Wanna eat for cheap? Here are some Columbus area restaurants with meals under $15

Gone are the days of the dollar menu at most fast food restaurants, and with high prices for rent, groceries and more, budgeting for eating out is sometimes necessary.

After a long day at work, I don’t always want to spend my time cooking. So the Ledger-Enquirer created a list of a few places that offer cheap eats for under $15. Now you can relax and let someone else make the meal for you, even when you’re on a tight budget.

Let’s start with one of my personal favorites: Shark’s Fish & Chicken.

Shark’s Fish & Chicken

Shark’s Fish & Chicken has multiple locations around Columbus and Phenix City. I primarily go to the one at 1226 Veterans Parkway in Columbus. The aroma of fried delicacies hits you as you walk in the door and immediately makes you happier.

I most often get the chicken gizzard meal which comes with a heap of fried chicken gizzards and a mountain of french fries with coleslaw on the side. I prefer to switch out my coleslaw for the cheese grits or green beans, though.

In a world where even a chain fast food restaurant combo can run around $12, this meal with a drink comes in around $8-10 depending on the tip.

You could also go with one of the specials such as the one-piece fish (which features a large filet of your choice of either pangasius, tilapia, or whiting) with fries and slaw for $6.49.

It’s worth mentioning that the service is always phenomenal as well.

Though the gizzards may not be the best for my cholesterol level, this meal makes me happy the moment I bite into what I sometimes refer to as, “golden nuggets of awesomeness.”

Jordan’s Girls Gourmet Dawgs

Another good option for cheap eats is hot dogs — and the Jordan’s Girls combo is a great deal.

You can get two different hot dogs from select choices on their menu and pair them with fries and a drink for just under $13, including a tip.

One of my last orders was the Missouri hot dog (which has chili, pickles, onions, and mustard), Daniel dog (topped with nacho chili and nacho cheese), and fries topped with their garlic parmesan seasoning.

I always like to drizzle some hot sauce on top of both of my hot dogs to add a little kick to my day.

World Famous Hot Dogs

Located on Hamilton Road, World Famous Hot Dogs deserves fame as another affordable meal option. When I went there in October, I got a footlong hot dog that came with chili, onions, mustard and pickles served alongside chips and a drink for under $9 (I paid $8.30 with tax).

The chili dog was so good I went back and got another one after finishing the the first just to experience it all over again.

The sweet tea at World Famous has the perfect amount of sweetness that doesn’t overshadow the flavor of the tea. It’s definitely on my list of best sweet teas in the Columbus area.

Country’s BBQ daily specials

I’ve frequented Country’s BBQ throughout my life and the Broadway location will always hold a special place for me and my family because of all the memories we’ve shared there. For years I got nothing but the BBQ platter and chicken tender platter.

Later, however, I found out about the daily specials help save a few bucks and are still a nice hot meal.

The specials change daily and feature the ‘Jimmie Changa’ (Monday), tenderloin sandwich (Tuesday), ‘Pig Tater’ (Wednesday), ‘Wang Day’ (Thursday), turkey & dressing (Friday), ‘Racin Jasin’ (Saturday) and roast beef and gravy (Sunday).

I typically try to make it in on Tuesdays to get the pork tenderloin sandwich, which features smoked lean pork tenderloin served between grilled bread and topped with medium sauce, mayo, pickles and BBQ onions.

The sandwich is full of flavor and the pickles, sauce and onions come together to form an explosion of flavor in your taste buds.

The pork tenderloin sandwich is $8.99 and comes with a side. I usually choose the fries and dip them in the BBQ sauce (don’t judge me). Another good side is the Brunswick stew .

A drink will cost you an extra $2.65, but to sip sweet tea in a Ball Mason jar is worth it.

The specials vary in price with the cheapest being the ‘Jimmie Changa’ at $7.99 and the most expensive being the turkey and dressing at $10.69.

Other options for cheap eating?

Eating at home. Yeah right, I’m tired!