Ekiben
Taiwanese Bao Buns & Rice Bowls — James Beard Semifinalist
Started as a food cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market in 2014 and earned a James Beard semifinalist nod. The Neighborhood Bird — Taiwanese curry fried chicken thigh with spicy sambal mayo and pickles on a pillowy steamed bao bun — landed on Travel & Leisure's best sandwich in Maryland list. Praised by Vogue, Bon Appétit, and the James Beard Foundation. Two rice bowls (tofu, chicken, or ancho chile pork) run around $20 for two. Three Baltimore locations: Fells Point, Hampden, Locust Point.
Clavel
Sinaloan Tacos from a James Beard-Nominated Chef — Remington
James Beard-nominated Chef Carlos Raba's incandescent mezcaleria and taqueria in Remington. The flour tortilla recipe comes from his great-grandmother Maria. Barbacoa braised in Mexican coffee passed down by his aunts. Ceviche with lime-cured shrimp and spicy cilantro pesto. Baltimore Banner readers named it their most-loved taqueria. Two people ordering 3–4 tacos each come in at $18–22. The string lights and gorgeous greenery alone are worth the trip.
Blue Moon Cafe
Playful Diner Breakfast — Fell's Point & Federal Hill
Baltimore's beloved celestial diner — colorful exteriors, funky artwork, always a line on weekends. Famous for inspired French toast variations: Cap'n Crunch, crab dip, frito pie. No reservations, but it moves fast and it's worth it every single time. Baltimore.org calls it one of the most affordable and delicious breakfast spots in Charm City. Two people eating a full diner breakfast — French toast, eggs, coffee — land well under $20. Both Fell's Point and Federal Hill locations.
Blacksauce Kitchen
Smoked Fried Chicken Biscuits — Remington · Thu & Sat Only
Chef Damian Mosley's tiny Remington storefront open only Thursdays and Saturdays — an intentional scarcity that makes each visit feel earned. Legendary biscuits (Saturdays only), smoked fried chicken with spicy honey, brisket smashburger, smoked crab and grits. Baltimore Magazine says "you can't call yourself a Baltimorean if you haven't opened wide for a fried chicken biscuit with spicy honey from Blacksauce Kitchen." Also at the 32nd Street Farmers Market. Two breakfast sandwiches = around $14–18.
EMPA511
Peruvian Empanadas at $5.95 Each — Downtown
Baltimore Beat's exact verdict: "full meal for $15 to $20." Seven flavors of empanadas baked with slightly sweet Peruvian dough and bold home-style fillings — lomo saltado (beef stir-fry with fries and sweet plantain), spiced chicken thigh, vegetariana. Add a chicha morada ($4, cold Peruvian purple corn drink with cinnamon and pineapple) and an alfajor cookie ($2.25) for dessert. Two people eating two empanadas each with drinks and a shared dessert = a complete, excellent meal well under $20. Zero waste: biodegradable dishware throughout.
The Helmand
Afghan Cuisine — Mount Vernon Institution
Mount Vernon's legendary Afghan restaurant — one of the most consistently loved restaurants in all of Baltimore. The kaddo borwani (pan-fried pumpkin in yogurt sauce), veggie mantwo (vegetable dumplings), and aushak (fresh leek dumplings on mint yogurt with beef sauce) are the highlights. Baltimore.org confirms entrée portions and ample vegetarian dishes under $20. "Or the whole menu actually," as more than one Baltimore Banner reader put it. Two people sharing Afghan dumplings and an entrée land right at $20.
Matthew's Pizzeria
Baltimore's Best Pizza — Highlandtown
Tripadvisor and Baltimore Magazine's top-rated pizza in Baltimore. The 20-inch pizza at this Highlandtown classic is so large that "the box barely fits in the trunk of the car — and a single slice is not much smaller." Baltimore Magazine describes it as "train station pizza in a good way." Add shaky cheese and garlic powder at the counter before you head out. Two people sharing a large pie with drinks come in well under $20. A crab-laden Baltimore pizza tradition worth every bite.
DiPasquale's
Italian Deli & Meatball Subs — Highlandtown
Legendary Highlandtown Italian marketplace and deli — "you can't call yourself a Baltimorean if you haven't... opened wide for a meatball sub at the venerable DiPasquale's." Freshly made meatballs, imported Italian products, overstuffed sandwiches, fresh pasta to go. Two people eating a meatball sub each with chips or a side land well under $20. A Highlandtown institution that Baltimore's Italian-American community has built their Sunday rituals around for generations. The sesame rolls alone are worth the trip.
Attman's Delicatessen
Baltimore's Jewish Deli Since 1915 — Corned Beef Row
Corned Beef Row's anchor since 1915 — the oldest continuously operating deli in Baltimore and a James Beard American Classics Award winner. Overstuffed corned beef and pastrami sandwiches stacked the way they should be. A Baltimore Banner reader institution. Now with a stall at Camden Yards. Two overstuffed deli sandwiches with a pickle each land right at $20. The kind of deli that makes you understand why New York doesn't have a monopoly on this food. Cash-friendly, fast, and deeply satisfying.
Little Donna's
Yugoslavian Pierogies & Small Plates — Upper Fells Point
NYT-praised Upper Fells Point rowhouse restaurant where Chef Robbie makes his Yugoslavian grandmother Donna's pierogies exactly as taught. Expertly seasoned potatoes encased in tender pierogi dough, pan-fried with onion, topped with sour cream and not-your-grandmother's extras: red chili garlic oil, sesame seeds, lemon, and herbs. Praised by the New York Times and a consistent Baltimore dinner favorite. Two people sharing pierogies and a tavern pie land well under $20. Worth seeking out in the rowhouse.
Alma Cocina Latina
Venezuelan Arepas & Latin Cuisine — Station North
Venezuelan restaurant in Station North co-owned by Irena Stein, who brings her homeland's cooking to Baltimore. The arepa — a griddled corn cake stuffed with shredded beef (carne mechada), black beans, white cheese, or chicken — is the move. Affordable, filling, and unlike anything else in the city. Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurants list regular. Two arepas each with a side land comfortably under $20. One of Baltimore's most culturally specific and genuinely delicious cheap meals.
💡 Baltimore Pro Tip: Highlandtown is Baltimore's best double-header neighborhood — Matthew's Pizzeria and DiPasquale's are within easy walking distance of each other, making it a natural Italian-American food crawl. Remington is the buzzy cheap-eats hub: Clavel and Blacksauce Kitchen are both there (Thu/Sat for the latter). Attman's has been on Corned Beef Row for over 110 years — the neighborhood has changed but the deli hasn't. Blacksauce Kitchen's Saturday biscuits are a must-do: check their Instagram the week of your visit for the menu, and arrive early. They sell out.
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