Cheap Dinner Under $15 in Naperville
Dinner out doesn't have to clear twenty bucks. Here are ten real Naperville meals under $15, every price read off a public menu today.
By Naperville Guide · Published October 3, 2026
Part of our permanent Naperville cheap eats guide, refreshed monthly with the newest verified deals.
Our lunch-under-$10 list got a lot of questions about dinner, so we did the same thing for the evening: no invented specials, no "about $12" guesses. Every item below was verified against a restaurant menu or delivery listing on October 3, 2026. Prices move, and delivery apps run higher than the counter, so walk in when you can — but each of these sat comfortably under fifteen dollars when we checked.
Burgers that don't need a loan
1. That Burger — That Burger Joint, $6.79–$8.79
The straightforward pick on 95th Street: 100% Angus beef with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and TBJ sauce, sharing a roof with Oberweis. The single comes in at the low end; even the larger size stays under nine bucks before fries.
2. Bacon & Cheddar Burger — That Burger Joint, $10.99
Same counter, one step up: bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and TBJ sauce for $10.99. Add regular fries and a drink for $4.79 if you want the full tray and you're still right at the line.
3. Cheeseburger — Portillo's, $9.49
Portillo's char-broiled cheeseburger is listed at $9.49 on the Naperville DoorDash menu, and the counter price is typically the same or less. It's a third-pound patty with the full Chicago treatment — reliable, fast, and easy to keep under $15 even with fries.
Italian beef, two ways
4. Italian Beef Sandwich — Portillo's, $10.74
The sandwich Portillo's is known for, listed at $10.74 in Naperville. Slow-roasted beef in its own gravy on Turano bread; peppers cost extra, so skip them if you're watching the total, or don't — you're still under fifteen.
5. Buona Italian Beef — Buona, $11.24
Buona's signature is $11.24 on the Naperville menu: thin-sliced, slow-roasted beef served in its natural juices. The shop notes you can make any sandwich a meal for $5 more, so the sandwich alone is the budget play here.
Mexican and bowls — the value center
6. Chicken Burrito — El Famous Burrito, $8.39
Beans, cheese, lettuce, and tomato with grilled chicken for $8.39 on the Route 59 menu. The Mini Burrito is $7.79 if you want the same fillings in a smaller wrap. This is the cheapest full dinner on the list.
7. Taco Dinner — El Famous Burrito, $10.95
Listed as the 2/3 Taco Dinner at $10.95 — chicken, steak, pork, or beef, with tortillas on the side. More of a sit-down plate than a grab-and-go burrito, and still under eleven dollars.
8. Burrito Bowl — Chipotle, $12.35
Downtown Chipotle lists the burrito bowl at $12.35: your choice of meat or sofritas with rice, beans or fajita veggies, and toppings. Skip the guac upcharge and you're comfortably under $15; this is the freshest-tasting option in the group.
Comfort food and sandwiches
9. Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese — Noodles & Company, $7.50
The DoorDash menu for Naperville lists Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese starting at $7.50, with Pad Thai at $8.10 and Buttery Parmesan Noodles at $7.20. For a hot, sit-down dinner under eight dollars, this is hard to beat.
10. Plate — Panda Express, $12.75 (Bowl $10.35)
One side and two entrees for $12.75, or one side and one entree for $10.35 in the Bowl. Orange Chicken and Broccoli Beef are the usual moves. It's fast, it's consistent, and the Ogden Avenue location keeps dinner under the line without thinking about it.
Bonus: Turkey Tom — Jimmy John's, $9.69
The #4 Turkey Tom — turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on fresh-baked bread — is $9.69 at the Gartner Road Jimmy John's. Not a hot dinner, but on a busy weeknight it's dinner, and it's under ten bucks.
How to keep dinner under $15
- Order the sandwich, not the meal. Buona and Portillo's both upsell fries and a drink for about $5 — fine if you want it, but the sandwich alone is the deal.
- Walk in. Delivery apps add markup. The Chipotle bowl is $12.35 on a menu-price site and higher through delivery in our checks.
- Route 59 and Ogden are value corridors. El Famous, Portillo's, Panda Express, and Buona all sit on high-traffic roads with counter-service prices.
- Pair it with a free evening. A cheap downtown dinner plus a walk on the Naperville Riverwalk is still one of the best nights out in town.
For the midday version of this list, see our 10 Best Lunch Deals Under $10 in Naperville. If you're planning the weekend around dinner, check the Naperville events page for what's on after you eat.
FAQ
Where can I get dinner under $15 in Naperville?
That Burger Joint (burgers $6.79–$10.99), El Famous Burrito (chicken burrito $8.39), Portillo's (cheeseburger $9.49, Italian beef $10.74), Buona (Italian beef $11.24), Chipotle (bowl $12.35), Noodles & Company (mac & cheese $7.50), Panda Express (plate $12.75), and Jimmy John's (Turkey Tom $9.69) all have verified dinner items under $15.
What's the cheapest dinner in Naperville?
By menu price, That Burger Joint's That Burger at $6.79–$8.79 and Noodles & Company's Buttery Parmesan Noodles at $7.20 are the cheapest full dinners we verified on October 3, 2026.
Are these prices current?
All prices were read from public menus and listings on October 3, 2026. Restaurants change prices — confirm at the counter or on the restaurant's own ordering page before you go.
Do delivery apps charge more?
Yes, generally. Several items on this list showed higher prices on DoorDash and Uber Eats than on menu-price listings. Ordering at the counter keeps you under the $15 line most reliably.
Sources & verification. Details verified October 3, 2026 against organizer listings; hours and prices change — confirm before heading out. Menus read: That Burger Joint (Tripadvisor), Portillo's Naperville (DoorDash), Buona Naperville (DoorDash), Panda Express Naperville (DoorDash), Chipotle 22 E Chicago Ave (MenusWithPrice), El Famous Burrito Naperville (MenuCollectors), Noodles & Company Naperville (DoorDash), Jimmy John's 8 W Gartner Rd (MenuWithPrice). Full source list saved in the Guide's research files.