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12 Meals For Under $10 That Taste Like a Million Bucks

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For those of us who can't drive our Maseratis over to a Michelin-starred restaurant whenever we feel like it, there's no question: San Francisco is expensive. And if you're trying to eat out on a budget, the same repetitive roster of taquerias, slice joints, and banh mi parlors can get old. To help fill your stomach and preserve the contents of your bank account, we've updated our original cheap eats map with 12 more spots where you can eat a full meal for $10 or less and break up your normal rotation. They include healthy vegan fare, a delicious secret Peruvian spot, and even a place that would be 100% appropriate for a first date. Here are the 12 best San Francisco cheap eats that are rocking our world in 2014.


We know this list does not begin to scratch the surface of the many fine SF eats under $10. Got a favorite spot that hasn't appeared on this or our original list? Let us know in the comments.

· 12 Cheap Eats Destinations in San Francisco, 2012 Edition [~ ESF ~]
· What Are San Francisco's Best Cheap Eats? [~ ESF ~]

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Glaze Teriyaki Grill

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A healthy meal can be had for under $10 at this Seattle-style teriyaki joint, with your choice of glazed chicken breast or thigh, white or brown rice, and salad. Drop an extra buck to splurge for salmon or hangar steak.

Tommy's Joynt

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This old-school hofbrau is the place to go for a crazy-cheap $9.25 dinner platter, with your choice of meat (the lamb shank and brisket are popular), mashed potatoes or veggies, beans or salad, and bread and butter. A slice of cake or pie is an extra $3.

Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill

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The Japanese-style curry at this mini-chain is fantastic, and at $8-10 for a portion with pickles and rice, it's also affordable. The $9 lunch sets, with all of the above plus appetizers, salad, and miso soup, are an even better deal.

The Sentinel

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Everything is $10 and under at this downtown lunchtime favorite (as well as sister spot Golden West). The corned beef sandwich and egg salad are legendary, but the spicy pork and lamb-eggplant are no slouches either. Plus, you get a pickle and a free Andes mint. No seating, but Yerba Buena Gardens is three blocks away for al fresco dining.

HRD Coffee Shop

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This Korean take on a taqueria has inspired deep affection from techies, who line up on their lunch breaks for a spicy pork bibimbap salad, bulgogi burrito, or Japanese curry enchiladas. About half of the menu is under $10, portions are huge, and service is nice.

It's an in-and-out operation with eight counter seats, but for tasty noodles without fuss, the Burmese ladies at Yamo will hook you up. The mango chicken, house noodles, and tea leaf salad all clock in under $8, and are reliably tasty.

Judahlicious

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You can eat healthy without dumping the contents of your wallet at Judahlicious, which offers raw and vegan fare for $10 and under like an acai bowl, a nori wrap with sunflower seed pate and fresh veggies, or a rice bowl with veggies and tamari.

Terra Cotta Warrior

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Most dishes at this Xi'an-style spot are under $10, and the atmosphere is a notch up from other Chinese restaurants-- you could go here on a date without shame. We dig the Shaanxi mian-pi noodles, the cumin lamb, the pork burgers, and the Qishan minced pork noodles. Bonus: it's BYOB (there's a corner store with beer and wine across the street).

Cholo Soy

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Sample some delicious and authentic Peruvian food at this lunch counter in a Mission mini-mall, which offers heavenly ceviche for just $5, and $10 daily specials like braised beef or roasted lamb, served in massive portions with beans and rice included on the side.

Lunch for under $10 in the pricey Ferry Building? It's possible at Delica, which offers vegetable and spicy tuna maki in the $5-9 range, and a $9 bento box with your choice of two items (like wasabi potato salad, Chinese chicken salad, and crab croquettes) and rice. Everything's organic and seasonal, too.

Zen Yai Thai

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Famous for their $6.50 boat noodles, served in a beefy, blood-fortified broth with meat, greens, and crispy pork cracklings, Zen Yai is full of delicious eats under $10. Duck curry and a half grilled chicken are other solid choices.

Chilango Mexican Food

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For sit-down Mexican that's not taqueria fare, tastes great, and is largely under $15, Chilango is where it's at. Nearly everything is $10 or less at lunch, and the tortilla soup, chicken tostadas, and trio of vegetarian tacos are all $10 or under at dinner.

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Glaze Teriyaki Grill

A healthy meal can be had for under $10 at this Seattle-style teriyaki joint, with your choice of glazed chicken breast or thigh, white or brown rice, and salad. Drop an extra buck to splurge for salmon or hangar steak.

Tommy's Joynt

This old-school hofbrau is the place to go for a crazy-cheap $9.25 dinner platter, with your choice of meat (the lamb shank and brisket are popular), mashed potatoes or veggies, beans or salad, and bread and butter. A slice of cake or pie is an extra $3.

Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill

The Japanese-style curry at this mini-chain is fantastic, and at $8-10 for a portion with pickles and rice, it's also affordable. The $9 lunch sets, with all of the above plus appetizers, salad, and miso soup, are an even better deal.

The Sentinel

Everything is $10 and under at this downtown lunchtime favorite (as well as sister spot Golden West). The corned beef sandwich and egg salad are legendary, but the spicy pork and lamb-eggplant are no slouches either. Plus, you get a pickle and a free Andes mint. No seating, but Yerba Buena Gardens is three blocks away for al fresco dining.

HRD Coffee Shop

This Korean take on a taqueria has inspired deep affection from techies, who line up on their lunch breaks for a spicy pork bibimbap salad, bulgogi burrito, or Japanese curry enchiladas. About half of the menu is under $10, portions are huge, and service is nice.

Yamo

It's an in-and-out operation with eight counter seats, but for tasty noodles without fuss, the Burmese ladies at Yamo will hook you up. The mango chicken, house noodles, and tea leaf salad all clock in under $8, and are reliably tasty.

Judahlicious

You can eat healthy without dumping the contents of your wallet at Judahlicious, which offers raw and vegan fare for $10 and under like an acai bowl, a nori wrap with sunflower seed pate and fresh veggies, or a rice bowl with veggies and tamari.

Terra Cotta Warrior

Most dishes at this Xi'an-style spot are under $10, and the atmosphere is a notch up from other Chinese restaurants-- you could go here on a date without shame. We dig the Shaanxi mian-pi noodles, the cumin lamb, the pork burgers, and the Qishan minced pork noodles. Bonus: it's BYOB (there's a corner store with beer and wine across the street).

Cholo Soy

Sample some delicious and authentic Peruvian food at this lunch counter in a Mission mini-mall, which offers heavenly ceviche for just $5, and $10 daily specials like braised beef or roasted lamb, served in massive portions with beans and rice included on the side.

DELICA

Lunch for under $10 in the pricey Ferry Building? It's possible at Delica, which offers vegetable and spicy tuna maki in the $5-9 range, and a $9 bento box with your choice of two items (like wasabi potato salad, Chinese chicken salad, and crab croquettes) and rice. Everything's organic and seasonal, too.

Zen Yai Thai

Famous for their $6.50 boat noodles, served in a beefy, blood-fortified broth with meat, greens, and crispy pork cracklings, Zen Yai is full of delicious eats under $10. Duck curry and a half grilled chicken are other solid choices.

Chilango Mexican Food

For sit-down Mexican that's not taqueria fare, tastes great, and is largely under $15, Chilango is where it's at. Nearly everything is $10 or less at lunch, and the tortilla soup, chicken tostadas, and trio of vegetarian tacos are all $10 or under at dinner.

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