San Francisco cheap eats for lunch & dinner?

Question

Husband and I will be in San Fran this week. Looking for great places to eat on a budget. NO CHAINS PLEASE. Specifically, I'd love recommendations on specific places in Chinatown and Japantown, but any place that locals know about and doesn't cost a fortune would be awesome :)

Answer 1

the st francis ice cream parlor 24th and york for lunch  good and reasonable

Answer 2

Sam Wo's in Chinatown..... just for the experience

Eastern Bakery in Chinatown..... for buns, cakes and tea

Izumaya in Japantown..... for the okonomiyaki

Tommy's Joynt.....  old school Hofbraus

Taqueria Cancun..... gotta go to one!

Answer 3

mama's on washington square comes to mind:

http://www.menuism.com/restaurants/d4J6L...

'cause everyone knows you have to grab at least one great brunch while you're on vacation.

if you're going to go the french toast route. i recommend the kugelpuph. i also love the south of the border omelette with black beans.

enjoy your trip!

Answer 4

Shabu sen in Japantown

Sit at the bar or at a table and cook your own shabu shabu or sukiyaki. Its a great deal and there is complimentary green tea. Perfect for lunch or dinner!

Answer 5

in the basment of macy's (the main store) there are multiple resturants, they have sandwiches, sushi,the famous boudin bread and ice cream. Another place, which is a local chain is Mel's diner it has been around for a really long time in the city, there are also some nice places to eat by fisherman's warf and in north beach, in these two places u can pretty much walk down the street and find a decent restuarante to eat in

Answer 6

Not far from Japantown is the Upper Fillmore which is home to La Mediterranee (2210 Fillmore) tasty, inexpensive, and friendly neighborhood restaurant.

In or near Chinatown:

Henry’s Hunan at 674 Sacramento, or Battery at Broadway . - Great Chinese don’t miss Diana’s Meat Pie

Cheap dim sum is Louie's on Stockton at Broadway. Best hargow and pork buns in the city!  No seating to go only.

Molinaris Deli on Columbus at Vallejo, great sandwichs and salads a few tables outside or wander on up to Washington Square for a picnic.

Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store on Union at Columbus, Italian Panini, sodas and pasta.  A neighborhood favorite.

Other good Inexpensive Chinese outside of Chinatown:

Tai Chi on Polk at Broadway has the best General's Tso's Chicken just the right combo of sweet, hot and garlic. They also do really good shrimp won ton soup and sizzling beef and scallops.

And the ultimate cheap meal is to split an urban food log, aka Mission buritto.  The two best taqarias are Pancho Villa at 16th and Mission and El Toro at Valencia and 17th.

Cheap sandwichs, salads, soups and other food at Lee's Delis - various locations in the Financial District.  Basic fast, simple sandwichs.  No processed, reconstituted turkey here, the meat is cut from the breast, have them add what ever you please.  A good meal for less than $8 total.

Hoffbraus offer inexpensive food with lots of options.

Lefty O'Douls on Geary at Powell. This is the strangest combo of hoffbrau, sports bar, and piano bar known to man. The food while not exotic is substantial and flavorful. A favorite of locals and tourists.

or for a slight variaton on the theme

Tommy's Joint on Van Ness at Geary an old style SF houfbrau, they serve such unique dishes as buffalo chili over rice and the meatball sandwich is the bomb. The pictures of San Francisco all over the walls are a history lesson. Nothing fancy but filling and welcoming.

And for something completely different:

Axum on Haight at Pierce - Ethiopian food. The best in the city in my book. If you’ve never tried Ethiopian food do so, spicy, hot, and the bread you eat with is unlike anything you’ve ever tried.