Least expensive fast casual restaurant for family dinner

[Anonymous]

Just cook dinner at home. It's so easy to throw some meat in a slow cooker at 7am or earlier, set it to low for 8-10hrs, and steam a bag of frozen veg. Serve with some slices bread or rice made in a rice cooker if you want carbs..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Peruvian chicken. Buy enough for leftovers.

This

Agree

[Anonymous]

Agree with downloading the apps.

Popeyes is contantly sending me specials right now - right now it's 3 piece tender for $5, which is a good buy. They've also got a 6 piece tender with two sides (but no drinks) for $12.99.

My kid looooved noodles and company when he was smaller, and they also have good deals in the app. Or I'd get him an entree, and add on a soup for $1, which was enough to tide me over to get home.

We did fast casual when we were running from school pickup to an activity. So there might not be time for a slow cooker meal or even being home at all.

One of my friend during those years would pack a cooler in her car with drinks and some snacks. So you could get a cheaper whatever, entree only, and have juice boxes or water ready to go.

For me, to make it cheaper, my thing was always to figure out would could be cheap for the kid, and give me a little something extra to just hold me off. I was never organized with a cooler in the car - but if I had been i could have put in cheese, or a peanut butter sandwich or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just cook dinner at home. It's so easy to throw some meat in a slow cooker at 7am or earlier, set it to low for 8-10hrs, and steam a bag of frozen veg. Serve with some slices bread or rice made in a rice cooker if you want carbs..

Because not everyone can or wants to cook from home for every single meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peruvian chicken. Buy enough for leftovers.

Gross!

[Anonymous]

Chipotle kids meal is $6 for a taco or quesadilla, three sides, chips and a drink. Good portion for adults too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chipotle. A bowl is 2 servings, so you can either split one or make two last two nights. They're as heathy as you make them - load with cheese, sour cream, and high sodium beef = not healthy. Stick with lots of veggies, beans, and guac = the best you're going to get for filling and healthy fast casual. Going with veggie/beans only means means free guac and is cheaper. It'll be ~$11 for one bowl. You can add chips or tortillas on the side if you want to stretch further.

+1 on Chipotle.

[Anonymous]

What is gross about Peruvian chicken, exactly? Genuinely curious if there's something I should understand that I don't.

[Anonymous]

Oh- also taking advantge of kids meals. The kid meal at Chipotle is pretty good. I'd go in and order two kids meals.

Or there aren't as many of these around anymore but Qdoba had some good deals - the kids nachos is the perfect size.

You could also dearch this on instagram. I see reels of people suggesting what to order and how to mix things to maximize what you get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just cook dinner at home. It's so easy to throw some meat in a slow cooker at 7am or earlier, set it to low for 8-10hrs, and steam a bag of frozen veg. Serve with some slices bread or rice made in a rice cooker if you want carbs..

There's always someone who refuses to answer the question.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thank you for these ideas! We both love Chipotle, and I love Cava but my kid really does not. And feeding her is 99% of the point. So unfortunately that's a no go. Same with Seoul Spice. I love it. She does not.

[Anonymous]

Order two chinese/thai/indian/whatever lunch specials at lunch time and save for dinner that night. Usually lunch speciL includes rice/eggroll/naan whatever sides appropriate but dinner does not

[Anonymous]

My kids loved a rotisserie chicken, sliced baguette and green beans from home. Their favorite takeout meal until they were teenagers. You can pickup the chicken and baguette at BJs for $10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just cook dinner at home. It's so easy to throw some meat in a slow cooker at 7am or earlier, set it to low for 8-10hrs, and steam a bag of frozen veg. Serve with some slices bread or rice made in a rice cooker if you want carbs..

This works if you're home at dinner time, but often I'm not. As someone who often goes from work, to activities, or other commitments, and who doesn't work some place where they can refrigerate food or heat it up, it doesn't work.

-- not OP

[Anonymous]

Banh mis, papusas, grocery store chicken