Anywhere in SE Asia! And it's not only cheap, but really good too. Actually most any 3rd world country has great food out on the street. You just have to stay away from fixed structures to get good prices. Check out where the locals eat and you will (IME) invariably find great food for pennies. Sometimes the service is even better too

Flying there cost a pretty penny though. :p
I recommend your local mega supermarket's generous samples if you want a <$1 lunch
;)

Japanese noodle soup is one of my favourites for lunch. You can get them for about 50 Cent in supermarkets... :cool:

bottle of water and baggie of Sour Patch Kids

bottle of water and baggie of Sour Patch Kids

That sounds very expensive. Are you sure you can get that for under a $1? In the US?

Popeye's Fried Chicken in Houston on Tuesdays...

2 pieces dark meat chicken - mild or spicy - for 99 cents.

No roll or drink included, and tax will put you slightly over - but a good deal! (Try the spicy) ^

In New York City, you can get great lunch for $1 -

Chinatown - they have carts on the sidewalks. You get a big pile of fried noodles, fried chicken wings or chow fun for $1. Big enough to share actually.

Fried Dumplings on Lower East Side - 5 dumplings for $1.
http://www.nyceats.net/eats/2003/08/dumplings.html

Grays Papaya's - Hot dog under $1, or recession special, $2 for 2 hotdog & a drink.

wendy's jr. bacon cheesburger = $.99 (plus if you have a "buy one super value menu item, get one free" coupon from the entertainment book, you can get a sond burger or biggie fries for free.) make sure you ask to add lettice and tomato - we want to be healthy.

Cup of noodles

Yogurt and a piece of fruit.

Delicious, beautiful Vietnamese rice noodles in a richly flavoured beef broth topped with slices of raw thinly cut beef which is cooked by the heat of the broth. Garnished with corriander, mint, spring onions and some strange exotic leaves which is the perfect accompaniment . And finally a squeeze of lime juice and a dash of pungent fish sauce (depending on your taste) makes this a meal in itself. It is a complete breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight feast, snack - call it whatever, I simply love it.

Prices: (US$1.00 = approx 16,000 VND)

Street stall: 8,000 VND

Hilton Hanoi Opera: 80,000 VND

Difference in quality: Hardly any. You get a larger serving at a street stall that at the Hilton - the silver spoon is substituted for a steel one.

Added to include: You can ask for chicken broth if you prefer.

Yogurt and a piece of fruit.
My favorite yogurt costs more than $1.00. Stoneyfield Farm What good yogurt would you recommend for under one dollar?

Carrot Cake Cliff Bar @ Trader Joe's = $0.79

Wow... lunch under $1 in this day and age? :) Best bet in a western country, go to IKEA. They've got hot dogs/ coffee/ cinnamon buns for under $1 to $2.

Then again there are always free samples from Costco..... :D

McDonald's Double Cheeseburger $1.00. Disgustingly enjoyable. Or try two singles for $.39 each. :-:
Alberto's Refried Beans and Rice w/lots of Salsa, or just rice if you are dieting $.99 ^
Shared slice of L&J's Spumoni Garden Pizza $.85 (Brooklyn!, Thanks dhammer53!) :-: :-: :-:
AM/PM Mini Market 2 Hotdogs for $.99 :eek:
Farmer's Market free fruit, cheese and bread samples :) for Tuesday lunch
Farmer's Market chips and salsa w/mucho garlic $1.00 for Tuesday dinner
Company potluck: You bring $.99 bag of weirdly formed raw carrots from supermarket and eat the $8.00 capresso I brought or the $20 Chinese take-out the boss brought. :td: :td:
PB&J at home :p

I avoid street food on short trips to avoid vomiting on the TSA. :o

My favorite yogurt costs more than $1.00. Stoneyfield Farm What good yogurt would you recommend for under one dollar?

I agree that it is a good yogurt. I'm pretty sure I bought a case (12 cups) of this brand at costco for less than $1/cup.

My favorite yogurt costs more than $1.00. Stoneyfield Farm What good yogurt would you recommend for under one dollar?
Ever tried Trader Joe's French Village Cream Line yogurt? Not sure how much the small 8-oz. cups cost, but the 32-oz. size costs only about $1.79 (up from $1.59 recently). I buy plain yogurt and add my own fruit and nuts to it. (Of course, that addition probably brings the total to more than a dollar!)

Ever tried Trader Joe's French Village Cream Line yogurt? Not sure how much the small 8-oz. cups cost, but the 32-oz. size costs only about $1.79 (up from $1.59 recently). I buy plain yogurt and add my own fruit and nuts to it. (Of course, that addition probably brings the total to more than a dollar!)
Sounds like a plan--Hi, to you KW

My favorite yogurt costs more than $1.00. Stoneyfield Farm What good yogurt would you recommend for under one dollar?


Like KathyWdrf, I buy the Trader Joe's French Village. The 8 oz is about 69 cents.

Wendy's chilli (sans fingers, of course) - 99 cents and 220 calories

Here's a good way...

Find a local pub that has a free happy hour buffet and just order a small coke. ^ Granted it'll probably be closer to dinnertime than lunch.

In New York City, you can get great lunch for $1 -

Chinatown - they have carts on the sidewalks. You get a big pile of fried noodles, fried chicken wings or chow fun for $1. Big enough to share actually.

Two blocks north of the East Broadway subway stop on the west side of Essex is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese soup shop that serves the most amazing pork dumpling soup (they make the dumplings fresh - not from frozen) with leeks.

I don't remember the exact price - it may be $2 instead of $1, sorry - but I feel guilty everytime I leave the store for having paid so little for a huge serving of the stuff.

Bangkok

Pad Thai 20 baht
satay 10 baht
bag of insects 10 baht
3 courses for $1.02

you get your noodles , meat dish and fiber (insects) .

cant do much better except, maybe ?? In all the rest of SE Asia



these are Sukhimvit prices , probably expensive compared to outlying areas

More South Asia than SE... Head to the Australia Dairy Company in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Get off at Jordan MTR station and ask for directions.

It's an institution where waiters who have clearly been there for decades ply customers with great food and gruff service. I recall getting out of there for HK$7 a couple of years ago.

It's a "cha-chan-teng" or Hong Kong-style breakfast place, and I saw no evidence of Australian dairy products anywhere!

My favorite lunch under $1: a Snickers bar. :D

Wow... lunch under $1 in this day and age? :) Best bet in a western country, go to IKEA. They've got hot dogs/ coffee/ cinnamon buns for under $1 to $2.

Then again there are always free samples from Costco..... :D

You made me remember Ikea in Canada also has $1 breakfasts (scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, & a croissant) and 99cent pasta plates. I haven't had the pasta but the breakfasts (yeah, I know this is a lunch for under a buck thread but...) are pretty decent. Heck of a long line-up but a great gimmick to get people in the store.