trippinkpj

I'm spending next weekend there, and by cheap I mean $10.- or less a person (not including tip and booze). DH and I are pretty cheap, LOL. Any type of food is welcome and I'd like to focus on Union Square, SOMA, Chinatown and North Beach. Thanks!

trippinkpj

Okay, I could go a little higher on the budget for dinner.

gb944

You should have no problem eating well on that budget.

The SF Chronicle just published a guide to cheap eats. You can find it at

http://www.sfgate.com/food/bargains/

Yes, I'm an outed cheap eats lover, too!

trippinkpj

Thanks GB. I haven't seen that guide yet, so I'll be checking it out.

Neopolitan

Well, for starters you could sure stick to that budget by staying within the Mission District. I've had $3 burritos that would not only satisfy a day's hunger, but were absolutely delicious to boot!
Chinatown is another one.

trippinkpj

Thanks Neo. Yes, we may get to the Mission District. Have you been to La Taqueria before? It's well rated on the sfgate site gb gave me.

Neopolitan

I've lost my list of places we did before, but that does ring a bell. This last time we did Pancho Villa in the Mission. I was surprised a couple days later to see another one right by the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

LoveItaly

Hi there trippin, if you two want an inexpensive but filling lunch go to Lefty O'Doul's on Geary (just a couple of doors down from Powell St going west). You are probably familar with it, old time place. You can get a sandwich (I love their cornbeef), various salads etc. for such little money. And if you want a drink, wine, beer, they have the bar and tables etc. Not elegant but oldtime SF!
Have a wonderful weekend and I hope one of these times we can meet.

Neopolitan

By the way, I see that our total bill for lunch for two including drinks at Pancho Villas was $ 13.60.

trippinkpj

That's cool Neo. I will check out Pancho Villa. I love your total lunch bill.
Hi LoveItaly, yes I have been to Lefty O'Doul's and we may go there again for good & cheap eats.

trippinkpj

Thanks LoveItaly, and I look forward to seeing you sometime soon also.

ilovetotravel29

My mouth watered at the posting....and then I saw the neighborhood choices...yikes! I realize I don't visit those neighborhoods often

I would wholeheartedly, to get a real feel of the real San Francisco, urge you to go to a Chinese Dim Sum Banquet Hall or restaurant...you will see many dim sum restaurants that look a bit more for food on the go, but there is a huge, huge dim sum restaurant in Chinatown...I think Harbor or Court is in its name.....I will find out online. But anyway, it is an authentic dim sum house and you go up red steps leading from a small little mall and you walk into a beautiful dim sum banquet room. It is on a steep heel that if you followed in all the way down, you would wind up in the financial district!

There are tons of waiters pushing the little steam carts and you can sit and drink tea and eat to your hearts delight. You can bring your own alcohol, though they may charge a fee....not sure, but I have seen many older men there on my numerous visits and they brought their own brandy.

For South of Market Area......that is a toughie...

I would sooo recommend Taiwan restaurant if you are near clement street at all, and El Panchita (sp?) or Valencia and 16th if you are in the mood for a humongous super burrito (all the works) for only 5 bucks!

As far as cheap eats in SF goes, I think that may actually be something I am good at!

ilovetotravel29

Four Seas Restaurant is the name!!

trippinkpj

Thank-you Ilovetotravel. I think I've heard of the Four Seas for dim sum, on one of my local news programs. Any opinions on the House of Nanking and Hunan Home?
Thanks again, you all are great.

ilovetotravel29

As far as House of Nanking and Hunan Home, it is sooo very possible that I have eaten there, but I am horrible with names...I know more by location and price and my favorite dishes!

this also explains why I make a not so good travel writer, or giver of directions...

ElendilPickle

We are cheap eaters too.

In May, we (Mr. Pickle, 18yo, 11yo, and I) had dinner at North Beach Pizza at Pier 39, but there is, of course, one in North Beach.

The next day we had dim sum for lunch at Gold Mountain on Broadway. That was a tasty, fun experience, and our total bill was about $20.

Lee Ann

j_4tay

cheap eats in SF chinatown/north beach
breakfast
1. new regent cafe (pacific/grant st)
for $2.25, you get 2 pancakes, 1 egg, toast, and small cup of hk tea milk.

2. hing lung (broadway/stockton)
many cheap dishes (porridge, wonton noodle, and chow fun) for $2.5 each in the morning and during tea time (3pm-6pm).

Lunch
1. yokohama (sushi)
$10.8(tax included), teriyaki chicken/beef/salmon, sashimi/sushi, tempura/california roll, 2 different salads, miso soup, and rice.

2. brandy ho's
if you like chinese spicy food without msg. under $7/dish

3. golden boy pizza
$2.5 for slice of cheese
$3.5 for combo or veggie

Dinner
eat at a chinese restaurant, which is always the most affordable.

Drinks
columbus cafe bar
- come before 8pm, 2-1 beer and $2 shot of fernet
2 for 1 beers

Rachele

If you are in Russian Hill, give Nick's Crispy Tacos a try. Really good tacos and quesadillas, huge portions for the $$. I think it was $15 for 2 people including drinks (I had a beer!)

AshburyHeights

I highly recommend that you explore other neighborhoods besides the normal tourist areas - quality cheap eats are more easily found in the neighborhoods rather than the tourists spots (not to say there aren't exceptions).

As a previous poster mentioned taquerias in the Mission are always a safe bet. I also recommend a great crepe place called Ti Couz. Mission District has a lot of cool bars and tends to be sunnier and warmer than other parts of town.

Great bargains are also can be found at neighborhood bistros like Metro Cafe on Divisadero (between Upper and lower Haight Streets) where you can get a three prefix dinner for under $15. Another cheap favorite of mine is FLY Bar on Divisadero (pizza, salad, sandwiches and bar) and Citrus Club (pan asian noodle house) in the upper haight.

When in doubt ethnic food (Indian, Thai, Chinese, etc) are normally good and cheap. The Chron cheap eats section is a good place to start, but also check out City Search as I'm sure they have a cheap eats section too.

One last word of advice is to pick up one of the weekly rags like The Gaurdian or SF Weekly. They normally have a ton of restaurants that advertise and you might find a cool happy hour or other special info in there.

dbhardwareking

Good evening the only place to go budget or no budget is "Pasta Pomodoro" the prices are unbelievable (under $10) and the food and service are even more unbelievable. Gauranted satisfaction! I live in N.Y. but when I visit S.F. we go there several times. My kids love it. My Mom and Dad love. You will love it. Promise.