Hey you & by the way...I am always on the lookout for more great places, if you know any...please email them to me. I love field trips, especially food-related ones.
$1.25 Tacos
21 St @ Treat St. SF
What:Tacos for $1.25 (nothing else on the menu!!)
Eat This: Tacos with Beans
I just love these tacos... They are super cheap and you get to put all the fixings on yourself. You walk up to the window, order your tacos, then help yourself to the huge assortment toppings on the counter. Choices are as follows: cilantro, red onion, yellow onion, death paste style red salsa, tomatillo salsa, chunky mild salsa, limes, and guacamole. Oh mi gato. I love pilling on the fluff and stuff. As far as the meat part of the taco is concerned... you can get the usual pork, chicken, and fish. If you're in a more adventurous mood go for the eye, brain, or tongue tacos. I can't speak from experience for any of these, 'cause well, they don't really tempt me. Sorry i don't have the exact address or the name, but it's the little window with the people mobbed around it. It's open late at night too. Always good to know.
Pluto's
627 Irving St. SF or 2114 Lombard St. SF or 3258 Scott St. SF
What:Fancy sandwiches and salads with your choice of fixins.
Eat This:You can get a fat salad for $4.80!!! The entire menu is priced under $6.00, so go ahead and treat a pal to lunch.
Christ, let me see the menu: plutosfreshfood.com
Pancho Villas
3071 16th St. SF (415) 864-8840
What: Tacos, burritos, nachos... the usual taqueria stuff.
Eat This: Rice and bean plate for $2.50
Yup, you can stuff your face on a rice and bean plate. Accentuate it with all the free crispy chips and the self-serve salsa bar! Rock on!
Christ, let me see the menu: panchcovillasf.citysearch.com
Cancun
3211 Mission St. SF (415) 550-1414
What: Tacos, burritos, nachos, enchiladas, etc.
Eat This: Corn quesadillas, grilled green onions, ceviche tostadas, stewed chicken tacos, vegetarian burrito
I LOVE Cancun. I eat here at least twice a week. My list of must eats is long 'cause it's all so good. Here's why I lick my lips for Cancun: They toast their tortillas to heat 'em (no lame "steam machine" soggy tortilla), cheviche tostada!!, and free avocado in vegetarian burrito. The salsa is spicy as all hell, and don't bother asking for mild, cause there isn't any. Please note that they have lame chips, but on the plus side, they're open until 1:00 am on Friday and Saturday.
Pakwan
501 O'Farrell St. SF (415) 776-0160 or 3182 16th St. SF (415) 255-2440
What: No-frills Indian Food
Eat This: The nan!!! It'll blow your socks off.
A great bang for your buck. You walk in, grab a menu, go the counter and order your food. The guy at the register gives you a number and an empty cup (if you ordered a soda). You get your own silverware, water, sauces, plates...everything. Then you set your table up and wait for your food. Shortly your number is called out too loudly on the intercom system. Go and get your food, bring it back to your table, and eat like a madman. Yum!! If you don't like it spicy, just ask. A little tidbit...they have indoor heat lamps!?! Just thought I'd mention it.
We Be Sushi
3226 Geary Ave. (415) 221-9960 or 538 Valencia St. SF (415) 565-0749 OR 1071 Valencia (415) 826-0607
What: Sushi. Duh.
Eat This: Spinach salad, tempura fried sushi
I took a sushi-rolling workshop through SF city college and it was taught by the owner of We Be. What great fun to be able to make sushi at one of my favorite restaurants. Anyway...you can always get a lot of sushi for a little bit of money at We Be. Go check it out!
Atlas Cafe
3049 20th St. SF (415) 648-1047
What: Sandwich, mini pizzas, salad, soup, and coffee drinks
Eat This: Roasted yam sandwich, tuna salad salad, ginger lemonade
Let me describe the yam sandwich to you: roasted yams, feta cheese, cilantro, red onions, and garlic olive oil. It might sound weird, but it's divine. The tuna salad salad is also mind boggling with its coconut, toasted nori, and cashews, served on a bed of greens. One more to get you going...the smoked turkey sandwich with fig-chili chutney, cheddar cheese, oregano, and red onion. Wow. Wash this all down with the homemade ginger lemonade. If you go on Thursday nights or Saturday afternoon, you get the added bonus of free live music, usually bluegrass, jazz, ragtime, or blues. Great spot to do homework, have a date, or sit on the patio in the sun browsing their huge magazine library.
Christ, let me see the menu: atlascafe.net
Tu Lan
6th St. at Market SF
What: Vietnamese food...Pho soup, spring rolls, curry, etc.
Eat This: Ginger fish, pho soup
Not the cleanest place to eat, but damn is it good. Fast, cheap, and tasty...sign me up. Within literally 30 seconds of being seated, the waiter comes to get your order. You better be ready. If not, the waiter comes back in 30 second intervals (getting more annoyed each time) until you are. If you can, get a seat at the counter so that you can watch them cook your stuff. It's crazy hot and fast pace in the tiny kitchen. It all happens right in front of your face, the chefs flinging veggies high into the air with flames coming out of the pan towards the ceiling. Notice the wet towels they have wrapped around their necks in an attempt to keep the cool. Portions are big here, so don't go crazy, unless of course you want leftovers.
Arizmendi
1331 9th Ave. SF (415) 566-3117
What: Bakery with daily pizza specials
Eat This: Brioche knot, cornmeal cherry scone, daily pizza special, kookie brittle
Be forewarned...pizza doesn't come out until 11:30, but it's worth the wait. This bakery is a cooperative with the nicest staff you've ever dreamed of. Discounts are given if you have a fast pass or ride your bike there!!! Always love to save a few extra pennies. So about the food, it's mouth watering. A steady stream of stuff is coming hot out of the ovens into the self-serve cases. Nothing like a hot brioche knot to make your day. Their daily pizza is awesome! (Check out the monthly menu on their web site.) You can get the pizza "half baked" to take home for dinner too! Right on. It is always insanely busy at Arizmendi, but the line moves fast and people are great. Side note: Meat eaters beware...no meat on the pizzas, ever! I've never missed it though, maybe you won't either.
Christ, let me see the menu: arizmendibakery.org
Cafe Ethiopia
878 Valencia St. SF (415) 285-2728
What: Ethiopian Food
Family-style food. Everything is served on inerja (think spongy sourdough crepe). Lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes for those who want them. Meaty ones too for the carnivores. Great lentil, garbanzo beans, and spinach food stuff. Get ready to eat messy and have crusty fingers. No utensils, you use the inerja to scoop up your food. This is a several napkin meal that will fill you up for the price of a movie.
Sapporo Ya
Japan Center in Japan Town SF(415) 563-7400
What: Japanese noodle house
Eat This: Miso ramen (ask for extra spinach)
I love walking in and seeing an ancient noodle-making machine in a glass-encased room. Not the friendliest service, but great homemade ramen and soba noodles. Big bowls of steaming ramen with sliced hardboiled egg, pork (if you want), spinach, corn, and some other stuff I don't know the name for. I have never been able to eat an entire bowl! Bring someone to share it with you. I recommend that you stick to the soups. The other dishes I had weren't so wonderful. Look for their great top-quality chopsticks and free kim chee! After your bowl of ramen, go to the stationery store for cute and grammatically hysterical stationery and beautiful handmade paper.
Zante's Indian Pizza
3489 Mission St. SF (415) 821-3949
What: Indian food and pizza! Quite the combo.
Eat This: Indian pizza!
Cauliflower, cilantro, ginger, green onions, garlic, and spinach and other treats on a pizza crust. Available with or without lamb! I warn you not to go here hungry, the service is sooooo slow. Go if you've got some free time and good company. Or you can order it for delivery, but then you'll miss the charming Indian muzak that haunts the air at Zante's. I'm going to say it again to drive it home: Really you must have the Indian pizza, I've never had anything quite like it. Warning: I've never ordered their "regular" pizza, but I've heard it's not good, so stick to the Indian pizza or Indian food. (Don't know why, but I couldn't find the pizza on their on-line menu...but you can call and ask them about it.)
Christ, let me see the menu:
zantespizza.citysearch.com
Pollo Supremo
2801 Folsom St. SF (415) 550-1193
What: Roasted chickens, beans, tortillas, fried yucca
Eat This: The chickens!!
When you need to feed a couple of friends for a few bucks, get a bird and some tortillas. Make mini-tacos and you're set for dinner. You'll love the cheesy fast food decor of Pollo Supremo, complete with a Super Chicken mascot.
Los Jarritos
901 South Van Ness SF (415) 648-8383
What: Real Mexican Food
Eat This: Huevos rancheros, mexican hot chocolate
I've been stuck in a rut at Los Jarriots. I love huevos rancheros and it's so hard to find them done right. So when I do, I go crazy with a one-track huevos mind. They have the best homemade chips, still hot, and a mouth-watering roasted tomato salsa. Another thing that keeps me coming back are the freshly made tortillas! They come straight off the grill and onto your plate. Nothing like a thick corn tortilla and some beans to soak it in! They've got a booming juke box and super cute red vinyl seats to park it on. Good feed your face at Los Jarritos! It's been called the "Hangover Hangout" on account of good heavy food to soak up a night of good heavy drinking.
Angkor Borei
3471 Mission St. SF (415) 550-8417
What: Cambodian food
Eat This: Spinach salad appetizer!! fried banana with coconut ice cream
A nice family owns and works at this restaurant. If you go a couple of times, they will recognize you and give you hearty "hello". I always get the spinach salad appetizer, a truly interactive food experience. The "salad" is actually lots of small bowls containing one of the following: lime slices (with skin on), roasted peanuts, toasted coconut, spinach leaves, onions, jalapenos, and mini dried shrimp (optional). You take a spinach leaf and put in whatever combo floats your boat, then top if off with a sweet-and-sour tamarind sauce. Whoa nelly, this is soooo good. I just love making those spinach "purses" and cramming them into my mouth! Other stuff is great too, but unfortunately I don't remember the names of any of them. Good curries and a banana dessert to top it all off.
Truly Mediterranean
3109 16th St. SF (415) 252-7482
What: Mediterranean food: falafels, swarmas, hummus, tabouleh, etc.
Eat This: Mediterranean combo plate, falafel deluxe, baklava
Walk four steps into the restaurant and you're already almost at the end of it. There are 5 barstools against the wall, where you can eat. That is if you don't mind watching yourself in the huge mirror ten inches in front of you. Heck, just order the Med. combo plate and head to Dolores Park. You can sit and watch the dogs while you feast on dolmas, feta, grilled pita bread, hummus, babaganoush, tabouleh, falafel, and seasoned onions. This dishes feeds two! Order extra pita, though, so you don't have to share. If you go down the falafel road, order a deluxe so you can get the extra potato wedges and grilled eggplant. Buy a yogurt garlic mint drink if you're feeling adventurous.