Bob's Donuts in San Francisco is the 24-hour Polk Street doughnut counter since 1960, with an apple fritter and a five-pound monster doughnut challenge.
Tip: Cash and card after 02:00; the buttermilk bar is the locals' order over the fritter.
Address: 1720 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Marufuku Ramen in San Francisco is the Japantown Hakata-style tonkotsu counter, with a 36-hour pork bone broth and a long queue that turns over fast.
Try: Hakata tonkotsu ramen
Tip: Get the digital waitlist before you head over; it cuts forty minutes off the wait.
El Toro Taqueria in San Francisco is the Mission Valencia and 17th corner counter, with a four-dollar al pastor taco and a quick burrito line at lunch.
Try: Al pastor taco
Tip: Taco al pastor with onion and coriander is the simplest, fastest order under five dollars.
La Taqueria in San Francisco is the Mission burrito and taco counter where a twelve-dollar lunch is the city's most-cited cheap eat, since 1973 with no concessions.
Try: Carne asada burrito or doubled-corn tacos
Tip: Get the dorado-style burrito; the kitchen sears it on the plancha for a crisp edge that costs nothing extra.
Good Mong Kok in San Francisco is the Stockton Street Cantonese takeaway window with a ten-item haul for under fifteen dollars on a Saturday morning queue.
Try: Char siu bao and shrimp dumplings
Tip: Cash only; bring a clear list of items because the line behind you moves at speed.
Saigon Sandwich in San Francisco is the Larkin Street banh mi window: six bucks for a hot baguette and a long lunch line that turns over fast every weekday.
Try: Pork banh mi
Tip: Cash only; order four at once and bring them home; the bread stays good for three hours wrapped.
Shalimar in San Francisco is the Tenderloin Pakistani counter where a tandoor-fired chicken tikka, naan and dal lands under thirteen dollars at lunch service.
Try: Chicken tikka with naan and dal
Tip: Eat at the back tables; the front counter has the tandoor view but no chairs.
