Greater Fort Lauderdale doesn’t have to drain your vacation fund to fill your belly. Sure, you could drop serious cash at waterfront restaurants with million-dollar views, but the city is also known for budget-friendly and hole-in-the-wall haunts where big flavors come with tiny price tags. From pressed Cuban sandwiches to over-the-top ice cream sundaes, these cheap places to eat prove that some of the best meals often come with the smallest checks.
Diner Classics
Whether you swing by at 10 a.m. or 10 p.m., the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard has you covered. It’s one of the most affordable restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. Step inside under the glow of its retro neon sign and belly up to a gleaming chrome counter, where friendly servers have been slinging oversized plates of classic diner fare around the clock for more than 80 years. Savor fluffy pancakes, turkey clubs, or a grilled cheeseburger at budget-friendly prices, and be sure to peek at the iconic Wall of Fame photos.
The Gilbert family has been serving locals and visitors alike for over a decade at Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill, located at the Harbor Shops. Bring loved ones in for no-fuss eats like burgers, ribs, homemade soups, and salads, along with daily blackboard specials featuring homestyle roast pork on garlic toast, as well as Mrs. Gilbert’s homemade Key lime pie and cheesecakes.
Top Hat Delicatessen serves up classic Jewish comfort without the sticker shock. Swing by for a steaming bowl of matzo ball soup, a hand-rolled knish, or crispy potato latkes. Then top it off with the towering pastrami on rye, all for under $20.
You might recognize Grampa’s Cafe from the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” This Dania Beach hotspot brings 75 years of New York bakery tradition to South Florida. Order a hand-rolled water bagel or a towering Carnegie corned beef or pastrami sandwich, and you’re in for a great meal.
Within walking distance sits Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant, a treasured landmark since 1956. The old-school haunt churns out delicious flavors batch by batch for that homemade scoop you crave. Gather the family after dinner to indulge in the Original Kitchen Sink. Made for a minimum of four people, it features approximately one pound of ice cream per person and comes topped with bananas, whipped cream, mixed nuts, cherries, and a sparkler.
Grab-and-Go Favorites
Sometimes the best meals happen between beach sessions and sightseeing sprints. Some of the most affordable restaurants in Fort Lauderdale prove that quick doesn’t mean compromising on flavor.
Sandwich lovers should make a beeline for Laspada’s, which has perfected the art of the meaty sub with fresh-baked Italian rolls and layers of extra meat. The beloved sandwich shop on 17th Street — with three additional locations in Greater Fort Lauderdale — has been around since 1972, serving up favorites like the Monster and Hot Meatball, piled high with all the toppings. It’s never been easier to tuck one “to-go” and head straight for the sand.
On Fort Lauderdale beach, you’ll find the Pittsburgh transplant Primanti Bros., known for their simple sandwiches made with pillowy fresh Italian bread, sandwich meat tucked with house-cut fries, tangy slaw, ripe tomatoes, and melty provolone.
Meander past more than 600 stalls piled high with Brazilian pastel and Venezuelan arepas, Mediterranean meze, and Thai curries. Snag cold-pressed juice, local honey, or handcrafted jewelry as live music sets the soundtrack. The massive Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood turns an ordinary foodie run into an afternoon of international culinary discoveries that you’ll want to relive every weekend in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The best part? It’s open year-round.
The downtown Fort Lauderdale take-out counter, Sushi One, quietly wows locals and travelers with fresh sushi and wallet-friendly combos that make it the perfect grab between activities. From nigiri and inventive rolls to gyoza and bento boxes, the menu caters to all sushi lovers.
When in South Florida, you have to try a Cuban sandwich and a smooth café con leche at least once. Colada Cuban Cafe serves up the real deal without the tourist markup. Order the classic Cubano, featuring layers of tender roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on perfectly pressed Cuban bread. And save room for a flaky guava and cheese pastelito.
Elevated Casual
This cozy Pompano Beach spot knows what it’s doing when it comes to breakfast. Amy’s French Bakery & Bistro recently snagged the No. 9 spot on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025. Once you try their fluffy scratch-made omelets, fresh-baked baguette sandwiches, and Nutella-drizzled French toast, you’ll understand why. Here, every bite feels like a mini celebration — just get there early to beat the line.
Fellow Pompano Beach spot Revelry is an eclectic lounge and bar that feels like a speakeasy. Pull up a velvet banquette and explore a menu of inventive cocktails, like the spicy Stockholm Syndrome — a blend of ghost tequila, Chinola passion fruit, Hard Truth peanut butter whiskey, lime, and honey. Pair it with a rotating lineup of craft draft beers and bar bites. Think: charcuterie boards and loaded tots. Swing by for happy hour Wednesday to Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. (plus Sundays 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to sip $5 drafts, $9 cocktails, and $7 wines while local DJs spin vinyl and live bands drop in on weekends.
Don’t forget to also reap the reward of dining at some of the region’s best restaurants during Dine Out Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s premier annual culinary celebration offering multi-course meals at great prices during the summer months. It returns Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Be sure to check the official list for exclusive dining deals.