Everyone has their favorites, but when you've only got $5 to spare, your culinary choices begin to heat up. Below are six hot choices for where to dine and drink in Houston when you're budget has a face like Abraham Lincoln.
Tiny Boxwood's Chocolate Chip Cookie. [Photo: Lulu Lopez]
TINY BOXWOODS
One afternoon, Anna Wintour (Editor in Chief of Vogue) wearing a perfectly starched poncho with her perfectly angular hair and picked up a box of Tiny's Chocolate Chip Cookies. With or without this involuntary recommendation from the Devil in Prada herself, this is the ultimate cookie in the city of Houston. The price is a meager $2.50 for the gourmet cookie, so grabbing two isn't a tough choice.
Les Givral Kahve. [Photo: Yelp/Bao N.]
Les Givral Kahve
The bánh mí at Les Givral Kahve is one of the most delectable and frugal choices you can make for lunch. Depending on how you take it, this sandwich comes with either tofu, beef, or pork drizzled with fish sauce on a thick slice of french bread. The Vietnamese favorite is under $5 mark. Make sure you grab an iced Ca Phe Sua Da to go with your bánh mí, a particularly potent espresso drink with condescend milk.
Tout Suite Stuffed Avocado. [Photo: Tout Suite/Facebook]
Tout Suite
Located to the east of Downtown in a renovated warehouse turned hip eatery and coffee bar, is the year-old Tout Suite. Try their Stuffed Avocado, a dish that changes daily, but the price remains at a stellar $5. Last week the avocado-based dish was stuffed with pulled pork, sweet potato, & chimichurri.
Uchi Houston. [Photo: Instagram/Emily Bond]
Uchi
In no way would we suggest Uchi for a frugal meal, except…if you can sneak in between 5 and 6:30 p.m. for the Sake Social Hour. The menu changes daily, but most dishes are between the $3 and $9 range from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. One evening Yoshi added a duo of oysters with a watermelon granita for only $5 to the menu. Typically two sake choices are in the $3 range during this twilight period.
Chuy's Westheimer. [Photo: Facebook/Maria Silveira Machado]
Chuys River Oaks
If these dishes were to battle for champion of the best $5 deal in Houston, Chuy's $4.25 margarita with FREE queso during happy hour is likely to be the victor. This glorious happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., when House Margaritas are a little under $5 bucks and a complimentary Fully Loaded Taco Car (queso, salsa, chips, and taco meat) is well, complimentary.
Alice's Tall Texan. [Photo: Facebook]
Alice's Tall Texan
This beloved north Heights neighborhood bar keeps things simple, this isn't the spot to expect artisanal cocktails with garnish. And the Tall Texan (4904 N Main St.) might have gotten rid of the jukebox with Johnny Cash for a newer model, but Alice is still seving 18-ounce Shiners for $2.50 in giant chilled goblets.