Photos by Mark Lipczynski

Contrary to popular belief, “eating well” and “spending little” can be synonymous. From $4 meatball hoagies to low-dollar delicacies from the best local kitchens, we present this definitive guide to the Valley’s most bodacious bargain cuisine.













BREAKFAST                         SANDWICHES
HAUTE CHEAP                      PIZZA BY THE SLICE
ASIAN                                 MEDITERRANEAN
MIDDLE EASTERN                  MEXICAN, LATIN & SOUTH AMERICAN
AFTERNOON DELIGHTS          KIDS (UNDER 10) EAT FREE
BARGAIN BURGERS               5 FABULOUS FOOD TRUCKS



For more of PHOENIX magazine’s 'Cheap Eats', check back soon, find us at newsstands Valleywide or call 480-664-3960.  Subscribe today so you don’t miss another issue!


BREAKFAST
Joe’s Diner   
4433 N. 16th St., Phoenix
602-535-4999, joesdineraz.com
Perky servers, toe-tapping tunes and a checkered floor with red booths are just as mood-lifting as the fluffy omelets ($5.49-$7.59) and pancakes ($2.99-$3.99). Cheer up even more with Joe’s biscuits, smothered in mildly spicy chorizo gravy tinged with garlic ($2.99).

Benedict’s Café   
5555 E. Bell Rd., Scottsdale
602-992-3337
benedictscaterers.com/cafe
Save this 12-seat café for the weekend, when eggs Benedict ($9.95) – with velvety hollandaise draped over poached eggs, Canadian bacon and melt-in-your-mouth tarragon biscuits – makes a special appearance. The breakfast burrito is a superior bargain at $4.95. If it’s busy (likely), get a slice of buttery, golden-crusted coffee cake ($1.95) to tide you over.

Black Mountain Coffee Shop
7204 E. Ho Rd., Carefree
480-488-9261
blackmountaincoffeeshop.com
Hitch your pony (or pup) nearby and settle in with the mighty Mountaineer ($9.95) – two eggs any way; bacon, sausage or ham steak; crisp home fries; a biscuit with paprika-spiked sausage and bacon gravy; and a sizable cinnamon roll (hint: eat it first, while it’s warm).

Matt’s Big Breakfast
801 N. First St., Phoenix
602-254-1074
mattsbigbreakfast.com
Always worth the wait – which really isn’t that bad during the summer – Matt’s makes for a doozy of a dilemma when it comes to ordering: Do you want a big mess of a breakfast sandwich ($5.95), or the light, crisp, but whopper-sized Belgian waffle with real maple syrup and two thick-cut bacon strips ($6.95)? Relax, because there’s no wrong decision from the handful of options.

N Counter   
310 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
480-968-9288, ncounter.com
Feel healthy with crunchy granola, fresh fruit and vanilla yogurt ($5), or naughty with Bananas Foster French toast ($7) – two thick slabs of custard-soaked, toasted brioche smothered in dark brown  caramel and topped with fresh banana slices (they’re healthy, right?). 

Party Brunch!
Narcisse Champagne and Tea Lounge
15257 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
480-588-2244
narcisselounge.com
Bottomless bubbles for $10 per person – now that’s worth a toast. Every Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. until “twilight” (which turns out to be about 5 p.m.), pretty flutes are filled (and refilled) with your choice of Campo Viejo rosé, Domain St. Michelle Brut, or Mumm Napa Cuvée. To soak up the bubbles, nibble on sweet scone bites ($5), eggs Benedict ($10), or strawberry French toast ($12).

Acacia Cafe

Acacia Café   
3701 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix
602-956-0908, acaciacafe.net
House-made donuts and Danish pastries beckon near the cash register – a perfect snack while you wait for an egg- and roasted-vegetable sandwich on toasted ciabatta ($4.50) or thick-cut, cinnamon-swirl French toast ($5.75).

Cheap Coffee!
Chloe’s Corner
15215 N. Kierland Blvd.,
Scottsdale, 480-998-0202;
50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix,
602-252-7600
chloescorneraz.com
Sure, it’s a loss leader to get you in the door, but this isn’t some rotgut cuppa Joe. The strong-brewed java (50 cents for 12 ounces) is premium Passport coffee, available in regular or decaf, hot or iced.

Azteca Bakery

Azteca Bakery  
416 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix
602-253-5864, aztecabakeries.com
It’s hard to beat a not-so-poco $1.99 breakfast burrito, stuffed with scrambled eggs and juicy machaca (think: Mexican pot roast) or fill-in-the-blank (chorizo, bacon, ham or potatoes). Just get there before noon, when the menu shifts to tasty and inexpensive lunch burros and tortas.

Sweet Cakes Café   
21 W. Main St., Mesa
480-461-9529, sweetcakescafe.com
Zero in on one thing – actually, two – from the small breakfast menu: king-size cinnamon rolls ($3.75). The “plain” version is anything but ordinary, and the gooey “caramel pecan” model should be regulated as an addictive narcotic. Good news: The rolls are available all day, not just breakfast, which ends at 11 a.m.

Wagon Wheel
36457 N. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek
480-488-2291
After 24 years, this old-timey diner knows how to flip an egg and whisk creamy gravy to smooth perfection, but the real gems are the skillet-fried russets, some tender, some crunchy. Seven bucks (cash only) buys a cowboy breakfast of two eggs, a gravy-smothered biscuit and those delectable home fries.

Bloody Mary Bars
Windsor
5223 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-279-1111, windsoraz.com
The only thing better than a Bloody Mary at brunch is a $5 DIY Bloody Mary. Start with a basic vodka and Bloody Mary mix and customize it, choosing from 26 items (pickled vegetables, spices, and various hot sauces) stashed on a vintage cart. (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sa-Su.)

ZuZu
6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale
480-421-7997
hotelvalleyho.com
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ZuZu sets up a $5 Absolut vodka Bloody Mary bar stocked with five different mixers and a plethora of garnishes, including Chef Sean Currid’s famous pickled onions. A bartender is always close by and happy to lend a hand or give advice.

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