By Chelsea Reil
Looking for some new places to eat in Boston but a little low on cash? Fear not: there are plenty of places you can get delicious food for less than $10. Whether you’re looking for a place to take that cute girl from the gym or a place to hit on the way back from a party, there are many options fairly close to campus.
El Pelon is arguably the best Mexican taqueria in Boston. Located at 96 Peterborough St., delicious Mexican is a short walk through the Fens. Patrons can start off with a side of homemade tortilla chips and some of their famous fresh salsa.
“El Guapo,” one of their more popular burritos, is filled with grilled steak, Mexican rice, black beans, jack cheese, fried plantains, salsa, romaine lettuce and crema, for $6.00. For vegetarians, the “Burrito Calabacita” is filled with a variety of vegetables, like peppers, onions and lettuce, along with Mexican rice, cheese and salsa, for $4.65. Add some guacamole to any meal for only 55 cents.
And no Mexican meal is complete without an ice cold Jarritos (a Mexican soda brand). Choose between pineapple, guava, lime, strawberry, tamarind or a variety of other flavors. Each bottle of Jarritos is $1.25. For the more adventurous, try the house-made Horchata, a dairy-free rice drink with cinnamon and almonds for $1.50. El Pelon is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Chili Duck at 829 Boylston St. offers delectable Thai treats. But don’t fret that the mouth-watering smells wafting out of the restaurant are out of your price range; not only is it delicious, it’s affordable as well. Their prices for dinner are reasonable, but their lunch portions make for an even better deal.
For something savory and sweet, try the mango fried rice with tofu. This yummy and large plate of food is $7.95 at lunchtime and $8.95 for dinner. If a plate of rice isn’t enough for you, chicken with cashew nuts is a delightful alternative. This slightly spicy dish of stir-fried chicken, onion, mushrooms, pineapple, carrots and scallions, topped with cashew nuts in a light brown garlic sauce, is $7.95. Beef or pork (in place of chicken) is the same price, while shrimp or duck is $1 more.
If you’re looking for an authentic dish from northern Thailand, look no further than the papaya salad. Don’t expect a sweet fruit salad, because your taste buds will be shocked. Instead, you will get a heaping portion of Som Tum – what the Thai call this salad of shredded green papaya with peanuts, green beans, dried shrimps, fresh tomatoes and a good amount of fresh garlic mixed with Thai spicy lime dressing, all for only $7.95.
If you’re looking for noodles, the Pad Thai is good, but stay away from the Goy See Mee (pan-fried egg noodles with bamboo shoots, carrots, onions, celery and mushrooms). Their “special Thai gravy sauce” is flavorless and has an odd texture.
Chili Duck is very accommodating to big groups, so it’s the place to go with a bunch of friends for some inexpensive but good food. It’s open from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sundays.
If you’re craving imaginative American food, go no further than Spike’s Junkyard Dogs, at 1076 Boylston St., across from Berklee School of Music.
In addition to their popular namesake, they also have burgers, chicken, wings and salads. Spike’s employees say that the most popular item on the menu is the Junkyard Dog. For only $3.45, you get a 100 percent beef hot dog loaded with Spike’s mustard, tomatoes, pickles, hot pepper rings and chopped scallions. Add some delicious curly fries and a fountain soda, and the total is $5.69.
Another option is the 57 T-Bird, which is topped with honey mustard and a ton of Swiss cheese. For the same price, you can substitute a fat-free veggie dog. If the menu isn’t doing it for you, then the extensive condiment bar may have something that suits your taste buds. They also have excellent cheese fries for $2.69.
They’re open from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, so even if the craving hits you late, Spike’s will be there, hot dog ready. Spike’s is open from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday.
At 58 Hemenway Street, Woody’s Grill and Tap serves up delicious brick-oven pizza. A small pizza is 10 inches, which is plenty for one person plus leftovers to take home. Most of the specialty pizzas are $10.75 and up, but you can get a classic cheese for just $7.85. There are 32 toppings to choose from, including a variety of cheeses, meats and many different vegetables. Each topping is a dollar.
In addition to pizza, Woody’s offers up some tasty sandwiches. For $7.25, the barbecue chicken wrap is filled with pulled chicken, romaine lettuce, red onion and avocado salsa, smothered in barbecue sauce. The roast turkey sandwich tastes like Thanksgiving on wheat bread, with turkey, cranberry relish, caramelized onions and mixed greens, for $7.50. On any of the sandwiches or burgers, you can add extra toppings for 75 cents each. Choose from cheddar, Swiss, bacon, Portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and avocado salsa for extra zest. Woody’s is open from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. everyday, but serves only pizza between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
For an international hankering, try Bombay Caf’eacute; on Massachusetts Avenue for lunch. Serving authentic Indian food, Bombay Caf’eacute; is heavy on flavor and light on your wallet; the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet costs $5.95 a person. Steamed rice serves as a base for flavors like yellow curry, garlic spinach and yogurt dip.
With the most delicious rice pudding in Boston and fresh nan baked daily, Bombay Caf’eacute; is a great place to eat when you’re low on cash. They also deliver anything you want from the buffet for $6.95. The buffet is only available until 5 p.m., and eating outside of the buffet can get pretty pricey, so be careful. Bombay Caf’eacute; is open from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from noon until 10 p.m.
