How to Eat in San Francisco on the Cheap

Contributor

By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(2 Ratings)

San Francisco is famous for its terrific ' and often expensive ' food and wine, but you can still eat well in the Bay Area without spending a lot of money. Here are a few simple guidelines to help you get the most from your food budget.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Local Guidebooks
Maps
Local Newspapers
Airline Tickets
Travel Services
Maps

Step 1

Buy or borrow a budget guidebook before you leave home. Most guidebooks contain restaurant listings organized by price range, neighborhood and type of cuisine.
Step 2

Peruse local dining and entertainment Web sites before you leave home, or at an Internet café after you arrive. You'll probably find lots of searchable listings, restaurant reviews and other useful information.
Step 3

Try to find a variety of dining options in the area where you plan to be spending most of your time ' the Bay Area is large and spread out, and just getting to the restaurant of your choice could be a potentially frustrating experience.
Step 4

Visit the Mission district. Despite it's increasing gentrification, there are still plenty of food bargains to be found in the area, especially at delicious Mexican dives that serve hearty and filling burritos, tacos and enchiladas at affordable prices.
Step 5

Go to Chinatown for a wide variety of dining experiences, including budget choices. You'll find Vietnamese and other Asian cuisine in this area, as well as authentic Chinese food.
Step 6

Look for sweet and savory snacks in the North Beach neighborhood, San Francisco's Little Italy. Nestled in between some touristy restaurants are great cafés that can quiet your growling stomach.

Comments

lljo said

Flag This Comment

on 5/5/2009 Growing up my family always enjoyed going to the warf and buying a freshly cooked crab, along with a loaf of fresh baked sour dough bread from the Boudin Bakery and having picnic sitting on the docks watching the boats and the bay. It was a cheap and authentic San Francisco meal

Anonymous said

on 8/8/2006 When in doubt, ask a local where to go. A hotel concierge is always a great source. Check with the barrista that makes your coffee in the morning or the bartender in the hotel lounge. Also check out local review websites like or the free local papers, like The Guardian or SF Examiner.

on 8/8/2006 I know several people have mentioned Chinatown for cheap eats--just make sure you get off the main drag. The Capital Restaurant is especially good, and it's about a block off of Grant, though you can see it from there. Be good at using chopsticks--they have no western utensils.

Also good is Japantown, which has a lot of noodle shops; those tend to be very cheap.

on 11/22/2005 If you want to see the real San Francisco and get a good, cheap meal, head away from the tourist areas. I like West Portal because it is easy to get to as a major Muni rail station, and there is a lot there!

Pay the $1.50 ($.50 for seniors, disabled w/ Medicare card, and children) to get to West Portal Station (see sfmuni.com for detailed directions and times). Save your transfer. There are many, many places to eat in the area! There is anything you can imagine eating and the prices aren't too bad. Plus, finish your meal and get back to Muni before the time on your transfer card (90 minutes from when you bought), and you won't have to pay for the return fare. Or, walk around and take in the scenery. There is some very interesting architecture.