Best Cheap Eats in Baltimore, According to a Local

These are the best cheap eats in Baltimore, according to yours truly, after living in and eating my way around the city for 5 years. They cost $10-15 and are a great way to explore the city’s history and culture. Check out more on Baltimore, like the best restaurants, hotels, and the top museums and famous art.

Attman’s Delicatessen is a family-run Jewish deli famous for its piled-high corned beef and pastrami sandwiches (~$12) and hot dogs since 1915. Fun fact: the deli’s original location on Lombard Street used to be known as Corned Beef Row for its seven delis back when the neighborhood was primarily Jewish. Food & Wine has rated Attman’s as one of the best Jewish delis in the country! If you want to try one of their unique combination sandwiches, the Reuben and the Cloak & Dagger are Baltimore favorites.

Di Pasquale’s is a Baltimore institution opened in 1914 by an Italian immigrant. It’s a grocer for quality Italian products and a deli known for its packed gourmet subs, pasta (especially the ready-made lasagna), and giant arancini. The most popular sandwich is the “Real Italian,” made with four types of meat, including mortadella, salami, capicola, and pepper ham, on a loaf of homemade bread (~$13).

Ekiben is an Asian-Ethiopian eatery serving boldly flavored steamed buns, rice bowls, and side dishes, like tempura broccoli and tofu nuggets. It started with three chefs selling their food from a hotdog cart in 2014 and has expanded to three locations, plus a food truck you’ll find at the city’s farmers’ markets. In 2023, one of Ekiben’s chefs was a James Beard semifinalist in the Mid-Atlantic category. If you don’t know what to get, try the popular “Neighborhood Bird Bun” with Taiwanese curry-fried chicken (~$14).

Chaps Pit Beef is in East Baltimore, not the central part of the city like the others on this list, but it’s home to Baltimore-style barbecue called pit beef. It’s located on Pulaski Highway in a strip club parking lot. In business for over three decades, Chaps Pit Beef has been highlighted on many food shows and visited by culinary legends like Anthony Bourdain on an episode of No Reservations. Its pit beef sandwich features charcoal-grilled beef topped with horseradish sauce and raw onions on a Kaiser roll (~$11).