Sometimes cheap food can be the most tasty: just stand outside a McDonald’s drive-thru to find out how popular affordable eats can be. But there is better food out there for reasonable prices, even in Westchester. You just need to know where to look.
Chili Cheese Fries at Texas Chili in Port Chester: $3.25
The infamous Texas Chili, open seemingly all the time, is most frequently used to soak up alcohol inside the stomachs of our beloved county’s young people. A spinoff of Port Chester’s Hubba, which has quite a bit of an interesting and storied past, I prefer TC because of it’s cleaner, more spacious digs, and overall better food. Almost everything is under $5 here, but the highlight is their fries, topped with scaldingly spicy chili and gooey American cheese. The fried spuds are crispy and greasy, perfect for a late night snack, and the chili is delicious, spiced perfectly with a familiar bite. The cheese complements everything perfectly, tying the whole thing together. These fries are worth a detour.
Hot Dog at Walter’s in Mamaroneck: $2.35
What more can be written about Walter’s Famous dogs? The longtime roadside shack has lines a mile long year round, prices that look like they’re from 1960, and a delicious hot dog that can’t be found anywhere else. Split open and grilled in butter, these dogs are best when served with Walter’s special mustard, mixed with a little relish for maximum flavor. It’s best to go during warm weather, so you can sit in the adjacent picnic tables and enjoy the smell of sizzling frankfurters, on their way to the next hungry, faithful customer.
Cheese Slice from Lombardo’s in White Plains: $2.60
This Mamaroneck Avenue pizza joint is a favorite among in-the-know Westchesterites. Their pies can be served with a variety of high-quality toppings, but my favorite is the classic Neapolitan with cheese and a tasty red sauce. The crust is perfect, chewy in that classic New York way, with the right amount of char, perfect for folding in half and digging in. The bubbly cheese melts perfectly. Lombardo’s truly serves the perfect slice. The restaurant’s beautiful decor and reasonable prices ensure a near perfect experience.
Carnitas Taco at Taqueria La Picardia in Port Chester: $3
These are tacos done right: authentic, fresh, and absolutely delicious. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at this hole-in-the-wall in Port Chester, but the carnitas stands out as almost otherworldly. This taco, filled with shredded pork cooked in its own juices until tender, then cooked on a flattop grill until crispy, is absolutely excellent. Thrown on top of two warm tortillas, the right way, this is a delicious snack, and it is filled to the brim and topped with onions and cilantro which makes $3 a great deal.
Real Oreo Cone at The Blue Pig in Croton-on-Hudson: $4.19
Ice cream at The Blue Pig might be the best dessert in all of Westchester. Creamy, with a clean flavor that absolutely melts in your mouth (literally of course), they take their frozen treats seriously up in Croton. Their take on cookies and cream is excellent: huge chunks of Oreo are spread evenly throughout their distinct and flavorful vanilla, upgrading this classic flavor to something transcendent. Anything you order at The Blue Pig will be delicious, but the cone is a classic, and it’s priced right, so go for it. You won’t be disappointed.