$5 lunches (or less) in Wichita

Taco Bueno combines quality and quantity for $5 lunch

When brown bagging it loses its charm or you ran out the door and left your sandwich on the counter, finding a deal for lunch is your first priority. Of course, most restaurants have lunch menus complete with price specials, but taking a page from the deal Subway made famous, we accepted a challenge to find the lunch deals that cost no more than in the neighborhood of $5. (Because inflation.)

How well did we do, and what have we missed?

Important: Restaurant specials change frequently, so do be sure to double-check the special with the restaurant before you order. (And if you find out about a deal that’s over, tell us in the comments so we can remove it. Thanks!)

P.S. For specials on certain days of the week, check out the Daily Food & Drink Deals post. There are some $5 selections there too (particularly on Sunday).

Champs Bar & Grill
What says lunch better than PB&J? Champs’ Kendall special features just that, with chips, for $2.50. It’s like you packed your lunch! (Psst, most of their sandwich prices would fall on our “just missed” list, too.)

• 1106 S. Seneca, (316) 262-1284

Club Billiards
A $5 daily lunch special in a pool hall—you can’t beat this mid-day break. Mention the restaurant’s website and they’ll throw in a free soft drink with your order, too.

• 925 W. Douglas (316) 265-2293

Costco
The food court is famous for its affordable menu, so be prepared to stand in line. But the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo is a practically a tradition for the thrifty and not-so-thrifty alike. But if you want to go upscale, the chicken bakes will only set you back $2.99. The barbeque brisket is also affordable.

• 9700 E. Kellogg Dr. (316) 226-7164

Dairy Queen
If you haven’t discovered their 5-buck lunch, today is a great day to change that. Chicken strips or a hamburger with fries, a drink, and … wait for it … a sundae, too!

• 12 locations throughout Wichita

DeFazio’s Restaurant
You’re going to love their lunch special: a single-topping ($4.50), cheese ($3.50), or meatless surpreme ($5) 6-inch pizza. Dig in!

• 2706 Amidon St. (316) 838-0709

Denny’s
When bacon and eggs and pancakes sound good, swing into Denny’s for their $2 and $4 values.

• 3 locations throughout Wichita

Emperor’s Japanese Grill
Meeting run over? Day got away? These folks don’t want you to eat out of the vending machine. From 2-4 p.m., they’ll serve you a hot plate of chicken fried rice and a drink for $4.79.

• 3 locations throughout Wichita

Fazoli’s
Let’s hear it for some pasta and carb energy to get us over the hump. The Fazoli’s $5 lunch special allows you to pick any two  items (penne, spaghetti, fettuccini, ravioli, meat lasagna, side salad, pizza slice) and they’ll throw in a drink too. Eat in and it’s unlimited breadsticks—the drive-thru only yields one.

• 3553 N Rock Rd., (316) 634-1855

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
One of Wichita’s newest restaurants aims to please the lunch crowd. They offer 12 tacos that cost just $2.99 each, including grilled shrimp, veggie and spicy pork versions. The quesos dips are also packed with meat to make them a meal priced at $4.99.

• 306 N Rock Rd., (316) 684-8226

Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs

Goodcents has a $5 Nickel deal that gets you an 8″ sub and a drink. What’s offered may depend on location or time of year, but what I’m seeing right now in Wichita is the 8″ Centsable Ham & Bologna Sub with a regular drink.

• 3411 North Rock Road, Suite 120, (316) 636-5300
• 1212 S. Tyler, (316) 773-1010
• 4921 S. Broadway, (316) 524-4200

Hardee’s
Known for their hearty burgers, Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. rolled out a $5 All Star meal in late 2017 that’s worth checking out when you’re hungry. There’s the double cheeseburger and onion rings combo, the double cheesburger and jumbo hot dog, the double cheeseburger and spicy chicken sandwich, and hand-breaded chicken tenders options. But wait! There’s more. You get small fries, a cookie and a small drink—and the price is still $5. (Woot! Cookie.)

• 2053 N. Amidon Ave.,  (316) 425-5393
• 3216 E. Harry St., (316) 651-0462

Heroes
You’ll be the office hero when you tell them about the $5 lunch menu at Heroes in Old Town. Available Monday-Thursday only during lunchtime. What a great deal! And if you work or live anywhere along Douglas, you can hop the free Q-Line Trolley to take advantage of this one, so no need to find a parking space.

• 117 N. Mosley St. (316) 264-4376

KFC
Their $5 Fill Up deals include several combinations of fried chicken, along with larger mashed potatoes, biscuit, cookie and a medium drink. Or you can get their Famous Bowl or pot pie and a cookie and drink for your $5 order. On Wednesdays, ask if they still have the $2.99 Chicken Fried Steak meal. It comes with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and a biscuit.

• 5 locations throughout Wichita

Lalo’s Express
Tacos, flautas, tostaados, oh my! All of these menu items fall well under the $5 line in the sand—in fact, you can mix and match and still not reach the total.

• 2051 S. Seneca (316) 264-9500

Le’s Noodles & Sandwiches
The most expensive sandwich on this menu is $4 for the banh mi dac biet, aka Vietnamese ham, head cheese, pate and a steamed meatball. Other selections run just $3.50.

• 6540 E Central Ave. (316) 295-2883

Lina’s Mexican Restaurant
You can order a slew of burritos (yes, breakfast, too!) for $4.99; some of the burrito combos are under $5 as well, as are tostadas and chimichangas.  Or hey, how about five—count ’em, five—cheese and guacamole rolled tacos with sour cream for this price? Pick them up in the drive-thru.

• 3570 N Woodlawn Blvd. (316) 440-3227
  

Little Ceasar’s
Your large sausage, pepperoni or cheese round pizza is waiting for you, and it’s just $5. Or, go for a bit of variety with the $5 Little Caesar’s Lunch Combo special and get four slices of Detroit-style deep dish pepperoni pizza and a 20 oz Pepsi.

• 11 locations throughout Wichita

Little Ceasar’s large $5 pizza is a deal you can share for still bigger savings.

Long John Silver’s
Order the Alaska whitefish sandwich special and get fries, a drink, and an order of Cinnapups for $5. Go ahead and guess the name of this special. Yep—the Reel Deal.

• 4 locations around town

Moe’s Sub Shop
Got a craving? Chances are high Moe’s has a 7-inch sub with those ingredients, and it’s priced between $4 and $5. Meatballs, pastrami, seafood, salami, turkey, ham, roast beef, even the Ultimate Moe’s creation is a deal here.

• 2815 S. Hydraulic Ave. (316)524-5511

Mexico Viejo
You get a range of $4.99 lunch combos here: taco, enchilada, tamale, tostada, chalupa or toastaguac with rice. Daily specials mean that on some days, you’ll be able to  order a Speedy Gonzales ($4.49) or huevos rancheros ($4.99) or huevos con chorizo ($4.99). too.

• 6960 W 21st St N. (316) 722-4787

M&M Bierocks
A regular bierock, not to be confused with “an ordinary bierock,” meal deal, which includes chips and 20 oz soda is $5. Or just grab an individual bierock for $3.25 – $3.75, depending on your ingredients.

• 2065 Central Ave. (316) 262-6263

On the Border introduced Cantina Plates this summer for a limited time. Choose from empanadas, chimichangas, jalapeno poppers, quesadillas, mini tacos, or stacked nachos. They aren’t served with rice or beans, but at $3 or $4 each, we’re thinking they’d make a light, inexpensive lunch. Probably valid until August 19.

Playa Azul
From 11 a.m.-3 p.m Monday – Friday, and 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, this Mexican restaurant has set aside an entire menu of $4.99 entrees. Tacos, enchiladas, tamales, tostadas, tostaguacs, chalupas—take your pick and they’ll add rice, beans, chips and salsa.

• 111 N. Washington, (316) 267-2252

Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen
They call it the $4 Wicked Good Deal—and we agree. What else would you call premium chicken breasts in a southern fried coating, a choice of one side, a buttermilk biscuit ,and a choice of dipping sauce? This one is a limited time offer.

• 5 locations throughout Wichita

Quiznos
Ciabatta Toasties has a nice ring to it, and that holds true at the cash register as well. It’s just $3.50 for ham and Swiss, Little Italy or a Southwest club ciabatta on that famous bread.

• 111 W. Douglas St., (316) 267-7800
• 550 N. Webb Rd., (316) 652-9231

Ricardo’s
Their two burritos and a medium drink special is priced at the magical $5 price point, giving you yet another affordable stop when you’re in the neighborhood.

Sam’s Club
In the battle of the warehouse food courts, Sam’s Club is not to be outdone. It goes toe to toe on hot dog and drink specials, and throws in a pretzel and drink combo for that magic $1.50 price point. A $2 fruit smoothie is a welcome lunch item as well.

• 3084 N Maize Rd. (316) 347-2578
• 6200 W. Kellogg Dr. (316) 945-3010
• 3415 N. Rock Rd. (316) 634-6007

Schlotzsky’s
Craving fresh homemade bread? Swing in for a small classic sandwich and pay just $4.99.

• 4 locations through Wichita

Spangles
Here the $5 Classic American Meal Deal includes a classic steakburger, small fry, 20 oz. fountain drink and an 8 oz. Mudslide! Yah, this $5 isn’t a typo.

• 11 locations throughout Wichita

Subway
The $5 footlong is still alive and well at Subway, with Black Forest ham, meatball marinara, spicy Italian, cold cut combo and veggie in the bargain spotlight. (And now you’re humming that commercial song, aren’t you?)

• 10 locations throughout Wichita

Taco Bell
The national chain may be going for largest selection in the $5 lunch wars. Their boxes—the triple melt burrito and chalupa cravings—contain three full-size entrees, a full-size cinnamon twist order, and a medium drink.

• 13 Wichita locations

Taco Bueno
Is it Tuesday? Better head over to Taco Bueno for its  Muchaco Platter or the regular taco platter for $2.99! Tacos, chips, rice and refried beans, with enough left over to buy a drink and still stay under the $5 limit. This may be the best lunch price in town, but it is a limited time offer, so call ahead.

• 3530 N. Rock Rd.  (316) 634-1213

Taco Pronto
Hungry westsiders know where to slake taco cravings on the cheap at lunch time (or dinner, or anytime from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and pronto! The Money-Saver Combo is 2 fried corn tacos, 1 bean and cheese burrito, and a 16 oz. drink for $3.99. No substitutions. If you’re in the mood for something else, try the Pork Carnita Combo, which is 2 soft flour pork tacos, chips & salsa, and a 16 oz. soft drink for $4.79.

• 8385 W. 21st Street (316) 295-2999
• 7333 W. Central (316) 722-3021

Slightly over $5

These local restaurant lunch deals just missed our $5 mark:

When Pigs Fly BBQ is offering a small sandwich, side, and drink for only $5.50 with this coupon.

A medium NuWay’s crumbly burger, medium onion rings and a medium drink—not too small, not too much—is priced at $5.87.

Lee’s Chinese Restaurant has 10 lunch combos, including Kung Pao chicken, brocolli beef, sweet and sour pork and Moo Goo gai pan, plus fried rice, 2 crab rangoons, mando and a fortune cookie for $5.95.

The teriyaki rice dish and curry entrees at Japan Express are currently priced at $5.25. Maybe you can find a quarter on the floor of your car?

Egg Roll King‘s lunch combo special offers one entree for $5.15, two for $6.15.
The 8-inch plain  hoagies (steak, chicken, turkey) plus tuna and chicken salad at T.O.P.S. Steaks and Hoagies ring up at $5.50.

TJ’s Burger House offers two chicken sandwiches, jalepeno chicken ($5.78) and crispy chicken ($5.28), and its chili cheese dog ($5.08) wins the prize for closest to the mark.

Charng Ang offers combination dinners (yes, even if it’s on your lunch break) that includes a main dish from the selections, one egg roll or two crab rangoons, and fried rice for $5.49.