These SF restaurants still offer lunch for less than $10

San Francisco is still one of the most expensive cities in the country. Yet, despite inflation and sky-high prices at restaurants and grocery stores, you can still find a delicious, satisfying lunch for $10 or less. The city’s taquerias, sandwich shops, noodle houses and other mom-and-pops provide all sorts of comforting, nourishing on-the-go eats. Taking inspiration from an SFGATE roundup on cheap eats around the Bay Area, our staff recently scoured the city in search of the best affordable lunches in San Francisco.

You can put aside your limp salad and sad chicken leftovers, because we’ve uncovered some amazing options — everything from Chinese barbecue and Salvadorian pupusas to classic Mission burritos and organic pizzas (yes, entire pies for under $10!). Here are seven awesome cheap eats in San Francisco right now.

The most affordable lunch I’ve ever had was also one of the tastiest: a marinated tofu banh mi from L&G Vietnamese Sandwich, a no-frills spot in the Tenderloin. At just $5.80 (when you order online), the sandwich is simple but packs a ton of flavor. A fluffy French roll coated in a generous helping of mayo is stuffed to the brim with pickled carrots and daikon, spicy jalapeño, cilantro and thick slabs of some of the best tofu I’ve ever had. It’s marinated in soy sauce, garlic, pepper and star anise, resulting in a protein so juicy and meaty that it will win over even the staunchest meat-eaters. If the tofu still doesn’t convince you, L&G also offers a variety of other banh mi, from barbecue chicken and pork to meatball and fried fish cake. And if you’re worried about getting a tiny sandwich for $5, you’ve got nothing to fear. This banh mi is hefty enough to keep you full for hours. If ordering in person, bring cash or a friend; credit cards can only be used on orders over $10. — Madeline Wells

L&G Vietnamese Sandwich, 602 Eddy St., San Francisco. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Put your lunchtime hunger in the capable hands of La Boulangerie’s Pascal Rigo and Nicolas Bernadi, the duo who also owns Apizza in Pacific Heights. When they launched the fine-casual pizzeria in 2019, they made the brazen claim that this cute little restaurant on Fillmore Street would be the In-N-Out of pizza. They over-delivered. Apizza specializes in personal pies that start at $7 — yes, for an entire 11-inch pizza — and are made with organic dough, organic tomato sauce and cold-pressed California olive oil. Of the nine pies, the Forestiere ($9.25) is my go-to every time. It’s a mushroom fiend’s dream, loaded with tons of flavor from sliced ‘shrooms, cubes of roasted potato, caramelized onions, mascarpone, parmesan and fresh thyme. Apizza’s pepperoni ($8.95), featuring Creminelli heritage pork, might be the best freakin’ pepperoni deal in the city. The only thing better than the affordability, quality and fast service at Apizza is finishing off lunch with Loving Cup frozen yogurt ($5.50). The Salty Dog (vanilla mixed with salted caramel and pretzels) is the move, all day. — Jessica Yadegaran

Apizza, 2043 Fillmore St., San Francisco. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Monday and Tues, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Clement BBQ is known for some of the best barbecue pork buns, or char siu bao, in the city, but it’s the generous and affordable lunch combo that brings me back to this Inner Richmond Chinese deli and takeout counter every time. The food is served up so fresh and hot that there’s usually a layer of condensation on the glass display cases. For $9.43, you get two entrees and one side, weighing about 2.5 pounds. The combo could easily be shared between two people or saved for dinner leftovers. I’m partial to the sesame chicken and chow mein — the noodles are savory and slurpable, while the chicken is juicy and sweet, with a nice crunch. My boyfriend usually goes for the Mongolian beef and fried rice, which he describes as tender with a nice kick of heat.

There’s no indoor seating, so you’ll need to take your meal back home or find a bench on the sidewalk. Don’t panic if you see a line — Clement BBQ is a well-oiled machine. Even around noon on a bustling weekday, we were in and out within five minutes. — Amanda Bartlett

Clement BBQ, 617 Clement St., San Francisco. Open Thursday through Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Wednesday.

There aren’t a lot of businesses in San Francisco like Common Sage. Opened in 2015, the store sells a wide selection of Japanese and Korean groceries while servers pull expert shots of Sightglass espresso and sling steaming bowls of ramen. But the real reason to visit is one of Common Sage’s seldom-seen Japanese specialties: omusubi. Sometimes called onigiri, omusubi are fist-sized rice balls wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with everything from spicy cod roe to pickled plum (Common Sage has a full menu of vegan options). One of the sticky rice balls makes for a filling snack if you’re just stopping by to pick up some groceries — the mapo tofu mix is highly recommended, and the sake selection can’t be beaten — but at an average of $4 each, a pair of omusubi makes for an affordable and unique lunch in the city. — Dan Gentile

Common Sage, 1552 Polk St., San Francisco. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

You instantly feel at home walking into Panchitas #2 Pupuseria & Restaurant, a low-key Salvadorian family restaurant with cheery, flower-dotted tile floors and bougainvillea painted on the walls. For 34 years, it’s been serving the Mission District affordable pupusas stuffed with every manner of filling, from chicken and cheese to pork, beef and beans. To keep your tab under $10, order two pupusas ($9.50) — I counted at least 15 options on a recent visit — and grab a seat. Before long, large, pancake-sized pupusas will be delivered to your table on real plates, with a side of peppy pickled slaw. The pupusas arrive warm and have a chewy texture, with a bit of char in just the right places. My favorites included the stewed-style chicken and the vegan rice, beans and plantain, which had an almost-sweet flavor to seal off this homey, satisfying meal. Heads up: All pupusas include cheese unless otherwise stated. — Jessica Yadegaran

Is there any food more San Francisco than a Mission burrito? Family-run taquerias serving the affordable torpedo-shaped, hand-held meals wrapped in tin foil have been around since the early 1960s. While they are ubiquitous in the City by the Bay, one of the most famous is also one of the most affordable. Taqueria El Farolito serves gargantuan “regular” burritos that come with your choice of meat, rice, beans and salsa for $8.25 before tax. It’s a steal that will leave you full for an entire day. With an array of juicy meats that are griddled on the plancha, you can’t go wrong with the carne asada, al pastor or chorizo at the famed taqueria. If you have an extra dollar to spare, upgrade to a “super” burrito for the true San Francisco burrito experience. A super adds sliced avocado, melted cheese and sour cream to the mix and will set you back only $10.30. But the regular is almost as good, especially at that unbeatable price. — Nico Madrigal-Yankowski

Nearly 25 years after it first opened, Pakwan Restaurant & Catering has remained one of San Francisco’s best places for a flavorful lunch deal. The Pakistani Indian restaurant has a wide selection of menu items under $10, including its popular beef seekh kebabs, which are priced at $3.99 each. The tender meat is packed with a fusion of Indian spices and served on a bed of sliced onions and cilantro. A drizzle of lemon takes the kebab to the next level, as the acidity adds brightness to the spice-forward dish. Don’t skip the garlic naan, either. The pillowy side dish, priced at $3.99, is served hot and is large enough to share with another person (or enjoyed alone, depending on your appetite). The restaurant has a no-frills atmosphere and lightning-fast service. For a vegetarian option, try the generously portioned chana masala, which is only $9.99. Pro tip: At the Mission District location, sit by the window to people-watch. — Susana Guerrero
 
Pakwan Restaurant & Catering has three locations in San Francisco, including 3180-82 16th St., which is open daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. The restaurant also has locations in Hayward and Fremont.

Know of a great cheap lunch in San Francisco? Send it to SFGATE food editor Jessica Yadegaran at jessica.yadegaran@sfgate.com.