🏙️ Akron Meal Deals

Best Cheap Eats in Akron, OH
Two People, Under $20

🌆 Akron, OH  ·  7 verified deals  ·  Updated June 2026

Akron eats like a proud Rubber City underdog — the drive-in burger town that gave the world Swensons' Galley Boy and even claims to be the birthplace of the hamburger itself. Add a 1949 pizza institution, a 1936 frozen-custard stand, gourmet grilled cheese, and a Highland Square deli-bar, and two people can eat the city's greatest hits for well under a twenty. Here's where.

🌆 Local Akron Deals
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Swensons Drive-In

Galley Boys for Two

Akron's 1934 drive-in legend — flip on your headlights and a Curb Server sprints out with the famous Galley Boy, a double cheeseburger layered with Swensons' secret Swen Red and Swen White sauces. Burgs, Potato Teezers, and shakes are cheap, so two feast for well under $20.

📍 Akron (S Hawkins Ave + locations)  ·  ⏳ Daily, till late
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Luigi's Restaurant

Pizza & Pasta to Share

A downtown Akron institution since 1949 — award-winning pizza, pasta, and famously cheesy salads in a packed, old-school room (it inspired "Montoni's" in the Funky Winkerbean comics). Hearty and affordable; a shared pizza and salad keeps two under $20. Cash only — there's an ATM inside.

📍 Akron (105 N Main St, downtown)  ·  ⏳ Daily, lunch to late
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Strickland's Frozen Custard

Frozen Custard for Two

An Akron landmark since 1936, churning fresh custard on its original batch freezers near the Goodyear Airdock — vanilla, chocolate, and two specialty flavors daily, plus shakes and sundaes. A few dollars a cone means two stay well under $20. Seasonal — reopens in spring.

📍 Akron (1809 Triplett Blvd, Ellet)  ·  ⏳ Seasonal, daily
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The Lockview

Grilled Cheese for Two

Downtown Akron's gourmet grilled-cheese-and-craft-beer spot, with a nostalgic vibe and Lawson's chip dip on the side. A grilled cheese with goldfish runs around $10–12, so two with a shared app land right around $20.

📍 Akron (207 S Main St, downtown)  ·  ⏳ Mon–Sat (closed Sun)
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Mr. Zub's Deli & Bar

Sandwiches for Two

A Highland Square deli-bar since 2009 piling over-the-top sandwiches named for movie characters — the Uncle Rico, the Royal Tenenbaum — plus pizza, wings, tots, and 20-plus beers. Reasonably priced and open late, so two eat for under $20.

📍 Akron (795 W Market St, Highland Square)  ·  ⏳ Daily, till late
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Wally Waffle

Breakfast for Two

Akron's beloved breakfast spot since 1975 — creative waffles, chicken and waffles, omelets, and syrup served in heated glass bottles. A weekday special runs under $7, so two have a full breakfast for well under $20.

📍 Akron (845 W Market St)  ·  ⏳ Daily, 7am–2/3pm
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Taqueria La Loma

Tacos for Two

An East Akron taqueria with an attached Mexican market — al pastor carved off a slow-turning spit, plus birria, tortas, tamales, and pozole. Tacos run a few dollars a la carte, so two get stuffed for around $20 or less.

📍 Akron (459 Darrow Rd)  ·  ⏳ Daily, 11am–9pm
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Eating cheap in Akron: Swensons is the rite of passage — pull in, flip on your headlights, and a Curb Server sprints out with your Galley Boy (Akron even claims the Menches brothers invented the hamburger here back in 1885). Strickland's custard is seasonal, reopening in spring with its 1936 batch freezers still running. Highland Square (Mr. Zub's, Wally Waffle) and downtown (Luigi's, The Lockview) are the densest walkable clusters — and Luigi's is famously cash-only, so hit the ATM first.

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Buffalo Wild Wings

Wings for Two

Ohio-born — founded in 1982 by two guys who, after striking out on a wing craving in Kent, opened their first shop near Ohio State. Wings, fried apps, and game-day specials; share a couple orders and two land around $20.

📍 Akron (downtown + Wallhaven)  ·  ⏳ Daily
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Mr. Hero

Romanburger for Two

Cleveland-born since 1965, home of the Romanburger — a burger-and-sub mashup — and the Hot Buttered Cheesesteak. A 7-inch sub runs about $7–9, so two eat for under $20.

📍 Akron (S Arlington + more)  ·  ⏳ Daily
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Donatos

Pizza to Share

Founded in Columbus in 1963, Donatos is Ohio's own — thin, crispy, Edge to Edge pepperoni pies. Share a pizza and two eat for under $20.

📍 Akron (Albrecht Ave + Medina Rd)  ·  ⏳ Daily
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Skyline Chili

Cincinnati Chili for Two

Ohio's own Cincinnati-style chili — cheese coneys and spaghetti 3-Ways piled with shredded cheddar. Cheap and filling, so two eat for well under $20.

📍 Akron area (Stow)  ·  ⏳ Daily
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