Two-buck-snacks

Elsewhere, in a different thread, there was the following exchange:

G Wiv wrote:

c8w wrote:Georgian Bakery will often see my business as often as Taza might (Georgian Bakery, similarl to Taza, does one thing far better than anyone else.. and their khachapuri, in an apples to oranges comparisoin, might often win out over the zaatar IMHO!)

Shower of pastry flakes on the shirt, thin strand of cheese hanging from my beard, slightly oily fingers from rich melty gooey cheese, khachapuri, one of the better two buck snacks in Chicagoland.

Georgian Bakery khachapuri and Taza zatar are, as you say, apples to oranges, and if I was forced to choose it would be Taza zatar, happily no such choice necessary.

These are 2 of the best 2-buck-snacks in the Chicagoland area - the 2 buck khachapuri at Georgian Bakery on Devon, and the buck-fiddy zaatar at Taza, also on Devon. The Al Pastor taco at Tierra Caliente. The $2.50 Apple Fritter at Old Fashioned Donuts on the southside - maybe the Reigning-Champion-two-buck-snack of LTH. To this list I wish to add another entrant..

Wednesday afternoons are "Weiner Wednesdays" at Weiner and Still Champion - where, between 3 and 5pm, hot-dogs and fries are $1.50 apiece. Stopped in here yesterday and picked up 2 char-dogs with fries... and while the char-dogs were very good, the fries yesterday were completely and utterly outstanding. I was driving 5 minutes away, planning to consume both dogs-and-fries on getting there... but more than 1-small-order of fries was gone before I ever got there. Perfectly crisp outside, creamy-potatoey inside, terrific... even the slightly lukewarm fries (by the end of the meal) were awesome. No finer 3-buck-meal in existance - highly recommended.

So... does anyone else have any couple-three buck snacks in the Chicagoland area that they find irresistable? Pastries, scoops of gelato, mini-sandwiches, Trader Joe wine, the double-cheese at MickieD's (ok, not really).. anything that is really good, tempting, and less than $3.01 qualifies..

c8w

- Giant frosted cookies at GNR Al's Deli are $1.59 + tax
- Various <$2 snacks at Chiu Quon (prefer Argyle location)
- Cassava roll things at Cassava in Lakeview (more of an acquired taste-texture...that I have acquired)
- Little pouch of red apple caramels at Fox & Obel candy counter

happy_stomach wrote:- Cassava roll things at Cassava in Lakeview (more of an acquired taste-texture...that I have acquired)

I second this, and at $.75-$.95 a roll, you can get a few for under $3(I especially like the bacon and the original). Plus, the hot chocolate is phenomenal.

I have two to add. 1)The empanadas from El Mercado on Southport. I think they were $1.29-$2.29 last time I was there, it may have edged up since then. 2) There are 9 rolls under $3 on the menu at Lawrence Fish Market (plus all of the veggie rolls), ranging from California to Spicy Scallop. Or, at a $1/piece, get 3 pieces of nigiri.

Cassava
3338 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 857-3039
http://cassavachicago.com/cassava_bread.html

El Mercado
3767 North Southport Avenue
(773) 477-5020

Lawrence Fish Market
3914 West Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 267-6838
MenuPages Menu

All from places that don't mind too much if you only order the one cheapo item and walk out:

- salgado or piece of cake from Taste of Brazil (chicken risole is probably my bet)
- small spicy veg (lentils or chickpeas), or two samosas from Rajun Cajun
- taco de cecina from Taco Veloz
- taco de whatever is currently vegetarian from Big Star
- taco de birria at Birrieria Reyes
- house special hot and sour soup at Lao Beijing
- piece of sheet pizza from Italian Superior Bakery or D'Amato's
- arancino, macaroni pie, or pepperoni bread from GNR Freddy's Pizza
- small hummus at The Nile (Hyde Park)

drinks:

- fresh lemon ice tea freeze, Joy Yee Chinatown
- Hong Kong milk tea with stale boba, Seven Treasures Chinatown
- horchata, Cemitas Puebla or Big Star
- licuado chico de platano, Taqueria San Jose (Bridgeport)
- coffee or tea of the day, Zaleski and Horvath
- mango lassi, Rajun Cajun or Hema's Kitchen
- why can't Whole Foods offer any freshly squeezed juice for under $3
- Honest Tea agave mate and steal a lime, for ultimate irony

Also various <$2 & <$3 snacks at Mekato's and JK Sweets. And, it's been almost a year since my last churchkela (with walnuts, please) at Georgian Bakery--that may qualify.

The chicken roll at Eastern Breadstone Bakery. Every time I'm in the area I want to stop for one.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26551&hilit=bread+devon

Eastern Breadstone Bakery
2818 W. Devon
Chicago, IL 60645
773-338-9969

Clearly, I like to snack.

Just remembered that empanadas at El Nandu are $2.50. I was wary at first of a snack inked with words, but at least they use Helvetica, and I like the racetrack paper that lines their baskets. The empanadas are very delicious.

25 cents per falafel at Salam is easily the best snacking bang for buck in my life.

Samosas from King Sweets on Devon.
Also black pepper cashews from King Sweets
Mango/papaya/coconut smoothie at the Fresh Fields on Devon
Cream puff from Beard Papa
And I second happy_stomach recommendation of the Mekato's goodies.

Bacon buns at Bridgeport Bakery are 90 cents each. One of those is a pretty substantial (and very tasty) snack.

$2.70 for a dog with fries at Red Hot Ranch is a pretty great deal.

happy_stomach wrote:Also various <$2 & <$3 snacks at Mekato's and JK Sweets.

Could you expand on this? (In a different thread, if you prefer.) The JK Sweets of old used to have sad muffins, scones, cookies, etc. that had clearly been made in a different place and a (much) different (happier) time. Has that changed with the new ownership? More importantly, how is the food? The bibimbap used to be reliably okay.

Oh, and:

• Any of the buns at Pastry House Hippo in Mitsuwa, especially the cream-filled
• Che at Ba Le
• Spinach and/or cheese pies at Salam (when they have them)
• Quesadilla at Zaragoza
• Galaktoboureko at Hellas Pastry Shop (across from Nhu Lan)
• Pretzel at Austrian Bakery

cilantro wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:Also various <$2 & <$3 snacks at Mekato's and JK Sweets.

Could you expand on this? (In a different thread, if you prefer.) The JK Sweets of old used to have sad muffins, scones, cookies, etc. that had clearly been made in a different place and a (much) different (happier) time. Has that changed with the new ownership? More importantly, how is the food? The bibimbap used to be reliably okay.

Oops. Huge mistake there. I think I was still asleep when I wrote that. I meant King Sweets (been reading alphabet books about food, got my Ks mixed up), which Hellodali mentioned above. I haven't been to JK since the change in ownership.

cilantro wrote:Pretzel at Austrian Bakery

Add to my list Austrian Bakery tea cookies.

That makes more sense. On a different note, I cannot recommend much of anything at KKK Sweets.

happy_stomach wrote:I was wary at first of a snack inked with words, but at least they use Helvetica

I don't know if this will work after April 1, but search Google for Helvetica... I dare you.

JoelF wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:I was wary at first of a snack inked with words, but at least they use Helvetica

I don't know if this will work after April 1, but search Google for Helvetica... I dare you.

Comic!

Zarlengo's gelato cups are $2.69 plus tax at Panozzo's. Hazelnut is my favorite. Really exquisite smoothness and whole toasted hazelnuts. Best gelato deal in town. Of course, adding a porchetta (or, today, a slow-roasted Slagel pork shoulder) sandwich makes this more than a two-buck snack.

The small bakery counter at the back of Sweet Station Bakery and Cafe in Chinatown has several bread/pastry options for around $0.80. Today I purchased a cheese braid, flaked coconut bun, "pineapple" (craggly topped) bun, egg tart, and another swirl roll thingy (don't know the English name) for $4.70. Mmm! After 5pm, everything is 50% off.

Ursiform wrote:$2.70 for a dog with fries at Red Hot Ranch is a pretty great deal.

One of my 1st thoughts was a dog n fry at Gene N Judes or Parky's.

I'm a huge fan of the samosas from Baba Palace (around a buck, iirc) though all the other food I've gotten from there seemed like the kitchen was playing a cruel joke on me.

Great idea for a thread C8W!


Nhu Lan Bakery - Lemongrass Tofu Banh mi (#10), $3



Carabian American Bakery - Beef Pattie, $2.25



Nhu Lan Bakery & Sandwiches
2612 W Lawrence
773-878-9898
8am - 8pm
Closed Tuesday

Caribbean American Baking
1539 W Howard St
Chicago, IL 60626
773-761-0700

There are many delicious <$3 snacks to be had at Maxwell Street Market. For me yesterday, it was $2.50 quesadillas from Rubi's. A lot of their tacos come in at just $3, entirely worth it.

I can't remember if it was here someone posted that MSM has been dead lately. FWIW, the market was buzzing yesterday around 10am. Lines for everything including Rubi's, churros, $5 giant bags of Swedish fish and shoelaces. Also, perhaps this is not new at all, but somehow I never noticed the Chinese food tent at MSM. Has anyone eaten from here? I didn't feel like taking one for the team.

happy_stomach wrote:There are many delicious <$3 snacks to be had at Maxwell Street Market. ...A lot of their tacos come in at just $3, entirely worth it.

It's been too long since I was last at Maxwell Street Market, but is this right? Though the Market has certainly changed over the years, I still think of it as a relatively humble place where people go to find "deals". $3 is about 1.5 times the going rate for a taco in this town, maybe more. It surprises me that vendors at Maxwell Street Market would charge that much.

Kennyz wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:There are many delicious <$3 snacks to be had at Maxwell Street Market. ...A lot of their tacos come in at just $3, entirely worth it.

It's been too long since I was last at Maxwell Street Market, but is this right? Though the Market has certainly changed over the years, I still think of it as a relatively humble place where people go to find "deals". $3 is about 1.5 times the going rate for a taco in this town, maybe more. It surprises me that vendors at Maxwell Street Market would charge that much.

Yes, prices have been creeping up though there are still a lot of tacos at MSM in the $2-$3 range. Rubi's is at the higher end (but again, I believe, worth it). I know there have been articles lately about $3 tacos around town. Any of them address MSM?

happy_stomach wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:There are many delicious <$3 snacks to be had at Maxwell Street Market. ...A lot of their tacos come in at just $3, entirely worth it.

It's been too long since I was last at Maxwell Street Market, but is this right? Though the Market has certainly changed over the years, I still think of it as a relatively humble place where people go to find "deals". $3 is about 1.5 times the going rate for a taco in this town, maybe more. It surprises me that vendors at Maxwell Street Market would charge that much.

Yes, prices have been creeping up though there are still a lot of tacos at MSM in the $2-$3 range. Rubi's is at the higher end (but again, I believe, worth it). I know there have been articles lately about $3 tacos around town. Any of them address MSM?

dunno, I've seen neither the articles nor the $3 tacos. I continue to have no trouble finding good $2 and under tacos.

Admittedly, I haven't been since autumn, but I think many tacos are still in the 2 dollar range. I think Rubi's offers the larger sized tacos--or quesadillas as I prefer from them--for around 3 bucks. They're quite hefty and worth the price.

Kennyz wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:There are many delicious <$3 snacks to be had at Maxwell Street Market. ...A lot of their tacos come in at just $3, entirely worth it.

...
dunno, I've seen neither the articles nor the $3 tacos. I continue to have no trouble finding good $2 and under tacos.

I too have little trouble finding some very good <2 buck tacos in town.. Las Asadas, Tierra Caliente etc, best-in-class, usually come in at just about two, actually.

However.. another addition to this list I just thought of.. the 3-buck *shrimp* taco from La Tagartija. It wasnt quite as sublime as the deeply-moured Tacos Del Pacifico, but it was maybe the best shrimp-taco Ive had since TDP.. smallish in size, but with well-fried battered-shrimp and excellent sauces, came in just under 3 bucks IIRC.

c8w

La Tagartija Taqueria
132 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60607

G Wiv wrote:Carabian American Bakery - Beef Pattie, $2.25



Caribbean American Baking
1539 W Howard St
Chicago, IL 60626
773-761-0700

I like CAB plenty too.. the last couple of times I didnt like their beef patty *that* much, but I did enjoy their Curry-Chicken patty a fair bit. (Just to let people know - dont ignore the curry-chicken-patty.. also about 2 bucks). They also carry a jerk-chicken patty, a veggie patty etc which I havent sampled (their pineapple upside-down cake, however, was also just under 2 bucks the last time, and pretty good).

Oh, and if we're on Nhu Lan.. their sandwich is of course wonderful, but their buck-sevennyfive Pate Chaud is a quite wonderful snack as well.

c8w

Empanadas from the 5411 Empanada truck: $1.99 each.


Corn Empanada by dkoblesky, on Flickr

G Wiv wrote:Nhu Lan Bakery - Lemongrass Tofu Banh mi (#10), $3

Alas, the days of the sub-$3.01 lemongrass tofu sub are behind us. Như Lan's bánh mì #10 is now up to $3.50 (with an intermediate stop at $3.25 I think). Still a very good sandwich.

A $3.50 #10

Altho Chinatown has been mentioned several times, I don't think St. Anna's in particular has. Good buns and pastries at usually $1.00-$1.50 each, assuming, of course, it has reopened after a recent run-in with the health code.

Saint Anna Bakery & Cafe
Chinatown Mall
2158 S Archer Ave
(between 21st St & Cermak Rd)
Chicago, IL 60616

Nearby, also with similar bakery offerings of similar quality and prices is Richwell Market:

Richwell Market
1835 S Canal St
Chicago, IL 60616