Best places to eat for $5! (Chicago, Lincoln: restaurants, prices, store)

[elfstorage]

Oh, I got another, subway...5 dolla footlong baby...ok bad joke.

Actually, Bari's subs on grand off of ogden has some of the best subs in town and most are about 5 bucks. Really, really good. I think they get their bread from the bakery next door. And I'm pretty sure they use a coal fired oven which gives the bread a crisp outside and tender innards...yummy!

[andrew61]

Another place in the Loop is Curried at 171 N. Wells. It's fast-food Indian and is very good, IMHO. You can get a curry bowl for $4.99 or $5.99 depending on which kind you order. They also have curry "plates" which are bigger portions than the bowls -- two kinds of curry (you choose) plus rice plus naan. Curry plates run $8-$9, but if you sign up for their emails or "like" them on Facebook they'll let you in on their special deals. At least once a week they'll offer Buy One Get One Free curry plates, so you can bring someone with you and it's less than $5 each. In their email or on Facebook, they do give you a secret "password" that you have to say at the cash register to get the special deal.

Curried

They used to have a Lakeview location (Clark just north of Belmont) but it just closed after only being open a few months. I was so disappointed when they closed that one.

They also have food trucks that visit various neighborhoods in the city at different times.

Oh, and Chinatown! Tucked in between the restaurants and shops on Wentworth Avenue are some little Chinese bakeries where you can get things like sausage sandwiches and slices of lemon or orange cake at very cheap prices. You could probably put together a meal for no more than $5 or so.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

Empenada's off the empenada food truck - only $2.50 each.

Those are awesome.. 5411. They have a store near Clark & Diversey now.

[elfstorage]

Thanks for the lively debate. Fun stuff.

Hey got another. Hoosier Mama pie shop. 5 bucks for a slice of great homemade pie and a cup of metropolis coffee. It's deinitely a best place to eat for $5! Even if it is dessert. I have seen people who sit down and eat that there. I could see a cup of joe and a slice as someones breakfast or second lunch.

[ChiNaan]

Moderator cut: removal of orphaned off topic post

Portions at American restaurants are notoriously huge these days. LOTS of people eat half-sized portions when they're available. When they're not, people often have enough left over to take home for another meal or two.

[elfstorage]

Damm, I'm on a roll. I got another. Ricobene's on 26th. About $5 for their semifamous breaded steak sandwich (comes with red sauce i believe). Definitely good for the carnivores out there. I haven't been there in years but it probably is still pretty good. I know they have a good following.

[Chicagoist123]

What about Wow Bao? You can get three baos for about $5.

[elfstorage]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

What about Wow Bao? You can get three baos for about $5.

Yah. Wow Bao is ok. It's a bit too doughy for me though. But I could see how some people could go for it.

[Drover]

Empanadas at El Cubanito or Senor Pan.

Boti roll at Lahore Food and Grill.

A sandwich at Marianao or La Unica.

Various menu items from the mini-cafe in the back of Joong Boo.

Steak tacos -- flame-broiled, not griddled -- from El Asadero.

Tacos Arabes or Tacos Orientales at Cemitas Puebla.

Three big-ass homemade tamales (NOT one of those pre-wrapped in paper things) at Tamales Garibay.

[Warsie]

Wow Bao