Hawking Bird is a thai budget eat in Temescal, Oakland.
Hawking Bird in Oakland's Temescal is James Syhabout's fast-casual Thai fried chicken room. Kao mun gai and garlic-ginger fillets under fifteen dollars.
Must order: Kao mun gai for under fifteen dollars.
Tip: James Syhabout's cheap-eats sibling to two-star Commis; same kitchen DNA, a tenth of the price.
Address: 4901 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
Puerto Rican Street Cuisine on Oakland's 23rd Avenue runs takeout pollo encebollado and pernil under fifteen dollars. San Antonio neighborhood.
Order: Pernil with sweet plantain stuffed with ground beef.
Tip: Takeout only; outdoor seating at picnic tables. Cash and card.
Cenaduria Elvira in Oakland's Jack London Square cooks Jalisco-style tostadas, tacos dorados and Mexican plates under fifteen dollars per person.
Order: Jalisco tostadas with shredded pork.
Tip: The chicharron-style tostada shells are flown in from Mexico; ask which salsa pairs which dish.
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.
