Cenaduria Elvira is a mexican budget eat in Jack London District, Oakland.
Cenaduria Elvira in Oakland's Jack London Square cooks Jalisco-style tostadas, tacos dorados and Mexican plates under fifteen dollars per person.
Must order: Jalisco tostadas with shredded pork.
Tip: The chicharron-style tostada shells are flown in from Mexico; ask which salsa pairs which dish.
Address: 468 3rd Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Tacos Sinaloa on International Boulevard in Fruitvale is the East Bay's most-loved late-night taco truck. Family-run since 1999, two-dollar tacos.
Order: Suadero and adobada tacos, two for five dollars.
Tip: The truck cooks past midnight Friday and Saturday; cash only at the window.
Banh Mi Ba Le on International Boulevard runs the most-loved East Bay banh mi counter, weekends only. Two dozen sandwiches under eight dollars.
Order: Pork meatball banh mi with Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: Open only Friday through Sunday; cash only. Twenty-four sandwiches on the menu, all under eight dollars.
Shan Dong in Oakland Chinatown pulls hand-made noodles for under twelve dollars a bowl. Dumplings, chive pancakes and sesame noodles round out the menu.
Order: Sesame paste noodles and pork dumplings under twelve dollars.
Tip: Watch them pull the noodles in the front window; weekday lunch hours have shorter lines.
Pho Ao Sen on East 12th in Oakland's Eastlake corridor runs pho for under twelve dollars. Two decades of Sunday-morning loyalty on the corridor.
Order: Pho tai with brisket under twelve dollars.
Tip: Open Sundays. Closed Wednesdays. Bring cash for the smoothest checkout.
Vien Huong on Franklin in Oakland Chinatown cooks Chiu Chow Cantonese-Vietnamese plates under ten dollars. Hu tieu, congee, and a sub-three-dollar tea.
Order: Hu tieu noodle soup or congee under ten dollars.
Tip: Breakfast and lunch only; cash only for the smoothest check.
El Huarache Azteca on International Boulevard runs Mexico City huaraches and tlacoyos under fourteen dollars. Mother-daughter team, late close.
Order: Huarache de chicharron under fourteen dollars.
Tip: Salsa bar has six options; ask for extra cebolla curtida on the side.
