Looking for delicious food in Rochester that doesn’t break the bank? Look no further. Here are ten local foods that are all under $10 and will deliver a new level of flavor to your taste buds. Let us know your favorite low cost foods by commenting on the Facebook or Twitter posts.
ButaPub – Pork Belly Steam Buns, $9
315 Gregory St, Rochester, NY 14620
butapub.com – (585) 563-6241
Tucked away in the basement of the German House, the ButaPub dishes out some amazing Asian fusion cuisine. One of these delightful dishes is the pork belly steam buns. They come with hearty slices of pork, topped with a delicious togarashi mayo and fresh pickled vegetables. All stuffed in a pillowy steam bun. Come Monday through Saturday from 3pm – 6pm for their new “Get Happier Hour” that includes a dollar off drinks, daily craft beer specials and $12 for beer/burger. Make sure to utilize their outdoor seating when the weather is cooperating.
Marty’s on Park – Carolina, $9
703 Park Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
martysmeats.com – (585) 434-3292
Marty’s is taking over the high end sandwich market with their Park Ave location and ever-popular food truck. The marque sandwich is the Carolina. This monstrosity comes with smoked pulled pork, a delicious apple coleslaw and drenched in their patented BBQ sauce. The mix of BBQ sauce and coleslaw, combine for a burst of southern flavor. Another sandwich to look out for is the banh mi when it is on the menu.
Olives – Cuban Gyro, $6.79
50 State St, Pittsford, NY 14534
olivespittsford.com – (585) 381-3990
Olives is the hidden gem of Shoen Place and their cuban sandwich is their tastiest menu item. It is the perfect cross pollination of two delicious foods with unbelievable gyro meat, kasseri cheese, dill pickle, red onion and remodule sauce. All wrapped in a delightful warm pita. Olive’s also has a beautiful porch, surrounded with plant life, that provides the perfect outdoor ambiance next to the Erie Canal.
Dogtown – Cincinnati Red, $3.50
691 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
dogtownhots.com – (585) 271-6620
Dogtown is the absolute king of hotdogs in Rochester and their most popular dog is the Cincinnati Red. This take on the classic chili dog starts with a Zweigle’s German frank. Then the dog is topped with real cheddar cheese and their savory dogTown sauce. All of this is stuffed into a delicious, hand cut piece of Martusciell’s bread that takes this wiener to another level of deliciousness. They also have the best ‘plate’ in town if you are looking to really fill up the tank.
John’s Tex Mex – Burrito, $6.50
489 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
facebook.com – (585) 232-5830
We couldn’t have an ‘under $10 food’ list without a burrito and John’s Tex-Mex has the best one in town. This South Wedge cantina is small in dining space, but makes up for it with huge burritos that are loaded with flavor. The menu allows you to build your own by adding four additional items besides the typical rice, beans and meat. Get ready to be full after polishing off one of these. Come on Tuesdays when they have discounted beers for just $2.25.
Harry G’s – Pittsburgh, $9.50
678 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
harrygsdeli.com – (585) 256-1324
Rarely do you see a restaurant outdo a signature food item from another city – but that is exactly what Harry G’s has done. Their Pittsburgh sandwich is flat out better than Primanti Brothers from the steel city. It comes loaded with chopped steak, melted provolone, spicy fries, coleslaw, tomato, mayo and oil. The spicy fries are really what set this sandwich apart from the original. Harry G’s has also recently added a bar area for your drinking pleasure.
Le Petit Poutine – Poutine, $7
Location varies – food truck
lepetitpoutine.com
Go to the Rochester Food Truck Rodeo and you immediately see who the local food truck champion is. With their endless lines, it is evident that the people of Rochester love Le Petit Poutine. For good reason. Their hand cut fries are fried to perfection and then dressed with cheese curds and a sumptuous gravy. They also have add-ons like bacon (pictured above) and a breakfast poutine that puts a fried egg and sausage bits on top.
Swan’s – Wurst Platter
231 Parsells Ave, Rochester, NY 14609
swanmarket.com – (585) 288-5320
The ‘wurst’ is a plate of German heaven. Two sausages of your choice, hand crafted from the best German butcher in Upstate New York. Then you get two sides – one of which is their German potato salad that is out of this world. Come the last Thursday and Friday of the month for live music to get the full German market feel. Swan’s also just got named to Esquire Magazine’s 18 Best Bars in America list. This is most impressive because there actually isn’t a bar inside – but plenty of good German beers.
Scott’s II – Breakfast Sandwich, $4
280 Union St N, Rochester, NY 14609
facebook.com
One of the Public Market’s mainstay restaurants, Scott’s II is an old school diner in peak performance. Come on Saturday morning and people are four deep waiting for their breakfast items. Their most sought after creation is the breakfast sandwich that comes equipped with a fried egg, choice of meat and cheese. These are all placed on a buttery roll that really puts this sandwich in a top tier.
Magnolia’s – Obama Special, $8.99
366 Park Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
magnoliascafe.com – (585) 271-7380
President Obama came to Rochester and he chose Magnolias. This is most likely because they have the best soup in town with their cream of tomato with artichokes and cheese. They now offer the Obama special which is a 1⁄2 sandwich of cheddar cheese on grilled sourdough bread and a cup of tomato soup. The soup and sandwich pair absolutely perfect together. Another sandwich to keep you eye on is the Berkeley which is grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms and provolone cheese on a tasty deli roll.
