Around a year ago, a local institution, Caruso’s Grocery, was victim to an electrical fire. The building was a total loss.
The loss hurt. For many, it was a part of their regular routine, providing a hearty meal for a relatively cheap price. I had just discovered it a week or two before the fire, and for less than $10, I easily got a pound and a half of food.
It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t gourmet, but it was nice to get something that at least resembled home cooking for a price my fast-food worker budget could handle.
But then the building disappeared, and now few traces of it remain, even digitally.
Often, when discussing places to eat at with my friends, we end up venturing to some new trendy place to get a $15 burger and some “shareables” or just caving to how overwhelmed we are and falling back on the old reliables.
However, those old reliables are becoming less viable as post-COVID corporate price gouging has overtaken the market. Cane’s has halved in size and almost doubled in price, and that goes for most of the fast-food market here.
The poor public transportation network and underdeveloped infrastructure creates a disconnect between the campus community and downtown and northern Baton Rouge. This funnels most campus business to new developments south of campus, which is also where a significant portion of student housing is located.
These new fast-casual spots, while often tasty, are frequently expensive relative to the amount of food you receive. At most places, you’ll be spending at least $15 for a single meal, a poor cost proposition for a college student.
However, because most of the long-time community institutions lie out of easily accessible reach of campus, students unfamiliar with the area easily miss them whilst in the city. Frequent bouts of pocketbook anxiety have led me to a few steady favorites.
My number one mainstay has been the Save More Market, just a short four blocks from the northwestern campus entrance. For a dollar or two more than a Big Mac, you can get a po-boy that easily makes for two meals.
The roast beef is usually my go to. It’s tender, with a very flavorful marinade that almost makes the beef taste like steak. The red beans and rice are a good value as well. The large is $5, and it is larger than the equivalent size at Popeyes, which goes for a dollar more.
If you venture a bit farther, there are a number of excellent and affordable dining options that you may not see in the 225. A favorite of mine is Taqueria Acapulco, a quaint lime green food truck parked in front of Los Pinedas, a local Latin market.
The birria tacos are the highlight of the menu. Incredibly juicy, loaded with cheese and again a portion size that provides for two meals if necessary. Be aware that the truck only accepts cash payments, however.
Of course, no discussion of cheap eats in Baton Rouge can go without mention of the Chicken Shack. Open since 1935, it’s the oldest restaurant in Baton Rouge and has maintained its presence in the highly competitive market by staying true to its original recipe while keeping prices low. While a Caniac Combo, with six tenders, costs about $16, a 10-piece from Chicken Shack costs $13, around half the price per tender.
It’s an authentic, classic soul food plate with the most important ingredients: the genuine love and passion of a small local business.
If I were to list every excellent budget food option in Baton Rouge, this article would have no end. That’s just it: the options are vast if you’re willing to explore the rougher roads of the city.
Every newly-paved highway I turn down in Baton Rouge has a new swath of trendy fast-casual restaurants popping up. My feed is chock-full of social media influencers pushing this new chain and that, with foods that all look carefully manicured to meet a certain aesthetic.
These local options stand in the face of that. Their food may not always look consistently perfect, but you will never leave feeling cheated out of your money.
Instead of shelling out a quarter of your paycheck for an overpriced burrito or some soggy chicken, take a turn down the road with a handful of potholes. It’s worth it, both fiscally and culinarily, to make the journey to Baton Rouge’s hidden gems.
Gordon Crawford is a 20-year-old political science major from Gonzales, La.
