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Vancouver's cheap eats: The college edition

The birds are chirping and the bells are ringing – school bells, that is.
Bestie
Bestie's bratwurst is among the best budget-friendly meals in Vancouver.

The birds are chirping and the bells are ringing – school bells, that is. For post-secondary students, one of the biggest questions always is, “Where can I fill up for cheap?” And, while fast food is definitely low-cost, its effect on your learning skills and energy are questionable. Here are 10 spots that offer hearty, delicious meals at student-friendly prices.

Bestie
Authentic bratwurst, housemade sauerkraut, pickles and curried ketchup, pretzels…yes, this is the home of Vancouver’s best currywurst, right in the heart of Chinatown. A plate of sliced thick sausage with the ketchup and fries is $8 or switch it up with sauerkraut and mustard for $9.50. Sausage selection changes regularly, is all-natural, and from local suppliers. Bonus: Open until 1am Friday and Saturday nights.
105 E. Pender | 604-620-1175 | Bestie.ca

Boca
Boca is home to some of the best Central and South American sandwiches in the city, called bocadillo. Grilled hot, these are all $9 for a meaty two-fister. Try the pastel de carne, a Columbian meatloaf made with ground beef, pork and Filipino Longanisa sausage. Pair with the jicama slaw or the chicken tortilla soup for a soul-satisfying munch.
1513 W. Broadway | 604-620-1262 | Boca2Go.ca

Congee Noodle House
It’s all about the starchy, rich broth and thick noodles here. Most bowls are under $7 and can feed two. Try the dried oyster with preserved egg and shredded pork, or barbecue duck. Pair it with the lo bak, a pan-fried “cake” that is great to dip. Cash only.
141 E. Broadway | 604-879-8221

Hai Phong
The area of Kingsway heading east from Fraser past Clark is now known as Little Saigon, but the Vietnamese cafes and restaurants that line this strip have been here for many years. One of the best is the little hole in a strip mall known as Hai Phong. It seats 50 and offers such deals as garlic butter chicken wings ($6.95 for a half-order) that come with a small dish of pepper sauce or grilled lemongrass chicken or beef pho (around $9 for a massive bowl) with fresh noodles. Don’t miss the pork pattie bánh mì ($5.75) for a solid lunch on the go.
1246 Kingsway | 604-872-3828 | HaiPhongRestaurant.com


Hawker’s Delight
Malaysian and Singaporean street-style food fills the roster here at ‘90s prices (think $5-6 per dish). Try the laksa, a curried noodle dish with puffed tofu, hardboiled egg and minced pork, or the Hainanese chicken. Lots of vegetarian/vegan options. Cash only.
4127 Main | 604-709-8188

Hokkaido Santouka Ramen
While there are many ramen places in the city, this chain, which originated in Japan, boasts some of the best char-siu pork in the city and nightly line-ups that start early. Try the shoyu (soy flavoured) ramen with the legendary pork for less than $9 and you’ll have leftovers for lunch the next day.
1690 Robson | 604-681-8121 | Santouka.co.jp

Longtail Kitchen
Angus An of Maenam made New Westminster students and residents very happy when he opened Longtail Kitchen at the revitalized River Market. The menu is inspired by Thai street food and includes standouts like the chicken satays ($7), som dtam green papaya salad ($7), and the plump chicken wings with tamarind sauce ($8).
#116 – 810 Quayside Dr, New Westminster | 604-553-3855 | LongTailKitchen.com

Los Cuervos
Mexican street food at its finest is what you can expect to find at this little taqueria. Tacos are mostly made with large white corn tortillas and served open-face. You can fold or roll as you see fit, but at $3.75-$4 each, it’s not hard to fill up for much less than $20. Try the pibil, a Yucatan-style pulled pork with tamarind and pickled red onions or the beef brisket marinated in achiote and beer. The authentic and delicious margaritas make a nice change from Friday night kegs.
603 Kingsway | 604-558-1518 | LosCuervos.ca

Meat & Bread
Porchetta. Porchetta. PORCHETTA. Italian-style rolled roast pork chopped with crackling and stuffed into a bun. It’s $8 of heaven. Period. Or try the meatball with grana padano for the same price. For dessert? The maple-bacon ice cream sandwich, natch.
1033 W. Pender | 370 Cambie | MeatAndBread.ca

Tractor Foods
The mantra here is “everyday healthy food” and Tractor lives up to that. Ten different salads go for $3 each, like the arugula with grilled pears, candied walnuts, blue cheese and lemon-champagne vinaigrette. Pair with a hearty soup for an extra $6 or the excellent Moroccan chicken stew with chick peas ($8). Sandwiches are available in half ($5) or full ($9) sizes, and it’s licensed, so beers on tap are just $5.50.
1903 W. 4th | 604-222-2257 | TractorFoods.com





 

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