From pasta to gluten-free sandwiches, we sure ate well this year with a $5 budget. Though it was tough to decide, here are Vancity Buzz and Chowmenow’s top 13 cheap eats of 2013.
Tonkin
Savory beef, fresh vegetables and a soft French baguette makes the $4 banh mi at Tonkin a great place for your noon-hour nosh.
Bonchaz
Classic pastas like chicken penne alfredo and beefy marinara are only $4.95 at Bonchaz.
East Café
Celiacs and vegans rejoice! This classic sandwich is gluten-free, animal-free, and just $4.95.
Curry Point
Don’t eat meat? No problem, you can order a vegetable curry over rice for $4.99.
House of Empanadas
Sweet or savoury, these aren’t your ordinary pockets. With fillings like asparagus and prosciutto, wild salmon nicoise, and spicy pulled pork, they’re hearty, flakey, and $4.65.
Sima Donair
No matter what day it is, you can grab something filling and tasty for $4.99 at Sima. Close to B.C. Place and the Public Library, it’s a portable option when you’re studying for that biology exam or heading to the Canucks Game.
Papa’s Gourmet Pizza
For $4.90 you can chow on baked lasagna or spaghetti with house-made meat sauce topped with mozzarella and a slice of garlic bread.
Kaisereck Deli
Like ketchup with fries, we thought sour cream was the essential sidekick to perogies — that is until we tried them with fried onions. It’s the perfect trifecta of creamy and crispy.
Golden Joy Restaurant
We feel nothing but Golden Joy for this place. The ‘special meal’ for $4.99 means you get double the protein portion served over rice. There’s also BBQ pork for $3.50, BBQ chicken for $3.75, and vegetarian spring rolls for fewer than three bucks.
The Capital
The entire menu at The Capital is just $4.95, including this quinoa salad topped with avocado.
Zaatar Hummus Bar
The Bureka Bagel for $4.95 is a pretty good way to begin your morning…or finish your night, as Zaatar’s is open from 10am to 4am on Saturdays.
Gain Wah
Gain Wah has plenty of soups to spoon for under five bucks. For congee, there’s beef, mixed meat, pork, BBQ duck, and pig’s liver. You can also pair these proteins with noodles or go for everyone’s favourite, wonton soup, for under a fiver.
Tractor
Fresh ingredients and a great place to grab a patio seat, order a hearty half sandwich for $5 as well as various salads packed with tasty ingredients like ricotta, goat cheese, and quinoa, for $3.25.
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