Cheap Eats: San Diego

Napkins, wet naps, bibs, hand wash stations--no, it's not a day care but visits here can sure get messy. For less than $7, you can get a BBQ chicken dinner, a pulled pork sandwich, or a cheeseburger topped with an onion ring and BBQ sauce.

Its vibrant decor of pink walls, glittery booths, and Mexican wrestling gear make it clear that the restaurant is no run-of-the-mill taco shop. Despite the frills, $1.50 TJ-style hot dogs and $2.25 tacos create a smackdown of a meal that won't leave your wallet in pain.

About $10 will get you a simple salad and a dinner plate of ultra-creamy mashed potatoes served with your choice of a grilled entree: angus flank steak, chicken, albacore tuna, or veggies. The hot stuff is flavorful and well-seasoned, making this one of our favorite places in the city for comfort food.

Many come here for the flavorful thai grilled chicken, but it's also an excellent choice for standard curry and noodle dishes. For a quick and healthy lunch, pick up a box of chicken or tofu salad rolls for less than $6.

Everyone has their favorite hole-in-the-wall taco shop, but this Mexican joint in Barrio Logan brings people from around the county for the fresh tortillas, rolled tacos, chorizo and tamales. Be sure to stop at an ATM first--it's cash only.

First-timers are often skeptical about the concept of a Torpasta, a crusty garlic roll stuffed with spaghetti and meatballs. While the Torpasta will never be South Beach Diet friendly, it's well worth the carbo-load. For $6, we recommend you give it a shot.

They bill it as "California Mediterranean with a Euro-Turkish influence," but all we know is that it's cheap, quick, and delicious. For about $7, have your choice of spiced lamb or marinated chicken wrapped in flatbread with garlic yogurt sauce.

In City Heights, find a family-owned East African restaurant offering injera (a fluffy pancake-like bread), sambusas (pastries stuffed with veggies or meat), lamb, vegetables, and lentils.

Feast on egg rolls, beef short ribs, giant bowls of pho and more than a hundred other menu items at this Vietnamese spot in City Heights.

There's almost always a wait but with rolls at $4 or $5 a pop and miso soup for $1, this sushi spot's value is tough to beat.

Go 11am-3pm for the lunch special ($5-$8) that includes an entree, salad, egg roll, and soup of the day. Red curry, panang curry, drunken noodles, and pad thai are among the highlights.

With reasonably priced pizza and a decent selection of beer and wine, this is a great place to go for a pre-Padres game meal or an inexpensive dinner with friends downtown. Special toppings include mashed potatoes, fried eggplant, and roasted red peppers.

Juicy burgers, toasted buns, beer on tap, and football on the LCDs. For the bros of Pacific Beach--and for anyone craving a burger and a Bud--it's pretty much heaven on earth.

La Jolla may be known for its Benzes and Beemers, but that doesn't mean you can't find a cheap meal. The standouts at this seafood spot are the fish sandwiches: for $8-$9, order snapper, swordfish, halibut, or other varieties of fresh fish grilled with lemon butter, teriyaki sauce, or the house marinade. You'll also find some of the best clam chowder in the city.

Grilled shrimp teriyaki, bowls of pho, and pan seared noodle dishes served in a relaxed OB joint. Speaking of joints, the staff elicit smiles from patrons by capturing the haze of this beach community with shirts that say "pho 20".

Featuring soy chorizo quesadillas, eggplant tortas, and tofu enchiladas, Rancho's is as veg-friendly as a Mexican restaurant can get. But with giant combo platters at $8 or $9 a pop, it's also a friend to your budget.

It's surprising that more SoCal delis don't have a Turkado on the menu. Maybe it's because they can't beat the ones served in Del Mar--the fresh turkey is piled high with a hearty spread of avocado, jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and onions on sourdough bread.

Find sushi rolls, udon noodle soups, and plates of chicken teriyaki at this family-owned restaurant in Oceanside. Be sure to ask about the $6.25 daily lunch specials.

Some of the best Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches and hoagies served on authentic Amoroso Rolls. And if you have a friend or coworker from Philly, bring back a few Tastykakes to get a smile--guaranteed.

For about $7, order up a combo plate of entrees such as chicken tikka masala and saag paneer (curried spinach with cheese) served with rice, naan, and salad. Finish with a $1.75 bowl of rice pudding.

Plates of sesame chicken, black pepper beef, and walnut shrimp at fast food prices make this North County Chinese spot a take-out favorite.