Best Place to Eat Cheap

[July 23rd, 2008]

Cha! Cha! Cha!

[The Arboretum] 2635 NE Broadway St., 288-1045.What’s the secret to Cha3’s success? Simple: Brian and Carmen Meyer’s half-dozen spotless locations dish up giant portions of fresh, hearty Mexican-American chow for the price of a microwaveable burrito at Trader Joe’s. There are better Mexican restaurants (Autentica) and cheaper ones (Super Burrito Express), but none combine convenience and quality like Cha! Cha! Cha!Runner-up: Ole! Ole!

¿Por Que No?

[Baristaville] 3524 N Mississippi Ave., 467-4149. If you’ve ever loved a food cart so much you wanted to jump inside and soak in the steam table like a molé, try ¿Por Qué No?, Bryan Steelman’s all-organic taqueria, where eager crowds pack in like clowns in a chile-scented funny car. They’re there for a reason: The tortillas are to die for. Runner-up: Laughing Planet, Dalo’s Kitchen (tie)

Food carts

[Central City] Boy, do you know a good thing when you see it. We agree: Why would you munch at some mediocre lunch counter when you could grab a tasty plate of any food imaginable from one of the city’s 170 food carts for the cost of a McD’s Value Meal and eat standing up?

Runner-up: Cha! Cha! Cha!

Cha! Cha! Cha!

[El Dorado] 1208 NW Glisan St., 221-2111.

See above.

Runner-up: Pepino’s Mexican Grill

Galaxy Restaurant and Lounge

[The Inseam] 909 E Burnside St., 234-5003. We too have been trolling around lower East Burnside past midnight, wondering where to stuff our gourds. And you know what? The sweet-and-sour chicken at the Galaxy Lounge was actually a pretty good decision. Plenty of under-$10 options for the not-so-discriminating Chinese-food lover—and if you choose wisely, it won’t even leave you groaning in the morning. Besides, what goes better with a cheap meal than totally awesome karaoke? Nothing, that’s what.

Runner-up: Milwaukie Teriyaki

Dublin Pub

[Neglected Southwest] 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, 297-2889.

The Dublin Pub’s list of deep-fried food can cure any case of the drunchies. Its happy-hour menu (open-7 pm, 10 pm-close) serves up chicken strips, jalapeño poppers, onion rings and other bar fare. From 5 to 7 pm you can score a burger and micro-pint for $6.50—and that’s a steal.

Runner-up: Fat City Cafe

La Bonita

[The New Frontier] 2839 NE Alberta St., 281-3662. Family-owned and newly renovated, La Bonita offers some of the best Mexican grub in town and stands tall in the jam-packed hullabaloo of Northeast Alberta Street. Burritos are log-sized, tacos hit the spot, and taquitos come crispy and fully loaded. Don’t forget the guacamole.

Runner-up: La Sirenita

Muchas Gracias

[The Outer Limits] 1307 NE 102nd Ave., 255-0222.

This Oregon and Washington fast-food chain has three 24-hour Portland locations with no item (not even combo meals) topping $7. Greasy, dirt-cheap burritos, enchiladas, tortas and most other standards are WW readers’ favorite 4 am gut-busters, and Muchas Gracias makes Taco Bell taste even more like dog food. Runner-up: Taco Bell

King Burrito

[The Peninsula] 2924 N Lombard St., 283-9757. When a taco house spiffs up its space, the quality of food often diminishes proportionally. So thank Our Lady of Guadalupe no one’s wiped away the grease and grit that clings to King Burrito like so much menudo—which, by the way, they serve here next to huge tongue burritos and beef-head tacos, both of which sound so much better in Spanish. Authenticity aside, gringo grubbers can also grab hamburgers and hot dogs piled high with chili, cheese and bacon.

Runner-up: Proper Eats

Cha! Cha! Cha!

[The People’s Republic] 3433 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 236-1100.

See above. p>Runner-up: Laughing Planet

Laughing Planet

[Sellwoodstockland] 4110 SE Woodstock Blvd., 788-2921. Woodstock is home to one of the latest branches of Richard Satnick’s cheeky, mostly vegetarian mini-chain, and, if the sample from our survey is representative of the whole neighborhood, it’s been a big hit. Who’s up for a Chairman Meow rice bowl?

Runner-up: Otto’s Sausage Kitchen

Du’s Grill

[Siberia] 5365 NE Sandy Blvd., 284-1773.

This tiny takeout joint will make you the best bento box in town. Pick any meat—we like the sweet, tender beef, but the grilled chicken is excellent, too. Get your meal in three minutes flat and make it home in time to catch Greatest American Dog.

Runner-up: Cha! Cha! Cha!