Rocco's
Pizza & Pasta for Two
The family that brought pizza to South Bend, serving since 1951 — handmade dough, scratch sauces, homemade Italian sausage subs, and pasta in an old-school dining room near Notre Dame. Split a pizza and a sub and two eat for around $20. Closed Sun & Mon.
CJ's Pub
Burgers for Two
A divey downtown sports bar slinging legendary hand-pattied burgers since 1984 — the 10oz Super Pub Burger comes with chips, and there are 20-plus other options. A Notre Dame game-day institution. Two burgers run under $20. Closed Sun & Mon.
Fiddler's Hearth
Pub Plates for Two
A warm downtown public house built around the seven Celtic nations — shepherd's pie, fish and chips, Guinness stew, and live trad Irish music most nights. Two can share hearty plates and stay near $20.
Taqueria Chicago
Tacos for Two
A no-frills west-side favorite for homestyle Mexican — carne asada, carnitas, and lengua tacos, big burritos and tortas, with Taco Tuesday deals. Locals rank it among the city's best, and two eat well under $20.
Chicory Cafe
Beignets & Po'Boys for Two
A French Quarter-style coffee house downtown serving New Orleans favorites — sugar-dusted beignets, po'boys, muffulettas, jambalaya, and Cajun mac and cheese, with live jazz some nights. Two eat for well under $20.
South Bend Chocolate Cafe
Treats & Coffee for Two
The downtown flagship of the homegrown South Bend Chocolate Company — gourmet chocolates, fresh-roasted coffee, ice cream, and the locally famous hot chocolate, plus breakfast and sandwiches. Two get coffee and treats for well under $20.
Bruno's Pizza Downtown
Slices & a Drink
This downtown spot sells pizza by the slice from late morning to early afternoon, with cheese, pepperoni, and sausage combos. Two can each grab a slice and a fountain drink and stay well under $20.
My Taco Express
Tacos for Two
A counter-service taquería serving homemade Mexican street food where single tacos run about $3.25. A handful of tacos splits easily between two for well under $20.
Franky's Tacos
Taquería for Two
A locally loved taquería on Mishawaka Ave turning out tacos, carnitas, tortas, and quesabirria in generous portions. Two can split a plate of tacos and an order of churros and keep it under $20.
Macri's Italian Bakery
Bakery Lunch for Two
A South Bend Italian bakery since 1978 serving sandwiches, paninis, pizza by the slice, and pastries alongside fresh bread. Two can share a sandwich or a couple of slices plus a sweet and stay under $20.
Cre-Asian
Bao & Noodles for Two
A casual Vietnamese-Chinese kitchen on Ironwood with starters like gua bao and scallion pancakes around $5–6, plus noodle bowls and stir-fries. Two can share a couple of bao and a noodle dish for under $20.
Eating cheap in South Bend: The walkable clusters are downtown (Michigan and Main Streets), Eddy Street Commons next to Notre Dame, and the west side along Western Avenue for the best taquerias. Note that two of the oldest spots, Rocco's and CJ's Pub, both close Sunday and Monday, so plan around that. And keep an eye out for Indiana's signature cheap sandwich, the breaded pork tenderloin — a hand-pounded cutlet fried until it hangs off the bun — which turns up on pub and diner menus all over town.
Steak 'n Shake
Steakburgers & Shakes for Two
An Indiana original (since 1934, now Indianapolis-based) griddling thin Steakburgers and hand-dipping shakes off a deep value menu — two eat for well under $20.
Chipotle
Burritos for Two
Build-your-own burritos, bowls, and tacos at Eddy Street Commons by Notre Dame — fast, filling, and two eat for under $20.
Jimmy John's
Subs for Two
Freaky-fast gourmet subs and the cheaper Slims line near the Notre Dame campus — two subs run well under $20.
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