Looking for Great, Modest-Price Chow in Reno

[woodburner]

I have searched a bit and found a couple of things, but wanted to ask directly: What would you recommend as just great chow - great qualiy food in almost any genre -- at a low or moderate price in Reno? Staying at the Silver Legacy, but willing to drive around.

A buddy and I will undoubtedly blow our money gambling... so... we like dang excellent food -- but not fancy or pricey. The places the local eat. The places that some might call undistinguished or dumps. But the places that have the best food, whether Burgers, Steaks, BBQ, or Thai, Sushi, Mexcan, Spanish. You name it... best of breed, I suppose.

Thanks in advance.

[nancyhudson]

Total dump, great burgers, great breakfast: Brickies on 2nd and Washington (I think). Nice walk from Silver Legacy (10 minutes).

[c oliver]

Terrific. We've driven past that a gazillion times. Will check it out. Thanks.

[SteveTimko]

My favorite place for cheap eats currently is El Tumi, a Peruvian place on Moana Lane. They have a quarter of a chicken for $7 that is unbelievably good.
Search Chowhound (it might still be on the California board) for all my reviews of it.
You're in luck if you like Thai. Just about all the Thai places are good. The two closest to you I'd recommend are Bangkok Cuisine on Mount Rose Street (not the Mount Rose Highway) and Thai Chili on South Virginia Street, which is actually closer to the Silver Legacy.
The Little Nugget under the Reno Arch has a divey diner in the back. The Awful Awful hamburger there used to be legendary. I think it's slipped under the new owners, but it might still be worth a try. It stands for awful big and awful good. The musician Paul Reveer used to own a restaurant in Reno and advertised it had the second best burger in town, a nod to the Awful Awful.
Also consider stopping by the Bar at the Santa Fe Hotel on Lake Street (behind Harrah's) for tapas for dinner. I wrote a review on this. The Santa Fe is better for a sit-down Basque dinner. IT's about $21 I believe.
If you like Mexican tortas sandwiches, Las Palomas is a bakery on Wells Avenue that also makes food, including tortas. I'm eating the spicy pork right now.
For Chinese, I've been eating Oriental Express on McCarran in sparks. All food is served in styrofoam to-go cartons. No dishes or silverware if you dine it. But it's the best cheap Chinese food in the area.

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Santa Fe Hotel
235 Lake St, Reno, NV 89501

Thai Chili Restaurant
1030 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502

Bangkok Cuisine
55 Mount Rose St, Reno, NV 89509

[woodburner]

excellent... thanks

[SteveTimko]

I went to El Tumi last night and it turns out the chicken dish I mentioned is only served after 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday, although I thought they were closed on Sunday.

[NVJims]

Right across Virginia from the Silver Legacy is Pho Country #2. They have very good food at a reasonable price.