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Where to find the best food under $20 in Quincy
In this economy, we could all use a budget-friendly guide to area restaurants.
Welcome back to Boston.com’s affordable eats series, where we feature one suburb’s best dishes that ring up under $20 (before tax and tip).
We started in Somerville, a Boston suburb known for its fun dining scene. But this time, we went south, to a place that has increasingly become a destination for food.
Quincy is home to a mix of old-school pubs and pizzerias as well as new-school dining that elevates tacos, Vietnamese food, and more. Found predominantly in North Quincy, the suburb is especially known for its Asian cuisine scene, from Chinese noodle soups and banh mi sandwiches to sushi and curry.
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And the best thing about all of this food? A decent amount of it is budget-friendly.
Quincy isn’t immune to the rising prices of housing seen across Greater Boston and of everything else nationally, yet diners can still fill up on grub that doesn’t break the bank.
Boston.com food writer Katelyn Umholtz teamed up with a Quincy resident and frequent Boston.com freelancer, LaDonna LaGuerre, for a complete guide to Quincy food under $20.
Some of the meals are one big item, others are more complete meals. And yes, one is technically a little treat, but pastries can be filling, too. What we can guarantee, however, is that these meals are delicious and affordable.
Alumni Pizza
379 Washington St., Quincy
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The return of Alumni Cafe bar pie in Quincy was welcomed with open arms when it reopened in an attached space to Rag’s Tavern during the pandemic. To the left, grab a pie to-go, or to the right, order a pizza for dine-in, along with a cheap, cold Michelob in a neighborhood tavern full of conversational patrons.
Under $20 recommendation: Sure, the price of pizza may not be what it used to be when this institution served bar pizza in its old Wollaston digs, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a $10 cheese pizza these days. Pair it with a cold beer, and you’re still in for an under $20 bill.
Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ
219 Quincy Ave., Quincy
Walk into the Kam Man Food and take a right where you’ll find Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ, the easy grab-and-go alternative to its sister spot in Boston. Here you can also browse aisles of sprawling variety: wares, snackies, and trinkets galore. Leave room for a little treat as you check out.
Under $20 Recommendation: How about under $10? At $8.50, The Bánh Mì Thịt Heo Nướng (BBQ pork banh mi) hits all the right notes — sweet, smoky, crunchy, and spicy if you so choose. The components shine individually and come together in a balanced bite: a crusty roll, an unctuous spread, juicy pork, pickled vegetables, and a generous hit of cilantro and scallion. Adding a specialty beverage brings the total to $14.50. Nước Mía — sugarcane juice freshly pressed to order — closes out the meal on a refreshing high.
Chili Square
666 Hancock St., Quincy
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One of Greater Boston’s best Chinese restaurants gets slammed even during weekday lunch service, full of guests slurping down bowls of hand-pulled noodles set in spicy broth. It’s also cash-only, but don’t let payment methods or the bustle in this small dining room deter you from waiting your turn for a comforting bowl of noodle soup that Boston.com readers can’t get enough of.
Under $20 recommendation: For $13.95, the Lanzhou beef brisket noodle soup comes with hand-pulled noodles, chunks of brisket, radishes, cilantro, and onions, and is certainly enough to share or have for leftovers later. If that isn’t enough to sell you on this dish, you’ll want to hear what kind things reader Peter L. of Weymouth had to say about it: “When a cold gust blows in from Quincy Bay and funnels down Hancock Street, nothing, and I mean nothing, warms your bones like this soup from Chili Square. Heat, umami, and deep layers of flavor. Yes, king.”
Craig’s Cafe
1354 Hancock St., Quincy
Craig’s Cafe has been in the heart of the city for more than a decade, bridging old Quincy and new. The space reads more funky bar than breakfast spot. Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., grab a beer or wine with your meal, and you have instant brunch any day of the week. The Eggs Benedict menu just might be the most expansive in the area, yet there’s plenty of staples like omelets and sandwiches, and online ordering allows for easy swaps like hash browns, fries, or sweet potatoes.
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Under $20 Recommendation: A burrito with three eggs, bacon, avocado, and more, golden brown and deliciously grilled in a wheat wrap held with enough cheesy binder without being gooey or messy. Perfectly cubed potatoes fill up half of a to-go container. But really, everything. The entire menu is under $20.
Lê Madeline
409 Hancock St., Quincy
The award-winning Lê Madeline distinguishes itself with a prominent corner location, having earned lots of buzz, and delivering on its promise of reimagined Vietnamese cuisine that honors tradition. This credo really comes to life on the appetizer and lunch menus that carry all types of rolls, skewers, noodle dishes, rice plates, and pho.
Under $20 Recommendation: Have the $18 Bún Thịt Nướng as either an elevated lunch or an elegant dinner. The meal offers an abundance of crunchy vegetables and fresh herbs served with grill-kissed pork on a warm bed of succulent rice noodles. Pour the house-made fish sauce over everything to complete the experience. Reader Jason from Quincy agrees, describing the price for this dish as unbeatable. “The pork is full of flavor, and you get a ton of food.”
Niveaux Pâtisserie
406 Hancock St., Quincy
What we’re about to suggest isn’t technically a meal, though you can of course go to Niveaux and get one of their delightful croissants as a savory breakfast sandwich for under $20. But it feels wrong to go inside this newer patisserie and ignore the display cases full of beautifully-decorated sweet treats. Our advice? Don’t ignore the pastries, and get your little treat fix here for under $20.
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Under $20 recommendation: Executive pastry chef Robert Gonzalez recommends a croissant-and-coffee combo, like the pistachio latte and raspberry cheesecake croissant. “It’s filling, it feels a little indulgent, and it still fits the budget.” Food writer Katelyn Umholtz had a similar order: a rich, chocolate-filled croissant decorated like a cup of hot cocoa with a nutty banana bread latte, both $8.50 each.
Pearl & Lime
1440 Hancock St., Quincy
It’s a shame to have to say no to a margarita or two at Pearl & Lime, a hip Latin American restaurant that will certainly transport anyone to a more tropical locale and snap one out of those winter blues. But we’re sticking to this budget, and luckily there are plenty of tacos and starters that make for a filling meal.
Under $20 recommendation: You could order three tacos — we recommend the Peruvian chicken taco and the chorizo and potato taco, both with a little kick of heat and juicy thanks to salsa — ranging in price from $4.75 to $13 for two, depending on the taco. Or you could get two tacos and add a starter, like the $9 street corn, which comes three to an order and is covered in garlic aioli, queso fresco, Tajin, lime, and Taki seasoning.
Quincy Hungry Tummy
35 Franklin St., Quincy
It says it all in the name. This spacious food court and sports bar south of Quincy Center has a stacked menu of American favorites and Brazilian flavors. Have a drink at the bar, grab takeout at the to-go counter, or sit in the cafeteria. Whatever you want, Quincy Hungry Tummy likely has it. It’s a place where food is fun and budget-friendly dining can be maximalist.
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Under $20 Recommendation: For $16.99, a protein powerhouse that doesn’t need sides. Stacked with beef, multiple kinds of pork, egg, corn, catupiry (a mild cheese that spreads like mayonnaise), potato sticks, lettuce, and tomato, the X-Goiano Brazilian burger could eat more like a bowl than a handheld. It’s that big — grab the knife and fork and make each bite a new discovery. With the bacon, sausage, and egg plus the beef patty and veggies, the experience lands somewhere between breakfast and lunch.
Rubato
412 Hancock St., Quincy
This Hong Kong-style cafe was recommended by several readers, and it’s easy to see why. Chef Laurence Louie turns Hong Kong classics, like bolo bao (pineapple buns) and congee (savory rice porridge), into fun and innovative dishes that showcase his Chinese American cooking roots. And even better, affordability is on Louie’s mind when it comes to this menu. “We are in the heart of the working-class Chinese community in North Quincy,” Louie said. “While our customers come from many walks of life, we remain committed to meeting the needs of the local community first and foremost.”
Under $20 recommendation: Louie’s pick also happens to be food writer Katelyn Umholtz’s favorite chicken sandwich in Greater Boston because of the perfectly crispy batter on a chicken thigh. Available for $16, it’s also topped with slaw and a tangy “Tasty Sauce,” in between a slightly sweet and crunch bolo bao that serves as the buns.
The Fours
15 Cottage Ave., Quincy
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Here is the kind of place where lunch isn’t rushed, conversation flows easily, and 70s rock plays in the background. Service is simple and friendly. The bar looks out onto the Kilroy Square patio. It’s easy to settle in, take a load off, and order something comforting, regional, and classic. Sandwiches, salads, steaks, seafood, pasta, nachos, wings, burgers, pizza — the menu has it all.
Under $20 Recommendation: Get a taste of New England nostalgia. The $18.99 Bobby Orr lunch plate comes with a hot steak sandwich — like steak tips meets steak-and-cheese — well-seasoned, cooked tender, topped with American cheese, and served on a sesame bulkie roll. On the side, fries and a crock of Boston baked beans. This meal eats and feels unmistakably Massachusetts.
Readers: Help Boston.com build a guide to Waltham’s best budget-friendly staples.
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