Where to find the best food under $20 in Waltham

Restaurants

In this economy, we could all use a budget-friendly guide to area restaurants.

Welcome back to Boston.com’s affordable eats series, where we feature one suburb’s best dishes that ring up under $20 (before tax and tip).

It can be genuinely hard to decide which town we patronize next this series — there are so many good suburbs with great food, after all. Except it wasn’t so hard to say no to Waltham.

Waltham is known for a lot of things: watches, prestigious universities, historic estates, and plenty of industry. 

But when we asked readers, staff, and friends where we should travel to next, it was clear we needed to get to Waltham immediately. 

Quick research online reveals many debates between locals over the best spots to grab tacos, curry, a beer, and everything in between. 

“From small taquerias to large sports bars, from the ethnically diverse to the basic burger, Waltham’s food scene has something for every tastebud,” the city’s Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

While the Chamber has plenty to tout when promoting Waltham to visitors and residents, the city’s restaurants often comes first. 

Simply put from reader Gretchen M. from Nahant: “Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it in Waltham.”

It’s clearly a passionate community of diners, and for good reason. It has a well-known restaurant row, Moody Street, which offers culinary hotspots like Solea Tapas Bar and Gustazo Cuban Kitchen. 

But most of our budget-friendly journey took us off Moody, to sub shops, taquerias, and bars spread out around town, proving to us that a good, affordable meal can be found in every corner of this Boston suburb. 

Boston.com food writer Katelyn Umholtz teamed up with Abby Patkin — you may know her for her extensive Karen Read coverage, but she also lived in Waltham for several years — for a complete guide to Watch City food under $20. 

Boston Kebab

146 Lexington St., Waltham

This Turkish restaurant may be a newer addition to Waltham — it opened in 2022 in the MetroWest suburb, though they’ve been around Boston since 2006 — but it’s become a beloved eatery in town due to its friendly staff and sizable menu of Turkish staples and desserts. What’s more, and music to Greater Boston ears: there’s an abundance of parking spaces, and the 130-seat restaurant allows room to spread out. 

Under $20 recommendation: The kebab entrees here ring up over our budget, though the plates of kebabs and sides will leave you plenty glutted. But because we must follow rules, we stick to the kebab roll-up section of the menu, which is essentially shaved lamb meat beef from the kebab plate wrapped in pita, and served with fries instead of two sides for $15.95. Opt to eat inside if you want more from your meal because dine-in guests at Boston Kebab are served a complimentary pita and hummus, and you also won’t want to skip out on the complimentary Turkish tea. 

Carl’s Steak Subs

55 Prospect St., Waltham

Several Waltham experts said a guide isn’t complete without Carl’s, a sub and burrito counter-service shop that is one of Waltham’s greatest culinary gems. Most pros place an order ahead, since there’s nowhere to sit or even stand in the tiny space that is mostly dedicated to the heroes in the back liberally seasoning thinly-sliced steak before smothering it in cheese and stuffing it in a giant, toasted bread roll. Dealing with the cramped inside at lunch rush hour is worth it, though.

Under $20 recommendation: We can’t speak to any other menu item, like the burritos, quesadillas, and other subs, because their cheesesteaks were too good to turn down. The Carl’s steak special, a guest favorite, comes with steak, mushrooms, sausage, peppers, onions, and two types of melted cheese falling out of the top of the sub — a messy but positive signal that this place is a real bang-for-your-buck establishment. For about $16, we sprung for the large, and the beauty of this colossal sandwich is that you only need one half for lunch, and the other half can be savored for dinner. 

Domenic’s

987 Main St., Waltham

The zingy smell of fresh marinara is heavy on the air as you enter this cozy, no-frills eatery, which has been slinging Italian dishes since 1979. With cheery yellow walls, friendly staff, and an old-school feel, Dom’s is a Waltham institution for a good reason. Best of all, the paninis, salads, and pasta dishes are served up quickly and without compromising quality or flavor. 

Under $20 meal recommendations: While the arancini is a hidden gem, the paninis are the clear stars of this menu. Readers, like Kevin F. from Waltham, said it’s because of the bread. “In my opinion, Domenic’s is the best sandwich shop in the Boston area, in particular because of their wonderful, fresh-baked ciabatta loaves.” The Pollo — a crispy chicken cutlet balanced with tart and briny roasted red peppers, olives, capers, and goat cheese — comes nestled in that airy bread that our readers love so much. Better yet: coming in at just $16 pre-tax, it’s substantial enough to last two meals.

Guanachapi’s Mexican and Latin Food

273 Moody St., Waltham

With a prime location on Moody Street, Guanachapi’s is an easy lunch spot with plenty to offer. The street-level window is perfect for people watching, the dining room is colorful and festive, and the overhead speakers play a steady beat of Marc Anthony’s greatest hits. The menu ranges from familiar staples like tacos and quesadillas to more traditional stews and plates anchored in bright flavors.

Under $20 meal recommendations: Opt for one of Guanachapi’s house specials or craft your own sampler platter of sorts by combining a few of their side orders and standalones. The loroco and cheese pupusa, a chicken Salvadoran enchilada (similar to a tostada), and a Jarritos makes for a filling lunch that will set you back just $14.20 before tax and tip.

Joe Sent Me

849 Main St., Waltham

In a metro area where burgers are creeping over that $20 limit right before our eyes, there are still a few good samaritans somehow getting away with serving beef at a price point that doesn’t hurt our wallets. At the Waltham location of Joe Sent Me, patrons have seven beefy sandwich or wrap options to choose from, as well as other dressed-up comfort food in a wood-paneled, Prohibition-themed space. More good news: Much of the menu is priced under $20, and co-owner David Giangregorio said he’d like to keep it that way. “Our menu is intended to appeal to an eclectic mix of guests looking for value in a neighborhood pub.”

Under $20 recommendation: A burger, obviously. We went with the most popular option, the juicy double patty onion smashed burger, which comes with a melted slice of American cheese, a few sliced pickles, and Thousand Island dressing, along with a heaping pile of fries at $17.95. It was a massive plate of food, one that we could not finish despite our best efforts; split it with a friend for even more savings.

Josephs Two

805 Main St., Waltham

The pink and wood-paneled interior of this classic New England diner is a blast from the past, but the hearty breakfast menu is timeless. Josephs Two has been around more than 40 years, serving generations of Walthamites piping hot coffee and comforting breakfast dishes. 

Under $20 meal recommendations: For $11.99, the cranberry pancakes are a dream: enormous, fluffy, and buttery, with a welcome burst of brightness. Even upgrading to the Cape Codder — cranberry pancakes plus two eggs and a breakfast meat — will only set you back $15.49.

Peppino’s Dosa

434 Moody St., Waltham

Vegetarians are used to an accommodating menu when it comes to most Indian restaurants, but Peppino’s on Waltham’s restaurant row takes it a step further. An entire side of the Moody Street restaurant, as well as a separate kitchen, is dedicated to those adhering to plant-based diets. But don’t worry, this spacious restaurant is big enough for all walks of life, and meat eaters will find just as much comfort along the lunch buffet line or while warming up with a bowl of perfectly spiced curry. 

Under $20 recommendation: A $19 dosa may seem expensive, but Peppino’s paneer dosa comes with a substantial filling of the Indian cheese and potatoes, served with a spicy red sauce and a chutney, and cut into five squares that make handling the long, savory crepe easier. Another plus that makes the price tag worth it: a delicious and rustic vegetable soup that can serve as a third dip option, but we prefer to eat it on its own. 

Taqueria El Amigo

196 Willow St., Waltham

The debates over the best taquerias and Mexican restaurants makes it clear that Waltham has several Latin spots worth your money and visit. But choices had to be made, and one spot seems to stand out as a Waltham staple: hole-in-the-wall Taqueria El Amigo. This small, counter-service space is bustling on any given weekday lunch, full of workers and students filling up on tacos, burritos, and other Mexican staples. Despite its slammed lunch rush-hour, service moves quickly here. Another bonus, according to reader Jesse from Waltham: “I’ll pile on the bandwagon and say Taqueria El Amigo. Every item on the menu is under $20 and worth trying.” An entire menu of Mexican food under $20 makes Taqueria El Amigo a perfect fit for this guide. 

Under $20 recommendation: We can’t go into a taqueria and not order tacos. So that’s exactly what we did, specifically the al pastor tacos special ($12.50), which comes four to an order all in corn tortillas and topped with onions, cilantro, and a skinny chunk of avocado (it also comes recommended from several readers). The days of complimentary chips and salsa seem to be long gone, but here it’ll only cost you $1.50 to add them, which is as close to free as one can get. A refreshing glass of Jarritos also won’t push you over that $20 limit, so you might as well add that to the bill, too.

Tree Top Thai Cuisine

53 Prospect St., Waltham

This hole-in-the-wall restaurant brings some serious flavor. Takeout-only since the pandemic, Tree Top has a vast menu of popular Thai dishes, from pad see ew to papaya salad. As you wait for your order, you can also admire some of the manager’s painted and hand-drawn art, which adorns the walls and counter. 

Under $20 meal recommendations: The vegetarian Khao Soi is aromatic enough to get your stomach rumbling on the drive home. The rich curry sauce is beautifully balanced, the tofu is light and fluffy, and the noodles and vegetables are well-packaged for takeout. Pair it with a Thai iced tea, and you’ve got a satisfying meal that comes in around $19 with tax.

Readers: Help Boston.com build a guide to Malden’s best budget-friendly staples.