<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0D8bAq_1GoYU9iS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0D8bAq_1GoYU9iS00" width="970" height="550" ><figcaption>Fountain Porter in East Passyunk raised its burger’s price from $6 to $7 in June as beef costs climbed, but with fries the meal still comes in around $11. It’s one of 15 Philadelphia spots where diners can still eat well for $15 or less, even as restaurant prices keep rising.</figcaption></figure>In June, even one of Philadelphia’s most famous bargains got more expensive. Fountain Porter raised the price of its beloved cheeseburger from $6 to $7 after months of rising ingredient costs, including beef that nearly doubled in price in just two months.It was only a dollar, but it said a lot about what it costs to eat out in Philadelphia right now.The good news is that $15 can still buy a genuinely great meal in this city, if you know where to go. Family-run counters, neighborhood bars and tiny cafés across Philadelphia are still serving generous, flavorful food at prices that feel almost old-fashioned.From that $7 cheeseburger in East Passyunk to Jamaican platters in North Philadelphia, Cantonese rice rolls in Chinatown and Colombian breakfast in Fishtown, these 15 restaurants prove that eating well on a budget is still very possible.Note: Prices reflect recently published menus and dining coverage and may change. Tax, tip and beverages are not included unless noted.<h2>Fountain Porter — East Passyunk</h2>The cheeseburger at this corner bar has become a Philadelphia benchmark: a potato roll, American cheese, crisp lettuce and a slice of tomato. Nothing more, and nothing missing.It now costs $7. It was $5 when owner Evan Clancy opened the bar in 2012.Demand hasn’t slowed. The kitchen turns out about 800 burgers a week, though Clancy says that despite the volume, the bar isn’t making much money on them.Add fries and the meal comes to about $11, still one of the best deals in the city.Address: 1601 S. 10th Street<h2>Mama’s Falafel — Center City</h2>In a neighborhood built on $18 salads, Mama’s Falafel is a welcome dose of reality.The counter-service shop opened in 2024 under new owner Yariv Noyman, in the former home of Mama’s Vegetarian. The two businesses aren’t related. The draw here is freshly fried falafel and the sabich, a pita stuffed with hard-boiled egg and fried eggplant.The falafel sandwich has been listed at $12 and the sabich at $10. Either is plenty for lunch.The real bonus is the all-you-can-eat pickled toppings bar. Address: 18 S. 20th Street<h2>Suya Suya — Northern Liberties</h2>Suya, grilled meat seasoned with a fiery peanut spice blend called yaji, is one of Nigeria’s most beloved street foods. Suya Suya builds its whole menu around it.Thinly sliced chicken, steak, or shrimp comes rubbed in yaji, served over a base of your choice with a side. The spice gives the whole bowl a smoky, peanutty depth, jollof rice included.Each bowl is listed at $13.89.It’s fast-casual food with far more personality than the chains down the street.Address: 400 Fairmount Avenue<h2>Pho 75 — South Philadelphia</h2>Pho 75 doesn’t do much besides pho, and it doesn’t need to.The Washington Avenue shop has built a devoted following on clear, flavorful broth, generous noodles, and a long list of beef cuts to choose from. Even Anthony Bourdain stopped in while filming in Philadelphia. Bowls hit the table within minutes of ordering.A regular bowl has been listed at $11.95, and even a large typically stays under $15.Two things to know before you go: the strip-mall location is easy to miss, and Pho 75 is cash only.Address: 1122 Washington Avenue<h2>Ba Le Bakery — South Philadelphia</h2>Philadelphia has its hoagies. Little Saigon has Ba Le.Since 1998, the Washington Avenue bakery has been one of the city’s bánh mì standard-bearers, stuffing crusty house-baked bread with savory fillings, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.The BBQ pork bánh mì is listed at $9.90 on its delivery menu, and the crispy pork belly version is $10.50. In-store prices may differ.Grab a sandwich, then browse the prepared foods and baked goods on your way out. It’s hard to leave with just one thing.Address: 606 Washington Avenue<h2>Café Tinto Fishtown — Fishtown</h2>Forget the sad breakfast sandwich. At Café Tinto, the morning meal is a platter.The Colombian café’s calentao piles fiery rice and beans, crisp chicharrón and plantains under a runny egg. It costs $12 and could fuel you well past lunch.Empanadas, guava pastries, and other baked goods line the case for anyone who wants something lighter, or something for later.It’s one of the most satisfying ways to start a day in Fishtown.Address: 1701 N. Front Street<h2>Taco Heart — Bella Vista</h2>Austin, Texas, takes its breakfast tacos seriously. Taco Heart brought that devotion to South Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Magazine named it the city’s best new breakfast spot in its 2023 Best of Philly awards.Everything starts with the puffy flour tortillas, made in-house and filled with combinations like egg, chorizo and potato, plus a lineup of housemade salsas.Tacos run from $3.95 to $7.50 on the restaurant’s online ordering menu, so two make an easy meal. Order the Migas Maximus, a favorite of The Infatuation’s critics: egg, sausage, crushed tortilla chips, jalapeño, queso and avocado, half crunchy and half soft in every bite.Hungrier? The migas bowl is $12.95, with scrambled eggs, tortilla chips, pico de gallo, cheese and avocado, and a side of house-made puffy chips.Address: 1001 E. Passyunk Avenue<h2>Juici Patties — Cedarbrook</h2>Juici Patties is the largest patty franchise in Jamaica, and its Cedarbrook shop celebrated its grand opening in late August as the chain’s 100th restaurant.The draw is the patty itself: golden, flaky pastry filled with spicy beef, curry chicken and more. Each one costs $4.25, and combos of two patties with a drink run about $10 to $11 on the restaurant’s online menu.Add an order of coco bread and try what some diners do: tuck a warm beef patty inside and eat it as a sandwich right on the sidewalk.Address: 3110 W. Cheltenham Avenue<h2>Hana Hawaiian BBQ — Northeast Philadelphia</h2>You’ll spot the smoker sitting out front before you reach the door.Hana Hawaiian BBQ bills itself as the first halal Hawaiian BBQ spot, and its plates borrow from Hawaii’s mixed local food culture. Think grilled meats with creamy macaroni salad, rice and vegetables.The standout is the Hana spicy chicken, juicy grilled chicken with bold Korean spices and onions. The 8-ounce plate is listed at $14.99, cutting it close to the $15 limit. A 5-ounce mini version is $9.99.It’s a hearty, flavorful alternative to the fast-food chains lining Bustleton Avenue.Address: 8298 Bustleton Avenue<h2>Ron’s Caribbean Cafe — North Philadelphia</h2>The brown stew chicken at Ron’s is the kind of dish people scrape the container clean to finish.The Jamaican restaurant, which also has a Northeast Philadelphia location, serves classics like curry goat, jerk chicken and patties. Platters come with sides such as rice and peas and stewed cabbage.The large brown stew chicken platter, fall-off-the-bone tender in a thick, smoky gravy, was recently reported at $13.That’s a lot of comfort for the price.Address: 5726 N. Broad Street<h2>Amy’s Pastelillos — Fishtown</h2>Look for the bright pink storefront and, most days, the crowd outside it.The namesake pastelillos, flaky fried turnovers, run about $5 each. For a full meal, the Vegano bowl combines sweet plantains, white rice, red beans and pumpkin, avocado and pickled onions. It was recently reported at $14 and is big enough to stretch into two meals.Ask for La Parchita, the shop’s house-made passion fruit hot sauce. Its sweet heat works on everything.Plan ahead, because Amy’s has kept limited daytime hours, generally Wednesday through Saturday.Address: 2001 Memphis Street<h2>Puyero Venezuelan Flavor — Queen Village</h2>The arepa is Venezuela’s everyday staple, and Puyero treats it with real affection.The Queen Village spot splits its corn cakes and stuffs them with fillings such as shredded beef, fried sweet plantain, and spicy chicken salad. Choosing just one is the hard part.Arepas have recently been reported at $13 to $15, and most of the menu stays within the $15 budget.Start with the cilantro lemonade, a bright, herby counterpoint to those rich fillings.Address: 524 S. Fourth Street<h2>Comfort &amp; Floyd — Passyunk Square</h2>On nice weekend mornings, there’s often a line outside this tiny, kitschy breakfast spot near the Passyunk Square ACME.The reason is the blueberry cornmeal pancakes, fluffy and sweet-tart, served in a cozy room crowded with antiques and bookshelves.A single pancake has been reported at $9, a short stack at $13 and a full stack at $15.Comfort &amp; Floyd serves breakfast and lunch only, so don’t plan on pancakes for dinner.Address: 1303 S. 11th Street<h2>Paffuto — Bella Vista</h2>Paffuto means “plump” in Italian, and the name fits.The colorful café specializes in panzerotti, deep-fried pizza pockets long popular in South Jersey pizzerias. Chefs Jake Loeffler, Daniel Griffiths and Sam Kalkut perfected their version at pop-ups before opening in December 2023 in the former home of Bibou.Each panzerotti is hand-pinched and stuffed with fresh mozzarella and a house tomato sauce that’s strained overnight to concentrate its flavor. The pepperoni version is listed at $12. Everything on the breakfast menu, including an egg and cheese panzerotti with Cooper Sharp, comes in under $10, and most lunch items stay under $15.Paffuto’s daytime hours have shifted over time, so check before you go.Address: 1009 S. Eighth Street<h2>Yin Ji Rice Roll — Chinatown</h2>Watch the rice rolls being made at Yin Ji and you’ll understand why they’re so silky.The Chinatown outpost of a Guangzhou-born chain uses the traditional rice-pull method. Batter is steamed on cloth, then carefully lifted off, which gives the rolls a smoother, softer texture. Congee rounds out the menu, and both are served all day.Most rice rolls, including beef, barbecued pork and shrimp and chive, are listed at $8.99, and congees run about $9 to $10. A plain rice roll costs $6.50.Address: 908 Cherry Street<h2>Great Philly Food Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune</h2>Clancy expects beef prices to keep climbing, so the city’s cheap eats may keep feeling the squeeze. That makes places like these worth seeking out, and worth supporting.From a $7 burger in East Passyunk to a $3.95 breakfast taco in Bella Vista, Philadelphia still rewards diners who know where to look.Pick one spot from this list to try this week, then tell us where $15 still goes a long way in your neighborhood.</div></body>

Block Source: philadelphia.today

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In June, even one of Philadelphia’s most famous bargains got more expensive. Fountain Porter raised the price of its beloved cheeseburger from $6 to $7 after months of rising ingredient costs, including beef that nearly doubled in price in just two months. It was only a dollar, but it...

15 Places to Eat in Philadelphia for Under $15

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In June, even one of Philadelphia’s most famous bargains got more expensive. Fountain Porter raised the price of its beloved cheeseburger from $6 to $7 aft

15 Places to Eat in Philadelphia for Under $15

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