f64club

I've seen the posts discussing the "best" restaurants in SF. Unfortunately, I won't spend $120 for 2 no matter how good the dinner is. Are there any good (for lack of a better term) cheap restaurants? I am looking for tasty meals, not ambiance. No chains please.
Thanks.

StuDudley - Surely you must know of some terrific places to eat for a man on a budget.

Patrick

Where will you be and how cheap is cheap? You can go to the center of "the mission" and stuff yourself with really good Mexican for about $7 or $8. We attempted to do a sampling lunch, moving up the street, and planned to have a single burrito or something at each place, but stopped after the first place when the first burrito that cost about $4, was the size of Rhode Island, and was delicious.

The often mentioned Cow Hollow/Marina District has a number of cheaper neighborhood places, and Chinatown can be dirt cheap for a full meal.

kikahead

What area of the city? There are TONS of places where two can eat for under $20 (not including drinks).

f64club

I will be staying in Cow Hollow (after getting recommendation from this site) but will be all over the city, anywhere the cable cars go. China town will be a definite and the mission district is sounding better and better. "Cheap" is a relative term. Just looking for dinner, not "an experience".
Thanks for the posts so far.

PamSF

There are many. i am thinking under $100 and that may not include wine(a bottle) Here are some of my suggestions:

Chow
Delfina
Blue Plate
Luna Park
Cafe Jacqueline
Cafe Macaroni
Ti Couz
A16
Plouf
Cafe Claude
Chez Papa
Bakara

I'd suggest you post a question about great food in the Mission. There are some newer cuban spots that will fit the bill.

mobylvr

For a fun,casual atmosphere and great crepes, my family and I love Squat and Gobble. There are several of them, but we always go to the one in Haight-Ashbury.

SFImporter

Why not enjoy both cheap prices and good ambiance?

Le Charm has a prix fixe three course dinner for $28/person and it is top notch food!

http://www.lecharm.com/

Bruno's might be a good choice too. It's very retro-hip with low prices.
http://www.brunoslive.com/

mlgb

Tadich Grill/Sam's Grill are not that expensive. Ambience also.

Leely

Well, I almost always eat in "my" neighborhood(s), so most of my suggestions are slanted that way. Hopefully people who dine all over the city will add to the thread.

For what it's worth:

I like Firefly, waaayyy up 24th Street--they have a prix fixe on weeknights (not Fridays) for, I believe $29.

I like Chloe's for breakfast or lunch. Church and...Duncan?

Alice's (Chinese), Sanchez and 29th.

Eric's (similar to Alice's), right on Church and...28th, I think.

Cafe in the SFMOMA is pretty good. They serve wine, too.

Regent Thai on Church and Day.

Suriya (Thai) on Valencia and 25th.

Giorgio's Pizza, on Clement and,,,can't remember the cross street, 5th Ave?

Pauline's Pizza, 14th and Valencia.

Aperto, (Italian) 18th and Connecticut.

I like La Corneta for their burritos al pastor, 23rd and Mission.

Matsuya, on 24th above Church.

I'm not too sure about the cross streets, because I already "know" where these places are.

It's really easy to dine in SF for a great deal under $120 pp.




But, ther than under $120 for 2, what do you consider frugal.

KT

There are loads of good affordable places. Look at SF area board on www.chowhound.com for more ideas than you could possibly use.

MikeT

Chow on the edge of the Mission and Castro.

Patrick

Since you'll be in Cow Hollow, walk along Chestnut Street and venture off half a block on most of the other streets -- between Filmore and maybe Steiner or further west. There are dozens, nearly all have their menus posted. Just west of Filmore there's a little place that does stir frys and Asian noodle dishes (forget the name) that is really great and very inexpensive.