I), but Amy’s definitely gives our supermarket fave a run for its money, especially when someone says “Vanilla is vanilla, what’s so special about—MMMMMM!” after tasting their Mexican Vanilla; their seasonal specials and rotating daily offerings will keep you coming back for more
• Beanitos chips and Texas-Texas salsa (available at H-E-B, Whole Foods and Central Market) – a tasty, healthy alternative to corn chips, all made locally!
• Iced mocha at Epoch Coffee – the best iced mocha in Austin really hits the spot on a 105-degree day
• Fresh Plus Grocery – this place is so mom-and-pop that they don’t yet have a website, but their prices on upscale food items like gourmet cheeses, wines and beer plus amazingly fresh and beautiful fruits and veggies make stopping at any of their three locations (Hyde Park, Clarksville and a brand-new Allandale store) a delicious adventure for the home chef on a budget
• Hot chocolate at Caffé Medici – it’s on the pricy side, but it’s well worth it for the smoothest, creamiest hot chocolate in town (the secret is a homemade chocolate sauce, which the barista is on pain of death never to reveal to nosey food bloggers like me)
• Salgadinhos at Rio’s Brazilian – I still don’t know how to properly pronounce these dealios, but they’re savory stuffed pastries kind of like a Hot Pocket but about a billion times tastier
• Pho at Saigon Kitchen – choose from fatty or lean meat, or get a crazy mixture of both and build your own soup sensation
• Breakfast tacos at Taco Cabana – because they’re cheap, I love their green salsa, and you can get $1 off pretty much every time you go if you fill out the survey at the bottom of your reciept, plus they’re near my house and convenience is sometimes king
• Tacos at La Tapatia – the trip up north is worth it, as these tacos are always tender and delicious (and while you’re in the neighborhood, there’s a Half Price Books across the street worth hitting for some inexpensive reading materials)

Additional cheap eats to seek out, via Erin McReynolds, editor of Fearless Critic Austin:

• G’raj Mahal
  

  G'raj Mahal (image via Flickr user Justin Oliphant / FriendofaFriendProject)

• Taco More
• Teji’s Foods
• Franklin BBQ
• A+A Sichuan Cuisine
• Noble Pig
• Burgers at Casino El Camino
• Al pastor sopes at La Canaria
• Rice cake and dumpling soup at New Oriental Market

Recommendations for $5 or less treats via Crystal Esquivel, author of The Food Lover’s Guide to Austin:

• Curry buns at East Side King @ Liberty Bar
• Migas taco at El Primo
• Consome de Cabrito (Goat Consomme) at Taco More
• A slice of cheese pizza at Little Deli
• A bowl of the soup of the day (it comes with yummy bread) at San Francisco Bakery & Cafe
• Mounds Bar snow cone at Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs
• A few doughnuts at Mrs. Johnson’s Bakery
• Egg salad sandwich and chips at Thundercloud Subs
• A fruit cup with chile and lime at F&F Fruit Cups
• Samosa Chaat at Tarka
• Cheese bread from Phoenicia Bakery & Deli

And Twitter recommendations from some of our followers!

• Hill Country Pierogis (@ATXPierogiTruck)
• Bits & Druthers – “best fish and chips in town” (@bitsanddruthers)
• Tom’s Tabooley Thai Salad (via @aneelee)
• Pho Saigon “large bowl of pho” (via @bearpatrol)
• Torchy’s Tacos (via @mikegalante)
• “Soy milk and fried dough at Asia Café only on Saturday mornings, pork bone ramen at Komé for lunch only” (via @pwang)
• Hopfields – “French-style street food” (via @jen_stamps)

So tell us, what’s YOUR favorite cheap eatery in town?