Whether you prefer the walkable downtown or more spread-out areas to the west, it’s easy to find a place to eat in West Palm Beach that’s affordable, unpretentious and delicious.
Ethnic food lovers will really find a home. Cuban, Mediterranean, Japanese, Italian, Indian: They’re all here, and many have been around for generations.
As part of my series on cheap eats around South Florida, I’ve been searching for restaurants where most entrees cost less than $20. For the list below, I tried to find locally owned sites that get consistently good reviews from members of “Let’s Eat, South Florida,” the Sun Sentinel’s foodie Facebook group; I also checked in with a South Florida Sun Sentinel veteran staffer who’s a longtime West Palm Beach resident.
If you’re looking for a meal outside West Palm Beach, see my previous “Ask Lois” columns: I’ve looked at Tamarac-Margate-Pompano Beach, Weston-Plantation-Davie-Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Boynton Beach-Delray Beach-Lake Worth.
There are many more places in West Palm Beach that I could have included on this list; feel free to send over your favorite reasonably priced eateries for a follow-up story. I’m at .
Havana, 6801 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-547-9799; havanacubanfood.com
You can’t miss Havana; there’s almost always a line outside the 24-hour, walk-up window for Cafe Cubano ($3.99) and other strong pick-me-ups. Head over for lunch, when Arroz con Pollo goes for $10.99 and Ropa Vieja (shredded beef stewed with vegetables) is only $11.99. The popular Cuban Sandwich, with ham, pork and Swiss cheese, is also $11.99. Don Ramon, not far from Havana on South Dixie Highway, is another longstanding Cuban eatery in West Palm. It serves daily lunch specials, all under $20, including the classic Chicken and Shrimp Scampi ($19).
Mediterranean Market & Deli, 327 Fifth St., West Palm Beach; 561-659-7322; mediterraneanmarketanddeli.com
There’s nowhere to sit inside this crowded deli, but get a dish to-go and fill your refrigerator with their dips, freshly baked pitas, soups and baklavas. I usually order the Vegetarian Combo ($15.99), which lasts me several meals; it’s overflowing with hummus, baba ganoush, bean salad, falafel and grilled vegetables. The Spicy Chicken Kebab ($14.99) has just the right amount of cayenne pepper and lemon, and comes with rice and salad.
Park Avenue BBQ Grille, 2215 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561- 689-7427; pabbqgrille.com
Sun Sentinel Community News editor and West Palm Beach resident Kari Barnett is a regular at Park Avenue, where she orders the Back Ribs (half-rack, $16). “While there’s a wire basket full of sauce choices from mild to spicy, I douse my ribs with the tangy Conservative (look for Abraham Lincoln on the label),” she said. “Pair it with a big glass of iced tea (ask for a sweet/unsweet mix), the creamy potato salad and warm baked beans. The buttery cornbread is so rich, I usually save it for an end-of-meal treat.” The West Palm Beach location is one of six in central and northern Palm Beach County.
Grandview Public Market, 1401 Clare Ave., West Palm Beach; grandviewpublic.com
This trendy neighborhood food hall has 10 vendors serving an assortment of cuisines, including Cajun, Jamaican, Japanese and Mexican. There’s also pizza for the traditionalists and a craft beer hall for the drinking set. Clare Ave. Grill inside the market offers a Triple Smash Burger for $14, while 5-Spice Duck Ramen is $18 at Ramen Lab Eatery. I recommend the Caffeinated Choco Caveman Smoothie ($10.50) at Josey’s Salad and Smoothies; it’s a creamy combination of peanut butter, cocoa powder, espresso and banana.
Four Brothers Italian Restaurant, 1800 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-969-6046; pizzafourbrothers.com
Pizza by the slice? Count me in! Four Brothers has a daily special with two slices and a large fountain drink for $6. The early bird specials, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, are also an excellent deal: You get an entree, soup or salad (their creamy Italian dressing is addictive), bread, drink and ice cream for less than $20, with “the most attentive service you’ll find anywhere,” according to Barnett.
El Paso Taco, 108 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach; 561-686-4668; elpasotacorestaurant.net
The all-day breakfast menu starts at $2.99 and includes Mexican egg combos and burritos. According to a “Let’s Eat, South Florida” reviewer: “If you like a Mexican breakfast like menudo or chilaquiles, El Paso Taco Restaurant has been at Southern and Military for decades.” Another popular and moderately priced Mexican eatery is El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant.
Howley’s, 4700 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-833-5691;
This old standard, which has been around since 1950, still offers classic diner comfort food but has added some contemporary twists, including acai bowls, tuna tacos and vegetarian lasagna. After partying in downtown West Palm, many head over to Howley’s for a late-night snack. And here’s one more widely loved ’50s-style eatery: Nick’s Diner (it has a jukebox and booths built for two).
Palm Beach Hot Chicken, 1258 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-660-7811; pbhotchicken.com
Chicken tender sandwiches with choice of spiciness go for $6.99 to $9.99; a 6-Wing Dinner, with fries and bread, costs $8.99. There are also fish dinners for seafood lovers. According to a “Let’s Eat” reviewer: “The selling point for me is that the chicken is hand-breaded, not frozen! 3 large tenders, a boatload of fries, two slices of white bread and 3 different sauces (Palm Beach sauce/BBQ/Buffalo) for $7.99, a great deal!”
Tiffin Box, 2491-H Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-855-2808; tiffinboxeats.com
Indian fast food? Looks like Tiffin Box is on to something. All wraps and bowls are $9.95. You start with your choice of rice and add chicken or vegetables or another protein, then pick sides such as carrots or chickpeas. There are also Chicken Samosas for $3.85 and yummy Mango Lassi smoothies for $5.25.
Bangkok Kitchen, 1000 Old Okeechobee Road, West Palm Beach; 561-832-6091; bangkokkitchenpb.com
We are so blessed in South Florida to have an abundance of excellent Thai restaurants that are almost always moderately priced. Bangkok Kitchen garners consistently good reviews for its Street Style Pad Thai ($11) and Thai Boat Noodles ($16). A “Let’s Eat” reviewer said: “I had their pad see ew with fried tofu and it was amazing. Their prices aren’t crazy either. Crab Rangoons were also amazing! Definitely a good place to check out if you like Thai food!”
Honorable mention
McKenna’s Place, 4068 Forest Hill Blvd., Palm Springs; 561-968-0032; mckennasfl.com
McKenna’s gets an honorable mention because it’s not officially in West Palm Beach; it’s in nearby Palm Springs. The sports-obsessed looking for a congenial crowd and lots of big flat screens will love this place. Spinach and artichoke dip goes for $11.95; Shepherd’s Pie is $15.95. According to Barnett: “Their chicken wings have been my favorite for almost two decades. I can’t pour enough medium-flavor sauce on them. It’s so good, I always joke (kind of) that I could do shots of it.” She recommends the $5 burgers (with a side) on Mondays, the Wing Wednesdays (99 cents per wing, dine-in only) and the Sunday rib special (full rack, $14.95 with two sides).
