How to Eat Cheap in Stillwater, Oklahoma

Eating out on a budget in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is an easy thing to do. As a college town, local restaurant owners understand that their patrons are usually on tight budgets. Many of them offer excellent prices, great food and good service.

Instructions

1. Eat at Charlie’s Chicken, located on Stillwater’s main drag at 607 W. 6th Avenue. It is just blocks from the Oklahoma State University campus. As the name suggests, it is mostly chicken dishes and sides. Liver and gizzards, chunks of chicken and side dishes such as mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and fried okra are all available. To save the most money, order the cold chicken, made the day before or earlier that day (it is half-price). Call [phone] for hours of operations.

2. Visit Coney Island “on the strip,” just a few steps from the Oklahoma State University campus. The prices for their hot dogs are next to nothing, reminiscent of many years gone by. You can order your hot dog your way, but many of the coneys are perfect just the way they are. Choose from topping like chili, Swiss cheese, jalapenos and sauerkraut. Frito pies and burgers are also served, as well as the typical sides of tater tots and chips. You can even order a beer to go with your dog or burger. Visit 223 S. Washington and order a “Crawdaddy” or the “Heater.” Call [phone] for hours of operations or to have them cater your event.

3. Sample the food at Mom’s Kitchen. It will remind you of the food your mom actually cooked back in the day, if you had an old-fashioned southern cook for a mom. Breakfast is served all day. Order biscuits and gravy or Texas French toast. Salads are available for the health conscious, as well as double bacon cheeseburgers and cobbler a la mode for those who aren’t. “South of town” as Stillwater natives will tell you, Mom’s Kitchen is located at 2110 S. Main. Call [phone] for reservations for your business meeting or a special event that needs catering.

4. Eat at Panda Express. Egg rolls, shrimp and beef dinners are all available. All entries can become vegetarian if you prefer; they even have tofu pork. There are “Panda Specials” and items are marked to indicate if they are hot and spicy. Panda Express offers eat-in, carry out, drive-through service and a limited delivery area. Located at 1915 Boomer Rd., it is easy to find. Call [phone] for delivery or to call in your order for pick up.

5. Eat at Shortcakes Diner, a renovated boxcar that is now one of the busiest restaurants in town. The prices cannot be beat. Cheap doesn’t mean nasty food here. It isn’t fancy, just down-home cooking, but is good food at an excellent price. Any meal can be ordered at any time. From omelets to burgers and waffles to chili, just about any food is available here. A popular place for Oklahoma State students to study, particularly those earning their doctorates, this diner is a bustling little place to hang out. Patrons can watch the short order cooks make pancakes, French fries and burritos. Stop in at 219 N. Main to enjoy the food. Shortcakes Diner is open 24 hours per day.