Best Of · Editorial guide

Best cheap eats in West Palm Beach

Counter gems, landmark sandwiches, bagels, tacos, and tavern plates—picks that punch above price.

Cheap eats in West Palm Beach are not only dollar-menu tourism—they are the counters, windows, and taverns where locals actually spend lunch money. This guide highlights places in the $–$$ band with outsized public praise: Thai takeout, Jamaican jerk, Cuban sandwiches, Michelin Bib bakery deals, cult bagels, Clematis tacos and burgers, and tavern cooking that still feels like a weeknight yes.

We ordered this list for usefulness, not austerity theater. Some spots are pure takeout; others invite you to stay for fish dip, craft beer, or a louder Clematis room. All of them currently sit at price level 1 or 2 in our directory so the “cheap eats” promise stays honest.

Confirm cash/card quirks and weekend hours on each page; data changes as we re-verify. Northwood plant-based and more late-bite entries will thicken this guide as listings keep expanding—until then these are the safest deep links without broken URLs.

Our picks (in order)

  1. $

    Oriental Food Market & Take-Out

    No-frills Thai takeout on South Dixie—papaya salad and grilled chicken with sticky rice, often called best Thai in WPB.

    thaiasiansouth-end

    ★ 8.3 · Infatuation 8.3 (“best Thai in WPB”) What's this?

  2. $Editorial pick

    Curly's Caribbean Flava

    Jamaican counter gem west of downtown—jerk, curry goat, oxtail, and all-day Caribbean breakfast.

    caribbeanjamaicanbrunchwest-of-downtown

    ★ 8.4 · Infatuation 8.4 What's this?

  3. $

    Sour Seed Bagels

    Tangy sourdough bagels on Fern Street—cult local takeout line and smoked trout sandwich praise.

    bakerybreakfastbagelsdowntown
  4. $$Editorial pick

    Havana Restaurant

    Landmark Cuban on South Dixie with sandwich awards and a late-night walk-up window.

    cubansouth-end

    ★ 4.3 · 1,100 reviews · TripAdvisor ~4.3 (~1,100+); long best-Cuban-sandwich local reputation What's this?

  5. $$Editorial pickMichelin Bib Gourmandfeatured

    aioli

    Michelin Bib Gourmand bakery-cafe on South Dixie—house sourdough, soup-and-sandwich deals, and lemon loaf.

    brunchfrench-cafebakerysouth-end
    @aioliwpb
  7. $$

    Grease Burger Bar

    Clematis burger-and-beer staple from Big Time Restaurant Group—large burgers, long craft list, sports-friendly.

    burgers-casualamericanclematis
  8. $$Editorial pick

    Mr. B's Tavern

    Serious American tavern food with fish dip, steaks, and weekend disco energy on Georgia Avenue.

    americanburgers-casualsouth-end

    ★ 8.7 · Infatuation 8.7 What's this?

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