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Category: Food

Source (paste in the admin "Source" box): Restaurant menus and online ordering pages; Google Maps reviews

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Eating out keeps getting more expensive, but Columbus still has plenty of great meals that cost less than $15. We checked each restaurant's own menu or online ordering page this week and picked meals from highly rated local spots that come in under that line.

Prices are before tax and tip, and drinks aren't included unless we say so. Menus change, so expect a little difference at the register.

1. World Famous Hot Dogs: scrambled dog, $4.40

2616 Hamilton Road

The scrambled dog is Columbus's signature dish: a hot dog chopped up, buried in chili and eaten with a spoon. At World Famous Hot Dogs it's $4.40. Add chips (65 cents) and an iced tea (79 cents), and lunch comes to under $6. Google reviewers give it 4.8 stars (366 reviews), and diners report spending $1 to $10 per person.

2. Dinglewood Pharmacy: scrambled dog, $5.50

1939 Wynnton Road

Lunch at a drugstore? In Columbus, yes. The soda-fountain lunch counter inside Dinglewood Pharmacy calls its scrambled dog "a local favorite and our specialty." It's $5.50 on the posted menu, and a hamburger is $4.50.

3. Plucked Up: chicken biscuit, $5.79

1208 First Ave.

The Plucked Up is a biscuit with fried chicken and pineapple marmalade, for $5.79. If you're hungrier, the chicken tender platter comes with a biscuit, a side and dipping sauce for $10.99. It's rated 4.6 stars from 1,673 reviews.

4. Frank's Alley: Chicago dog and fries, $11.45

1246 Broadway

This Uptown hot dog stand serves quarter-pound all-beef hot dogs, named for cities, on Martin's potato rolls. The Chicago Dog ($7.95) plus fries ($3.50) is $11.45. Frank's Alley also makes its own Scrambled Dog for $11.95, with house chili, slaw, fried onions and oyster crackers on the side. 4.8 stars, 469 reviews.

5. Kickin Bites: smash burger and fries, $13.90

3150 Macon Road (Midtown Shopping Center)

Kickin Bites is tied for the highest rating on our list: 4.9 stars from 822 reviews. The Solo Smash Burger is $9.95, and crinkle-cut fries are $3.95, so the pair comes to $13.90. Or get six wings for $6.95.

6. Taco El Paisa: three tacos with rice, $10

1649 Elvan Ave.

Taco El Paisa's posted menu has tacos starting at $3.50. Its No. 2 special, three soft or hard tacos with rice, is $10. 4.3 stars, 884 reviews.

7. Angry Wings & Things: Korean fried wings and rice, $10.90

Banks Food Hall, 1002 Bay Ave.

This Korean fried chicken stall in Banks Food Hall sells six wings with your choice of sauce for $8.95. Add white rice or kimchi ($1.95 each) for a $10.90 meal. Or try the ddukbokki, rice cakes and fish cakes in a spicy house sauce, for $8.95. 4.9 stars, 203 reviews.

8. Simple Gyro: NY-style big gyro, $11.49

6550 Whittlesey Blvd., Suite 106

Simple Gyro makes New York street-cart food. The NY Style Big Gyro is $11.49, and chicken over rice is $14.50. 4.8 stars from 1,245 reviews.

9. Minnie's Uptown Restaurant: meat and two sides, $12.99

104 Eighth St.

Minnie's is an Uptown soul food standby, where a plate with one meat and two sides is $12.99. Want a third side? That's $14.99, still under the line. 4.5 stars, 1,254 reviews.

10. Rosehill Seafood: fried shrimp dinner, $13.99

2621 Hamilton Road

Rosehill's half order of fried shrimp is $13.99 as a full dinner, with fries or a baked potato, slaw, tartar sauce and hush puppies. Fried or broiled mullet, an old-school Southern favorite, is the same price for a half order. 4.4 stars from 2,033 reviews.

Who did we miss? Tell us your favorite cheap eat in Columbus at columbustimes.com/contact. We may add it to a future list.

More on where to eat: our lists of the 10 highest-rated restaurants, the best barbecue and the best soul food in Columbus.