Top Five Budget Restaurants in Corpus Christi, Texas

Corpus Christi, at first glance, may seem to have a deficiency of good restaurants, but through some trial and error, I've found a handful of them that are really good. Also, encase you haven't figured it out from reading my other articles, I'm a big cheapskate, and so these restaurants won't put much of a dent in your wallet. Some of these places are completely unassuming and at first glance you may doubt the quality of their food. These diamonds in the rough are great places to eat however. The top five, in no particular order:

Bubba's Icehouse
6042 South Padre Island Dr. (361) 993-9842

This restaurant really fits the "diamond in the rough" designation. It's located on the south eastern side of Corpus Christi in a strip mall just off of South Padre Island Drive, on the north side of the Airline Exit. When you go in, wait for a waitress to seat you. If it's really cold outside, avoid the booths that are next to the front windows. It will be extremely cold by the windows, and you won't enjoy yourself very much. Once you're seated, you can amuse yourself with the silly redneck jokes on the back of the menus.

The waitress will bring a basket of biscuits and cornbread muffins to your table. The cornbread muffins are some of the best corn bread I've ever had. If you eat all of them, just ask for more! They are also quick on their service and even at lunch it never takes very long to get your meal.

The menu isn't really geared toward what most people would call healthy, and with a name like Bubba's, well, what else would you expect but great Texas Country Fried Steak? Bubba's country fried steak is some of the best around, along with their gigantic hamburgers. I've yet to eat one in a single sitting, but that's what doggy bags are for. My personal favorite is a Fried Jalapeno Burger. It is delicious, but not recommended for those of you with delicate mouths.

The lunches are under $10, and with unlimited cornbread and drink refills, and entrees that are really large, it's well worth your money.

Jin's Chinese Buffet
4938 S Staples St

Jin's, also listed as Golden China Grand Buffet in some online yellow pages, is a really great Chinese Buffet. It's one of the only Chinese Buffets that I've found in all of Corpus Christi. It's not the best I've ever eaten at, but how can anything compare to Asiana Grand Buffet in Asheville, NC? I'm a little spoiled and my expectations are high. Lunch is about $6 and dinner is $8.39. I've eaten there at dinner, and even later in the evening (i.e. 7 to 8pm) their buffet is well stocked and the food is fresh.

The best dish I had there was their Jalapeno Chicken. Like the Jalapeno Burger at Bubba's I wouldn't recommend it for the feint of heart. It really wasn't that hot, but if you don't like hot food, don't even try it.

I think the only drawback to Jin's is also a plus. They have sushi on their buffet, and so being able to eat all the sushi you want for so little is great. However, they have a limited selection, and for the price, I don't really think it's fair to expect much more than that. The sushi is good at any rate, and is comprised of vegetables or vegetables and imitation crab meat.

They also have American food, for those of you who must dine with picky eaters. Some of the American food I saw included pizza and fried chicken. Overall they had five buffet bars that also included a salad and desert bar.

Small Planet Delicatessen
3812 S Alameda St # 30, (361) 855-1892

Now for something completely different for those of you who would like to eat healthy and not clog your arteries with massive burgers and Chinese food, Small Planet is the place to go. Corpus Christi seems to have precious few health centered eating establishments, and this one is definitely a gem. It's a little more expensive than the other places, and they don't give you as much food, but honestly, if you're watching your waist line, this is definitely where you need to eat. They have all sorts of healthy sandwiches and salads that are very tasty. There is one caveat to the healthy fare, you'll have to resist the temptation of the trays of yummy looking deserts and cakes that are in their counter.

My favorite food, and primary reason for going there, is their Greek Gyro. It's one of the best gyros that I've ever eaten. It's about $7 and comes with a slice of pickle. The atmosphere is really nice too and has a very European feel. There are tables outside in a courtyard-like area, so you can eat outside and enjoy the beautiful south Texas weather.

Hunan Express
Corner of Airline and Holly

Hunan Express is a chain Chinese restaurant that I've seen in multiple locations around Corpus Christi, and I wouldn't have given this one a second thought, for one thing it looked like a hole in the wall, until I saw how many cars were in their parking lot for lunch. How crowded a place is can be a measure of how good their food is. On a hunch, I decided to try it. I was thrilled to see that they have Orange Chicken like Panda Express has, and since there are no Panda Expresses within two hundred miles of Corpus Christi, I was even happier. Their Orange Chicken is almost as good as Panda Express' and they give you a lot more food than Panda does. Their Sesame Chicken is good as well.

They have only a few booths at this particular location, so you can eat in, but I think most people get their orders to-go. It only cost about $5.00 for lunch (it's about $7.00 for dinner depending on what you order), and they give you so much food, that it's really enough for two people. Entrée orders come with your choice of steamed or fried rice. Also, the people who work there have been very nice every time I've been there.

Aka Sushi Japanese Cuisine
415 N Water St. (361) 882-8885

Aka is located in downtown Corpus Christi, and they have their own parking lot next to their building so you don't have to pay for parking or try to find a spot on the street. They are a little more expensive than the other places that I've listed so far, but lunch isn't all that expensive and their food is delicious. You can get a Chicken Bento Box lunch for less than $10. It comes with grilled chicken in a very tasty sauce, shrimp and vegetable tempura, white rice, four pieces of California Roll sushi and half a sliced orange. Not only is it delicious, but it is another healthy alternative to the usual bad-for-your-health fast food.

If you'd prefer just to have sushi, it is also reasonably priced, or as much so as sushi can be. You can get a Spicy Tuna Roll for under $5 if my memory serves me correctly. A single roll of Sushi is enough to satisfy my hunger for quite a while, so it's a cheap and healthy lunch.

Also, the people who work at Aka are very nice and while I was waiting for a to-go order, they told me I could sit at the counter, and asked me if I would like a glass of water. For eat in parties, the interior is very appealing and relaxing. I think that they may close in the afternoon, so you may want check their hours before you go. Overall it's a great place to pick up a to-go order for lunch, or to enjoy a romantic lunch with your significant other.