In Boston, inexpensive eats go beyond chowdah

— -- Cost-conscious travelers can enjoy bountiful pleasure at mealtime if they choose carefully and order smartly. To help with the planning each month, USA TODAY's Jerry Shriver offers a menu of suggestions from a major destination:

Down-home dining: Profiles of cheap-eats classics

1. Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe 429 Columbus Ave.; 617-536-7669; no websiteThis cozy South End spot opened as a 24-hour diner/coffee shop in 1927 and became known as a welcoming outpost for black entertainers in the segregation era. Charlie's has trimmed hours to breakfast and lunch service, but the quality of the food and hospitality led to a James Beard award (as an American classic) in 2005. At lunch, it's standard deli and sandwiches ($4.95 to $7.90), diner classics such as meatloaf and regional specialties (fried clam strips and baked haddock), but the 40-item New England breakfast menu is the main draw. Fluffy turkey hash ($7.85 with two eggs and toast) is a star, as are cranberry-compote-topped Cape Cod French Toast ($7.35) and Cranberry Griddle Cakes ($7.35). Expect lines for weekend breakfast, and bring cash (no credit cards taken), but not a lot. A robust meal can be had for under $12.

•Top treat:French toast with cranberry compote, $7.35.

2. Regina Pizza 11½ Thacher St. (and 10 other regional locations); 617-227-0765; reginapizzeria.comFounded in 1926 and claiming to be Boston's original pizzeria, Regina has grown into a popular mini-chain. But to capture the full garlic-and-yeast-perfumed historical essence, grab one of the six bar stools or a wooden booth at the tavern-like flagship in the traditional Italian North End neighborhood, which serves only Neapolitan-style pizzas ($7.95 to $18.99), baked in a wood-burning oven. The beautifully textured crust is more thin-ish than thin (a good thing), and the toppings, which can include roasted eggplant, prosciutto and marinated tomatoes, are layered generously (a great thing). Everything comes on paper plates, but there is silverware. Locals tend to order the crust extra-crispy and christen it with garlic olive oil.