Best cheap eats in Vancouver

I suspect that I eat out a little more than the average person so in order to keep my eating expenses under control, I mix in quite a few cheap eateries into my eating schedule along with some fancier, special occasion places. Here’s a short list of some of my favourite places to eat in Vancouver for under $10:

Bay Sushi (678 Seymour Street)

I wouldn’t say this is the best sushi to be found in downtown Vancouver, but one of the most convenient and best value for the price. I especially like their Combo #1, which has 16 pieces of sushi for $6.50 and the rolls offered rotates daily. It is a great option for lunch and I often take this back to eat at my desk when it’s a busy day in the office.

Ebi-Ten (388 Robson Street)

Great fast-food Japanese place that I like to check out for lunch and sometimes for dinner too. My favourite is their Combo #2, which is a unique twist on the commonly offered teriyaki chicken rice bowl. The teriyaki chicken comes on top of a bed of lettuce and some mayo, which actually goes quite well together.

Ba Le Sandwich Shop (633 Main Street)

One of my favourite snacks or meals is the humble Vietnamese sandwich. There are a number of Ba Le locations but the one I frequent the most is located in Chinatown. My favourite flavor is the “special”, which comes with Vietnamese cold cuts, pate, onions, pickled veggies, and cilantro piled into a light and crusty baguette. At $3 for most subs, this is one of the cheapest and tastiest things you can eat.

Congee Noodle House (141 East Broadway)

For a homey meal, I like to go to the Congee Noodle House for a bowl of their famous congee. My grandma has warned me that the version made here is not the healthiest, since a lot of their flavor comes from the fatty pork that is used to flavor the congee but I figured it should be ok if I have it once in a while. My favourite congee here is the sliced pork with century egg, which I supplement with a plate of freshly fried Chinese doughnuts.

La Brasserie Street (Corner of Granville and West Georgia)

The chicken sandwich at La Brasserie Street is one of the best food cart offerings in my opinion.  For $6.25 (plus tax), you get a mound of tender beer brined chicken with crispy fried onions nestled in buttermilk bun. As filling as this sandwich is, you’ll still walk away wishing you ordered a second one.

Grounds for Appeal (845 Cambie Street)

This unassuming bakery on the first floor of the Law Society building has some of the best butter chicken you can find in downtown Vancouver. This is indicated by the huge line-up that often forms at 12pm each week day. Although there is a selection of Indian curries you can order, I always stick with the butter chicken, which comes with rice and naan for $7.95. The mango lassi is packed full of mango flavor and fairly reasonable at $2.50 for a cup.

What are some of your favourite hole-in-the-wall eateries or places for a cheap yet tasty meal?

For more reviews, see HoYummy.com