Pho Ao Sen is a vietnamese budget eat in Eastlake, Oakland.
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.
Must order: Pho tai with brisket under twelve dollars.
Tip: Open Sundays. Closed Wednesdays. Bring cash for the smoothest checkout.
Address: 1139 East 12th Street, Oakland, CA 94606
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.
Town Biscuits in Oakland's Uptown runs biscuit sandwiches under twelve dollars Thursday through Sunday. Fried chicken on flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Order: Fried chicken biscuit under twelve dollars.
Tip: Pre-order online; weekend lines snap to the corner by 10 a.m.
Tay Ho's 12th Street lunch hour runs Northern Vietnamese plates for under fifteen dollars. Bun cha Hanoi, banh xeo and rice bowls at the door.
Order: Bun cha Hanoi for thirteen dollars at lunch.
Tip: Lunch specials run 11 to 3 weekdays; the dinner menu doubles on price.
Tacos El Ultimo Baile in Fruitvale Public Market took its taco-truck queues into a brick-and-mortar. Tacos al carbon for ten dollars on flour tortillas.
Order: Tacos al carbon with hand-pressed flour tortillas.
Tip: Sub the corn tortillas; the flour version is what made the truck famous.
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.
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.
