Ali's 6 Favorite Cheap Taco Spots 6 Photos
Roll along with Ali's favorite stops for great tacos.
26 Meals Under $10 27 Photos
You can get a ton of ham for a Hamilton.
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The best bargains are sandwiched in between Kobe beef and the dollar menu.
Episodes
See Episode GuidePhilly Food Fight
Ali Khan is hunting for the best deals in Philadelphia for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack! Philly is known for serving up food with an attitude, and Ali starts with a local favorite, a scrapple, egg and cheese dip sandwich. Then he hunts down a Philly original, roast pork with provolone and spinach, for lunch. He satisfies his snack attack with dumplings filled with cheese steak, apple pie and cheesecake and, for dinner, grabs a unique twist on ramen at a happening joint in Fishtown.
A Buzz in Brooklyn
Ali Khan is in Brooklyn to find the best deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack! It may be a haven for hipsters and the well-heeled, but New York's biggest borough still has authentic neighborhood diners, like the one where Ali kicks things off with chocolate chip pumpkin pancakes. After that, it doesn't get any more Brooklyn than a fried eggplant parm sandwich, or any sweeter than a slice of chocolatey s'mores pie. Finally, Ali ends his day with a taste of the next big thing -- Filipino chicken adobo.
Hungry in New Haven
Ali Khan is looking for the best deals in New Haven, Conn., for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack! He starts his day with a creative culinary feast of French toast stuffed with creamy custard made with a 100-year-old recipe, and then he's off to the landmark birthplace of the hamburger for a truly old-school burger. After a sugar rush from winners of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, Ali settles in for a taste of the Old World with New Haven-style pizza, locally known as "apizza."
Throwin' Down in Beantown
Ali Khan is exploring Boston for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack deals. First up, he takes on a coffee-encrusted Bloody Mary burger for breakfast in Boston's financial district. Then he's off to Chinatown for a tasty and innovative twist on Chinese dumplings, and he migrates over to Little Italy for an Old World snack that dates back centuries. Ali caps off his day in Boston with a local favorite and a steal of deal, the lobstah roll.
Awesome in Asheville
Ali Khan is taking in the mountain views in Asheville, N.C., as he looks for the best local deals on breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He starts his day off big with a breakfast of fried chicken covered in sausage gravy, accompanied by Southern-sized sides. For lunch, he dives into the booming food truck scene and finds tasty Thai served up fresh on a homemade bao. After snacking on the best dessert in America -- a made-to-order maple bourbon doughnut -- Ali's day ends right with chopped Carolina pork doused in tangy, vinegar-based barbecue sauce.
Greenville Goodness
Ali Khan has 12 hours and only 35 bucks to find the best deals in Greenville, S.C., for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town boasts a quaint Main Street, hundreds of restaurants and a killer food scene. Ali starts his day off in true Southern fashion with a buttery "cathead" biscuit and country-fried pork, and then he makes his mark while getting his burger on ... au poivre-style! After he gets his chocolate fix with a light, creamy chocolate mousse, Ali wraps up his day with fresh, fusion tacos filled with a decadent duck mole and Bangkok shrimp.
Birmingham Magic
Ali Khan has 12 hours and 35 bucks to find the best deals in Birmingham, Ala., for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. For breakfast, he starts the day with hash brown baskets stuffed with Andouille sausage and eggs. Then he gets his home cookin' fix with bacon-wrapped meatloaf made with a lot of love. After snacking on a red velvet cheesecake brownie, Ali melts away with "Ragin' Cajun" blackened chicken with habanero Jack cheese. There's no doubt that Alabama's largest city is filled with diverse, award-winning eats, all served up with Southern hospitality and charm.
Sin City Eats
Ali Khan is on the hunt for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack deals in Las Vegas that won't break the bank. In a place famous for all things sinful, it's no surprise that there's a delectable and wildly diverse food scene as well. Ali goes all in on a wickedly good day of eating in the desert, starting with an Elvis-inspired king of a breakfast -- banana French toast bread pudding. Then it's tacos to die for as he tracks down a legendary chef whipping up handcrafted al pastor tacos. At snack time, Ali finds himself in the hands of an artisanal pastry chef whose treats might be too beautiful to eat. Finally, he ends his day with some award-winning pizza slices that rock.
Santa Barbara Bargains
Ali Khan is in Santa Barbara, Calif., looking for the best deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He has his work cut out for him trying to stay on budget in this swanky seaside city, and he gets off to a pricey start with a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich on a buttery brioche that's worth every penny. He makes up some ground with a killer deal on bacon-wrapped, fully loaded hot dogs, and then he snacks on a gluten-free and dairy-free Cowboy Cookie, a local favorite that fits Santa Barbara's health-conscious lifestyle. But a day at the beach isn't complete without fresh seafood, and Ali scarfs down two straight-out-of-the-sea crab cakes as the sun sets on a perfect California day.
San Diego Surf 'n' Turf
Ali Khan is looking for the best deals in San Diego for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He starts off strong with Brazilian-style hash browns stuffed with eggs, cheese and garlic. Then he masks up like a Mexican wrestler for a discount on a loaded surf-and-turf Cali burrito. Later he gets the ride of his life and the sweetest doughnut ever -- the stuffed "Big Poppa." Finally, he hits the beach for a taste of Hawaii with some finger lickin' short ribs. With its diverse and delicious food scene, Ali gets a trip around the world right in sunny San Diego!
Authentic in Athens
Ali Khan is in one of the coolest college towns in the country, Athens, Ga., to find the best breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack deals. For breakfast, he grabs sweet and sticky Georgia peach French toast. Then he rolls across town for a delicious bowl of authentic Mexican posole, and the hits keep coming with a scrumptious snack that's part doughnut and part biscuit. Ali wraps up the day with a visit to hometown band R.E.M's favorite fried chicken shack -- that's automatic for the people.
ATL Eats
Ali Khan has just one day to find Atlanta's best deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack! Atlanta is a large, cosmopolitan city with a diverse food scene, which Ali discovers as he starts his day with a crazy, innovative breakfast -- French toast tacos. He chows down on perhaps the best grilled cheese in America for lunch and then cleanses his palate with a blueberry cobbler ice pop. Everyone's heard of a sloppy joe, but Ali ends his day with a Sloppy Jai -- a slightly Americanized version of classic Indian street food. No matter where you roam or what cuisine you choose, ATL always brings the flavor.
Hungry in the Jax
Ali Khan is hunting for the best deals in Jacksonville, Fla., for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He kicks off his culinary escapades with a chef-driven dish of chorizo corn cakes with vegan queso and spicy guajillo chile sauce. For lunch, he bellies up to a food truck serving some of the best smoked meats in town. After a chocolaty take on baklava from a friendly Greek grandma, Ali hits up a Jacksonville institution for an old-fashioned jumbo chicken pot pie.
Sweet Deals Down South
Ali Khan has only 35 bucks to find the best deals in Savannah, Ga., for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack! He starts his day with a classic Southern haystack piled high with cheesy grits, hash browns and salsa. Lunch gets explosive at Betty Bombers with the juicy and spicy Fire in the Hole burger. At snack time, Ali smoothes things over with a scrumptiously sweet red velvet whoopie pie, and he dives in for a taste of the sea with a low country boil that might be one of his best dinner deals yet.
Queen City Cravings
Ali Khan is out to find the best breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack deals in Charlotte, N.C. Good things take time, so Ali starts his day with the sweet and satisfying "slowberry" cobbler waffle. Then he slides over to a food truck that's serving up mouthwatering sliders that are too good to try only one. He finds an elegant snack in a decadent French Pot Du Creme, and cultures collide as Ali closes his day with ramen gumbo that's packed with a fusion of flavor.
Savory San Antonio
Ali Khan is in San Antonio, Texas, looking for deals on breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He starts with a stack of what are quite possibly the world's best pancakes, piled high with delectable bananas Foster. Then he gets his deli fix with a meat-filled mega sandwich. After scoring a San Antonio two-fer -- a kolache filled with mouthwatering barbacoa -- Ali finishes strong with a smoky plate of barbecue baby back ribs.
Hot Deals in the Desert
Ali Khan is on a mission to find the best deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack in Scottsdale, Ariz., a city known for high-end resorts. He starts out strong with a double serving of Southern barbecue scones piled high with savory pulled pork. Then he tracks down a cottage pie just like the ones found on the streets of Sydney, Australia. As the afternoon heats up, Ali cools off with a homemade cookie ice cream sandwich that brings out the kid in him, and he lands a pizza deal for dinner that delivers big flavor with a small price tag.
Filling Up in Florida
Ali Khan is scouring St. Petersburg, Fla., for the best deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He starts the day strong with a Chopped champion's hearty French crepe with an American twist and then keeps things rolling at a Brooklyn-style deli serving a mouthwatering braised pork sandwich. A berry-licious white chocolate cheesecake satisfies Ali's sweet tooth before he brings it on home with a rich and creamy duck confit quesadilla.
Killer Eats in KC
Ali Khan is in Kansas City, Mo., looking for the best deals on breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He kicks things off with an innovative breakfast flatbread topped with gravy, scrambled eggs and cheddar. Then, he tries a spin on the classic Vietnamese banh mi sandwich that's full of juicy pork, and he snacks on the perfect kind of twister, the Donado -- a doughnut cone overflowing with soft serve ice cream. Ali polishes off a perfect day of eating with some meat-on-meat action in the form of a burger piled high with succulent KC burnt ends.
Noshin' in Nawlins
Ali Khan is hitting the streets of New Orleans to find the best deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He starts strong at breakfast with a classic Crescent City dish with a twist, crawfish etouffee over grits. Then he changes it up with a juicy chicken doner kebab sandwich for lunch. Two flavors of gelato soothe Ali's sweet tooth, and he rounds out the day at a Nawlins staple for a rich and tender fried shrimp dinner.
Rockin' Deals in Memphis
Ali Khan is tracking down the best deals in Memphis for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He powers up for the day with a protein waffle loaded with house-smoked pork, sausage and caramelized onions. Then he heads over to a gourmet cafeteria for a turkey, chicken and duck sandwich and snacks on the trifecta of ooey-gooey butter cookies. Finally, Ali wraps up his food tour with a steal of a deal: a spicy and sweet coconut Panang curry that packs a powerful punch.
Mealin' and Dealin' in Michigan
Ali Khan is hunting down the best deals in Ann Arbor, Mich., for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He chows down in this happening college town, starting with a heaping helping of deep-fried French toast covered in berries and whipped cream. Then, Ali gets reeled in by a great deal on blackened mackerel with a Thai chili glaze at a super fresh seafood market. He gets his sweet snack fix thanks to a flaky Hungarian pastry with a sweet apple filling and ends his day with elevated Cuban street food and a piled high "loco" Frita burger.
Big D Delights
Ali Khan is tracking down the best deals in Dallas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. He comes in hot with a sweet and savory Monte Cristo doughnut and then checks out the The Big D's BBQ scene for some succulent burnt ends with a slide of blue cheese slaw. Snack time gets dreamy with a slice of creamy Cloud Nine pie, and finally Ali is blown away by authentic, hand-pulled dan dan noodles.
Eatin' OK in the OKC
Ali Khan is tracking down the best deals in Oklahoma City, Okla., for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. Typically known for its rugged Western roots, OKC has a food scene that's surprisingly multi-cultural. Ali's day of deliciousness starts with tiramisu pancakes, and his international culinary journey continues with an authentic, crispy Cuban sandwich. He gets fancy as he snacks on three flavorful French macarons, and then he finishes strong with a hearty Korean beef bowl that's sure to get taste buds tingling.
Boulder
Ali Khan hits the ground running in Boulder at a diner with pancakes so manly, only a chef who moonlights as a strong man could make them. Then he seeks out some of the most authentic Chinese noodles found on the West Coast and finishes his day at a Boulder staple with a soulfully-crafted shrimp po' boy, accompanied by one of the best views in the city.
More Than You Bargained For
Ali's 5 Favorite Cheap Burgers
Most of Ali's free time is spent uncovering the best burgers for your hard-earned buck.
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