14 Cheap Eats We Love in Chicago's Bucktown

[Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]

More than any other cheap eats guide, this one is personal. Bucktown was the first Chicago neighborhood I ever lived in, and I didn't have a whole lot of cash sitting around at the time. Fortunately, I was able to uncover a wealth of affordable spots, including a few of my favorite cheap eats in the whole city.

Since I left, that number has only increased. Whether you're looking for tacos, hot dogs, or Latin American/Korean fusion, Bucktown has so much to offer.

As I mentioned previously, figuring out the official dividing line between Bucktown and Wicker Park is a harder than it should be. While I considered combining the two, each had enough options that I realized they deserved their own post.

The Picks

Like the previous cheap eats guides, I set a strict $10 maximum on the dishes, and tried to only include ones that could function as a meal. I couldn't help but include a few sweets, which I clearly marked below.

Click on the slideshow to check out our picks, or see the whole list below.

• Mini Rib Tip Combo at Honey 1
• Steak Sandwich at Irazú Cafe
• Hot Dog with Fries at Redhot Ranch
• Hot and Sour Soup at Belly Shack
• Bibim-bap at En Hakkore
• Quarter Chicken at The Art Of Chicken
• Deep Dish Slice with Spinach at My Pie Pizzeria ($3.75)
• Pepperoni Slice at Santullo's Eatery
• Shrimp Jibarito at Joey's Shrimp House
• Carne Asada Taco at Las Asadas
• El Borracho Pozole at Estrella Negra
• The Reubenesque at Li'l Guys

Desserts

• Hot Chocolate at Hot Chocolate
• Texas-Sized Cinnamon Roll at The Bristol
• Margie's Candies

More Cheap Eats Guides!

• Cheap Eats We Love in Chicago's Wicker Park
• 32 Cheap Eats We Love in Lakeview
• 20 Cheap Eats We Love in Lincoln Park
• 21 Cheap Eats We Love in Chicago's River North
• 26 Cheap Eats We Love in The Loop

All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.