Cheap Eats - Who when what and how much?

Let's get one thing straight. I don't take pictures of what I'm eating (cough) much and am all about sharing the good stuff with pals. Let this be a line in the sand wherever you live that very good eats are inexpensive, local and often best kept open secrets. Throw down boys and girls, hit me with your best cheap eats.

Joe's Noodle House 1488 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 (301) 881-5518 Wed. Sesame Noodles Orange Chicken Tea $20
Wednesday it's empty and the chef hovers to see you smile when you dig in. Mama and the nannys shell beans and laugh out loud in the corner. It's good and yes there is a "secret" menu behind the cash register with semi-legible english translations. Sheite like tripe with cabbage or fresh spinach and garlic. Order from the board trust me.

Tea House Chinese Restaurant

The Mrs. and I have been frequenting this place in Plymouth, MN for nearly 20 years. Best either of us has had anywhere in the state and the spicy stuff is pretty righteously spicy.

Sounds like the Chinese places we go to.
My wife chats them up and soon we are eating things not on the menu.
Late afternoon is "staff dinner time" for most of these places.
Get to know them and you'll sometimes be surprised by what shows up on your table.
And "bean picking" is the best time to go.

Shanghai Si Fang Dish - Downtown Flushing - Flushing, NY

Try this place in Flushing for real Shanghai food.
The eel in oil and pepper reminded me of my time there.
Just a hole in the wall but the owner is very friendly.
Ask him to recommend a dish. His face will light up and you'll be very happy.

My pal owns this Flat Bread Food Truck. Always less than $10 and pretty awesome food.

Pho 75.

I went to the Fleetwood Diner in Ann Arbor yesterday for the first time since I moved back to MI.
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Hippie Hash w/ gyros meat
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I had coffee too, and I payed with a $10 bill, which included a 20% tip.

Buy this issue of Lucky Peach you won't be sorry.

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Originally Posted by johnmdesigner

Shanghai Si Fang Dish - Downtown Flushing - Flushing, NY

Try this place in Flushing for real Shanghai food.
The eel in oil and pepper reminded me of my time there.
Just a hole in the wall but the owner is very friendly.
Ask him to recommend a dish. His face will light up and you'll be very happy.

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Originally Posted by Jonathan

My pal owns this Flat Bread Food Truck. Always less than $10 and pretty awesome food.

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J.G. does he have a twitter account or some way to locate?

In Boston, any of the multiple Anna's Taqueria locations are great after a long or hard bike ride. $6 for a stuffed burrito.

I've been known to pick up a rotisserie chicken from the Costco right near my office when there is nothing else on offer. $6 fully cooked and enough to feed me, my wife, my 3 year old, and make a sandwich or two the next day.

p.s. I am extra cheap because I don't think of a $10 lunch as cheap

We live in an ethnic food wasteland. There's a pretty good sushi place in Manchester that we like; the owner takes a lot of pride in his food and he's a nice guy to boot. Really horrible chinese, and passable Thai. But this place is our go-to when we need an Indian food fix without cooking or driving an hour +, either to Williamstown, MA, Albany, NY, or Brattleboro, VT:

Jia Indian Restuarant in Rutland, Vermont | Take-out Indian Food in Rutland, Vermont

What isn't clear from the website is that this place is a gas station. It's owned by an Indian family who started selling food out the back door to 'preferred' customers a few years ago. You sort of had to go in and ask nicely if they'd whip something up for you. Now it's formalized a bit, but still dirt cheap, and damn tasty. I've had better Indian food for sure, but I've also had a lot worse in places that are known for it. Plus the guy who cooks your naan is the same guy who's happy to check your oil! Two birds! One stone!

If you're ever in Rutland--and, really, why WOULDN'T you be?--give them a try.

Matthew's Cafeteria in beautiful downtown Tucker,Ga. Consistently good simple home style cooking.

Breakfast is my favorite time and Friday's fried catfish with rice and greens ain't bad either.

Matthews Cafeteria - Tucker, GA

For less than $10 you are out the door, happy, and stuffed.

Ten points for using the word ain't and catfish in the same sentence.

anna's is the best east coast burrito i've had, hands down. i used to live in washington sq; they were my go-to. love that place.

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Originally Posted by roseyscot

In Boston, any of the multiple Anna's Taqueria locations are great after a long or hard bike ride. $6 for a stuffed burrito.

I've been known to pick up a rotisserie chicken from the Costco right near my office when there is nothing else on offer. $6 fully cooked and enough to feed me, my wife, my 3 year old, and make a sandwich or two the next day.

p.s. I am extra cheap because I don't think of a $10 lunch as cheap

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Originally Posted by robin3mj

Pho 75.

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Oh heck yes - listen up NoVa folks. We spent a lot of time at that spot in the nascent days of my relationship.

Also, in the neighborhood - El Charrito over on Washington - kick ass, cheap El Salvadorian burrito and papusa joint. The gentleman proprietor might be one of the more stoic characters you'll ever meet. I made it one of my life's goals to bring him to smile and eventually laughter. Took a couple of years but eventually succeeded.

Do I have to pull your slack weight?
PHO 75 in va
El Charrito

A perk of living in a pretty economically depressed area is a dearth of great options for dirt cheap:

GOOD FOOD at HAPPY DOG - pick hot dog or veggie dog, option of 50 pretty unique toppings (peanut butter, fritos and kimchi on the list) add tater tots and you're set.
Home - tasty cambodian right up the street, owned by a fellow named Mono Bun.
The West Side Market: Clevelands Oldest and Most Trusted Market - huge market, tons of awesome vendors who have been doing it for years upon years.
ABC the Tavern | Ohio City | Cleveland, OH - super cheap tasty bar food, tofu "fish" filet with Dogfish Head IPA batter. Mini bowling game too.

All of these within a mile or two of my neighborhood too. Cleveland is the best city ever.

You guys would freak for what I can do with $10 in San Antonio. Don't even know where to begin.

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Originally Posted by MacLaughlin

I went to the Fleetwood Diner in Ann Arbor yesterday for the first time since I moved back to MI.

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Agh. The Fleetwood Diner. My fondest memory of that place was stopping for breakfast before taking the GREs, and running into friends who were still working on their Friday night.

That was 1981.

It still looks the same.

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Originally Posted by davids

Agh. The Fleetwood Diner...
It still looks the same.

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Not quite, there's a smoking ban in Michigan now. Fleetwood didn't even have a nonsmoking section before. Can't even smoke at the patio tables in summer now.