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Taqueria
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.
TryCarne asada burrito or doubled-corn tacos
TipGet the dorado-style burrito; the kitchen sears it on the plancha for a crisp edge that costs nothing extra.
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Cantonese
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.
TryChar siu bao and shrimp dumplings
TipCash only; bring a clear list of items because the line behind you moves at speed.
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Vietnamese
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.
TryPork banh mi
TipCash only; order four at once and bring them home; the bread stays good for three hours wrapped.
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Pakistani
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.
TryChicken tikka with naan and dal
TipEat at the back tables; the front counter has the tandoor view but no chairs.
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Cantonese
Yuet Lee in San Francisco is the Chinatown late-night Cantonese counter, where a plate of salt-and-pepper squid plus rice and beer runs twenty dollars.
TrySalt and pepper squid
TipCash only after midnight; the kitchen window seats fill the fastest at 23:30.
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Thai
Rooster & Rice in San Francisco is the Thai khao man gai counter, with poached chicken on rice cooked in chicken fat, for thirteen dollars across four sites.
TryKhao man gai (Thai poached chicken on rice)
TipOrder the steamed and fried combo; you get both proteins for a couple of dollars more.