It’s no secret that prices for just about everything have gone up. That, of course, includes food.

Since 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that the average cost of dining out at a restaurant is 30% more expensive. But just because it may be harder to find low-cost meals doesn’t mean there aren’t dozens of local restaurants serving high-quality, cost-effective eats.

To define “cheap eats,” we’ve used the U.S. General Services Administration’s per diem rate for meals in Lake Charles ($68) and slashed it by 25% to end up with breakfast, brunch, and lunch deals under $15 and dinners under $20.

Let’s get a few disclaimers out of the way as well.

  1. All prices shown are before tax and tip, but are chosen with both in mind
  2. All prices shown DO NOT reflect any credit card fees
  3. We will assume you will be drinking water since it’s the frugal choice

Now that the rules are established, explore the top spots for cheap eats in Lake Charles.

BREAKFAST

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Las Victorias #1

$8 - 2 breakfast tacos on corn tortillas ($5) and a coffee ($3)

 

We begin with a Lake Charles breakfast staple. Las Victoria’s is a small taqueria in downtown Lake Charles. While Victoria’s also serves up great lunch, it’s their breakfast tacos we are spotlighting. With over seven different tacos to choose from, you’ll have a hard time picking just one! Opt for two Mexican sausage and egg tacos with a coffee and you’ll leave more than satisfied for around $10.

 

KD’s Diner

$11.69 - KD’s Small Breakfast and coffee

 

KD’s Diner, a local staple, is a no-frills diner known for its late-night hours and down-home breakfast. Choose from several flavorful menu items, but the small breakfast plate is the shining star. This deal features an egg, two pieces of bacon, and your choice of grits or bacon, and toast or a biscuit. No breakfast is complete without a cup of joe, which we’ve included in this deal.

 

Pitt Grill

$9.98. – Daily Breakfast special ($6.99) and coffee ($2.99)

 

Similar to KD’s, Pitt Grill shares the same down-home feel as a classic diner. Pitt Grill serves up great plate lunches every day as well as a daily breakfast special for $6.99. The special comes with two eggs, grits or hashbrowns, and your choice of toast, a biscuit, or pancakes. That special is served all day, every day, just in case you want breakfast during the p.m. hours too.

 

Honorable Mention

 

The Bekery

$11.75 – Slice of Quiche ($6), Twice-Baked Almond Croissant ($5.75)
$10 – Latte ($4.50), Ham & Cheese Croissant ($5.50) or Strawberry Cream Cheese ($6)

 

The Bekery is a must-stop while in Lake Charles. The Parisian-vibe bakery is known for its artisan-baked goods and handcrafted croissants. We’ve curated a pair of options for you based on your level of hunger and whether coffee is a must-have. Pro Tip: Dine with friends and share samples of your meal to experience numerous flavors in one sitting!

 

Coffee:30 | Coffee:30 Express

$11.48 – 3 Beignets ($5.99), Café au lait ($5.49)

 

Coffee:30 Café and Coffee:30 Express have become a go-to breakfast and brunch spot in the area thanks to their high-quality coffee and artisanal food. If you are craving some sweet for breakfast or perhaps even a late morning snack, there may be nothing better than their New Orleans-style beignets paired with a cup of their café au lait.

LUNCH

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Cotton’s Famous Hamburgers

$7.73 – Cheeseburger, made old-fashioned ($5.34) and onion rings ($2.39)

 

Cotton’s Famous Hamburgers starts our lunch out as the cheapest meal on the list. The old-school burger joint on Oak Park Blvd will certainly bring you a sense of nostalgia the moment you walk through the doors. Their old-fashioned cheeseburger topped with grilled onions is hard to beat. Combine that with their small hand-cut onion rings, and you have a lunch that is both affordable and delicious.

 

Jo Jo's China Bistro

$9.25 – Broccoli Beef with rice and choice of soup, 34 total choices for lunch

 

When in search of great Chinese food, JoJo’s China Bistro is at the top of the list! In addition to serving authentic flavors, they have one of the best lunch deals in town, too. Their lunch specials are served weekdays and feature 34 different dishes ranging from $8.75 to $9.25. For this exercise, we chose the broccoli beef that comes with your choice of rice and a cup of soup (highly recommend the hot and sour).

 

Pujo St. Cafe

$9.75 – Bowl of Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

 

You can’t come to Louisiana and not eat a bowl of gumbo. Pujo Street Café has you covered with their bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo. Pujo St makes the darkest and perhaps most unique roux in town, and it’s bursting with flavor thanks to its bacon grease roux and locally sourced sausage.

 

Honorable Mention

 

Wasabi Japanese Sushi & Grill

$10.95 – Chicken and Steak Hibachi

 

Who doesn’t love Hibachi-style cuisine? Who also doesn’t love affordable meals? The defense rests in favor of Wasabi Japanese Sushi & Grill.

 

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp

$9.99 – Taco Tuesday only, choice of 3 tacos

 

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp's fantastic taco Tuesday deal would have made the top three if it were offered more often than once per week. However, if you are in downtown Lake Charles on a Tuesday, there isn’t much better value that you can get than three jumbo street tacos for $9.99. The choices range from beef cheek to fish, and every option will leave you craving the next bite.

DINNER

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The Terrace Restaurant at Lake Area Adventures

$12 – Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf ($12)

 

Raise your hand if you thought a meal prepared by an award-winning chef would have made this list. The former Louisiana Seafood Queen herself, Amanda Cusey, runs the kitchen at The Terrace Restaurant, and they offer this fantastic deal for a hearty meatloaf plate. The plate is also served with roasted potatoes and charred corn topped with bacon gravy.


 

Leonard’s Food Quarters

$ 14.99 – Red Beans and Rice Pork Chop Dinner

 

Leonard's Food Quarters is quintessentially Lake Charles cuisine. Their Louisiana Cajun and Creole dishes and soul food are sure to satisfy in both portion size and flavor! Take, for example, their red beans and rice fried pork chop dinner. A large pork shop lies atop a generous portion of red beans and rice, and it’s served alongside garlic bread and potato salad. You likely will not finish this in one sitting.

 

Raja's Curry Kitchen & Grill

$15.48 – Lamb Gyro ($12.99) and garlic naan ($2.49)

 

While it was a tight race for the final dinner selection, I chose Raja’s Curry Kitchen & Grill because I love the flavors of their Desi-Mediterranean fusion menu. No menu item perhaps encompasses that fusion quite like the Lamb gyro over rice. The perfectly seasoned lamb is laid atop the basmati rice and drizzled with both garlic and hot sauce for a flavor bomb. Don’t forget to order the naan as well for the perfect accompaniment.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

 

Thai Lake Charles

$14.95 –Pad Thai ($13.95) add protein ($1)

 

Another great Asian restaurant in town, Thai Lake Charles, offers fantastic Thai food in large portion sizes. Order this and you’ll see why pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand.

 

Steamboat Bill's on the Lake

$14.99 – Atchafalaya Dinner

 

If you've ever driven through or to Lake Charles, you’ve seen Steamboat Bill’s on the Lake. The restaurant serves classic Louisiana Cajun and Creole dishes. One of those, the Atchafalaya dinner, combines a few delicacies into one tasty meal. It starts with fried fish fillet on a bed of rice, then it’s smothered with shrimp étouffée, and served with a roll. Yeah, it’s as good as it sounds.

 

Shwarma's

$ 14.99 – Mix Chicken/Beef Shawarma Plate

 

There are plenty of International flavors to be found in Lake Charles, and Lebanese restaurant Shwarma's is a local favorite. Their chicken and beef plate is loaded down with fresh flavors. Their marinated & seasoned chicken and beef shawarma come with a choice of 3 sides and are served with flatbread. It’s filling as it is delicious.

 

Darrell's Famous Poboys

$14.50 –Small Darrell’s Special ($12) and chips ($2.50). Large is $15.50

 

Finally, we can’t have a Lake Charles food list without including Darrell’s Famous Poboys. For our price range, you can get a small six-inch po-boy and chips that will surely satisfy your cravings. Pro tip: Make sure to order the jalapeño mayo, it’s made in-house.