Vancouver: Favorite Cheap Eats?

[kati3]

What are your favorite cheap eats? Lets says <$10 Vancouver area.

Pita Wrap Cafe (Dunsmuir @ Seymour)
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/181423/restaurant/Downtown/Pita-Wrap-Cafe-Vancouver
seriously, $3.50 breakfast in downtown vancouver and their middle eastern food is so so good. The portions are massive and their food is so tasty. Family run and very friendly. The line ups at lunch can be quite long but worth the wait. I dont think there is anything on the menu for over $10.

House of Dosa (Kingsway @ Clark
)http://www.houseofdosa.net/
$5.99 Dosa on Monday, come early or come late, the line ups can be quite long but well worth it. You can order any dosa for 5.99. They also have good deals on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

Save on Meats - $6 burger (you cant even get a big mac at McDonald for this) - gastown
http://saveonmeats.ca/
For price vs. quality, this is the best burger in Vancouver -- comes with fries or a salad. I dont even really like burgers that much, but this one has won me over. Also as a side note, I have gotten some pretty amazing milkshakes from here (earl gray, cherry coke, etc).

Mango Thai (Westend
)http://mangothai.ca/
They have a $6.99 lunch special with multiple dishes to choose from (they all come with a spring roll, rice and salad). Very good value.

IGA Marketplace (Richards @ Robson
)I am not sure if all locations have these items, but they have prepackaged Indian Takeaway dishes (butter chicken, veggie, daal, tandori) from Sutra an indian place located down the street. They also have tasty locally made soups that are available hot in kettles for take away or you can buy them prepackaged to take home as well.

Saravanaa Bhavan (Broadway @ Oak)
http://www.saravanaabhavan.ca/
Okay this one is breaking my rule a little bit if you go for the buffet in regards to price but this place provides really good value non the less. There are so many items to choose from (all veg) and their food actually has some kick to it. Many of their menu items are under $10 if you choose to order off the menu. Highly recommend.

Yamato Sushi (Davie @ Seymour
)http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/181991/restaurant/Yaletown/Yamato-Sushi-Vancouver
Vancouver has a lot of cheap sushi places, but I have found that so far Yamato has them beat in the quality department. They have really good sushi special prices. Primarily takeout, only about 6 small 2-3 people tables inside.

I also love this blog Cheap appetite - http://cheapappetite.com/

What are your cheap favorites?

[kati3]

Again, Saravanaa Bhaven -

I forgot to mention you can get a $5 lunch box which includes your choice of curry, masala potato, rice, naan and an indian sweet.

Just had this the other day, was pretty tasty.

[ninamendoza]

Kim Saigon Sandwiches
Banh Mi
Main and Pender in Chinatown
https://foursquare.com/v/kim-saigon-sandwiches/4bde4fce17fdef3bb89a4e36

Juno Vancouver Sushi Bistro
$10 lunch special
Davie at Seymour, Downtown Vancouver
https://foursquare.com/v/juno-vancouver-sushi-bistro/4c56304d2308be9adb8c566c

La Taqueria
Cambie & Broadway, Vancouver
https://foursquare.com/v/la-taqueria-pinche-taco-shop/4e223f06d4c0d32590f80ff4

La Taqueria
Hastings & Hamilton, Vancouver
https://foursquare.com/v/la-taqueria/...

[Sam Salmon]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned La Taqueria's Wednesday special.

[pusherman]

I really like La Taqueria but I don't think I'd call it a good deal...$10ish for 4 very good but very small tacos.

[Sam Salmon]

Reread what I posted-The Wednesday Special-which is 6 Tacos for the price of 4-any 4 Tacos on the menu.

And Veggie Tacos-which are all I eat-are regularly 4 for $7 a smokin' deal in this town.

Finally-that's the size of most Tacos in Mexico-they're Tacos nor Burritos.

[kati3]

Wow that is a really good deal, thanks for sharing!

[pusherman]

Wow, you're right, that is a good deal, I'll definitely have to check it out - I wasn't aware of the Wednesday special!

I recognize that many tacos in Mexico are small...but they are also usually <$1 apiece.

[kati3]

New one to add -

La Casita in gastown has a $5 burrito special on Mondays.

I did not sample this but I had another one of their lunch specials - avocado and cheese quesdilla, beans or salad + rice and tortilla chips + 2 salsas for $9 last Sunday.

I was pretty satisfied... not the most authentic, but tasty non the less.

[pusherman]

This is a great thread! I just moved to Vancouver a few months ago and have been in an almost constant state of sticker shock.

The burrito place at Broadway / Ash (I forget the name) has $5 burritos after 5pm every day. OK, it's a pretty mediocre burrito, but still...$5 burrito!

In the Mexican vein, you can also pay $7.99 at lunch for two overflowing tacos and a drink at Taco Shack on Cornwall (@ Cypress) in Kits -- may be the most inauthentic taco I have ever eaten (cole slaw?) but actually pretty tasty.

We also had good cheap Korean at Seoul Doogbaegi at Kingsway / Windsor, and I think the entrees were all under $10, which is a pretty good deal for Korean food - including all the side dishes, 2 could easily eat for <$20.

[fmed]

I'm a big fan of Seoul Doogbaegi too.

[À la carte]

Ooh, craving their mushroom soondubu right now.

Also, don't know if it fully qualifies, but we've been enjoying Al Nakheel (The Palm Tree restaurant) lately. Their cheapest entrees are about $11 but portion sizes are huge. Service is slow, but friendly.

[kati3]

Coleslaw or more specifically cabbage is pretty indicative of the baja-style taco, usually fish :)

I think the $5 after 5 might be Mucho Burrito?

[pusherman]

Mucho Burrito, that's it. Dumb name, but a good deal (though hardly a life changing burrito). I haven't been to the Vancouver Chipotle yet, but I'm told they jacked the prices up like 30% over the US, ouch!

I think you're right on the baja-style tacos, the place has some California travel posters up. I'm originally from Texas, not as familiar w/west coast Mexican food.

[slugsunderfoot]

- many estabs spurt immediately to mind- but right off i suggest LAURA'S KITCHEN (3-rd & manitoba?) for the unagi fried rice. unconquerable.

[quddous]

Anything @ Hawkers Delight
Anything @ Prata Man (Richmond)
Special Sub Bahn Mi @ Au Petite Cafe
#4 Pollo Sub @ Duffins Donuts
Bahn Mi @ Tung Hing
Anything @ Ebi Ten
Chicken Tikka @ Kabab Hut
Beef Brisket Curry @ Mui Garden
Baked Porkchop Rice @ Cattle Cafe
Chicken Donair @ Canteen Mitra

Ba Le is definitely inferior to Tung Hing (We did a taste test where we went to both and got special subs and tried them at the exact same time)

1) Less stuff inside the Ba Le sub
2) prepacked + cold at Ba Le vs Fresh made at Tung Hing
3) Tung Hing was larger
4) Yum

[grayelf]

So sad to hear that you got a prepacked banh mi at Ba Le. We go to the one on Kingsway a lot and have never had anything but fresh made. Last Sat the guy ahead of me ordered 12 to go and I watched while they powered them out assembly-line style. The one drawback I find there is that there is always a bit of a wait as it is so popular, even in off hours. I do not however order the dac biet (I like numbers 2 and 7) and have heard others prefer that from TH. I like the baguettes from Ba Le the best...

[quddous]

I have only been to the Main Street location of Ba Le as I go to Tung Hing if I am on Kingsway. I will try it out next time.

[LotusRapper]

Do a banh mi trifecta !

Zip down to Fraser/Kingsway to Ba Le. Then up Kingsway to Tung Hing. Then get your 3rd banh mi at Kim Chau a few more blocks east. I envision an A/B/C taste test :-)

[fmed]

I have done that a couple of times. They each have their strengths and specialties. My own list: Tung Hing > Ba Le > Kim Chau.

[LotusRapper]

And you weren't the only one too !

http://mehungry-phyllis.blogspot.ca/2009/08/vancouver-banh-mi-roundup.html

http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/...

[grayelf]

The Ba Le on Main cannot hold a candle to the one on Kingsway. Will be interested to hear your thoughts if you go.

[fmed]

The Ba Le on Main St is not affiliated with the one on Kingsway.

[sillewater]

Costco and IKEA

[quddous]

I was going to say yuck but the pizza slice I had at Costco a few days back was magical. Mind you it was ultra greasy and I was away in Asia for a month+. But still amazing.

Ikea - yuck. The last hotdog I had there tasted like cardboard (maybe that's what they do with the boxes from furniture?)

[22justin]

good blog, nice find

[flowbee]

Whoa, great to see Tana back in action!

[jmil]

Indian lunch specials on Fraser st.
- Al-Watan
- New Novelty

[vandan]

Gain Wah as well

[waylman]

adding Sal y Limon
http://www.salylimon.ca/menu.aspx

[LotusRapper]

I forgot, but I've only been twice so they're not really part of my roster technically speaking.

But Ba Le (next door) and Tung Hing Bakery/Deli further east on Kingsway definitely are ! :-)

http://tunghingbakery.ca/portal/

But ya didn't know Tung Hing is part of an Ontario chain !

[quddous]

Amazing! I never would have guessed that.

[yuyu]

I actually found Sal y Limon incredibly expensive...

[vandan]

Hawker's Delight

[LotusRapper]

< $10 covers a LOT of restos in Greater Vanc :-D Actually when I eat out alone (which is very frequent) I think 90% of the time I eat at or < $10 before tax and tips. Can't narrow down to five or less, so here's a complete random smattering:

- Sticky rice rolls at T&T Supermarket for $3.99. Made-to-custom order (AFAIK only at Metrotown and 1st Ave locations). Sometimes it's discounted to $3.29.

- Lunch specials at Hoy's (Kingsway), for around $5.25

- Most things at Fujiya (Venables St @ Clark St)

- Hawker's Delight (Main St)

- IKEA cafeteria or restaurant

- Sushiyama (E. Broadway)

- HK BBQ Master (#3 Rd)

- Richmond Public Market food court

- Ragazzi Pizza by the slice (E.22 Av)

- Thai Son Vietnamese (E. Broadway, E. 1st Av)

- Thuan An (Kingsway)

- La Taqueria (Pender St or Cambie St)

- Paul's Restaurant (Hastings St in Burnaby)

- New Town Bakery (E. Pender St)

- The Place (s. Granville St)

- Flo (s. Granville St)

[22justin]

k u clearly know your stuff but you are missing a HUGE one ... Le Petit Saigon on hastings at Rupert ...

another place i really love, a bit further out, is Rehannahs Roti in Port Moody on St John...

another gem is Pronto Cafe in south cambie, try the porchetta sandwich.

with your picks im a huge fan of Fujiya, Hawkers, La Taqueria ...

[LotusRapper]

Sorry I forgot to include LPS.

Another one is Uncle Ming's on Main at the bottom of the hill @ Marine Drive, across from Bank of Montreal.

Uncle Fatih's Pizza I must say I quite like for $4 for two slices + pop.

Pizza Garden on Commercial Drive (which I haven't been in ages but Fmed here knows them well).

[quddous]

Is Uncle Ming's actually good? We've joked about eating there (but clearly just a joke since we haven't)

[LotusRapper]

For $5 lunch specials it's ok. Nice hardworking couple who runs it. Very popular with locals working in the area.

[kati3]

Finally went to Hawkers Delight.

Wow. Just wow. How is it so cheap and so tasty??

[LotusRapper]

Were you there yesterday, Kati ? I was :-)

I had #5C dry noodles and two obligatory spring rolls.