Five Delicious Hole in the Walls in Garland 

I will never stop appreciating a bargain. I will never stop appreciating very tasty food. Putting the two together is probably my ultimate happiness in the world. It’s a rare occasion when one can find the gloriousness of inexpensive eating without being yelled at via microphone. During a few of my excursions in Garland I’ve found some grub that surpasses your favorite fast food chain in taste and cost. So, go ahead and grab your corn purse. You won’t need much else for these five tasty hole in the walls. Note, these are hole-in-the-walls, so don’t expect castles and arches.

Pupuseria Lilian

A simplistic tiny space, Lilliam is perched on a spacious road in Garland. It is helpful if you speak Spanish, but not required. The thing you really want to focus on here are the pupusas. I’ve tried pupusas before that were OK, but these made me realize that those places were doing it WRONG. Choose from a simple oozy cheese pupusa, black bean and cheese, pork, or get all three combined inside the thick stuffed corn tortilla. Individual pupusas are around $2, but you can get a meal with 2 pupusas, rice, black beans and a salad for around 6 bucks. They stuff these things pretty good so if you get the meal there is a chance that you may have an extra pupusa to devour later. Complaints, probably not. 2410 W Miller Rd Garland, TX 75041 972. 840.2952 $ 

Ba Le

Itsy bitsy does not begin to describe this place. Ba Le, like so many other eateries in Garland, is located inside of a shopping center. During my visit there was one man doing everything including cleaning the tables and taking orders, so they were a little on the slow side. But, don’t let this deter you from a visit. Plus, it gave me a chance to take a glimpse down memory lane watching a television that still had junk in the trunk (missing the 90’s much?) The meatball pho is pretty enjoyable and so are the Vietnamese eggrolls. If you’re here for lunch and you’re lacking a little afternoon pep, order the hot Vietnamese coffee which is around $2.50. Served with condensed milk and made extra strong, you will be flying off the walls of your cubicle in no time. My entire meal was under $12. 11404 Shiloh Rd Ste 101 Dallas, TX 75228 (Pretty much Garland) 972. 613.2960 $ 

Tawa Cafe

During my first visit to this hidden gem for lunch, I was literally the only patron there. After quickly being seated I fixed my gaze on the short menu of classic Indo Pakistan/Halal dishes, including, nehari, butter chicken, curries and my favorite, tikka masala. However, I was beckoned by the chicken biryani, one of the servers’ favorite dishes there. Ignoring the salad served with the dish, I dedicated my fork to the spicy seasoned chicken biryani. The layer of flavors leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. The meal ran me about $6. Be sure to give them till 1:30 PM to open. To be extra safe, go ahead and call first. 13340 Audelia Rd, Dallas, TX 75243 (This place is technically right in the middle of Garland and Dallas) 972. 234.2261 $ 

SBT Lao/Thai Food to Go.

Here are a few things to note about SBT Lao. First, you are not required to take your food to go. There are a handful of tables for you to chow down at. Second, make sure you have the stuff that folds, because they only accept cash. Finally, be prepared to see some random décor that you may not fully understand like a slot machine sitting in a corner and balloons. Rest assured it’s all worth it. During my visit I had an order of four crispy spring rolls. They were tiny, served piping hot with a sweet and slightly spicy sauce. Next, I ordered the drunken noodles. A plate of thick, flat noodles mixed with a savory peppery brown sauce, fresh bell pepper, basil, chicken and shrimp. The entire meal was around $12, plus I had plenty to fork around with later that evening.  2020 W Buckingham Rd Garland, TX 75042 972. 388.4606 $ 

24/7 Tacos

In this town we are all about street tacos. And even better if we can get them from a gas station. For whatever reason, gas station street tacos are almost always delicious. Anyone who’s ever gotten their chomps on a few late night Fuel City tacos knows what it’s all about. Think of 24/7 Taco as Fuel City times 100. I suggest getting the tacos of course. The barbacoa tastes as if it’s been cooking slowly for 18 hours. Tender does not begin to describe it. Savory spices like cumin and chili powder take hold of the meat without taking advantage of it. Delicious. Meanwhile the chicken breast is just as tender, seasoned and juicy. You can also choose from lengua (cow tongue) and carnitas. I suggest ordering the three taco meal. For about 5 bucks you get your choice of meat, flour or corn tortillas, rice and beans plus a whole grilled jalapeño pepper and grilled onions. Of course no street tacos are complete without cilantro, lime and onions. And just remember you can get your paws on this greasy taco goodness 24 hours a day. That may or may not be information you need to know. 1330 Miller Rd Garland, TX 75041 $   TXmB