Best places to eat for under six bucks

Charlottesville’s an expensive town. Rent costs are especially high, but even going out for dinner or to a brewery feels like a major expenditure. Eating at home is still the best way to go, but with grocery prices on the rise even that can require some serious budgeting. Fortunately, there are still a few places in town where you can grab a quick, tasty bite to eat without having to take out a payday loan. If you’ve been living here a while, you probably already know these, but for the transplants, here’s the down-low:

1. Bodo’s. It’s hard to have a conversation about food in Charlottesville without someone bringing up everyone’s favorite bagel shop. And yet I still come across people, some who have even lived here for years, who have yet to actually stop in and order one. If all you ever have is what people bring to meetings or bridal showers, you’re missing out: What makes Bodo’s so incredible is that because of how much business they do, they’re able to keep the bagels fresh and hot around the clock–or at least during operational hours. Owen’s pick: Chicken salad (it’s really turkey, but that’s neither here nor there) on an Everything bagel with lettuce, tomato, onion, and spicy brown mustard.
2. Christian’s. When it comes to pizza, like bagels you’re going to have a lot of strong opinions. And let me tell you, as someone who was born in New Jersey and raised by Chicagoans, Christian’s pizza (and Bodo’s, for that matter) might not be strictly 100% authentic to their New England roots, but they do make a damn tasty pie. Owen’s pick: Buffalo chicken with a side of homemade ranch.
3. Marco and Luca’s. They’re prices have gone up in the past few years, which seems to be the case pretty much everywhere, but you can still get a styrofoam container of noodles for around five bucks. Owen’s pick: Peanut Sesame (and sometimes with a veggie hot bun, but that’ll put you a few bucks over six).
4. El Tako Nako. Located in the parking lot of the laundromat on Hydraulic across from Stonefield, El Tako Nako is the go-to for late-night after-shift indulgence. At $2.50 a pop, you can get two delicious tacos filled with pork, chicken, beef, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, lengua (tongue) or cabeza (cheek).
5. Wayside. Okay, cheating here just a little, but at $6.25 their 2pc chicken plate is a steal. But they have plenty beyond chicken: sandwiches like Pork BBQ or cheeseburgers start at just $4, and they even have salads!

And there you have it. If you know of any other great places in town to eat on the cheap, let us know via our contact form, or just go tell your friends or whoever you’re sitting next to right now.