We’re still hot on the trail of the vanishing $10 lunch. In today’s world of overpriced bites and shrinking portions, can a hungry Wacoan still score a filling, flavorful meal for a single Hamilton? Go grab your briefcase (and your appetite) because part two of our investigation is officially underway.
First Suspect: Hecho en Waco
300 S. 6th Street (Silo District)
This family-run hotspot dishes out authentic Interior Mexican cuisine just steps from the bustling Magnolia crowds. Serving dinner all day, everyday, weekday lunches and weekend brunch, Hecho en Waco is always ready to feed the city it was made for. The Orozco family keeps the doors open and the tortillas fresh, but the question remains: could they still be hiding a $10 gem?
The evidence was clear. Their lunch menu is packed with five full-size salads — all ringing in at exactly $10. From the Victoria Salad (chicken fajita, chile con queso, avocado) to the Hecho En Casa Salad (charro beans, avocado, queso fresco) the options are solid. The Taco Salad, Fajita Salad and Cottage Salad round out the lineup, making it clear that healthy doesn’t have to mean pricey ‘round these parts.
But here’s the real smoking gun: the Lunch Enchiladas. Two adobo or D.F. enchiladas stuffed with your choice of beef, chicken or cheese and served alongside rice and black beans all for just $10 flat. Comforting, filling and downright suspicious in its generosity. And the kicker? During lunch, your iced tea comes FREE with unlimited refills, the detail that keeps the seats full and the lunch rush satisfied.
Verdict: Hecho remains firmly on the suspect list.
Photo Credit: Debbie Wright
Next Suspect: Kitok Restaurant
1815 N. 18th Street
This spot has been holding it down since 1975 and the humble diner has grown into a true Waco institution, blending American comfort food with Korean flavors. More than just a meal, Kitok is a living slice of Waco history. Kitok Restaurant is best known for its legendary combo: the Lip Locker Burger with cheese paired with their signature Oriental Fries, a creation born right in their own kitchen.
Upon opening the case file, we immediately homed in on their sides: fries for $3.42, onion rings for $3.73 and the Oriental Fries — a crunchy, battered mix of potatoes, carrots, onions, and parsley — for just $4.15.
But the real clues came from the burger section:
- Hamburger: $6.02 or Cheeseburger: $6.54
- Egg Burger (with cheese & fried egg): $7.27
- Lip Locker Burger: priced just right at $8.10
Add fries, and you’re still cruising close to the $10 threshold. A case of quantity and nostalgia, with just enough room in the budget for comfort and justice.
Photo Credit: Debbie Wright
Time to Take on the Big One – George’s!
1925 Speight Ave. | 1201 Hewitt Drive
That’s right, we finally tackled the Big O’ himself! George’s is too much of a Waco staple to slip past us, and we honestly don’t know how they thought they could. One glance at their menu and it’s clear they were daring us, those Daily Lunch Specials for just $8.25 practically shouted our name.
Served on weekdays from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., these rotating plates are comfort food done right: fried or roasted chicken with au gratin potatoes, pulled pork with baked beans, enchiladas with Spanish rice, beef tips with noodles and, of course, the Friday tradition of fried catfish with all the Southern fixings. Generous portions, homestyle flavors and a price that feels almost old-school? George’s proves once again why it’s earned legendary lunch status in Waco.
The evidence is conclusive: Waco’s $10 lunch isn’t extinct, it’s alive and thriving at local restaurants that run deeper into the city’s culture than we could have expected. From the enchiladas at Hecho to the Oriental Fries at Kitok to the daily lunch specials at George’s, the budget bite is hiding in plain sight.
But our work isn’t done. We’re still hot on the trail, determined to uncover every last clue in Waco’s lunch scene. Stay tuned for case updates, this investigation remains wide open for business.
Photo Credit: George’s
