Reading Time: 11 minutes 11 Cheap Restaurants for a Group: From A Large Family!
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Eating out at restaurants is expensive, but it is a nice chance to spend time with family, friends or co-workers. We are a family of five. We have a large family on both sides. There are so many cousins, aunts, and uncles in our family. It makes it expensive to eat as a group.
Getting together for dinner can be costly. So we put together this list of cheap restaurants for a group.
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Challenges With Finding Cheap Restaurants For a Group
Whether you want to grab lunch with friends, have a family get-together, or have a celebration supper, choosing the proper restaurant for the occasion is important.
Finding a restaurant that can host your entire group, has a variety of cuisines that everyone will like, and has an inviting ambiance is always everyone’s top priority. However, finding a restaurant that checks all your boxes might be challenging.
Whatever your dining needs, from a place to gather for a casual meal to a place to impress important clients, we can help.
Best Affordable Restaurants for Groups Criteria
There are a lot of restaurants that have a variety of food at affordable prices where you can dine as a group. This list covers several good restaurants in multiple locations.
The criteria we used to create this list of cheap restaurants for a group is:
- We have eaten there in a large group!
- It is available throughout most parts of the country.
- Has a separate dining room to accommodate large groups (or they have the space to give you your corner)
- A variety of menu options to accommodate different dietary preferences
- A range of prices to allow for different budget restrictions
- Drink menus and options
The Best Cheap Restaurants For a Group
Here is a list of the best places to eat as a group without breaking the bank.
- Chuck E Cheese
- Olive Garden
- Red Lobster
- Famous Dave’s
- Denny’s
- Cheddar’s
- P.F. Chang’s
- Chuy’s
- International House Of Pancakes (IHOP)
- El Maguey Mexican Restaurant
- Bar Louie
Chuck E. Cheese (Best for Kids)
People often think of Chuck E. Cheese when they think of family dining. It is a chain of restaurants known for its arcade games and other fun ways to keep kids busy. Even though it’s mostly for families with young children, it’s also an excellent choice for bigger groups.
Here are a few reasons why Chuck E. Cheese is a top choice for group dining, especially with kids.
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Variety of Food Options
On Chuck E. Cheese’s long list of food options, you can find pizza, wings, salads, sandwiches, and desserts, among other things. This will let you meet the tastes and needs of everyone, no matter what they eat.
Entertaining Atmosphere
The restaurant’s decor and music are meant to make people all ages feel good and laugh.
For families, parents can talk and relax while their kids play arcade games and earn tickets, which they can use to buy prizes.
Private Dining
Chuck E. Cheese has private party rooms that guests can rent in advance. These rooms are great for hosting larger groups and provide privacy for your group.
Affordable Prices
The prices at the restaurant are fair, which is a major plus point if you want to eat there with a large group. You could save even more money by taking advantage of Chuck E Cheese Coupons and Discounts.
Olive Garden (Complementary Options)
Olive Garden, a well-known chain restaurant that specializes in casual Italian food, is a great choice for large groups for a few reasons:
Wide Range of Options
Olive Garden has many menu options, including pasta dishes, salads, soups, and desserts. There are also meals for vegetarians and people who don’t eat gluten. This lets them cater to a wide range of dietary needs and tastes.
Family Friendly Dining
Having dinner together is a great way to try new foods and get to know each other better. Family-style dining at Olive Garden involves ordering one or more big meals. You can rest assured there will be enough for everyone to share.
Warm Ambience
The restaurant’s cozy booths and soft lighting make it a great place for a large group to hang out and relax. Your group can also take aesthetically-pleasing pictures in dim lighting.
Affordable Prices
The prices at Olive Garden are fair, and the restaurant often offers discounts that can bring down the cost of a meal for a group. Olive Garden is an excellent choice for a group dinner that won’t break the bank.
With meal combination options starting at just $12 per person, feeding a large group at Olive Garden is easy. In addition to unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, they now offer lunch-sized portions for larger groups who want to save money.
If you want to feed a group of people without spending a lot, Olive Garden has a “family-style bundle option that can serve 4-12 people. The group costs for the “family-bundle options” ranges from $24-$100, depending on what you order.
Red Lobster (Seafood Special)
Red Lobster is one of the best places to eat delicious seafood at budget-friendly prices. It is a top choice for group and family-style dining. Here are a few reasons to pick Red Lobster.
Wide Menu of Seafood Options
Red Lobster offers meals with lobster, shrimp, crab, fish, and other seafood to satisfy everyone’s seafood cravings. Steak, chicken, and spaghetti are just some of the options that need to be more seafood.
Family Size Portions
Red Lobster’s most popular meals come in family-sized portions, which makes it easy to try a wide range of food as a group.
Budget-Friendly Prices
Red Lobster is a great place to go for group and family dining. With their special deals, you can get up to 15 dishes for less than $20, or choose three seafood choices for only $15.99.
Whether you are looking for a casual lunch with friends or a special dinner with your family, Red Lobster has something that everyone will enjoy.
Red Lobster’s prices are great, and they often have deals that could help make group meals cheaper.
Famous Dave’s (Gluten-Free Options)
If you’re looking for a group dining-friendly restaurant for BBQ lovers or even just a place for first dates, then Famous Dave’s has you covered. Here are a few reasons why Famous Dave’s stands out as a group dining choice.
Large Group Accommodation
Famous Dave is popular for its BBQ and ability to accommodate large groups of diners. Depending on the location, they may have the option of private dining or outdoor sitting areas. Making reservations ahead of time is advisable, so you know which of these options are available.
Wide Menu Options
Famous Dave’s menu has a lot of different food choices to pick from, like barbecue platters, sandwiches, salads, and more. There are also menu options that come with group servings and are suitable for group dinners.
Dietary Considerations
You don’t have to worry about your food restrictions at Famous Dave’s because the restaurant has a flexible menu. The menu items cover your dietary needs, from gluten-free options to low-fat, vegetarian meals and other dishes.
Denny’s (For Breakfast)
Denny’s is quite famous for offering breakfast meals all day. It also has a conducive environment that can comfortably accommodate family-size dining. Denny’s is a classic group breakfast choice for some of these reasons.
We went to Denny’s for a Christmas Eve breakfast. They were a perfect cheap restaurant for a group, even on a busy holiday. There were more than ten of us, and thanks to Denny’s specials, it was surprisingly cheap.
Wide Seating Capacity
Big enough to fit any size party, Denny’s tables can seat many people. Because of this, it’s an excellent option for breakfast get-togethers with friends or family.
Variety of Breakfast Options
Denny’s breakfast menu has something for everyone, from pancakes and omelets to creative takes on the genre like the “Grand Slamwich”, “Denny’s $2$4$6$8 menu,” and the “Build Your Own Jr. Grand Slam.” This makes sure that everyone in the group will be able to find something they like.
All-Day Breakfast
Denny’s breakfast menu is available all day, so your group could still enjoy breakfast favorites even if you all got a late start.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is an excellent option for large groups looking for an affordable meal. With locations all over the United States, Cheddar’s has become a popular spot for friends and family to gather and enjoy delicious food without breaking the bank.
The menu features classic American dishes like chicken tenders, ribs, burgers, sandwiches, and salads made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Prices range from $7-$15 per entree, and plenty of options exist.
Cheddar’s complete menu offers a variety of combo meals that make it easy to feed a large group at an affordable price.
P.F. Chang’s
P.F. Chang’s is one of the best and most budget-friendly Chinese restaurants in America, with great dine-in options, group reservations and a wide selection of dishes.
Prices range from $10 – $30, making it an excellent choice for any size group. The authentic interior design adds to the atmosphere and makes it an ideal spot to enjoy delicious, high-quality meals at an affordable price.
With online reservations available, planning the perfect Chinese feast for friends, family, or colleagues for any occasion is easy.
Chuy’s Tex-Mex
Chuy’s Tex-Mex is a great value option for diners who want to share a meal with family, friends, or colleagues. The menu offers a variety of flavors from across the U.S., including Tex-Mex, New Mexican, and Deep South Texas cuisines.
Chuy’s Tex-Mex’sPrices are affordable, with many meals costing under $10. On weekdays there is a $5 happy hour for house margaritas, plus a complimentary buffet that includes chips, taco meat, and salsa.
For larger parties, booking in advance by contacting the manager directly or using Yelp’s waitlist system if you’re visiting on busy days/ times is best. Despite this, reservations are usually not needed due to the restaurant’s large seating capacity.
International House Of Pancakes (aka IHOP)
While we prefer Denny’s, IHOP is a great place to go for a cheap meal in a group. The Steak Burgers & Chicken Sandwiches Family Feast is the perfect option for four people, costing only $29.99. That’s less than $10 per person!
IHOP is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a cheap restaurant to take your group out for a meal. With locations all around the country, IHOP offers great value and delicious food.
Their menu has something for everyone, with breakfast classics like pancakes and omelets and lunch and dinner items like burgers and sandwiches. Prices are very reasonable, with most meals costing less than $10.
They also offer special deals like IHOPPY Hour specials every day starting at 3 p.m., where customers can enjoy discounts on popular menu items. Additionally, they often have coupons that save you even more money when dining at IHOP.
IHOP also has deals on coffee! You can get complimentary coffee with the purchase of Very Berry Pancakes, or you can find coupons and specials for discounts on coffee and other beverages.
Customers can use special offers at participating stores during IHOPPY Hours (2 pm – 10 pm).
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant is a great option for a cheap group meal. With locations all over the country, this restaurant offers generous portions at incredibly low prices.
The menu features classic Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and nachos. Most meals cost less than $10 each and they also offer combo deals where you can get two or three meals for a single price.
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant offers great drink specials that are sure to fit any budget. The restaurant has a large selection of soft drinks, juices, and aguas frescas available for just $2 each.
You can enjoy beer, margaritas and other alcoholic drinks starting at just $3 per glass. Special deals for groups or happy hour discounts may also be available.
Additionally, they have special deals on weekends that include free chips and salsa with your meal.
Bar Louie
Bar Louie is the perfect place for a group gathering on a budget. With its delicious scratch kitchen and handcrafted martinis, cocktails, beer and wine selection, Bar Louie offers an upscale dining experience at an affordable price.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a full meal, Bar Louie has something to fit any budget. Their menu features shareable appetizers like wings and nachos that are perfect for groups, as well as entrees like burgers, sandwiches and salads that won’t break the bank.
Plus, with happy hour specials and late night deals, you can get even more bang for your buck.
Bar Louie offers a variety of happy hour specials that can fit any budget. On weekdays, they offer half-priced appetizers, domestic beers and glasses of wine, and $3 craft beers before 6 p.m. starting at $1.95.
From 6 p.m.- 11 p.m., they offer $3 select apps, discounted cocktails and other drink deals starting at just $2 per glass. They also offer “Late Night” specials on food and drinks after 10 p.m., which can include half-price burgers or pasta dishes and discounted beer, wine, and cocktails ranging from $2-$4 each.
With these unbeatable deals, Bar Louie is the perfect spot for an enjoyable evening out on a budget!
Other Ways To Save When Choosing Restaurants
When looking for affordable, cheap restaurants for a group that isn’t well-known chains, or are maybe outside of your comfort zones, look for these factors to save:
- Places with happy hours
- Places with many appetizers on the menu are often more affordable and shareable, making it easier to spend less and still have enough to eat.
- Large portion sizes – again, gives you the ability to share
- Opt to dine out together for lunch, especially for restaurants you know to be more expensive. Lunch menus are generally lower priced than dinner.
Save Money Eating In a Group
There are a lot of great places to eat that won’t break the bank for big groups. These places have menus with many options, from traditional American food to foreign delicacies.
Many of these places also have family-style or sharing menus, so they are great for big groups where everyone can order something different.
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Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.