Somebody Help This Poor Boy: Mac ‘n Cheese

Posted on August 2nd, 2011 10:00am by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Somebody Help

A Disher with a sunny disposition writes

I’ve seen so many things about Mac n Cheese recently and I am looking for some GOOD N’ CHEAP Mac n Cheese.  I don’t want Mac n Cheese with truffles or lobsters or crab.  I don’t want to make a reservation or enjoy it during restaurant week or eat at some place with a big wine list.  I don’t want it to be made from Gouda or Buda or some super fancy schmany cheeses.  I just want AMAZING yet plain’ ole Mac n Cheese, ideally on a blue plate special, that I can get as part of a meal for around (or under) $10.

32 comments

  1. Sweet Georgia Brown’s Bar-B-Que = Hands Down, The Best in Dallas!

    @ 10:04 am on August 2, 2011

  2. Macaroni ‘n’ cheese is a Paris Coffee Shop “vegetable” every Friday. Try it with fried chicken, fried cod or a chopped steak. (Always a tough choice whether to get the mac or the green peas/mashed.)

    @ 10:04 am on August 2, 2011

  3. Mac and cheese at Lockhart Smokehouse is outstanding. Itself is pretty cheap, when you start to add the amazing meats it can get expensive.

    @ 10:08 am on August 2, 2011

  4. Just hit up Boston Market…quarter white with two sides and cornbread for $7.57.

    @ 10:36 am on August 2, 2011

  5. We had some at Fat Cow BBQ in Lewisville the other day and it was pretty awesome. Nice and creamy cheese.

    @ 10:37 am on August 2, 2011

  6. Try Pecan Lodge and get the combo platter with two meats and mac and cheese for less than $10.

    @ 10:45 am on August 2, 2011

  7. The other option is just look up Alton Brown’s baked Mac and Cheese recipe. It’s a sure fire easy recipe that produces outstanding M&C.

    @ 10:47 am on August 2, 2011

  8. I suggest making it yourself. Alton Brown’s Good Eats mac n’ cheese recipe is the best one that I’ve come across (not too creamy, still tastes like cheddar cheese, perfect crispy baked top) and you can’t get much cheaper than cheese, pasta, flour, and milk.

    @ 10:49 am on August 2, 2011

  9. And I promise that I’m not irodguy. The recipe is just that good, apparently.

    @ 11:12 am on August 2, 2011

  10. You could try Max Cheese at Uptown Village in Cedar Hill.

    @ 11:52 am on August 2, 2011

  11. Eatzi’s!

    @ 12:06 pm on August 2, 2011

  12. Celebration on Lover’s Lane.

    @ 12:08 pm on August 2, 2011

  13. City Tavern’s mac and cheese with their Pulled Pork sandwich, or the Chicken Wing sandwich is always a good choice.

    @ 12:13 pm on August 2, 2011

  14. Actually, Panera has my favorite plain ol’ mac & cheese with shells. Oddfellows in Bishop Arts is my favorite “fancy” mac & cheese, and yes, they have a full dish with buffalo chicken. The Porch is by far my favorite with their casserole-like mac & cheese. :)

    @ 12:14 pm on August 2, 2011

  15. The Porch. It’s the best. No doubt.

    @ 12:24 pm on August 2, 2011

  16. If green chiles aren’t too fancy, the mac and cheese at Breadwinners is thebomb.com

    @ 12:39 pm on August 2, 2011

  17. California Pizza Kitchen has great down to basics Mac&Cheese!!!

    @ 1:03 pm on August 2, 2011

  18. Order from here and then give up ever trying to find anything better:

    http://store.beechershandmadecheese.com/

    You’re welcome.

    @ 1:18 pm on August 2, 2011

  19. Definitely Eatzi’s!!!!

    @ 2:09 pm on August 2, 2011

  20. Highland Park Cafeteria’s is still really good.

    @ 2:14 pm on August 2, 2011

  21. HP Cafeteria. Plus you can indulge in a slice of pie since your on that kind of diet anyway.

    @ 2:21 pm on August 2, 2011

  22. Porch, perfect

    @ 4:00 pm on August 2, 2011

  23. Are you talking about the stove top version of Alton Brown’s mac ‘n cheese or the baked version that is so good?

    @ 4:17 pm on August 2, 2011

  24. No love for Norma’s? Actually the one on Beltline has better Mac & Cheese that the one off the toll road.

    @ 5:02 pm on August 2, 2011

  25. Penne Pomodoro, they use their alfredo sauce and cheese it up. It’s on their kids menu, so it is cheap – and rich.

    @ 5:51 pm on August 2, 2011

  26. My favorites are The Porch (baked casserole…amazing), Eatzi’s (sometimes needs a little more salt but usually is perfect), and as mentioned above, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the mac at Boston Market.

    @ 5:52 pm on August 2, 2011

  27. I’ve had the “Kick Ass Mac & Cheese” from Anvil Pub in Deep Ellum a few times, and it lives up to its name. Add the chicken and call it a meal!

    @ 7:16 pm on August 2, 2011

  28. Yes, it’s a chain, blah, blah. But…California Pizza Kitchen really does have some outstanding “Traditional” Mac & Cheese.

    Cheesy, creamy, and buttery. Really, what else do you need?

    @ 8:48 am on August 3, 2011

  29. How has no one mentioned Hattie’s yet? It’s fabulous!

    @ 10:36 am on August 3, 2011

  30. KFC. Seriously.

    @ 4:32 pm on August 3, 2011

  31. EB: Baked version.

    @ 4:57 pm on August 3, 2011

  32. [...] or a chopped steak. (Always a tough choice whether to get the mac or the green … Read more on D MagazineAn epicurean tour of Food Network's Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival Recently they opened [...]

    @ 6:42 pm on August 8, 2011