inexpensive restaurants near civic center plaza?

[jcr1]

a few students on a tight budget going into sf for a day and looking for an inexpensive (around $10-12 including tax and tip) restaurant to get a quick lunch around civic center plaza. style of food not critical. going to museum nearby so something within a few blocks would be great. one of us isn't that excited by sandwiches or soups so it would be nice if there were other possibilities too. thanks.

[dordogne]

If the weather is clement, you can get excellent banh mi at Saigon Sandwich on Larkin for a pittance and dine al fresco and people-watch at Civic Center Plaza or the seating areas surrounding the museum. Off the Grid (truck cuisine from some of the best vendors of this type) is at UN Plaza for lunch on Thursdays, Civic Center for lunch on Fridays.

And another vote for Lers Ros (best at Thai heat I've had) and Turtle Tower for pho, both excellent value.

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Saigon Sandwich Shop
560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Off the Grid
Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA 94123

[wolfe]

"one of us isn't that excited by sandwiches or soups"
"Qu’ils mangent de la brioche."
attributed to Marie Antoinette

[dordogne]

Ok, I need to read more carefully, even when I'm trolling Chowhound whilst wolfing down my own lunch. But Saigon Sandwich also has limited number of other Vietnamese specialities (room temp) and Turtle Tower has much more than pho. On the other hand, banh mi isn't just a "sandwich" and pho isn't just a "soup"--perhaps it's time to get that dining companion excited.

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Saigon Sandwich Shop
560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[singleguychef]

Brenda's Soul Food might be a nice alternative to all the Vietnamese/Thai/Burmese options in the area. I think the price range would be closer to the high end of your budget, though. Still doable for lunch, I think.

[scarmoza]

Show Dogs is just a few blocks away. They serve different sausages, sandwiches, corndogs, hamburgers.

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Show Dogs
1020 Market St, San Francisco, CA

[Robert Lauriston]

Second on Lers Ros (best Thai in the region) and Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen.

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Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Lers Ros Thai
730 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA

[Windy]

Just a note that Lers Ros has an inexpensive lunch menu, but whatever I tried on it was mediocre and dumbed down. Stick to their regular menu, even if it costs an extra dollar or two.

[Ruth Lafler]

Gyro King. I think Bodega Bistro is out of your price range. Also, if you go on Friday there's Off the Grid (assemblage of food trucks) and if you go on Wednesdays there's a farmers market that has prepared foods.

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Gyro King
25 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[escargot3]

ditto on Gyro King. it's a great little spot for inexpensive food very close to the museums and bart.

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Gyro King
25 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[JuliaG]

Turtle Tower is great. I also suggest Lahore Karahi (great Pakistani) - http://www.yelp.com/biz/lahore-karahi-san-francisco

As well as Ananda Fuara Vegetarian - http://www.yelp.com/biz/ananda-fuara-...
for good cheap eats in the area.

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Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Lahore Karahi
612 Ofarrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[Rapini]

Larkin Street has a wealth of inexpensive places. I'd suggest the Burmese place (Burmese Kitchen?) or Lers Ros (Thai). A lot of people like Bodega Bistro, 'tho I'm not a fan, and Turtle Tower.

If you're going to the Asian Art Museum, the cafe in the museum is quite good, and probably can be done within your budget.

Finally, use the CH search function for Civic Center, there are previous threads on this topic.

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Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[CarrieWas218]

Second Burmese Kitchen aka Larkin Express Deli. I've taken groups of five and six people there and gotten out for less than $40 total.

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Express Deli and Cafe
325 S 1st St Ste B, San Jose, CA 95113