clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A photo of dumplings.
Spicy lamb dumplings at Shanghai Dumpling King.
Shanghai Dumpling King

15 Affordable Dining Options in San Francisco

Local diners are always hungry for a good deal

View as Map
Spicy lamb dumplings at Shanghai Dumpling King.
| Shanghai Dumpling King

San Francisco is well-known for its high prices — though in recent months, various firms have said other metro areas have surpassed the Paris of the West for the cost of living. Quicken Loans puts Honolulu above San Francisco, as does Kiplinger, and Nerdwallet puts Boston above San Francisco, too. Regardless, there are still plenty of ways to eat on a budget in the city. In trying to bat down those pesky inflation costs, hit these 15 San Francisco destinations for breakfast sandwiches, dumplings, diners, pupusas, and more.

Note: Menu prices may fluctuate.

Read More

Yo Yo's

Copy Link

This Japanese noodle and takeaway sushi shop is little more than a tiny kitchen a few steps away from the heart of the Financial District, but it’s attracted a faithful following for its delicious, bargain-priced udon and soba, in particular. After nearly closing in April 2022, the shop is back on its feet. “Everything” includes crispy puffed rice, seasoned bean curd, and a little dab of wasabi. The restaurant has reopened for takeout, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hot Sauce and Panko

Copy Link

This popular Russian Hill wing-slinger is a takeout- and delivery-only model, with a retail shop selling hot sauce. These are some of the most succulent, flavorful wings in town, available in a range of internationally-inspired sweet, savory, or spicy varieties — most priced around $8 for an order of five.

Wings at Hot Sauce and Panko

Kusina Ni Tess

Copy Link

Perhaps the friendliest and most delicious of the city’s Filipino steam table spots, Kusina Ni Tess is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s got a daily changing menu that you should check if you’re craving something specific — say, chicken adobo (available every day except Monday). Traditional breakfast silog plates are available all day, every day, and most dishes are priced at about $10 for an average order.

Saigon Sandwich

Copy Link

This Larkin Street go-to for Vietnamese food has an ultra simple menu: six sandwiches, each for $5, and two tofu plates for $6.50 each. Fans love this Tenderloin shop for its cheap, loaded bánh mi sandwiches, including the pork combination of grilled pork and pate.

Saigon Sandwich banh mi
Saigon Sandwich Banh Mi
Cyneats

La Cocina Municipal Marketplace

Copy Link

The newest food hall in the Tenderloin offers multiple businesses to order from. They run the gamut of cuisines and offerings and each is owned and operated by entrepreneurs from the incubator program. La Cocina also offers $5 meals so the community has access to affordable food.

Estrellita’s Snacks from La Cocina
Lorena Masso

Uncle Boy's

Copy Link

This burger and lumpia joint features a menu where everything is about $11. It’s one of those places that’s mentioned, inevitably, by those born and raised in San Francisco’s Richmond and Sunset districts. Don’t deny yourself the Romeo’s Juliet, a burger with mozzarella sticks crammed inside.

Eddie's Cafe

Copy Link

This is a breakfast spot for those looking for a proper place to dish up before a long day working. Though on the same block as trendier restaurants, the low-key energy at Eddie’s could be found in any diner, anywhere in the state. A three-piece French toast costs just $8.25 and the coffee, bottomless of course, is just $3.

Scenes Eddie’s Cafe Sunday 11am

Shanghai Dumpling King

Copy Link

West Portal is lucky to play host to Shanghai Dumpling King and its numerous items that cost less than $10. From the tofu thread salad ($7.95) to the green onion pancake (also $7.95) to the plentiful dumpling choices (almost all just shy of $10) this is the go-to place for dumpling and deal lovers alike. 

Happy Bakery

Copy Link

Thank god there’s an ATM kitty corner to this cash-only Sunset destination. Cars double park every morning of the week as regulars dash in and out for siu mai, taro peanut butter dumplings, and buns of all kinds. 

At this tiny, no-frills Burmese diner, everything on the menu — from the assortment of curries to the garlicky house noodles — will run you no more than $8, cash only. It might be the best bang for your buck of any restaurant in the city.

garlic noodles at yamo Omar Mamoon

Newkirk's

Copy Link

East Coast-style sandwiches aren’t ubiquitous in San Francisco for patently obvious reasons, which makes this Mission District shop all the more precious to its fans. The egg and cheddar sandwich goes for just $7.95, and many of its other options run just $2 more.  

A photo of a sandwich. Newkirk’s

Rinconcito Salvadoreño

Copy Link

For a big weekend, one might blow a wad of cash and get the pricier items at this Bernal Heights’ restaurant. Or, one could purchase a plethora of pupusas, a timeless cheap eat. On average each pupusa is just $3, and, to wash it all down, the coffee is just $2.

George's Zoo

Copy Link

This convenience store and sandwich shop is a Parkside staple, selling hearty sandwiches for just $8.50. In fact, there are 25 different sandwiches — including vegetarian options and an Italian offering with mortadella and salami — all for just $8.50. Breakfast sandwiches cost just $3.99.

bloomstock

Copy Link

This 420-friendly Bayview waffle and coffee house has stellar prices. The house blend is $2.75 a cup, and the vegan waffles start at $7. With a 20 percent tip included, a lucky duck of a customer could find themselves spending less than $15 for a drink, a waffle, and a seat at one of San Francisco’s sweetest little parklets.

a waffle at Bloomstock Bloomstock

Beep's Burgers

Copy Link

This Space-Age-themed, ’60s-style drive-in in Ingleside serves one of the best inexpensive burgers in the city. Even during shelter-in-place, Beep’s remained open for its regular hours, offering its Twinkie milkshakes, jalapeño poppers, and roughly $8 burgers to the true believers.

Loading comments...

Yo Yo's

This Japanese noodle and takeaway sushi shop is little more than a tiny kitchen a few steps away from the heart of the Financial District, but it’s attracted a faithful following for its delicious, bargain-priced udon and soba, in particular. After nearly closing in April 2022, the shop is back on its feet. “Everything” includes crispy puffed rice, seasoned bean curd, and a little dab of wasabi. The restaurant has reopened for takeout, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hot Sauce and Panko

This popular Russian Hill wing-slinger is a takeout- and delivery-only model, with a retail shop selling hot sauce. These are some of the most succulent, flavorful wings in town, available in a range of internationally-inspired sweet, savory, or spicy varieties — most priced around $8 for an order of five.

Wings at Hot Sauce and Panko

Kusina Ni Tess

Perhaps the friendliest and most delicious of the city’s Filipino steam table spots, Kusina Ni Tess is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s got a daily changing menu that you should check if you’re craving something specific — say, chicken adobo (available every day except Monday). Traditional breakfast silog plates are available all day, every day, and most dishes are priced at about $10 for an average order.

Saigon Sandwich

This Larkin Street go-to for Vietnamese food has an ultra simple menu: six sandwiches, each for $5, and two tofu plates for $6.50 each. Fans love this Tenderloin shop for its cheap, loaded bánh mi sandwiches, including the pork combination of grilled pork and pate.

Saigon Sandwich banh mi
Saigon Sandwich Banh Mi
Cyneats

La Cocina Municipal Marketplace

The newest food hall in the Tenderloin offers multiple businesses to order from. They run the gamut of cuisines and offerings and each is owned and operated by entrepreneurs from the incubator program. La Cocina also offers $5 meals so the community has access to affordable food.

Estrellita’s Snacks from La Cocina
Lorena Masso

Uncle Boy's

This burger and lumpia joint features a menu where everything is about $11. It’s one of those places that’s mentioned, inevitably, by those born and raised in San Francisco’s Richmond and Sunset districts. Don’t deny yourself the Romeo’s Juliet, a burger with mozzarella sticks crammed inside.

Eddie's Cafe

This is a breakfast spot for those looking for a proper place to dish up before a long day working. Though on the same block as trendier restaurants, the low-key energy at Eddie’s could be found in any diner, anywhere in the state. A three-piece French toast costs just $8.25 and the coffee, bottomless of course, is just $3.

Scenes Eddie’s Cafe Sunday 11am

Shanghai Dumpling King

West Portal is lucky to play host to Shanghai Dumpling King and its numerous items that cost less than $10. From the tofu thread salad ($7.95) to the green onion pancake (also $7.95) to the plentiful dumpling choices (almost all just shy of $10) this is the go-to place for dumpling and deal lovers alike. 

Happy Bakery

Thank god there’s an ATM kitty corner to this cash-only Sunset destination. Cars double park every morning of the week as regulars dash in and out for siu mai, taro peanut butter dumplings, and buns of all kinds. 

Yamo

At this tiny, no-frills Burmese diner, everything on the menu — from the assortment of curries to the garlicky house noodles — will run you no more than $8, cash only. It might be the best bang for your buck of any restaurant in the city.

garlic noodles at yamo Omar Mamoon

Newkirk's

East Coast-style sandwiches aren’t ubiquitous in San Francisco for patently obvious reasons, which makes this Mission District shop all the more precious to its fans. The egg and cheddar sandwich goes for just $7.95, and many of its other options run just $2 more.  

A photo of a sandwich. Newkirk’s

Rinconcito Salvadoreño

For a big weekend, one might blow a wad of cash and get the pricier items at this Bernal Heights’ restaurant. Or, one could purchase a plethora of pupusas, a timeless cheap eat. On average each pupusa is just $3, and, to wash it all down, the coffee is just $2.

George's Zoo

This convenience store and sandwich shop is a Parkside staple, selling hearty sandwiches for just $8.50. In fact, there are 25 different sandwiches — including vegetarian options and an Italian offering with mortadella and salami — all for just $8.50. Breakfast sandwiches cost just $3.99.

bloomstock

This 420-friendly Bayview waffle and coffee house has stellar prices. The house blend is $2.75 a cup, and the vegan waffles start at $7. With a 20 percent tip included, a lucky duck of a customer could find themselves spending less than $15 for a drink, a waffle, and a seat at one of San Francisco’s sweetest little parklets.

a waffle at Bloomstock Bloomstock

Beep's Burgers

This Space-Age-themed, ’60s-style drive-in in Ingleside serves one of the best inexpensive burgers in the city. Even during shelter-in-place, Beep’s remained open for its regular hours, offering its Twinkie milkshakes, jalapeño poppers, and roughly $8 burgers to the true believers.

Related Maps