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Print this pageCheap Eats From Around the World
There’s a world of taste right here in Springfield, and most of it will cost you less than a 10-spot. Even the Federal Reserve would have to be optimistic about that. Here are 27 dishes from some of our favorite local restaurants, presented with a global palate and a grumbling pocketbook in mind.
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Billiard's cheeseburger with The Works |
U.S.A.
Cheeseburger
Billiards—$3.25
There are any number of good burgers in town, but how many can be found at a pool hall? Billiard’s even uses never-frozen 100 percent Angus chuck. And even though you could probably find a cheaper burger at a fast food joint, you are actually getting one of the cheapest burgers downtown. Add the Works—cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles—for .35 cents.
541 E. St Louis St., 417-866-4319
Bull Dog
Merle’s Hot Dog Emporium, $3.99
A quarter-pound, all-beef steamed kosher dog, spicy mustard, relish, onion, tomato and American cheese on a steamed roll. It’s like a day at the ballpark, but on crack. For $1.25 you can add a side of potato salad, which one person described to me as the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
319 E. Walnut St. 417-862-3902
Fried bologna
Big Easy Grill, $5.50
A Cajun delicacy from the Gulf coast, this is sliced bologna fried in butter, served on toasted bread with cheddar cheese, Creole mustard and lettuce, and served with potato chips and a pickle. It’s a version of what most of us eat when we get our first apartments—but definitely a superior version.
3027 E. Sunshine St., 417-832-0040
Mexico
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Maria's fried ice cream |
Fried ice cream
Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, $4.25
“But GO,” you say, “you’ll melt the ice cream!” Not so—this scoop of vanilla ice cream is simply rolled in crushed tortillas, fried and served atop a slice of rum cake. Rum, raspberry and chocolates sauces top it off. And if it does melt, you’ll lick your plate.
406 South Ave., 417-831-9339
Carnitas
Tortilla’s Comida Deluxe, $8
How about some pork butts, braised in hot oil and oranges until tender, with corn tortillas, pico, guacamole, and sour cream? Don’t be freaked out by the word “butts” in the description of this dish—contrary to its name this part of the pig is actually located somewhere around the front shoulder of the animal. Whew.
1540 W. Republic Rd., 417-883-7555
Fajitas
Amigo’s, $7.99
It’s hard to get good dinner-portion fajitas for less than $10, but we found them at Amigo’s. You get your choice of chicken or steak for $7.99, and not only do you get the fixins’ (lettuce, guac, pico and sour cream) they are served with refried beans and Mexican rice.
2118 S. Campbell Ave., 417-887-1401
Tamales
Tamale King, $4.99
Did you know that tamales were developed as a portable ration for soldiers in the early Americas, comparable to the sandwich of today? The tamales at Tamale King are homemade every day. Masa—a steamed cornmeal dough—is filled with shredded beef and wrapped in a corn husk for cooking (you don’t eat it), and then the tamale is steamed until firm. You can get them mild or hot, but if you want chicken you’re out of luck, Tamale King only makes beef tamales.
1342 W. Sunshine St., 417-862-2202
