Boston's Lighter Side:
A Guide to Good Food, and Better Prices
by Laura Chavanne

So you just dropped your first and last month's rent. And a realtor's fee. And a security deposit. You haven't opened your brand-new fridge, and the last thing you want to do is go grocery shopping. You're tired from carrying boxes from the truck to the door, there's ten bucks in your pocket, and you're starving.

It's a horror story fit to send the toughest new resident screaming towards Burger King. Sure, there are always big-name fast food options. But one great thing about Boston is that there are dozens of alternatives when it comes to cheap dining. Wherever the neighborhood, whatever the craving, chances are there's a place around the corner, ready to serve great food for less than a crumpled ten-dollar bill.

Pizza is a great low-price dining option. Boston features dozens of family-owned pizza and sub shops that are fast and affordable. For something different, take the blue line to Santarpio's in East Boston (11 Chelsea St.). Their pizza, priced between $6 and $8, is arguably the best in the area. Pizzeria Regina (11 1/2 Thatcher St.) is a legend in the heart of the North End. Large, thin-crust pizzas are about $10 each. Newfair Pizza (237 Newbury St.) is a low-budget oasis in the middle of upscale Newbury St., serving pizza, sandwiches and salads between $6 and $8. Anchovies, a South End favorite (433 Columbus Ave.), features entrees between $5 and $10.

For large portions that taste great left over, choose Asian cuisine. A fun choice is the Chinatown Eatery (44-46 Beach St.), which features a variety of vendors with prices between $4 and $10. For Vietnamese food, Pho Pasteur (680 Washington St.) and Pho Bolsa (1 Stuart St.) serve noodle soups for under $8. Buddha's Delight (5 Beach St.) is a favorite for vegan Vietnamese, with lunch specials for under $7. Shino Express Sushi (114 Newbury St), serves quick sushi for about $10 per person. Cambridge also has Pan-Asian options, like Ma Soba in Harvard Square (30 Dunster St.) which offers a diverse menu of soups, noodles, and sushi for under $10.

To cover four food groups in one quick meal, grab a burrito. Anna's Taqueria in Brookline (1412 Beacon St.) and Big Burrito in Allston (160 Brighton Ave.) are two Boston options, while Boca Grande in Porter Square (1728 Mass. Ave.) and the Picante Mexican Grill in Central Square (735 Mass. Ave.) are conveniently located in Cambridge. All feature Tex-Mex and Mexican selections around $5.

Middle Eastern food is a flavorful low-budget choice. Zaatar's Oven in Brookline (242 Harvard St.), The Angora Café in Boston (472 Comm. Ave.), and Moody's Falafel Palace in Cambridge (25 Central Square) are just a few places that offer savory selections between $5 and $8.

Indian is another spicy favorite. Akbar India in Cambridge (1248 Cambridge St.) and India House in Brookline (239 Harvard St.) serve entrees under $10.

Or, for something really different, Mucho Gusto (1124 Boylston St.) is a rare spot for Cuban cuisine. The neighboring Dixie Kitchen (182 Mass. Ave.) serves Cajun cuisine that's scarce in New England. Both have options for under $10.

So take heart -- remember that with all the inexpensive food in the city, there'll always be something different on that milk-crate dining table when it's time to scrounge for dinner.

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