I'll give you 7 bucks for lunch--where would you spend it?

[mrwhiskers]

I'm going to Baraka and getting the chicken sandwich! Or Armondo's for a couple of slices. Er, or maybe to Mary Chungs for the Dun-Dun noodles. Actually, I might head over to Vinny's for the Chicken Parm sandwich. I run in circles sometimes and would like a few other options.

[StriperGuy]

Jo Jo Taipei and Shangri-La both have excellent lunch specials for $6.99.

Just ate the beef with water spinach in Sa Cha sauce at Jo Jo and it was awesome.

[bigeks]

Mighty Subs just off 128 on Highland Ave. in Needham? Pretty solid, not transcendental in any way, but with $7 you're out of there with a drink and change -- their small Italian at under $5 is monstrous....

[suslak615]

In the Beacon Hill area go to either Cafe Quattro or the Fila Buster, both places practically anything you would want from their menus would cost you less than 7.

[Parsnipity]

A plate of murga chatt at Punjabi Dhaba- only $4.95.

[Tom Servo]

I'm going to Pinocchio's in Harvard Square for two Sicilian slices of tomato and basil and a root beer.

[BostonZest]

I'd get half a hot corned beef sandwich at Michael's Deli on Harvard St in Brookline. I think I might have enough left for a bottle of water. Half is about all I can eat anyway.

[lowbuckbob]

$7 worth of dim sum at China Pearl.

[kobuta]

Nowadays, isn't that only like 2-3 plates? *sigh*

[barleywino]

just ate at China Pearl, wish I hadn't...better across the street at Windsor imo

[chowboy55]

This is a great post - however it might be more challenging if you lowered the bar to $5. There are still a lot of good options - many already mentioned.

[barleywino]

boneless fried chicken or cutlet at Cafe Mami (Porter Exchange); a dollar extra for curry

[StriperGuy]

Buns at various places in chinatown.

Ken's Ramen.

Yi Soon.

Taqueria El Amigo.

Salgadinhos at various Brazilian places.

Pizza at Stella's or now Sabatino's.

A dog at Speed's.

Any of the Lunch specials at Shangri La AWESOME for $6.50 or so.

Noodles with shrimp at Mei Sum.

Any number of nibbles from Arax or Sevan.

Guru the caterer.

Beef Salad at Yoma.

Street food that they sell in some of the Indian grocery stores in Waltham make a nice lunch.

Etc. etc.

[chicken pot pie]

I would go to La Cascia in Medford and get a Super Italian sub with a bag of chips.

[mrwhiskers]

speaking of medford, i'd go to bobs and rock a sreak tip sandwich with hots and provolone. alas, given the 7 buck limit it might have to be a small one.

[TomH]

I would have to say that LaCascia's has jumped above Bob's in my book. The last four or five times I went to Bob's there was always something wrong with the food. Either the steak tips were overcooked and tough, the chicken parm was dry or I got old and cold fries. Two trips since I have made the switch to LaCascia's and I have been a very happy camper.

[Canadian Tuxedo]

Pinocchio's pizza in Harvard Sq. And you'll have enough left to buy a tasty beverage.

[StriperGuy]

I must say I like Pinocchio's.

[BackBayGirl]

In the almost year and a half I've worked in Harvard Square, I still haven't ventured over to Pinocchio's! I HAVE to go next week to try it out!

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I keep forgetting Pinocchio's is even there, but Allstonian and I ducked in there for a late bite last Tuesday and I thought "Oh right! I love this place! Why don't I ever go here?"

[Prav]

I think I saw you guys at O Ya.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I've never been.

[kobuta]

For me, $7 could be a lot of good eats:

- Chacarero sandwich
- Banh mi (or two) from Mei Sum + Lemon iced tea from Eldo's
- A good dozen selection of buns or other goods from any of the Chinatown bakeries (some of which could be dessert)
- Roast duck rice plate from Wai Wai
- Wonton noodles from HK Eatery/Cafe
- Baraka's tuna sandwich with harissa

[galleygirl]

Baraka's Tuna sandwich; please elaborate! Grilled tuna? Tuna Salad?Nicoise? Minds are hungry for information....

[kobuta]

It's tuna tossed in harissa with olive oil, olives, capers and with fresh cilantro on their fresh Algerian bread whose name I can't remember at the moment. It's open faced, and simply divine.

1st sandwich listed in the sandwich section.
http://www.barakacafe.com/menu.html

[yumyum]

GG -- you would love that sandwich.

[galleygirl]

Yes, I'm going to have to work it into one of my rounds.....

[nasilemak]

the jerk beef sandwich at Redbones, roast duck rice at Wai Wai, wonton noodles at Hong Kong Eatery, vegetarian plate at Moody's Falafel Palace, three homestyle dishes with rice and soup at Potluck Cafe.

[BackBayGirl]

2 slices of pizza at Pizza Oggi in Harvard Square. YUM!

[hckybg]

I'm a big fan too, and I love the people who work there--I leave happy every time.

[hiddenboston]

I'd probably get the country-style noodle at Thai Moon in Arlington (not just because it's about the best dish I've had for around $7 over the past few months, but because I'm about 200 feet from there right now, heh heh).

[StriperGuy]

Heck, you may have just solved my lunch dilemma today...

[hiddenboston]

My work here is done....

[mrwhiskers]

yum, i'll check it out. usually i get my thai fix at Rod Dee, but i think most dishes cross the 7 dollar threshold. not by much though...

[junior coyote]

Tudo Na Brasa in Woburn for Brazilian BBQ. Load up a plate for $6 a pound, bring my own beer, and it's still under $7.

[newyorker1]

My current breakfast/lunchtime obsession (because I don't work nearby and have to make a trip) is Mike and Patty's in Bay Village -- most/all of their sandwiches are $7 or less I think. I also like the sandwiches at Formaggio, and need to check out the banh mi at Bobalicious that folks here kindly pointed me to.

[alwayscooking]

Gru the Caterer in Somerville for 2 dishes, rice and chapati - and have enough leftover for lunch the next day. Such excellent Punjab food.

[Bob Dobalina]

Yup.

Tacos Lupita too.

[chowboy55]

I agree - $7 at Guru will buy you the best tikka masala in town.

[StriperGuy]

I can think of more than 50 answers to this question.

[fmcoxe6188]

Tacos at Villa Mexico...if only I worked a little closer...

[Delhiwala]

Since $7.00 is the price of a Speeds dog, the answer is obvious to me if one has a car and the time to go there.
Alternatively, for $6.50 you can get a great hot or cold sub, a bag of chips and a large soda at Al's in Downtown Boston.

[Bob Geary]

My current lunch crush (mentioned here by itaunas before) is almost any of the variations on the x-tudo sandwich at Pastelaria Vitoria in East Somerville. (I'll generally get either the x-file or the x-bacon, depending on my beef/pork biorhythms that day).

[MrsCheese]

pho at Xinh Xinh

[joebloe]

Are you sure pho at Xinh Xinh is only $7? After tax and tip it's more like $10, which 30% above the requested budget.

[C. Hamster]

Depends on what size you get, doesn't it?

Xinh Xinh would be my choice, too. But maybe just cause Im jonesing for it today.

[MC Slim JB]

Xinh Xinh pho is $5.50-$6.75 pre-tax and -tip..

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[Science Chick]

Any of the sammiches at Blue Ribbon BBQ. $6.99 gets you a big sandwich, beans and slaw (generous helpings!)

[phatchris]

Or any sides for that matter.

[Science Chick]

Yes, they are great about substitutions! Give me a nice heapin' side of mashed potatoes, please!

[chuck s]

9lives beat me to the Galleria Umberto suggestion so how about Speed Dog?

[mrwhiskers]

I'm not an Umbertos fan, or for that matter, Regina's. Haymarket is right up my alley, though. Armando's in Cambridge satisfies my pizza cravings. I thought the Speeds's Dog, with everything, was 8 bucks. good falafel works but Sami's falafel is near 8 bucks too, i can't think of another place as good, not in cambridge anyway.

[StriperGuy]

You don't like Galleria Umberto? Pray tell why? I love their Arancini, any of the calzones with spinach, heck, I like their pizza, their pizzete, their panzarotti all of it.

[mrwhiskers]

i worked and ate in the north end for ten years. umberto's pizza is soggy, the arancini bland, and their calzones i like even less. just me, i guess

[StriperGuy]

I disagree on all counts, but a chacun à son goût.

[MC Slim JB]

Speed's dog regardless of toppings is $7. I'm still gonna try that $8 steak sandwich at some point.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[9lives]

stuff myself at Galleria Umberto in the NE or a few slices at Haymarket

few bahn mi sandwiches in Chinatown or Dorchester

Taiwan Cafe...beef/poblano peppers or eggplant/basil or whatever lunch special grabs you

[galleygirl]

TC, the whole soy-braised tilapia.

[treb]

2nd all of them and you'll have enough left for a small nosh at Modern Bakery or a T ride home.

[nsenada]

Exactly the ones I was going to list. I might add a falafel from that place on Winter Street, Boston Kebab House chicken kofte rollup, or gorge on hot dog buns, curry beef turnovers, and spring rolls at any bakery in Chinatown.

[CreativeFoodie42]

I'd have to agree with the banh mi sandwiches. I particularly like the ones at New Saigon Restaurant on Washington Street.