DiningBuzz! - What are your cheap (inexpensive) eats?

I thought of this while watching a subway $5 commercial. I figured others have some similar ones.
The hot dog/polish sausage and soda special from Costco, Sam's @ $1.50, I do not think you cant find anything cheaper.
Along the lines of hot dogs, the Ikea #2 combo, 2 dogs, soda and bag of chips for $2. Fifty cents extra will get you another hot dog.
A local Mexican rest close to where I work, Mexico 2000, has a chips and salsa special for $1.50
The Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, they are usually under $4 and are very filling.
What are yours?

Jack in the Box Tacos 2 for 99 cents, but only when they fry them long enough. Last 2 times they were cold/half frozen in the middle.

Bean burrito w/green sauce at Taco Bell. 99 cents each.

AM/PM hot dogs if they haven't been sitting long.

Along the lines of hot dogs, the Ikea #2 combo, 2 dogs, soda and bag of chips for $2. Fifty cents extra will get you another hot dog.Every time I go into the Ikea cafeteria for cheap food, I end up leaving $20 lighter and 5lbs heavier.

That said, it's worth the fat and happy feeling. :)

Agree on bahn mi! The going rate near me (Atlanta/Buford Highway) is $2.50. Quoc Huong or Lee's Bakery large barbeque pork sandwich.... mmmmm!

The fish/fries/hush puppy/drink kid's meal at Captain D's :)

A BBQ chain called Rudy's sells sandwiches with your choice of meat for around $4.50. All the extras (pickles, onions, BBQ sauce, sliced bread, etc.) are free.

So in practice $4.50 gets a bun, 1/3 lb. of meat, half a loaf of bread, and a ton of BBQ sauce. :D

It isn't as tasty as some local places but the price is much better.

I thought we were going for cheapest edible. If that means under $5, that changes everything I said in my post above - by far.:D

Would that include street eats in China? A skewer of lamb, beef, chicken, unidentifible meat for 1-3 RMB per skewer. (20-50 cents USD).

You can get BBQ eggplant, califlower, fish, squid (that is more expensive) all on the sidewalk or my favorite place is in a middle of a demolished apartment complex.

Only open after 10 pm till about 2 am.

It is really good. Eat like the locals.

Department store food courts in Bangkok- MBK or Siam Paragon are my favorites.

In Japan Teishoku restaurants (such as Ootoya) are great for a healthy meal when one does not want to spend a lot of time or money. Most set meals cost less than ¥1000.

$1 tacos from any one of many good local taco trucks

$1 tacos from any one of many good local taco trucks

+1 for all the cheap tacos around me

I'll add all the $3.50 Vietnamese Sandwiches in the SF Bay Area

My favourite cheap eat is an M&S egg and watercress sandwich - a Boots 'meal deal' also makes the list! I miss UK lunch food!

Top Ramen :(
Portillos Maxwell Street Polish
BK Big Fish Sandwich; add a slice of cheese and extra tartar sauce

From the local food truck in Philly:

$4 for a kielbasa with sauerkraut, a bag of chips and a 12 oz soda
$5.25 for a cheesesteak, chips and soda.

Bean burrito w/green sauce at Taco Bell. 99 cents each.


with extra green sauce :)

with extra green sauce :)

Yes. And I was shocked to see on my last visit that they finally have green sauce in packets after all these years.@:-)

Back home in Vancouver, they have these 1.25 (used to be 99cents) a slice pizza joints. Not great pizza. Sometimes I think it should be embarrased to call themselves a pizza but it is a cheap eat.

For some inexplicable reason, I seem to eat there every chance I get.

Will I be really strange if I say the Baconator at Wendy's? I like the single, and the husband likes the double. Always less than $5 each (though together we start getting closer to $10.)

Back home in Vancouver, they have these 1.25 (used to be 99cents) a slice pizza joints. Not great pizza. Sometimes I think it should be embarrased to call themselves a pizza but it is a cheap eat.

For some inexplicable reason, I seem to eat there every chance I get.

My local grocery store has an attached pizza vendor. I can get a big slice and a 20 oz soda for $2.50. You can also generally find a lady in their parking lot selling tamales for $1 each out of her van. MMM!

...You can also generally find a lady in their parking lot selling tamales for $1 each out of her van. MMM!

My sister-in-law used to complain about a dozen tamales sold for $9 until she tried to make them herself. LOL. :D $1 each tamales are a steal.

My absolute favorite is the $1.25 tacos al pastor at Taqueria Los Jaliscienses or a $3.50 chopped beef sandwich at Texas Rib Kings.

Forced to make a fast-food choice, it would probably be the junior bacon cheeseburger and a baked potato from Wendy's or a set of three egg rolls from Jack in the Crack or a Chicago dog from Sonic.

$1 tacos from any one of many good local taco trucks

Oh yeah!

My latest ringer for under $5: a peanut butter-pickle-bacon burger w/bottomless basket of handcut fries, Happy Hour priced at $4.50 from Killer Burger (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Killer-Burger-Portland-OR/143479562359460?sk=info#!/note.php?note_id=152242971473954). :p

The Happy Hour menu from McCormick and Schmicks is hard to beat as well.

1/2 lb cheeseburger and fries for $2.95 among other things.

Whenever I'm stateside it's McDonalds sausage biscuits

In 'n Out Burger for burgers
Chick-fil-A or Popeye's for chicken

I love the food at the farmer's market, especially the local Oaxacan place. I always try to hit farmer's markets. In Hilo, I had most of my afternoon meals there.

Our cheapest "eats" while traveling have been free coconuts in Fiji. I would husk the coconut the day before and chill it in the hotel room mini fridge.

The chilled coconut milk and meat was so good the next morning. ^

Other than that, we've had cheap oatmeal plenty of mornings while traveling to save money and also time. I love having a quick meal of oatmeal in the room and getting out to the beach / park / hike early in the morning.

Speaking of coconuts, a friend of mine has a saying: "the only good pineapple is a stolen pineapple."

Not because it's forbidden, but because it's that fresh.

Our local Popeye's Chicken offers a Manager's Special: leg and thigh $1, Tuesday only! I have seen this special at other Popeye's as well. This is my secret fast food vice!;)

First choice is Sonic. Super Sonic cheeseburger w/ all the trimmings plus mayo. By the way, their lime slushie is great with a generous shot of tequila!

Second choice: Wendy's new "W" burger.

+1 on the Costco hot dog and drink if I'm traveling solo

otherwise it's a Costco rotisserie chicken for $4.99 to be shared :) Somehow their rotisserie chicken is always moist, not dry like the ones in supermarkets.

If I'm in the UK, M&S sandwiches :)

Also, Vietnamese sandwiches approx $1-$2 @. Pate, butter, chicken sausage, some sort of bologna, pickled turnips and carrots with hot sauce and ciltantro on a fresh baguette. Yum!

When I am in India - my absolute favorite is the Vada Pav (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vada_pav) Tastes way better at a street vendor than in a normal eatery :-) 1 piece of bread with 1 vada (patty) costs equivalent of less than 20 cents....I am already drooling thinking about it.....

My favourite cheap eat is an M&S egg and watercress sandwich - a Boots 'meal deal' also makes the list! I miss UK lunch food!

mine is the reduced sarnies at waitrose. they last the next day as well - a very good fix as a student lunch when doubled up (at a whooping 20p each)

When I am in India - my absolute favorite is the Vada Pav (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vada_pav) Tastes way better at a street vendor than in a normal eatery :-) 1 piece of bread with 1 vada (patty) costs equivalent of less than 20 cents....I am already drooling thinking about it.....

absolutely love vada pav, favorite sandwich and indian fast food!

Yoshinoya Beef Bowl and teriyaki chicken. Locations all over California - cheap, quick, and good.

Subway now has $2 6 inch subs: meatball and cold-cut. Both I won't eat. My cheap eat is a high protein shake...I know not for everyone.

I agree on Costco and Sams specials. The hotdog with a pop or slice of pizza and a pop...a great price and always hot and fresh. I can identify the ingredients on the pizza too!

Smashburger is my new fav when we are eating out "economically"

The absolutely most economical thing I eat is at home. I get a 24-pack of Purdue chicken thighs from BJ's, cryovaced in packs of four. It's usually less than $10. The meat feeds me for a month or longer. I toss the skin and keep the bones. When I have a bag of frozen bones, I make stock, which lasts another month.

Subway now has $2 6 inch subs: meatball and cold-cut. Both I won't eat...

My favorite Subway sandwich is a 6" tuna on honey oat with provolone, lettuce, tomato, and banana peppers topped off with sweet onion sauce.

The guy behind me the other day ordered the 6" meatball special on flatbread, then added jalapeno jack, pickles, and a heavy dose of mayonnaise. It was almost enough to ruin my appetite. :eek:

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

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Smashburger is my new fav when we are eating out "economically"

I am travelling for the holidays and Smashburger is on my list of places to try. Looking forward to it!

If I'm spending a weekend in town I like to go to Kroger on a Friday and buy the cheap steak (flank or whatever else is on sale) and a loaf of bread and make steak sandwiches. I'll melt cheddar cheese onto the bread, fry up the steak, add some garlic salt and pepper, top with BBQ sauce and consume. It's terrible for me but it tastes so good!

Chicken Finger, Fries and a Coke at Steak n Shake for less than $5.00. I go thru the Drive thru so I don't have to tip.

Senior coffee and muffin at MickyD's $1.39 plus tax.

The Costco Dog and Soda for $1.50 USED to be at the top of my list, but they ruined it when they dropped the Hebrew National dogs for the nearly inedible Kirkland ones - the Kirkland Polish is lousy, but it's an order of magnitude better than the Kirkland hot dog.

Nowadays, I'd have to say that the McDonalds McDouble and Sausage Breakfast Burrito on their dollar menu are the two top cheap eats. Although, on Wednesdays, The Burger King Whopper is worthy at the Whopper Wednesday price, but not at the regular price the rest of the week.

Pollo Loco Chicken Soft Tacos and Loco Salad are also competitors, IMHO, significantly better than the various Taco Bell offerings.

Sometimes while driving I will swing by a McDonalds and get two McDoubles, a McChicken and a small soda. It's like $4.35 with tax and is easy to eat while motoring.

Authentic Mexican tacos from any number or taquerias or banh mi. $5 is a tough number. For a 1-2 bucks more, you can get cheap Chinese, Indian, or ramen too.

[INDENT]Along the lines of hot dogs, the Ikea #2 combo, 2 dogs, soda and bag of chips for $2. Fifty cents extra will get you another hot dog.


I thought I'd look through the posts before saying Ikea! :D

About 4 years ago when I worked early mornings, there was a lady outside the train station selling homemade tamalies - somewhere around 2 for $1. They were very, very good and she is probably still there.

A current favorite is Pho - starts at about $3.95.

My favourite cheap eat is an M&S egg and watercress sandwich - a Boots 'meal deal' also makes the list! I miss UK lunch food!

+1.:) Why can't we eat these simple sandwiches anywhere else?:(

Costco: Hot dog + soda and/or their Very Berry Fronzen Yogurt Sundae

Rio de Janeiro: street vendors' barbecue-on-skewers. For R$2,00 (US$1.10) you can choose meat, chicken or a mixed one (meat + sausage + chicken). They operate mostly after business hours (from 6PM) and you can find them at most street corners nearby office buidings.

This one is weird and I can't really explain why I like it.

Two pieces of white toast, topped with creamy peanut butter and scrambled eggs. One of my favorite casual weekend breakfasts or late night snack.

A bagel with pub cheese

The absolutely most economical thing I eat is at home. I get a 24-pack of Purdue chicken thighs from BJ's, cryovaced in packs of four. It's usually less than $10. The meat feeds me for a month or longer. I toss the skin and keep the bones. When I have a bag of frozen bones, I make stock, which lasts another month.



Give the $4.99 BJs roasted chicken a try. It is enough for four meals easy and sure is yummy.

Waffle House. Triple order of Hash Browns, smothered, covered, and chunked. About $4, and I could last all day on it.

Waffle House. Triple order of Hash Browns, smothered, covered, and chunked. About $4, and I could last all day on it.

Yum!!!
My favorite part about traveling is trying so many yummy new foods and treats everywhere I go!
Working out and keeping in shape is a must though... takes a good head to stay healthy!

Breakfast at a Waffle house

light dinner - good for rest of day skip lunch

My lunch option is ZERO breakfast - then gorge at lunch at The Golden Coral - no dinner

Mirroring OPs' Coscto comments..

I really take a liking to the Apple Pecan Salad with white meat chicken. Offered in Canada, its a very healthy alternative to the fast food menu.. plus get a Fuze drink from the vending machine, and you've got a pretty good combination..

Nothing beats good bar food: wings, chicken cheese steaks, wraps and good burgers.

Nobody voting for the costco chicken wraps?
One uber sized cheese and chicken and carbs for 2.25ish :)

Half price appetizers at Happy Hour, one or two of those can make a meal!

Sometimes while driving I will swing by a McDonalds and get two McDoubles, a McChicken and a small soda. It's like $4.35 with tax and is easy to eat while motoring.

The post-meal artery scraping puts it out of the 'cheap eats' category ;)



A current favorite is Pho - starts at about $3.95.

Mine, too, but I've seen some Pho get ridiculously expensive. I walked out of a little restaurant that wanted $12/bowl.

Give the $4.99 BJs roasted chicken a try. It is enough for four meals easy and sure is yummy.

I'm sure it's good, but eating so much on the road made me institute a no pre-cooked food at home rule that is rarely broken.

That and for $8 BJ's has a two pack of uncooked chickens.

Half price appetizers at Happy Hour, one or two of those can make a meal!

Amen!

Brio Tuscan Grill offers many of their appetizers/small entrees for $2.95 each. Each location has different times they are offered. My local one is M-F 3-7 and 9-close, so it works well for a pre-movie dinner on Friday night date nights.

http://www.brioitalian.com/$2.95+bar+menu.html

Three selections between two people is more than sufficient for a nice, filling meal.

Nothing beats good bar food: wings, chicken cheese steaks, wraps and good burgers.

Washed down with a cold adult beverage too?

Washed down with a cold adult beverage too?olutely!

Absolutely! And at happy hour, a real bargain. What could be bad.

Can't go wrong with a good lunch special at a hole in the wall Chinese place. I did this for lunch today and had Mongolian Beef and vegetables, fried rice and eggroll for $6 with tax.

In the morning.. Subway flatbread or english muffin with eggwhite.. works out to about just under $4 with a hot tea..

Bahn mi (Vietnamese sandwich) from Pho Point Loma Grill on Midway Drive, not far from SAN/Lindbergh Field in San Diego. Served on a FRESH French baguette with BBQ chicken, beef, or pork, pickled carrots/daikon, onion, cilantro, and green chili, all fresh and meat cooked to order for $3.95. Absolutely delicious!

Bahn mi (Vietnamese sandwich) from Pho Point Loma Grill on Midway Drive, not far from SAN/Lindbergh Field in San Diego. Served on a FRESH French baguette with BBQ chicken, beef, or pork, pickled carrots/daikon, onion, cilantro, and green chili, all fresh and meat cooked to order for $3.95. Absolutely delicious!

yum.. hadn't had one for awhile.. I usually get pho, or rice.. but the Vietnamese sandwich is such a treat.:)

Several scrambled eggs with a bunch of butter. Maybe costs a $1 if you are buying the good stuff.

Culver's Snack Packs! Plus a Mini Mixer.

In PA some of the Giant Supermarkets have a hot fresh Chinese food area. You can get three large size choices, enough for 2 people for about $7.00. Food is pretty good and certainly very large portions. Many choices to pick from.

Toonie Tuesdays at KFC (Canada).. used to be $2 for 2 pieces of dark meat and fries..

Have slowly crept up to $2.99 over the years..

Al-Khartoum in University City, Philadelphia - good foul medames and cheap (for the states) baklava and basbousa (around a buck)

yum.. hadn't had one for awhile.. I usually get pho, or rice.. but the Vietnamese sandwich is such a treat.:)

+1

Near my office, fairly close to SYD, there's a Vietnemese bakery (Hong-Ha) that does awesome vietnemese rolls. $5.50 with a drink. The queue at lunch often stretches 20-30m down the street.

+1

Near my office, fairly close to SYD, there's a Vietnemese bakery (Hong-Ha) that does awesome vietnemese rolls. $5.50 with a drink. The queue at lunch often stretches 20-30m down the street.

Coupled with Bubble Tea.. Mango and lychee heaven..:cool:

Taco Tuesdays anywhere

Chipotle for me. It's not super cheap but chicken burrito bowl is around $6 and change? Pretty good and crazy filling for the price. I'm not hungry for a while after one of those. Really good price to food/filling ratio.

Makes a great post work out meal too after the gym. Only around 600-700 calories if done right too and tons of protein and carbs just what you need post workout.

Taco Tuesdays anywhere

Bought 3 from Taco Time on Tuesday and brought it home.^

In the morning.. Subway flatbread or english muffin with eggwhite.. works out to about just under $4 with a hot tea..

I love Subway Breakfast Meals!

Especially when they're having discount deals!!!

I opt out of the cheese they use though. Don't know HOW MANY preservatives are in the U.S. brands.

I love Subway Breakfast Meals!

Especially when they're having discount deals!!!

I opt out of the cheese they use though. Don't know HOW MANY preservatives are in the U.S. brands.

The english muffin is cheap enough anyways without the sale.. and the sodium is low.. I double stacked the veggies this morning, mmm double tomatoes and cucumbers. I have a trend going now.:cool:

The english muffin is cheap enough anyways without the sale.. and the sodium is low.. I double stacked the veggies this morning, mmm double tomatoes and cucumbers. I have a trend going now.:cool:

I'm curious. Do you ever cook and eat at home? If not, why?:confused:

I'm curious. Do you ever cook and eat at home? If not, why?:confused:

Currently, I eat three times a day out.. twice a day out on weekends.

My wife doesn't want me to eat at home for the time being, as we're setting up the house.. so I run a budget of $3,000 a month for the entire family eating out, bringing home takeout, etc.

Wow! $36000.00 just to eat. That is more than we spend on everything in an average year.

We LOVE Taco Bell!!! So cheap and so good. I just found out they have one here in the UK and taking my hubby there for V-day! He's going to love it!
;)

Wow! $36000.00 just to eat. That is more than we spend on everything in an average year.

Yearly expenses in the 100,000's charged to credit card.. In Canada, we can't churn as well as Americans, but we spend enough as a household to fly regularly on points.

A $100 bucks a day feeding the family doesn't go far at all.. Usually supper at a restaurant costs $70 or $80.. that leaves $20 buck for the rest of the day.:D

A $100 bucks a day feeding the family doesn't go far at all..

No, not at all when eating out. That's why we reserve that for special occasions, or when traveling. Except in Thailand, I am so tired of eating out after a month on the road...

No, not at all when eating out. That's why we reserve that for special occasions, or when traveling. Except in Thailand, I am so tired of eating out after a month on the road...

Usually a subway breakfast sandwich and tea costs me about $4.. Lunch, around $15 or so.. We mix up the suppers, sometimes go light, sometime we go big. Special occasions like last weekend at the Banffshire.. Banff Springs Hotel, we dropped $300 plus on the supper part, sometimes $400 there..

The english muffin is cheap enough anyways without the sale.. and the sodium is low.. I double stacked the veggies this morning, mmm double tomatoes and cucumbers. I have a trend going now.:cool:

Ya!
That is a great idea :)
I really should start adding TONS of Veggies to mine...
And regarding the sale.. I simply meant their two-for one deals, free drink add ons, etc.
But ya, I hear ya for sure!

We LOVE Taco Bell!!! So cheap and so good. I just found out they have one here in the UK and taking my hubby there for V-day! He's going to love it!
;)

There are times when I'm tempted to go over there just for that! Of course, that would make it not so inexpensive...

I'm jealous of all the people here talking about tacos and am crossing my fingers that perhaps someday someone will start a good taco truck business here in Paris. :)