Budget-minded ethnic in the Haight

[kmarquez]

Everyone in our family loves to eat. We're spending a week in Haight Ashbury area in March. We're budget-minded and like ethnic food. With an 12 year old, we don't want fancy, time-consuming dinners. Help!

[bigwheel042]

Not the greatest area for "ethnic" eats. Zona Rosa is OK but doesn't compare with many Mission taquerias; Citrus Club, also OK but usually not as satisfying as noodle joints elsewhere. The same goes for Ploy Thai and Siam Lotus. I would consider jumping on the 33 bus - it's a quick ride to Clement Street from there, where all kinds of good Asian food can be found.

Edit: I forgot that I do like The Little Chihuahua on Divisidero for burritos, but that's more on the edge of the neighborhood.

[chocolatetartguy]

In the lower Haight and not ethnic, but what 12 year old (and adult) wouldn't like a Rosamunde sausage?

[Civil Bear]

And of course there is always Memphis Minnie's accross the street.

[BernalKC]

Cha Cha Cha is fun

Staying on Haight does not mean stuck on Haight, so expanding the radius a bit:

La Boulange on Cole would be a good lunch/brunch option
Nopalito is not cheap Mexican, but it is good
Starbelly might work if you're in the Upper Market / Castro area

There are some places I've been wanting to check out around 9th & Irving too, but the names escape me.

[ML8000]

Except for a few burrito places, can't think of many place. There is Cha Cha Cha, Caribbean. I haven't been in at least 10 years but it's there.

[boris_qd]

It doesn't get a lot of love on these boards but I think the Citrus Club is very tasty. They usually do a great job getting some wok hei in their stir fries and the hot sour soup is as good as what you find in most thai places. A bit westernized, sure. An (annoying? fun?) hip crowd, yup. But tasty nonetheless. I've been there with three kids along with three adults and it worked out fine.

(last tip: avoid the curry dishes)

Magnolia pub has good beer on tap and standard pub food if that's your thing.

I don't think anything in the upper haight (except maybe Alembic) would be described as fancy or time consuming.

[vulber]

Citrus Club can be inconsistent.

While Magnolia makes some of my favorite beers ever, the food is kinda eh.

Kan Zaman has tasty, authentic Lebanese/Middle Eastern food and drinks. Make sure to go early though. Comfy couches too. Open all day on weekends

It's not ethnic food, but I've always thought the only destination restaurant in the Upper Haight is the Alembic (funny enough, it's owned by the same people as Magnolia, but the food is way better). Alembic is definitely fancy in terms of alcohol selection, but not vibe. It's also now open during the day every day, where you won't have as much of the "bar" feel.

It doesn't get mentioned much on here, but Thai Place II at Page and Divisadero is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the city.

If you're looking for an ethnic take on American food, King Foot Subs has Korean-style submarine sandwiches.

If you venture further down to the Lower Haight, there's Axum Cafe, a great Ethiopian place; a 12-year-old might enjoy the eat with your hands aspect of Ethiopian cuisine.

Ali Baba's Cave, also in the Lower Haight, has huge delicious falafel wraps, and all of the Indian restaurants (save for the new Indian Oven, which I haven't been to yet) are pretty good. Indian Oven is probably fancier than the others (Rotee, Naan n' Chutney).

I've always felt Zazie is overrated, and certainly nothing waiting in line for, but given the lack of options in the Upper Haight, it's worth considering.