Hey Nomsters! I’ve been getting a lot of messages asking me to cover affordable options in the area SO I decided to start this series. Welcome to part 1 of Cheap Eats in Maryland, woohoo! Hopefully this will be the first of many so make sure you keep an eye out. For today’s post, we’ll be covering 7 different restaurants so let’s get to it!
1. MeatUp Korean BBQ’s Half-Priced Ramen
They have 3 different broths available: tonkotsu, chicken and vegetable. Their most expensive bowl without the discount is $16.50, while the cheapest is $14.50. That means their noodz are only $7.25-$8.25!!!! SUCH a good deal.
Located in College Park, this spot’s known for their all-you-can-eat KBBQ. Their pricing in general’s pretty reasonable considering it’s AYCE, BUT I wanted to highlight their newest noodle promo: dine with them on Mondays to enjoy half-price ramen.
I had their Tonkotsu Black a LONG while back and thought it was tasty, and it came loaded with kikurage, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, egg, green onions, pork chashu and nori. What’s not to love?
📍8503 Baltimore Ave, College Park
⏰M-Th 11:30-3:30, 5-11pm, Fr & Sa 11:30-11:30pm, Su 11:30-11pm
2. Blowfish Poke’s $8 Bowls
Another Monday special that I’d consider to be one of the best cheap eats in Maryland! Head to Blowfish Poke to enjoy $8 regular sized bowls. FYI, it costs an extra $3.50 to add fish, and I recommend getting tuna. That’s a total of $11.50 for a high quality poke bowl that comes LOADED with lots of goodies.
SO, here’s how it works! You choose a base (I like 1/2 purple rice + 1/2 salad), and toppings are free so you can get whatever you want, lol. They have 8 options with everything from seaweed to pineapple. Then you add sauce (my go-to is spicy mayo) and finish with crispy toppings. You can get one of everything, but I got sesame seeds, crispy onion, and roasted seaweed on my latest visit.
📍12175 Clarksville Pike #206, Clarksville, MD
Tu 10-8:30, all other days 11-8:30
3. Asian Court’s Epic Lunch Special
This one is a GOODIE! Hit up Asian Court on weekdays from 11-3pm to get 3 entrees + a soup for $29.95. This is easily one of the best deals I’ve seen in a minute, lol. I typically only go for dim sum, but I’ve been getting takeout from them more frequently after discovering this set.
There are a lot of great options to choose from – think shrimp, steamed fish, steak and more. Pro tip: make sure you ask for extra chili oil on the side because theirs is elite.
📍11105 Resort Road, Ellicott City, MD
⏰M-Fr 11-9:30pm, Sa & Su 10:30-9:30pm
4. Siroo & Juk Story’s Ddukbokki
My family and I are a BIG fans of Siroo & Juk Story in general. They’re a budget friendly spot with some seriously delicious Korean food. Portions are generous, and the pricing’s pretty affordable.
There’s one dish in particular that’s a must though, and that’s their ddukbokki. They make their rice cakes in house so the dduk’s outstanding, they give you a TON for just $5.99 – it’s fun to see it cooking through the glass, lol. Anywho, trust me when I say this is a banger! It’s a great option for winter as well so run, don’t walk.
📍10176 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD
⏰T-Su 9am-8pm
5. Sprouts’ BYO Sandwich
Sprouts isn’t a small business, BUT I’m a big fan of their store. They source locally as much as possible, and they donate whatever they can to food banks, which I think is AWESOME.
ANYWHO, in addition to that, they have this awesome sandwich deal. $4.99 for a BYO creation!? YES PLZ. They have 4 different breads to choose from (including a gluten free option), several free toppings, and 6 proteins (turkey, roast beef, ham, chicken salad, tuna salad and hummus). Make it a combo for extra $ and enjoy your handheld with a bag of chips and bottled water.
6. Taqueria Los Perez’s $1.50 Tacos
What. A. Deal! Taco Tuesday’s about to be yum (…and affordable)! Hit up Taqueria Los Perez for some of the best cheap eats in Maryland. Enjoy $1.50 tacos and choose between the following four proteins: asada, pastor, carnitas, and pollo. Their salsas come in little packets, and both verde and roja are delicious!
PS. this place is famous for their birria pizza so I suggest going with friends and sharing!
📍10110 Washington Blvd N, Laurel, MD
⏰Su-Th 8am-10pm, Fr & Sa 8am-11pm
Alright Nomsters, that’s a wrap for today! Have you guys been to any of these budget friendly restaurants? Let me know by commenting below, and if you have a tip on the best cheap eats in Maryland, make sure to shoot me a message. Until next time <3 I hope you eat alllll the things!