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The 18 Essential Maine Restaurants

The prices are Mulligan's in Biddeford are shockingly low.
The prices are Mulligan's in Biddeford are shockingly low.
Don W./Yelp

Maine's Top Cheap Eats and Restaurants

Let's get frugal.

by Kate McCarty
View as Map
The prices are Mulligan's in Biddeford are shockingly low.
| Don W./Yelp
by Kate McCarty

Cheap food is not hard to find; it's available most everywhere — inexpensive gas station Italians or a rotating pizza of indeterminate origin. The real trick to bargain eating is finding the deals worth spending your hard-earned cash on. Skip the fast food and seek out these 14 bargain spots, where your dollars will go far and your taste buds will thank you. Note: points are ordered south to north.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Flo's Hot Dogs

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1359 Route 1
Cape Neddick, ME 03902
(800) 255-8401
(800) 255-8401
Visit Website
Most hot dogs are cheap, so you should go to Flo's for your fix, where the natural casing dogs are steamed and the "house special" is dressed with mayo and Flo's special relish. The unusual addition of molasses in the relish makes these dogs surprisingly addictive.

[Photo: Courtesy of Pat M/Flickr]

2. El SoBo Tacos

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12 Portland Street
South Berwick, ME 03908
207-704-0532
207-704-0532
Visit Website
Nothing beats cheap tacos and here in South Berwick, customers love El SoBo's make-your-own tacos, with your choice of filling and toppings. Try braised rib taco with roasted corn and mango barbecue sauce or a blackened haddock taco with mango salsa and chipotle mayo for $3 each. Top it all off with a margarita made with infused tequila.

[Photo: Courtesy of El SoBo]

3. Mulligan's Bar & Grill

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23 Lincoln St
Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 284-9283
(207) 284-9283
At Mulligan's, everything on their extensive menu is under $5. Catch a lunch special and you can get your tab down even farther, like $2.50 for a large serving of pasta and meatballs. Their menu claims they buy in bulk and operate at razor thin margins to provide these prices, so do with that what you will.

[Photo: Courtesy of Don W./Yelp]

4. Artemisia Cafe

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61 Pleasant St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 761-0135
(207) 761-0135
Visit Website
This longtime cafe on quiet Pleasant Street is two restaurants in one, with a different menu and staff for lunch and dinner. While the regular prices are reasonable, the real deal is Wednesday nights, when a salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and a glass of wine are available for $18.

[Photo: Courtesy of Artemisia Cafe]

5. Leonardo's Pizza

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415 Forest Ave
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 775-4444
(207) 775-4444
Visit Website
This Greek-style pizza parlor sells inexpensive slices, but also uses local ingredients in their toppings and dough. Catch them for lunch, where two slices and a drink are only $3.50.

[Photo: Courtesy of Amber H./TripAdvisor]

6. Susan's Fish And Chips

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1135 Forest Ave
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 878-3240
(207) 878-3240
Visit Website
Battle the traffic on Forest Ave. to this unassuming restaurant, where the portions of fried seafood are large, but the pricetag isn't. Take advantage of their Monday and Tuesday special, where two fried fish sandwiches are only $2.50

[Photo: Courtesy of Susan's Fish-n-Chips]

7. Harmon's Lunch

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144 Gray Rd
Falmouth, ME 04105
(207) 797-9857
(207) 797-9857
Cheeseburgers cost $2.50 at the old school joint where a sign above the grill warns, "This is not Burger King. You don't get it your way. You take it my way, or you don't get the damn thing."

[Photo: Courtesy of Corey Templeton]

8. Bruce's Burritos

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438 Route 1
Yarmouth, ME 04096
(207) 846-6330
(207) 846-6330
Visit Website
All of the burritos at Bruce's come in under $10 and are seriously filling. Try Pop's Loaded Burrito with chicken, guacamole, spinach, beans, rice, cheese, salsa, and sour cream, with the Triple XXX habanero hot sauce if you're bold.

[Photo: Courtesy of Bruce's Burritos]

9. Larsons Lunch Box

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207-563-5755
207-563-5755
Visit Website
What's not to love at this takeout counter when there's $4 hamburgers and $2 hot dogs. Some say the lobster rolls here are better than at nearby Red's Eats. At the very least, the wait is shorter.

[Photo: Courtesy of Larson's Lunch Box/TripAdvisor]

10. Gridiron Restaurant & Sports Pub

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1567 Lisbon St
Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 777-6353
(207) 777-6353
Visit Website
The most expensive item on this popular sports bar's menu is the $12.99 sirloin. The standard bar menu might not be groundbreaking, but when the game's on, the beer is flowing and you're surrounded by friends, it's the perfect spot.

[Photo: Courtesy of Lana H./Yelp]

11. Wasses Hot Dogs

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New County Rd
Thomaston, ME 04861
Visit Website
Wasses hot dogs are inexpensive, yes, but most hot dogs are. These are the best in the area though, where they "proudly" use peanut oil to fry their dogs and onions on the griddle.

[Photo: Courtesy of Wasses]

12. Maine General Medical Ctr. Cafeteria

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35 Medical Center Parkway
Augusta, ME 04330
855-464-4463
855-464-4463
Visit Website
If you'll go to any length for a deal, then the cafeteria at Maine General is for you. The menu at the hospital's new facility focuses on healthy and local meals, with satisfied diners recommending the quinoa lasagna ($2.89) and the brick-oven pizza ($1.95).

[Photo: Courtesy of MaineGeneral]

13. Mainely Meat

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15 Knox Rd
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-9200
(207) 288-9200
Visit Website
In Bar Harbor, the crush of tourists means the food can be a tad expensive. Head out to Atlantic Brewing to enjoy some tasty and relatively inexpensive barbecue along with a cold brew.

[Photo: Courtesy of Mainely Meat/TripAdvisor]

14. Thompson's Restaurant

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Rt. 201
Bingham, ME 04920
207-672-3820
207-672-3820
Visit Website
When you're headed up to camp, stop in to Thompson's Restaurant for some diner classics like BLTs on in-house baked bread, baked beans, and sausage gravy on a biscuit. Add in a coffee or a soda and your tab won't break $10.

[Photo: Courtesy of Thompson's]

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1. Flo's Hot Dogs

1359 Route 1, Cape Neddick, ME 03902
Most hot dogs are cheap, so you should go to Flo's for your fix, where the natural casing dogs are steamed and the "house special" is dressed with mayo and Flo's special relish. The unusual addition of molasses in the relish makes these dogs surprisingly addictive.

[Photo: Courtesy of Pat M/Flickr]

1359 Route 1
Cape Neddick, ME 03902
(800) 255-8401
Visit Website

2. El SoBo Tacos

12 Portland Street, South Berwick, ME 03908
Nothing beats cheap tacos and here in South Berwick, customers love El SoBo's make-your-own tacos, with your choice of filling and toppings. Try braised rib taco with roasted corn and mango barbecue sauce or a blackened haddock taco with mango salsa and chipotle mayo for $3 each. Top it all off with a margarita made with infused tequila.

[Photo: Courtesy of El SoBo]

12 Portland Street
South Berwick, ME 03908
207-704-0532
Visit Website

3. Mulligan's Bar & Grill

23 Lincoln St, Biddeford, ME 04005
At Mulligan's, everything on their extensive menu is under $5. Catch a lunch special and you can get your tab down even farther, like $2.50 for a large serving of pasta and meatballs. Their menu claims they buy in bulk and operate at razor thin margins to provide these prices, so do with that what you will.

[Photo: Courtesy of Don W./Yelp]

23 Lincoln St
Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 284-9283

4. Artemisia Cafe

61 Pleasant St, Portland, ME 04101
This longtime cafe on quiet Pleasant Street is two restaurants in one, with a different menu and staff for lunch and dinner. While the regular prices are reasonable, the real deal is Wednesday nights, when a salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and a glass of wine are available for $18.

[Photo: Courtesy of Artemisia Cafe]

61 Pleasant St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 761-0135
Visit Website

5. Leonardo's Pizza

415 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101
This Greek-style pizza parlor sells inexpensive slices, but also uses local ingredients in their toppings and dough. Catch them for lunch, where two slices and a drink are only $3.50.

[Photo: Courtesy of Amber H./TripAdvisor]

415 Forest Ave
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 775-4444
Visit Website

6. Susan's Fish And Chips

1135 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103
Battle the traffic on Forest Ave. to this unassuming restaurant, where the portions of fried seafood are large, but the pricetag isn't. Take advantage of their Monday and Tuesday special, where two fried fish sandwiches are only $2.50

[Photo: Courtesy of Susan's Fish-n-Chips]

1135 Forest Ave
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 878-3240
Visit Website

7. Harmon's Lunch

144 Gray Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105
Cheeseburgers cost $2.50 at the old school joint where a sign above the grill warns, "This is not Burger King. You don't get it your way. You take it my way, or you don't get the damn thing."

[Photo: Courtesy of Corey Templeton]

144 Gray Rd
Falmouth, ME 04105
(207) 797-9857

8. Bruce's Burritos

438 Route 1, Yarmouth, ME 04096
All of the burritos at Bruce's come in under $10 and are seriously filling. Try Pop's Loaded Burrito with chicken, guacamole, spinach, beans, rice, cheese, salsa, and sour cream, with the Triple XXX habanero hot sauce if you're bold.

[Photo: Courtesy of Bruce's Burritos]

438 Route 1
Yarmouth, ME 04096
(207) 846-6330
Visit Website

9. Larsons Lunch Box

Damariscotta, ME 04543
What's not to love at this takeout counter when there's $4 hamburgers and $2 hot dogs. Some say the lobster rolls here are better than at nearby Red's Eats. At the very least, the wait is shorter.

[Photo: Courtesy of Larson's Lunch Box/TripAdvisor]

207-563-5755
Visit Website

10. Gridiron Restaurant & Sports Pub

1567 Lisbon St, Lewiston, ME 04240
The most expensive item on this popular sports bar's menu is the $12.99 sirloin. The standard bar menu might not be groundbreaking, but when the game's on, the beer is flowing and you're surrounded by friends, it's the perfect spot.

[Photo: Courtesy of Lana H./Yelp]

1567 Lisbon St
Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 777-6353
Visit Website

11. Wasses Hot Dogs

New County Rd, Thomaston, ME 04861
Wasses hot dogs are inexpensive, yes, but most hot dogs are. These are the best in the area though, where they "proudly" use peanut oil to fry their dogs and onions on the griddle.

[Photo: Courtesy of Wasses]

New County Rd
Thomaston, ME 04861
Visit Website

12. Maine General Medical Ctr. Cafeteria

35 Medical Center Parkway, Augusta, ME 04330
If you'll go to any length for a deal, then the cafeteria at Maine General is for you. The menu at the hospital's new facility focuses on healthy and local meals, with satisfied diners recommending the quinoa lasagna ($2.89) and the brick-oven pizza ($1.95).

[Photo: Courtesy of MaineGeneral]

35 Medical Center Parkway
Augusta, ME 04330
855-464-4463
Visit Website

13. Mainely Meat

15 Knox Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
In Bar Harbor, the crush of tourists means the food can be a tad expensive. Head out to Atlantic Brewing to enjoy some tasty and relatively inexpensive barbecue along with a cold brew.

[Photo: Courtesy of Mainely Meat/TripAdvisor]

15 Knox Rd
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-9200
Visit Website

14. Thompson's Restaurant

Rt. 201, Bingham, ME 04920
When you're headed up to camp, stop in to Thompson's Restaurant for some diner classics like BLTs on in-house baked bread, baked beans, and sausage gravy on a biscuit. Add in a coffee or a soda and your tab won't break $10.

[Photo: Courtesy of Thompson's]

Rt. 201
Bingham, ME 04920
207-672-3820
Visit Website

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