What are your frugal ways to eat out? (value, price, market)

[doodlemagic]

Let's be honest as much as we wana be frugal we all have those lazy days when we just dont want to cook or run to the store. Or maybe you just like eating out. What's your ways to save when eating out? Is is going to a cheaper place like Cicis Pizza, is it using groupons, splitting meals at a place that gives large portions, signing up for text message specials?

Text specials are one of my favs. Some places have crappy deals like 10% off but my fav pizza place normally like $18 for an extra large pizza like twice a week does $3.99 calzones which are normally $8 or extra large $9.99 basically half price stuff like twice a week

[M3 Mitch]

Well I just went to lunch at a local indy Chinese buffet for about $7.50. If you are hungry enough to eat a few plates full of chow, this is not a bad value for the buck.

In general I look for reasonably priced independently owned local restaurants, as a way to eat out frugally.

Something people frequently don't think about is the hot food cafeteria that many grocery stores have. Frequently you can get a good meal for a reasonable price there.

[Cheektowaga_Chester]

Entertainment Book

[gouligann]

Soup and salad at a casino, including desert. A cheap, healthy, (if you choose wisely) filling meal. You can go up for seconds if you aren't full enough. We stay away from the casino buffets. They are fattening, and everything tastes the same... bland.

[silibran]

If you have access to a really good prepared food counter at the supermarket, you can get a good meal for less than if you were to sit down in a medium priced restaurant.

The problem is, not every place has a market with a good deli counter. Whole Foods has one, but the food is not the greatest, IMO.

[calnbs]

If I'm hungry and want to be cheap and eat out, I hit the $1 menu @ fast food places and get water. I don't drink soda anyways. Or I go to ethnic places like a Vietnamese sandwich shop for their sandwich which cost $2.50-3.00. Hit a Mexican food roach coach and grab a burrito or taco.

[Huckleberry3911948]

coupons

[Meyerland]

I may eat at restaurants that serve big portions and box half of it. I also have been known to order an appetizer as an entrée. I drink the tap water, and don't order dessert.

[terraaus]

Take out is cheaper than sit down. Provide your own drinks at home. When sitting down order water to drink, no appetizers and no dessert. Ask for a doggie bag for leftovers. Breakfast and lunch are generally cheaper than dinner. Look for coupons. You can sometimes fill up on the bread and salad, and take the entree home. Some restaurants will give you a free meal on your birthday. If ordering alcohol, alternate between water or soft drinks between each alcoholic drink. This will keep you more sober and cost you less.

When paying by debit or credit card, spell the amount out like you would on a check. This will prevent anyone from altering the amount.

[tulani]

My brother and I love to walk to the Chinese place just down the road for lunch.

He is a big eater and can put away a plate of food, plus a bowl or rice and half my bowl of rice. That's after he eats his bowl of soup and the rest of mine.

I eat half my soup and a couple fried wontons and don't really want much of the huge platter of food they bring. I order something different than my brother, and I eat a little bit of it and take the rest home.

That night, I make a big pot of rice and we eat the leftovers.

I put aside a little for me for another meal for lunch the next day.

Including tip, we pay about $25. for 5 meals. I consider that cheap for Chinese food and I get to eat it for three days in row! Then I don't want anymore for another month.