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10 bargain eats under $5

Cheap eating in the Bay Area

chicharrones @ 4505 Meats @ Ferry Building Farmers Market

Inside Scoop SF blogger extraordinaire Paolo Lucchesi: “Ryan Farr’s chicharrones at 4505 Meats.”
Carnitas Torta @ El Farolito

2777 Mission St San Francisco, CA

Chronicle food writer Sophie Brickman: “A carnitas torta from El Farolito. Beans, tomato, cheese, avocado, sour cream, carnitas, on an enormous roll – enough to serve two and induce cardiac arrest – for under $5? Yes, please. ”
Banh Mi @ Latte Express

48 5th Street San Francisco, CA

Chronicle food writer Stacy Finz: “A banh mi at Latte Express right off Mint Plaza in San Francisco. It’s not the best banh mi I’ve ever had. But for the price you can’t beat it. ”
Kati Roll @ Kasa Indian Restaurant

4001 18th St San Francisco, CA

Chronicle food writer Lynne Bennett: “I most recently had Kasa Indian Eatery’s Kati Roll – a flaky roti stuffed with your choice of fillings (I loved the tender lamb curry), which was served with a thick raita and chutney.”
French Onion Soup @ Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

398 Hayes St San Francisco, CA

Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer: Michael Bauer: “Some people may say Prospect is expensive, and the appetizers and main courses certainly don’t fit into the bargain category, but one of the best things on the menu is $5: It’s the caramel popcorn sprinkled with salt and cocoa nibs. It’s a Lincoln well spent. Another great deal is Absinthe’s $4 bowl of French onion soup with a bracing broth and a glaze of cheese over the top.”
chicken skin skewers @ Nombe

2491 Mission Street San Francisco, CA

More from Inside Scoop SF's Paolo Lucchesi: “Taco, ice cream and banh mi shops aside, I vote for the chicken skin skewers ($5) at Nombe and pa amb tomaque at Contigo.”
Egg Salad Sandwich @ Blue Bottle Café

66 Mint St San Francisco, CA

Chronicle food writer Janny Hu: “I’ll elbow my way past Jon for Namu’s Korean tacos at the Ferry Plaza. And I’ll even brave the line at Blue Bottle’s Mint Plaza cafe for their egg salad sandwich. Yes, egg salad sandwich. ”
Korean Taco, Namu @ Namu (Ferry Building Farmer's Market)

1 Ferry Building San Francisco, CA

Chronicle wine editor and Inside Scoop SF blogger Jon Bonne: Jon Bonné: “If not the banh mi ga at Little Vietnam or the tostada at Mariscos La Costa (OAK airport run!), it’d have to be the Namu taco on a Saturday morning market stop. Because nothing says breakfast like nori.”
Top Dog Frankfurter @ Top Dog #1

2534 Durant Ave Berkeley, CA

The SF Chronicle's Erick Wong says, "Pretty much anything at Top Dog, though it’s hard to go wrong with a basic frankfurter and some Hot Russian mustard."
Crepe with butter and sugar @ Creperie Saint Germain

546 Howard St San Francisco, CA

The SF Chronicle's Sarah Fritsche picks this treat as her favorite.

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