Food for cheap: Here are some Hamilton eateries to enjoy on a tight budget
A small, handwritten 6.99" covers a tiny fraction of a downtown Hamilton sandwich board that, at one time, offered a two-egg breakfast for the significantly lower price of $5.50.
The slightly modified sign is a horseman of the cheap-eats apocalypse in the city.
Restaurant customers may have noticed prices on menu items jump by a few bucks or more recently as produce and protein costs climb. Finding dine-in deals and value takeout options is more difficult now, as inflation has caused the cost of ingredients to soar for businesses, and similarly, grocery store customers.
But there are still some deliciously inexpensive options in the city for bargain hunters and plenty of eats that are high value at a reasonable price.
Here are a few options that won't break the bank, but keep in mind, most of these you can't find on delivery apps.
Alves Meats and Variety
Hamilton has its share of hot-food counters and Alves Meats and Variety is a good one - also one of the city's best-kept secrets.
The little Portuguese corner store, at MacNab Street North and Mulberry Street, offers lunch weekdays and Saturday.
Depending on the day, you can find marinated pork, breaded fish, chicken or other proteins with various styles of potatoes or rice.
Their medium-sized takeout lunch will fill up a hungry diner for $6.99.
Duarte Supermarket
Head down Barton Street for another Portuguese-style gem.
Find a wide variety of options - such as fish on a bun for $6, a small ($5.50) or large ($6.50) pasta with meat sauce, or Chicken a la Duarte" in two sizes ($5.50 or $7.50) - at the hot table Monday to Saturday.
And Duarte, Home of the Hefty Hoagie," doubles as a deli.
Glow Groceteria and Deli
Find subs, hot food, grab-and-go and more at this newly renovated variety store and grocer.
Now part of Hasty Market, Glow has been a staple on the northeast Hamilton avenue with which it shares a name (two streets west of Woodward Avenue) since 1966.
Speaking of deli ...
It's a submarine sandwich city, and there are plenty of places to get a sub fix, like Mike's Subs on Ottawa Street, Andy's 2-4-1 Submarines on Barton Street East near Kenilworth, Bonanza Bakery at Murray at Catharine or Fennell Submarine at Fennell and Upper Sherman.
Paradise Subs, at Upper Paradise Road at Stone Church, has a wide variety of sandwiches for a great price.
Customers can still find sandwiches under $5 at Paradise.
Breakfast for a few bucks
Despite the price bump - their sign was the aforementioned edit - Jet Cafe on King Street East in the International Village still has a great breakfast for a good price.
Head down James Street North toward the bay for a budget breakfast (or burger) at Our Corner pub. Breakfast - two eggs with homefries and toast - starts at $3.58. A burger is $4.86 plus tax.
A few different flavours
Famous Recipe is a tiny Caribbean takeout spot hidden in plain sight. Get meat or vegetarian curry dishes in rice or roti, or try doubles - a Trinidadian street food with fried dough and curried chickpeas - at the corner of King and Bay streets.
East on King, in the International village, Noodle and Dumpling is a self explanatory and delicious spot with big portions of interesting foods. An order of pork or cabbage dumplings are $6.99 and more food than expected.
There are plenty more spots for affordable dine-in and takeout in the city. If you know of other eateries you'd like us to feature, email jkemeny@thespec.com.
Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com