Smoque BBQ
Pulled Pork Sandwich — ~$7
An Old Irving Park BBQ favorite — a pulled pork sandwich is about $7 and a sliced brisket sandwich $9.25, with sides like mac and cheese and slaw. Two people each get a sandwich for around $16. Closed Mondays.
Nhu Lan Bakery
Banh Mi — $6.28–8.95
An Uptown Vietnamese bakery for made-to-order banh mi — grilled pork, lemongrass chicken, BBQ pork — from $6.28 to $8.95 on house-baked baguettes. Two sandwiches run around $16, each their own.
Ba Le Sandwich
Banh Mi — under $11
An Argyle-corridor Vietnamese sandwich shop and bakery for banh mi on fresh French bread (all under $11), plus noodle soups from $9.95 and smoothies. Two sandwiches run around $16.
The Wieners Circle
Char Dog — ~$6
A Lincoln Park late-night legend famous for char-grilled Chicago dogs with the works — and the staff's theatrical trash talk. A char dog is around $6, so two with cheese fries runs under $18.
Joong Boo Market
Wang Mandoo Dumplings — $7.95
The dumpling window at Avondale's Korean grocery Joong Boo — giant wang mandoo and pan-fried shrimp-and-pork dumplings ($7.95 for five), kimchi dumplings $4.95. Two people share a spread for around $15.
Falafel & Grill
Falafel Wrap — $4.50
A Wicker Park Middle Eastern counter where a falafel wrap is just $4.50 and a weekday lunch combo $6.99. Two people each get a wrap, with room for hummus, for well under $20.
Ghareeb Nawaz
Chicken Biryani $12.99 (Feeds Two)
A cash-only Devon Avenue institution for Indo-Pak comfort food at giveaway prices — a huge chicken biryani is $12.99 and feeds two, veg biryani $5.99, chai under a dollar. Generous portions, open late.
Jim's Original
Maxwell St. Polish — $6.20
The stand said to have invented the Maxwell Street Polish — smoked sausage on a bun with mustard, grilled onions, and sport peppers, plus a free bag of fries. At $6.20 each, two people eat for around $13. Open nearly around the clock near UIC.
La Chaparrita
Street Tacos — $2.40
A Little Village corner grocery-taqueria turning out Mexico City–style tacos — chorizo, carne asada, suadero, tripe — at $2.40 each, plus huaraches and tepache. Two people build a full taco meal for under $15. Closed Thursdays.
The Original Maxwell Street
Maxwell St. Polish — $4.70
A 24-hour Garfield Park stand carrying the Maxwell Street torch — a Polish sausage is $4.70 and a bone-in pork chop sandwich $5.25, both with free fries. Two full combos run around $13. Open around the clock.
Carnitas Uruapan
1 lb Carnitas (Feeds Two) — $14.99
A Pilsen carnitas institution where a pound of Michoacán-style carnitas with tortillas, salsa, and beans is $14.99 and feeds two. Add chicharrón and an agua fresca and two people eat a feast for under $20.
Don Pedro Carnitas
Carnitas Tacos — $2.50
A Pilsen weekend-morning carnitas spot on 18th Street — carnitas tacos $2.50 each, a half-pound $4.75, a pound $11.99. Two people each eat three tacos for around $15. Cash-friendly, often a line.
5 Rabanitos
Tacos — $2.25
A Pilsen taqueria from a former Topolobampo chef where tacos — bistec, al pastor, carnitas, nopal — are $2.25 each. Two people each eat three or four tacos for under $18. (Skip the pricier entrées.)
Taqueria Los Comales
Tacos — $2.89
A Little Village mainstay on 26th Street for classic tacos — al pastor, asada, lengua — at about $2.89 each, plus tortas and burritos. Two people each build a plate of tacos for around $17.
Chiu Quon Bakery
BBQ Pork Buns — $1.85
One of Chinatown's oldest bakeries for golden char siu bao stuffed with sweet-soy BBQ pork at $1.85 each, plus egg tarts and other buns. Two people load up for under $10.
Yummy Yummy Noodles
Noodle Bowls — under $10
A casual Chinatown spot for noodle soups — egg, rice, or ramen noodles in light savory broth with your choice of protein, all under $10 a bowl. Two people eat a full Chinatown meal for under $18.
Saint Anna Bakery
BBQ Pork Bun — ~$1.95
A Chinatown Hong Kong–style bakery-cafe on Archer for steamed and baked buns — a BBQ pork bun is about $1.95 and egg tarts about $2. Two people load up on buns and milk tea for around $12.
MingHin Cuisine
Dim Sum — from $3.50/plate
A Chinatown Square dim sum hall where carts of dumplings, BBQ pork buns, and sticky rice run from about $3.50 a plate. Two people share three or four plates for around $18 — a proper dim sum lunch under $20.
Valois Restaurant
Obama Platter — under $10
A cash-only Hyde Park cafeteria and Barack Obama favorite where the namesake platter — two eggs, hash browns, and sausage — is just under $10, with hot sandwiches in the same range. Two people eat a full breakfast for around $18.
Rajun Cajun
Butter Chicken — $7.99
A Hyde Park cafeteria mashing up Indian and Southern soul food — butter chicken over rice is $7.99, with sides like mac and cheese and greens. Two people each get a plate for around $16.
Old Fashioned Donuts
Giant Apple Fritter — ~$4
A Roseland legend near Pullman for enormous hand-made apple fritters at about $5 each, plus classic glazed and cake donuts. Two people get fritters and coffee for under $15. Daytime only.
Portillo's
Chicago Dog — $3.99
Chicago-style hot dogs done right — yellow mustard, onions, relish, tomato, pickle, sport peppers, celery salt on a poppy-seed bun, no ketchup. A dog is $3.99, so two with fries runs well under $20. The River North location is the easy downtown stop.
Billy Goat Tavern
Double Cheezborger — $7.99
The Lower Michigan Avenue dive that inspired SNL's 'cheezborger' sketch — a double cheezborger is $7.99 and a single even less. Two doubles run around $16 in the shadow of the Mag Mile.
Oasis Cafe
Falafel Sandwich — $6.49
A halal hidden gem tucked behind a Loop jewelers' mall on Wabash — a falafel sandwich is $6.49, chicken shawarma $4.39, and a mixed combo $5.99. Two people eat a full Middle Eastern lunch for around $13.
💡 Pro tip: All deals are community-verified but prices and availability change. Always check the restaurant's website or app before making a special trip — and if something's expired, flag it on our main directory so we can update it.
These chain deals work anywhere in the country, including Chicago.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Pick 6 — Meal for Two from $19.99
The Pick 6 lets two people build a shared meal — choose six items across wings, tenders, and sides — starting around $19.99. A reliable two-for-$20 play at any BWW. Dine-in or takeout; pricing varies slightly by market.
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