City Cast Nashville logo

The Best Meals in Nashville Under $10

Posted on September 10, 2025   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Margaret Kingsbury

Margaret Kingsbury

A bologna sandwich with tomato and lettuce, with lays chips in the background.

The $6 recession special at Robert’s Western World. (Marie Cecile Anderson / City Cast Nashville)

Eating out can be expensive in Nashville. Here are some of the best local meals for $10 and under, from pizza specials to tacos and delicious bahn mi.

For breakfast, head to Big Al’s Deli for delicious homemade biscuit sandwiches, and while you’re eating, read our interview with Big Al himself.

TailGate Brewery has two specials that will get you a meal under $10: Half-price pizzas on Wednesdays, and a $7.99 lunch special.

Speaking of pizza, Nicky’s Coal Fired in The Nations has $10 pizza specials every Tuesday. This is one of my favorite local pizza joints.

City Cast

The Best Pizza in Nashville (According To Us)

00:00:00

Hugh-Baby’s is one of Nashville’s least expensive restaurants. All of their meals are under $10. I personally love their classic cheeseburger best ($6.49), but their Friday special is a Slugburger for $4.49, a deep-fried ground pork and soy meal patty. They also have excellent hot dogs.

Nashville’s oldest restaurant is also one of its cheapest. Grab a bowl of chili for $6.50, or spaghetti for $6.99.

If you find yourself on Lower Broad one night, head over to our favorite honky-tonk for their $6 recession special: A fried bologna sandwich with chips, a moon pie, and a drink.

Tacos here start at $3.95. That leaves plenty of room for a side and a drink.

This Salvadorian restaurant serves mouth-watering pupusas for $3.25! All the restaurants on Nolensville Pike tend to be very affordable.

Bao meals at Steam Boys start at $4.50, or try the five-spice popcorn chicken for $8. Personally, I think I’ll stick with the bao!

Feast on a giant banh mi sandwich at Han’s in Bellevue for only $7.50. They have a vegetarian option, too.

🍽️ Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Share article

Hey Nashville

Stay connected to City Cast Nashville and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

The latest in Nashville

Nashville, ExplainedJune 25

Nashville Trivia: Which Musician Signed a Record Deal at The Bluebird Cafe?

The Bluebird Cafe will open a second location, The Bluebird East, inside the Tennessee Titans’ new Nissan Stadium. But how much do you kn...

People lined up outside a small building with a blue awning that says "The Bluebird Cafe." The windows are lit with orange neon lights, and it's night.
Food & DrinkJune 23

Nashville's Best New Restaurants and Bars

Hungry? These are the best new restaurants and bars in Nashville to check out this year.

Sushi on a black tray set on a wooden table, beside two wooden chopstick sets and a menu.
Food & DrinkJune 15

Dine Around the World in Nashville

​​Nashville’s international restaurant scene is booming. Here are some of our best eats from around the globe, inspired by the World Cup.

A copper Turkish teapot sits on a copper platter with two glasses of tea. Surrounding it on a wooden table are small plates of snacks like olives and dip. In the background you can see the counter of a cafe, and some people sitting at a table together.
Nashville Life HacksJune 8

Your Guide to Nashville’s Public Pools

It's pool season. Here's your guide to public pools in Nashville.

A pool behind an orange two-story house.
Keep It Local from City Cast NashvilleJune 4

Local Shops and Day Trips for Vinyl Lovers

If the crowds from music festival season are getting you down, try these record shops and day trips to find some new tunes you can enjoy...

Black shelves full of records in the corner of a shop with salmon-orange walls. There are also black shelves on the walls holding records facing out. The floor is brown with a scuffed texture.
Nashville HistoryJune 3

How To Celebrate Pride Month in Nashville

Pride’s roots trace back to uprisings in 1969 for LGBTQ+ equality. Here’s why we celebrate in June, and how you can get involved in Nashv...

Marchers in downtown Nashville holding balloons that spell LOVE.
Keep It Local from City Cast NashvilleMay 28

Our Favorite Fashionable Thrift Shops

We need fits that keep us cool in the Nashville heat. But stuff’s expensive these days, and not everyone has bank. Here are some of our f...

Racks of clothing in a room with white walls. People are shopping amongst the racks. A lamp that looks like two bright red cherries on a stem hangs from the ceiling. In the back right, the words "Cherry Picked" are painted on one wall in bright red paint.
For the KidsMay 20

The Best Playgrounds in Nashville

With kids out for the summer, it’s the perfect time to explore Nashville’s many playgrounds. Here are five favorites.

Nashville's Fannie Mae Dees Park on a sunny day. The grass is green, and there is a jungle gym in the center of the image with green staircases and black slides. A toddler stands on one of the stairs.