Cheap eats

[ouch]

What are you favorite meals, either home cooked, take out, or at restaurants, for the impecunious?

Hot dogs from Gray's Papaya?
Rice and gravy from the local Chinese takeout?

Mind you, a meal doesn't have to be cheap to be a great value. What are your favorites?

[SRock]

One of my favorites is actually my wifes homemade Chicken Pot Pie. Easy to put together, cheap to make and it tastes awesome!

[sol92258]

mac and cheese, add tuna fish and rotel
pretty tasty, and with your carbs, protein, dairy, and vegetables :biggrin:

[slcsteve]

Phở

http://www.thesunblog.com/gourmetgal/pho.jpg

[SpyvSpy]

Chinese buffets, Pho (any kind of Vietnamese food really) and I can cook up some pretty good Chicken wings.

[Sue]

Homemade potato soup and cornbread with honey butter, cheap, filling and good.
(Generally by myself so default to pop-tarts. :rolleyes:)
Sue

[kap49]

Phở

Me too.:001_tt1:

[tgarza]

Beans and toast. add a fried or poached egg on top. yummy and real cheap!

[Alacrity59]

Beef stew, meatloaf, cabbage rolls. Almost all the food I crave is traditional and based on stretching the budget. . . for instance roast beef with Yorkshire pudding.

Now I'm getting hungry

[Fnord5]

Phở

http://www.thesunblog.com/gourmetgal/pho.jpg

+111111
Pho is awesome!
Especially when they give you the sriacha, fish sauce and hoisen sauce to customize your flavors.:001_tt1:

I also really dig Vietnamese Sandwiches.
http://chicago.grubstreet.com/banhmi_stuspivack.jpg

[taffy]

English breakfast
curry and chips

[DirtyDave]

Burgers and chicken grilled here at home with my wife's kitchen sink potato salad. Add margaritas (made by me) and guacamole (made by my wife) and we have everything we need for a budget friendly fine dinner on the patio with a few friends and neighbors.

[ouch]

This may stretch the budget a bit, but why not live like a king for a song. Picked up a slab of wild Alaskan salmon on sale at Fairway, and in two days I'll be having gravlax (unsmoked lox) for 1/5 the price of the prepared item.

Get the bagels!

I'm sure some of the fish will find its way onto the grill, too.

[_JP_]

for the impecunious?


You're trying to make us look that up, aren't you?

[Mysterion]

Felafel from here:

[professorchaos]

Phở

http://www.thesunblog.com/gourmetgal/pho.jpg

+1 for Pho. I'll raise you a plate of Korean BBQ with Panjori and Ssamjang.


This may stretch the budget a bit, but why not live like a king for a song. Picked up a slab of wild Alaskan salmon on sale at Fairway, and in two days I'll be having gravlax (unsmoked lox) for 1/5 the price of the prepared item.

Get the bagels!

I'm sure some of the fish will find its way onto the grill, too.

Grilled gravlax can be quite good!

[rm71]

Good old pasta is cheap and delicious.

[Abdiel]

Lentils are highly overlooked and absolutely delicious. They are also very cheap, about the price range of dried beans or less.

Indian Lentil Stew

1 cup lentils, rinsed
1 medium onion
about one inch of ginger, peeled
two cloves of garlic, peeled
1 1/2 teaspoon garam massala (Indian spice mixture, better markets will carry it pre-mixed or you can make it yourself)
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 can coconut milk
1 Thai Chili (leave whole for a more mild flavor, slicing in half lengthwise will add more spice)
1 Tomato, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil

Puree or finely chop the onion, garlic, and ginger together. In a preheated pot with some oil on the bottom add the onion mixture and your spices, cook 2-3 minutes or until soft. Not so much looking for color, more to get the rawness out.

Once you've done this add your lentils, water, tomato, and chili and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the lentils are just under done. You are looking for the consistency of a thick stew (just a litter thicker then you want at serving time, see below for the coconut milk), add a little water as needed to avoid getting to dry. Just before lentils are cooked fish out the chili and add your coconut milk and continue to cook at a light simmer until they are tender. If the stew is to thick for your taste add a little additional water or more coconut milk and cook for a few additional minutes.

Serve with Chapati (dense flour water and salt dough rolled into a thin disk and cooked on a flat iron. Sort of like a thick tortilla)

I make no claims that this is an authentic Indian dish, merely Indian inspired and darn tasty.

[The Nid Hog]

My go-to cheap dining is our local middle eastern deli. An almost unlimited variety of excellent food. I've become a big fan of sweet tea with rose water added too.

[BrightFutur]

Phở

http://www.thesunblog.com/gourmetgal/pho.jpg

<3

+1, Some good Pho is essential to any starving-student diet.

[Groundhog]

Another vote for pho.....there's a little place on the south side of town clled Dai Loi where I get my pho fix. Dirt cheap, lunch is about $5-6. I like mine with rare beef, meatballs, and lots of cilantro.

[rtaylor61]

Pinto beans, cornbread and a thick slice of raw onion.

Yes. I live alone.

Randy

[Luc]

Spaghetti Meatballs
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Lasagna

With garlic butter, it's awesome!

Pinto beans tortillas, Cochinita Pibil in tortillas or served on rice (see Once upon a time in Mexico extra features with Robert Rodriguez to know how to make Puerco Pibil).

[Max Payne]

There's a middle-aged woman with a street side stand in front of the Mexican embassy between Park and Madison where she sells homemade tamales for about $1.50 each. The cheese and chicken are terrific, although Spanish speaking people are often allowed to cut ahead of the gringos on line. But the lady and her children who sometimes help are nice enough, and the food is worth the wait.

[ouch]

There's a middle-aged woman with a street side stand in front of the Mexican embassy between Park and Madison where she sells homemade tamales for about $1.50 each.

Cross street?


The cheese and chicken are terrific, although Spanish speaking people are often allowed to cut ahead of the gringos on line. But the lady and her children who sometimes help are nice enough, and the food is worth the wait.

Whenever I'm the victim of this sort of blatant racism, I make sure to report the offender to the dept. of health. :thumbdown

[Houndawg]

My favorite cheap eats are either a hot dog from Gene & Jude's in River Grove, IL, or an Italian Beef sandwich from Jay's in Schiller Park, IL.

[Isaac]

NY: Roasted Pork on Rice at Big Wongs in Chinatown ....or any Halal cart for some chicken/lamb and rice with hotsauce and white sauce.

El Paso: Chico's Tacos

Tucson: Waffle House

San Antonio: Gangis Kahn Noodle Bar

[ouch]

NY: Roasted Pork on Rice at Big Wongs in Chinatown ....or any Halal cart for some chicken/lamb and rice with hotsauce and white sauce.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=935968&postcount=5

:biggrin1:

[ratcheer]

We like chili dogs. Oscar Meyer weiners, decent canned chili, chopped onions, mustard, and ketchup. Doesn't cost much, easy to fix, and good.

Tim

[1OldGI]

My wife makes a fantastic spaghetti, very filling, cheap to make and we usually get at least four or five meals out of it. When the weather gets cooler, I'm a big fan of homemade comfort food too. Pinto beans and ham hocks with homemade corn bread, meat loaf, home made beef stew, etc. There's a place not far from my house that makes a respectable Philly Cheese Steak and another, literally a stones throw away that makes meatball subs and Italian sausage, pepper and onion sandwiches. There's also a Mom and Pop Cuban place closer to my work with some killer food black beans and rice, deviled crab, grouper sandwiches, pressed cuban sandwiches, mojo pork, etc.

[Wendy]

Homemade potato soup and cornbread with honey butter, cheap, filling and good.
(Generally by myself so default to pop-tarts. :rolleyes:)
Sue

I am up for some terribly loaded with fat soup. How about next Tuesday :biggrin:

[pmast]

I make a spicey ham and 15 bean soup in 8 quart batches to take in to work from time to time. It has been gone in under two hours and has lasted as long as four. Only four ingredients, if you count the water, and less work than making a box of Kraft Mac n Cheese. Throw in hot water cornbread, and collards for good measure and you have made some serious comfort food.


I also love homemade potato soup, skin on and lots of black pepper and butter. Its great with homemade rolls or bread.

[Confuzius]

$5 Thali plates at the near by Indian place includes either channa masala or dahl, and two random sides (can be anything from cahshews and paneer to eggplant to potatoes or cauliflour, all curried in great gravy) and rice, salad and your choice of either naan, chapati, or puri bread. On a giant stainless steel sectioned plate.

For $7 you can go to the place next door and have the same deal, but with meat options, but since I grew up on veg indian food, I've got a soft spot, plus the owner remembers me each time I come in and we get great service.

[Crazy Dave]

+ one for Pho and I would add chicken Pho. Actually, almost anything Vietnamese would fit. We also have great Tai, Korean and Chinese here at very low prices. However, for value you cannot beat the local place that sell Vietnamese sub sandwiches for $2.50!

Dave

[FreezerBurns]

Slaw dawgs - basically a chili dog topped with cole slaw, cheese, and mustard. Homemade, unless i'm in West Virginia (the only state I've been where you can go out and get a good slaw dawg).

[beginish]

Cincinnati-style chili served on spaghetti with cheese, onions, kidney beans and oyster crackers.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

WE LEARNED THAT HAMBURGER HELPER IS STILL PRETTY GOOD WITHOUT THE HAMBURGER.....

http://media.ourstory.com/80/00/00/7037dfd226c005020962065a58c91fa19d502aa7/324d9b12af30236c2e97aadc96b3debc0fc539db.jpg

[DirtyDave]

WE LEARNED THAT HAMBURGER HELPER IS STILL PRETTY GOOD WITHOUT THE HAMBURGER.....

http://media.ourstory.com/80/00/00/7037dfd226c005020962065a58c91fa19d502aa7/324d9b12af30236c2e97aadc96b3debc0fc539db.jpg

Mark,

That doesn't sound so much like cheap as desperation. :crying:

[Mr Peat]

My home made chili that is either Italian sausage, Rabbit or Deer meat in the chili.

A burger joint down in Kansas City called LC's. Its good stuff. Orders cooked to order and on a grill that hasn't been replaced since it was put in. Grilled bacon fat gets into the burgers as they cook. Fried onions in the bacon fat. A heart attack waiting to happen but soooooo yummy.

Another home made dish is Bush's Bold and Spicy beans with rice and Italian sweet sausage. Throw in some fresh cracked pepper and sea salt.

Another thing is to cook a 1 lb of sausage. I prefer the sweet Italian sausage and cook it up. Drain most of that fat out and then add saurkraut and diced red potato's. Let the potato's get soft. By the way add the juice from the kraut so that it can simmer.

Way to many places and home made dishes that is good to eat.

[slcsteve]

One could swing by a nearby motel that serves breakfast included with the night's stay. They never seem to check if you're actually a guest.:biggrin:

[dpm802]

Another vote for pho.....there's a little place on the south side of town clled Dai Loi where I get my pho fix. Dirt cheap, lunch is about $5-6. I like mine with rare beef, meatballs, and lots of cilantro.

+1 ... another Pho-natic here.

I discovered it about 10 years ago, and been lovin' it ever since ... aside from Starbucks, its about the only place I go regularly for dining out.

I've tried the various combos like Seafood, Chicken, Pork, and the various cuts of Beef ... but I keep coming back to the simple steak and/or brisket. #39 on the menu at one restaurant. #305 when I go to the other place.

I always order the small bowl ... you get the same amount of solid ingredients, they just give you more broth in a large serving. I don't eat the broth anyway, so why pay extra?

When I'm feeling rich and really want to pig out, I get the Vietnamese coffee ... which deserves a whole thread all by itself, so I won't discuss it here. If you've had it, you know what I'm talking about.

If you haven't tried Pho yet ... find a restaurant near you at www.phofever.com

AFter you finish the meal and sit for a while, don't wait for the server to bring you your check. Its considered a faux pas in Vietnamese etiquette for them to try and rush you out the door. You decide when you're ready to leave, and go up to the cash register to pay there.

Even though Pho is dirt cheap, remember to tip generously ... the servers will remember you, and your soups will get better and better every time you go back.

[1OldGI]

One could swing by a nearby motel that serves breakfast included with the night's stay. They never seem to check if you're actually a guest.:biggrin:

Hey now, this one's a keeper. Plenty of hotels between home and work. All I gotta do is polish up my fake New York/Bahston accent and I'm in business, fuhget abowd it!

[tg16]

One could swing by a nearby motel that serves breakfast included with the night's stay. They never seem to check if you're actually a guest.:biggrin:

You and I dine at the same places it seems.

[ouch]

This may stretch the budget a bit, but why not live like a king for a song. Picked up a slab of wild Alaskan salmon on sale at Fairway, and in two days I'll be having gravlax (unsmoked lox) for 1/5 the price of the prepared item.

Get the bagels!

I'm sure some of the fish will find its way onto the grill, too.

Done!

Fairway's lox- $7.75 per 1/4lb and up
My lox- $6.99 per pound

Today I can be a sport. :lol:

[ouch]

One could swing by a nearby motel that serves breakfast included with the night's stay. They never seem to check if you're actually a guest.:biggrin:

Put on a suit and go to Leonard's in Great Neck. They have a dozen affairs going on at once, and you can get away with at least three free meals. :tongue_sm

[Carlin]

When I'm feeling rich and really want to pig out, I get the Vietnamese coffee ... which deserves a whole thread all by itself, so I won't discuss it here. If you've had it, you know what I'm talking about.



Soon enough, after some more research, I'll be dedicating a thread.

[joshmpdx]

on the west coast we eat burritos...

and in ptown in particular we've got a boat load of phenomenal food carts.

[Swampfox]

Bologna Burgers....I'm serious, it's pretty good. Use beef bologna, fry it up in the skillet, and add whatever toppings you normally would for a burger. It's pretty good, and very cheap.

Also mac and cheese w/beef smoked sausage...also cheap and good.

However, my signature meal is my version of purlough. All you need is rice, kidney beans, chicken and/or smoked beef sausage and some Cajun seasoning if you want (Tony Chachere's is the best!). The last batch I made, I threw in some tomatoes, and it was great!

[Ashkii21]

When I am in the mood I go to In-N-Out and order a single burger for under $2. It is a good burger and relatively cheap. :c9: Otherwise I like saimin (ramen?).

[Confuzius]

This thread inspired me to be more adverntuerous with my Pho.
Yesterday I had a large bowl of Pho with Rare Beef, Well Done Beef, tripe and soft tendons.

I wasn't turned off by the tripe, it was interesting, yet not good enough to search out again, kind of neutral flavour and a texture that reminded me of the rubber "tongue cleaner" on my toothbrush. Soft tendon on the other hand, was very good, kind of fatty and gelatenous but without being a turnoff, and with a good beefy taste.

EDIT: It was $6.25 and came with free tea, I added Vietnamese Iced Coffee for $2.00, but it wasn't as good as the last time I had it there, It came pre-mixed whereas last time I got the glass, with ice and sweetened condensed milk, and the metal filter and a pot of hot water to put on top myself.

[Fnord5]

This thread inspired me to be more adverntuerous with my Pho.
Yesterday I had a large bowl of Pho with Rare Beef, Well Done Beef, tripe and soft tendons.

I wasn't turned off by the tripe, it was interesting, yet not good enough to search out again, kind of neutral flavour and a texture that reminded me of the rubber "tongue cleaner" on my toothbrush. Soft tendon on the other hand, was very good, kind of fatty and gelatenous but without being a turnoff, and with a good beefy taste.

EDIT: It was $6.25 and came with free tea, I added Vietnamese Iced Coffee for $2.00, but it wasn't as good as the last time I had it there, It came pre-mixed whereas last time I got the glass, with ice and sweetened condensed milk, and the metal filter and a pot of hot water to put on top myself.
That is my personal favorite Pho. Although, sometimes I add beef balls(meatballs)

[TacoBell]

This may stretch the budget a bit, but why not live like a king for a song. Picked up a slab of wild Alaskan salmon on sale at Fairway, and in two days I'll be having gravlax (unsmoked lox) for 1/5 the price of the prepared item.

Get the bagels!

I'm sure some of the fish will find its way onto the grill, too.

Probably 1/5 the salt and nitrites too. Have a recipe?

[Doc4]

When I was a student living in the big city, I loved to get a slice or two of buck-a-slice pizza from those little hole-in-the-wall joints downtown.

It ain't "goor-may", but still totally unhealthy good eats.



At home, I love to get a thick cut of cheap steak (flank steak or such) and cook it for a short time on high heat so it's rare with a good crust. You need a good knife to cut it cleanly, but it's very tasty. Don't season it, but have a bit of hot mustard on the side.

[Mr Peat]

Another cheap dish is you take Smoked Salmon and add cream cheese and Jalepeno's. Use it on crackers, chips or end sandwich's. I know a guy in Alaska that smokes the salmon he catches fresh and makes it. Really good.

[cricky101]

I make a version of spicy peanut noodles at home all of the time and it's super cheap and takes all of about 15 minutes to make. They're great hot or cold, too.

I use some lomein or even just whole wheat spaghetti. The sauce is just peanut butter, a couple drops of sesame oil, some chili flakes, a little soy sauce and minced garlic.

Mix all of the sauce ingredients together with a splash or two of the pasta cooking water to thin it out a bit. Drain the noodles and mix it all together and sprinkle on some toasted sesame seeds if you've got 'em.

It works great with leftovers as mix-ins, too. Chicken or steak, maybe some leftover steamed broccoli, or sliced green onions, etc ... but often I eat just the noodles.

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

El Paso: Chico's Tacos

Tucson: Waffle House
Ha! I haven't had Chico's in forever. Haven't been to the Waffle House in Tucson but I'm sure you're talking about the one off 22nd st near the I-10. When in Tucson I generally prefer Brooklyn Pizza Co off 4th Ave or Bison Witches then hit Chocolate Iguana for coffee and candy.

[renoles]

+1 to the Vietnamese food mentioned here and another +1 to the beans and toast with a fried egg...

Eggs...some of my favorite dinners are either scrambled eggs or an omelet (sometimes I top them with or put cheese in the middle and other times it's just plain eggs). Cheap, tasty, and fairly simple.