Cheap Eats: Budget Bites in St. Pete-Clearwater

“Hidden gem” is an apt phrase when describing this small strip-mall restaurant. There’s nothing fancy about it, but that is just fine, because the food steals the show: yummy Mexican dishes that require extra napkins. Guests rave about the carnitas, al pastor tacos, carne asada and quesadillas, all freshly made and the last word in authentic. Great service and reasonable prices make this one a slam-dunk. And it’s open all day.

There’s nothing as soul-soothing as a steaming bowl of pho (pronounced FUH), the signature Vietnamese soup made with beef broth and rice noodles, plus bean sprouts, basil and lime served on the side. Ben Thanh in Pinellas Park is the pho king in these parts. This storefront restaurant is simple in its decor, but the large portions and value-packed price point earn it true cheap-eats status. Feel free to experiment: Pho is available with brisket, tripe, rare sliced beef, chicken and seafood.

Three words: toasted coconut latte. Try one of these, and you’ll be a believer. The Grove vibe is real. Stop in for a breakfast sandwich – say a whipped ricotta toast with honey and pistachio on locally-baked sourdough – or a Greek yogurt parfait bowl, filled with enough good stuff (including house-made granola) to keep you going practically ‘til sunset. Prices top out at around $15. The restaurant is family-run by a lovely young couple.

Nothing rounds out a perfect day at the beach like a burger and ice cream! This kooky little shack serves up delicious 5 oz. cheeseburgers with a side of chips for cheap. Complement that with a smoothie or an ice cream cone featuring locally made Working Cow Ice Cream without breaking your budget.

If you've never had an arepa, now's the time. This South American delicacy features an unleavened cornmeal cake that's stuffed with all kinds of savory deliciousness, and then grilled, griddled or baked. Discover the wonder of this flavorful bite in Gulfport at 1 Chick 1 Bro Café Bistro, a brother-and-sister-owned spot. Their plump arepas are filled with chicken and avocado, surf-and-turf, you-name-it. In fact, they make 14 varieties, plus empanadas, veggie protein bowls and more. 

This is a great brunch spot! In the middle of quirky Gulfport, this place is jam-packed on Saturday and Sunday mornings with patrons of the two-legged and four-legged kind. Definitely check their daily specials board when you arrive, but you can always depend on the Fried Green Tomato Benedict. 

Located at Dunedin Marina, this is the kind of place that visitors hope to find when they come to the beach. “Serving sunshine and sunsets,” they say, not to mention Gulf seafood that couldn’t be fresher unless it jumped onto your plate. It’s a grab-a-beer and some peel-and-eat shrimp kind of place, with local craft beer, fish tacos, sandwiches, salads and soups on the menu. Many options are below the $20 mark. Sit outdoors and soak up the vibe. 

Craving a slice of New York-style pizza, with that perfectly crispy-yet-chewy crust? Family-owned Madison Avenue Pizza is a worthy contender to a Big Apple pie. Hand-tossed and brick oven-baked, this award-winning pie is customizable (with 36 toppings to choose from), but their 20-plus signature pies are hard to pass up (New York Supreme? Yes, please!) Cauliflower and gluten-free crusts are available. Feeling extra-hungry? Add an order of their delicious wings, or if you're dining with a crowd, spring for a 32-inch pie. 

A butcher, a baker, a coffee-drink maker – you’ll find them all, and more, at Mazzaro’s Italian Market. Italy may be some 5,000 miles away, but this market/deli/bakery comes this close. For more than 30 years, they’ve been a local go-to for fresh pasta, pizza, specialty cheeses, gourmet groceries, and an array of salads and pastas that locals rave about. Grab a deli lunch and bottle of wine to enjoy on their terrace. 

New Yorkers know from good bagels, no? At Pete’s, in St. Pete's Grand Central District, Big Apple transplants Steven and Sara Peterman roll, boil and bake their bagels daily. They’re known for killer bagel sandwich combos like Spicy Pete (made with hot honey), Salami Pete…you get the idea. Fresh pastries, coffee and tea are also on the menu. Don’t pass up the salted chocolate chunk cookie, because why would you? You're on vacation!

This quirky little joint is worth seeking out, thanks to its eclectic mix of poke bowls, sandwiches (the banh mi and Cuban sammies are popular options) and grocery items – everything from hot sauce to funky tees. Food-wise, you’ll pay less than $10 for many selections. No wonder some folks call Old Southeast “our favorite neighborhood market.”

Always a go-to for locals, Casita Taqueria serves up super-fresh, Mexican-inspired food, but the tacos are the real show-stoppers. Homemade soft corn tortillas can be filled with your choice of carnitas, barbacoa, carne asada, chicken, fish or shrimp or even Brussels sprouts. You can even mix-and-match so you can try several kinds in the same order! Three St. Pete locations make this popular local spot not only affordable and delicious, but also convenient. 

Uptown Eats serves up some of the most creative breakfast and lunch dishes you’ll find anywhere. Everything is made fresh in-house, and it shows. We haven’t found anything on the menu we haven’t loved, but our favorites include Greens-N-Things Bowl (sauteed greens topped with a housemade cornbread crumble, perfectly fried eggs, black beans, sweet potato, avocado, green onions, cotija cheese with a slightly-spicy jalapeno aioli). It’s the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savory. And it’s gluten-free, too.  Uptown Eats is located in St. Pete’s MLK North District. 

Grab your pals and head to this casual, family-owned Mediterranean place for authentic kebabs, hummus, homemade falafel and more. Our pick is the Shawarma Bowl featuring a generous portion of basmati rice, chicken, tomato and cucumber salad, seasoned red onions and the house tahini sauce.

Greece is the word at this authentic Greek restaurant, set on the sponge docks of Tarpon Springs. It’s a local institution, with the kind of food that yia yia (grandma, in Greek) used to make. Of course, there’s moussaka, pastitsio, keftedes and lamb shank, but you’ll also encounter dishes that are rarely found at Greek restaurants in the U.S. (smelts, anyone?) Guests rave about the gyros, grilled octopus, spanakopita and chicken and lemon orzo soup.  

This almost-hidden place is crave-worthy. Known for their homemade grits and Southern-style breakfast specialties, this is a place to bring your friends so everyone can order something different to share. Try: Big Daddy's Biscuits & Gravy, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Country Fried Chicken Bowl or a Country Omelet.

This roadside, stationary food truck may be small, but it serves up delicious BBQ for a "reely" big appetite. Try the Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese Sandwich, which features slow-smoked pork topped with melted cheddar cheese between two pieces of garlic Texas toast. Grab a fork, you'll need it! Be sure to order a sweet tea to help wash it down, or BYOB - they're cool with that!

Friend or pho? Everyone's friendly at this fast-casual Vietnamese-inspired restaurant. Go for the Green Mint Bun: grilled shrimp, pork & a spring roll over vermicelli rice noodles with fresh mint leaves, bean sprouts, lettuce, cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikons, crushed peanuts and house sweet chili sauce.