Although prices of almost everything have soared, good deals do exist. The New York Times scoured the boroughs to see what kind of fare could be had for $1, and earlier this year, New York magazine proclaimed that "beggars can be choosers" when it comes to 99-cent finds. Even in my expensive backyard, the Bay Area, there are deals to come by. 
My favorite bargain? The 99-cent, foot-long hot dog with all-you-can-eat ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut at Slots-a-Fun in Las Vegas. I also love the McCormick & Schmick's $2 bar menu, which includes mussels and burgers. I have to say that when it comes to these prices, value does in fact have a taste: delicious.
What about you? What's the best thing you can find at a rock-bottom price?
Heals
APC
Malene Birger
Our neighborhood bar has 1/2 price burger Sundays and 1/2 price pizza Tuesdays, and they're actually really good at both of them. Oh, and when I lived in Hawaii there was this waterfront bar that had 2-for-Tuesdays, where all drinks were $2 and all apps were 1/2 off, even the sushi. It was sorta awesome.
1a gas station around here has hot dogs for 50 cents. and they are delicioussss.
2Yumsugar, the Las Vegas joints shouldn't count, it's well known that what you don't pay on the food you pay on the slots/craps/etc. They provide you with food just to stay there and gamble. So that's not quite a bargain. Costco has hot dogs and polish dogs with a soft drink for about 1 buck.
37 layer burrito at taco bell (vegetarian!)
4remember back in the day, they had 99Cent Big Macs? That was back in 1999.
5There are several local Banh Mi (French Vietnamese Sandwiches) places around here that serve HUGE barbecued pork, barbecued chicken or shredded chicken on crusty baguettes for $2.99. They are piled with mayo, fresh cilantro, shredded carrot, and chopped jalapeno. You could easily share the sandwich and still be full. They also make regular deli sandwiches for the same price. YUM!
6I love the huge $1 cinnamon rolls at Ikea!
7eat with mom and dad or grandma= free
8oh yea, I forgot about the $1 breakfast at Ikea, good point PetSugar! it even comes with a beverage!
9I second mommapoppins with the Banh Mi, Vietnamese sandwiches usually run around $3.00 and are delicious.
10Ooh yea the Costco hot dog and soda is $1.50 - that is a good deal, gotta love the chopped onion you can put on top!! Also not under $5, but there is a bar around here that has ladies nights where if you order a martini you get a free appetizer, so if you have 4 girlfriends and you all order 1 drink you can split four different snacks...but of course who orders just 1 martini
11The chain Bar Louie does dollar burger nights on Tuesdays. Not bad.
12Any UCLA student will go on and on about Buck Fitty -- this shack that sells fries/6 in. grilled chicken sub/Coke for $3.50. [Well, at least that was the price last time I checked.] It's the hot place to be after all the bars close...
13Costco $1.50 hot dog and a soda. Usually my friend and I go, get a slice of pizza, hot dog and a soda and split it all. its only 3.50 for both of us! Not too healthy though!
14my favorite cheap meals are the FREE SAMPLES from Costco on the weekends. that's how i eat sometimes cause i just can't afford it.
i have to also say that when i was in college, there were a few bars that had free buffets on thursday nights so i didn't have to pay for that food either
15In pre-Katrina New Orleans, there was this meat market outside the Louisiana Ave projects called Louisiana Discount Market that sold 4-foot long shrimp po boys smothered in mayo, lettuce, tomato, peppers, and Krystal hot sauce for $7. $7 divided by 4 people with Budweiser tall-boys was like $2.50/person. We'd take it down to The Fly by the Mississippi River, do some sun-bathing and watch Russian oil barges float while we ate.
Now I live in DC where nothing NOTHING is cheap ... or good. Sometimes I go to McDonald's (gasp) for those $1 chicken sandwiches. I do it out of spite.
16We have a local mexican restaurant that has $2 Tuesdays. Fish or chicken tacos and Tecate beers. $8 = 2 tacos and 2 beers!
17The Wendy's side salad. It's not exactly the greatest salad, but it is what it is for the price, and it's the perfect portion when you're not ravenously hungry but still need to eat.
18Free samples at Whole Food, Sam's Club, or Kroger's def a great meal for free! Esp when they have the fresh fruit out yum!
19I call Costco samples American Tapas
20$.15 top ramen
21I live in Seattle so I have to be a cliche and say Dick's cheeseburgers. MMMM
22Yeah, those Costco samples are the best! Other than that, my favorite cheap meal is an egg sandwich I make at home.
23I second a taco bell 7 layer burrito.
But #1, any city that has good pupusas available on the street for like a buck or two a piece. . . . I mean how can you not love something full of salty, melty, delicious cheese.
24Gotta 3rd the Banh Mi! It's $2.99 here and sooo good. Also, a lot of bars in Portland do really cheap happy hour food.
25Mmm...Banh Mi. I love those sandwiches. For the price, portion, and taste Banh Mi wins this contest hands down
26McDonald's $1 Menu
27Oh my goodnesss. Costco polish dogs...
28the parkdale special - brown beans, kd + boxed mash. feeds 3 for under $3 and monies saved can be spent on tall cans of kozel.
29yasmilk - agreed, there is tons of cheap, really good food here in New Orleans.
30mmmm...Bahn Mi, i'm craving one right now!
31Wendy's Caesar side salad (0.99) with a side of chicken nuggets (0.99)
32My college staple was the Wawa hot dog. Ugh...
332 jack in the box tacos for $1... my guilty pleasure!!
341 dollar tacos (real tacos) and 1.50 tamales.
35A slice of costco pizza and a very berry smoothie.
36The costco hot dog/polish and soda for $1.50, or tacos (the authentic tortilla, meat, onion, cilantro kind) for $1.10 a piece.
37If I'm getting it to cook it myself, my favorite is potato pancakes. If we're talking fast food, I'll go to the local Mexican joint and get a taco or two for like $1.00
38Yea so I love canned chicken & canned green beans! The canned chicken comes in at $2 and the canned green beans.... a whopping 60 cents! Ya baby!
39El Pollo Loco...2 chicken drumsticks and a side salad for $3!
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