Bay Area's best bets for cheap eating

Another year, another edition of Bargain Bites, our annual tribute to the Bay Area’s top cheap eats.

Get the full list of Bargain Bites restaurants here.

Which spots did we miss?

Get maps here

Over the last few months, The Chronicle's Food & Wine staff has filled our tummies — and expanded our waistlines, no doubt — with everything from pupusas to pad Thai in an effort to separate bargain contenders from pretenders.

The result is a list of 144 restaurants, delis and dives, including 42 newcomers, that will satisfy any and all cravings without breaking the bank.

Want dim sum, mac-and-cheese or 1/4-pound burgers? We’ve got you covered.

To qualify as a Bargain Bite, places should generally be open for lunch and dinner, with entrees around the $10 mark or less, the lower the better.

But beyond being cheap, the food has to be good, and we’ll often stretch the budget for quality ingredients. Case in point: American Eatery, the new "fast food" sandwich and burger place from Prather Ranch Meat Co.

Meanwhile, perennial bargains like Tommy’s Joynt and Pamir Afghan Cuisine are still going strong, as are Genova Delicatessen and Pearl's Phat Burger.

We have, however, lost some recent favorites like Outerlands and Green Chile Kitchen, which, while still serving fantastic food, have now crept out of Bargain Bite price territory.

As always, if we’ve missed one of your favorites, send us a note at food@sfchronicle.com (subject line: Bargain Bites). For a map of this year’s winners, go to www.sfgate.com.

Now, happy eating.

— Janny Hu, jhu@sfchronicle.com

Contributors: Lynne Char Bennett, Janelle Bitker, Nicolas Boer, Jon Bonné, Tara Duggan, Mandy Erickson, Sarah Fritsche, Amanda Gold, Janny Hu, Paolo Lucchesi, Allen Matthews, Miriam Morgan, Lauren N. Reuthinger, Carey Sweet and Erick Wong.