Is there still an honest $5 lunch out there?

I work in NW of Chicago in Vernon Hills, IL and this area is the "mecca of chains" so there's no shortatge of answers to the question "where should we go for lunch?"  But im really tired of shelling out $10-15/day for lunch. So i've made it my quest to get back to a $5 lunch.  The radio hammers you with all the chains that are now offering $5 specials and "Raunchy Ronald", Wendys et all have dollar menus, but has anyone found a good honest meal for $5?  if so, let us know about it and where it is.

Eat Asian or Mexican. You certainly won't be spending over $10-15.

This meal was exactly $5.00. Sliced BBQ brisket with potato salad and sweet tea.


mark

How about a hot dog & fries from someplace?  If your $5 limit is for the food only I would think that's a meal that would qualify, maybe even with an Italian or Polish sausage in place of the hot dog.

Or have prices gone up that much since I escaped 20 years ago?

Brad

I eat at Stew Leonard's once or twice a week.  I can usually get out of there for under $5 from their hot buffet, and salad bar.  And I bring water from work, so i don't have to buy a drink.

Lately they have been doing a pizza special.  Two slices of cheese, and a fountain soda for $2.99.  That really can't be beat.

There is a local BBQ place around here that, for years, had a "secret" drive-thru only lunch special that consisted of a small BBQ sandwich (pulled or sliced pork or sliced beef), an order of steak fries and a small drink for $5.  About a year or so ago, they went public with it (put up a sign at the drive-thru...before, you just had to know to ask for it) and raised the price to $6.  It is still a deal, in my mind.

Our have to say best Meat and Three went from 6.00 to 7.00 including tax and drink. But will post a find later for fried green 'Maters.

I don't think so..Not with tax and tip and decent food...Just my opinion.

I fondly remember getting a sack of six sliders, a can of root beer and a slice of peach pie for under $5.00 at Cozy Inn in Salina, KS.  That was in 2001.  According to the website, you can still get 6 burgers, a bag of chips and a soda for $5.51.

What's "honest" and does it include tax/tip?

I should have also added that doggydaddy is correct.  The local Chinese take-out places still offer lunch specials at/near $5.  Other ethnic foods can fall into that price range, too.  Near my last job, there was a place that offered a three-piece jerk chicken plate with cabbage and rice and peas for about $5.  I get there infrequently now, but I cannot imagine that their price has risen well above $5.

Take away places are obviously the best chance of meeting this price point, as there is less of a need for an overly generous gratuity.

I think that you will have a difficult time finding al unch for  $5.00.   I went to a diner for lunch yesterday and the  sandwiches were at least  7.99 which included one side.  Bowls of soup are $4.95  which would not include tax or tip.
The lunch specials for this place are:

I am not really clear on what you mean by an honest meal but I do have a few suggestions for you:
 

• Tacos El Norte (RT 45 in Mundelien) for decent Mexican fare
• Wa-Pa-Gathettis (RT 60 in Mundelien - Hobby Lobby Plaza) decent pizza slices
• Burts Deli - (Milwaukee Ave in Libertyville)
• El Famous Burritto - (RT 60 in Vernon Hills) - Try the Chilles Relleno burrito and  a large horchata
• Rammy's Subs - (RT 60 in Vernon Hills - next door to El Famous)

You may end up paying a few cents over $5.00 for a meal but all of these places are independent and serve good food at fare prices.

Five Dollar Lunch Special went the way of the Dinosaurs.

I go to my local pizzeria and can get two slices of pizza and a diet coke for under $5 or a gourmet slice(cheesesteak -contains steak, cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms)or a sausage, pepperoni and meatballs plus the same drink for $4.70  Gread deal.

Can you not brown bag it? I've been doing it for years. Be it a sandwich with chips, pickle, and a drink, leftovers, soup, etc, it's well under $5.00 a day.

Hey, don't knock it but, Subway has 6" sandwiches from $2.49 to $5.00.
And, $5.00 for some 12" sandwiches too.
Subway! It's what's for lunch.

I can't stand the food at subway.  There is a deli near where I work that does 14" Italian Bread subs for $10.  I can barely eat half.  I take the other half home for dinner.

Pastabilities 167 Mchenry Rd Buffalo Grove, IL

has some decent pasta meals in the 5.00 range

If you lived in Chicago's south suburbs, I would recommend Simply Slices on Cicero Ave. in Crestwood. Two good-sized slices of tasty pizza and a medium drink for about $4.90, including tax. I have lunch there at least twice a month.

Mousec - those are some good suggestions - I havent been to Rammies in a long time, should try them again. I tried T. el N once, wasnt too fussed on it, but have been to El famous a few times. Burts makes a great sandwich - the "yummy" truly lives up to its name, but i think its a little $$$ for what you get.
 
Steve - i didnt know Pastabilities still existed - there was one at 60 &21 but it closed a few years ago.

JohnA - I have been brown bagging it for a while since lunch out was getting to expensive, but i thought talking to all the foodies on here might reveal some interesting places to try that i was unaware of.
 
Its a bit of a drive from Vernon Hills, but i really enjoy Pita Inn there are 3 locations in the chicago burbs- great Med. food, and reasonably priced.  They have an under $5 lunch special on weekdays.

With all of the fixed costs that a restaurant needs to pay today just to open the door in the morning, the $5 ("honest", i.e. not industrial junk food) lunch is no longer, at least in higher-priced locales. Boar's Head cold cuts has started a "take your lunch to work" campaign:
http://www.brown-bagging.com/ourstory.html

What with higher minimum wage rates, sales and meal taxes, etc. etc. etc. the "lunch place" industry is liable to go in decline.

Here in Milwaukee the $5-or-under options include burger/diner places, Chinese, Mexican, pizza, etc.

There are many good places for a cheap Mexican lunch, such as Taqueria Tampechy on National Ave.  For less than $5 you can get a large pork tamale and a taco--add the salsa and chips and a glass of water, and it's good to go. Many other Mex places, such as the El Rey lunch counter, have similar possibilities.

Another good place is Bombay Sweets, a no-frills Indian restaurant with counter service. Most items on the menu are inexpensive, including dosas for under $5.

It is getting harder to find traditional American lunches (meatloaf and such) for very low prices. Pikmar, a diner in Milwaukee that had a good, inexpensive lunch, has closed. It's still possible to get a burger and fries for under $5 at places like Culvers, but a more balanced meal is something different altogether.

Are there any diners in the area?  Mostly breakfast places where you can get some soup or a sandwich?  You might also like to check out the ready made section of the local grocers (if they have one).  Sometimes they do salads and sandwiches.  How about  a local pizza joint that sells pizza by the slice?  Is Libertyville too far to go for lunch?

Like twodales mentioned, though you can't dine-in, some grocery stores offer soup and salad to go, or in some cases daily lunch specials - usually consisting of an entree with two sides for about $5-$6.  

1 - Mcdouble (hold the cheese product), small fries & drink - $3.26, including tax.  Add a second Mcdouble - $4.33.

2 - 2 eggs, home fries, toast & coffee - can be about $5 with tax & tip. 

3 - Subway, but only if you are hard up.

4 - two NY system weiners - all the way - & medium coffee milk - a real treat

5 - two slices of pizza & small drink

6 - Many sandwiches, but skip the drink (order water) or get take out & bring a bottle of water

mjambro


1 - Mcdouble (hold the cheese product), small fries & drink - $3.26, including tax.  Add a second Mcdouble - $4.33.

2 - 2 eggs, home fries, toast & coffee - can be about $5 with tax & tip. 

3 - Subway, but only if you are hard up.

4 - two NY system weiners - all the way - & medium coffee milk - a real treat

5 - two slices of pizza & small drink

6 - Many sandwiches, but skip the drink (order water) or get take out & bring a bottle of water

 
Holy Moly what is your sales tax ther like 8%?
 
I go to the local chinese buffet place here, which is not that great but at $1.99 a pound for the lunch price take out with a free soda or soup I can get a lot of food cheap. I shouldn't say it's not that great but it is a small place and only has like 10 different options if that for food.

Two chili dogs, huge plate of fries, and a medium soft drink $4.79 - Jay's Lunch in Boardman, Ohio

Ikea is where we go for a cheap meal, 10 meatballs, fries, gravy and lingonberry sauce is $4.99, you can get a cinnamon roll and coffee for $2, 2 hotdogs, a drink and potato chips for $2.50...now I know it's no gourmet restaurant but it's quick, affordable and those meatballs and the daim cake are addictive.

twodales, Libertyville is just up the road.

D (like in Dallas) Magazine just ran an article:
"8 Great Dallas Meals for Under $5"

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/2009/06/25/8_Great_Dallas_Meals_for_Under_5.aspx

I can get  a pint of Pork Fried Rice and Orange soda for $3.50++
bkk

Nice Dmag list Plb! I have one to add. A Keller's burger and some tator tots. I love a #5 w/ chili but that combo may be a bit more?
Joe

Hey, there are some great suggestion given out here for a $5 meal. The one given by Foodosaurus seems a great choice with two slices of cheese and one fountain soda. Would like to try that out sometime. On getting the food talk going, I would say that NinjaGreens Organic Supplements would be a great choice.

Also in MKE -

George Webb's, a local diner chain, offers several meals under or at $5, not including tip.

There are a couple grocery deli counters that have ready-made food that's really good - soup, sandwiches, chicken, salads, even fish: Glorioso's, Groppi's, Sendik's, Sentry, El Rey, etc.

Martino's or Sammy's or Dog Haus for a dog

I'd rather go to Cousin's than Subway any day, and Cousins has the $5 special, too.

Then again, there's Suburbia Submarine Sandwich - very tasty, and worth the extra buck.

Hello, BigCanuck:
 
Do you still live in Palatine and work in Vernon Hills? 
 
If you define lunch as entree + side + drink (example: hamburger, french fries, Coke), then the answer is basically "No, you can't get non-chain food for that price in Vernon Hills".
 
If you replace the drink with water, then here are a couple ideas that some people might count as a real lunch:
 
Portillo’s
            Jumbo Chili Cheese Dog                       $3.15
            Large Fries                                           $1.85
 
El Famous Burrito
            Ground Beef Burrito (it's huge)           $3.66
            Chicken Taco                                       $1.31
 
Bobo’s Gyros
            Quarter Pound CharBurger                   $3.38
            Two Chocolate Chunk Cookies              $1.00
 
Pizza Italia
            Meatball Sandwich with Red Sauce        $4.95
 
Now, considering that your first name appears to be "Big", I'm wondering if that also describes the size of your appetite, too?  LOL LOL If so, then the meals above may seem too scrawny to count as lunch.  No diss intended in teasing you about a big appetite, as I myself recently went (secretly, and alone, in shame) to Old Country Buffet and stuffed myself gluttonously!!!  For dinner, not lunch, and yes, it cost more than $5.00 !!!
 

Burger King, at least for now:
 
2 Buck Doubles ($1 each, they claim 1/4 pound each before cooking)
1 Side Salad ($1)
1 small drink ($1)
Total: $4 + tax.
 
Bart

Brown Bag it! Definitely under $5.00!!! And great food too! Happy Eating! KokomoJoe

We contract a in house Cafeteria and sell $5 lunches everyday.
Today..open face Hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy hot veg ......... $5
Tuesday.. Super Nachos or Taco salad in a Fried Tortilla shell $4.75
Wed.. Chicken Cacciatore over spaghetti with garlic bread... $5
Thurs...Open face Roast Tom turkey sandwich homemade gravy Mashed potatoes and hot veg ...$5.... Monday is a different shift than thursday.
Friday......Seafood platter beer battered fish filet, clam strips, fried shrimp with fries.........$5.50

Billy,
Would you still be able to do that if you had a stand-alone restaurant that you rented or owned?

David_NYC


Billy,
Would you still be able to do that if you had a stand-alone restaurant that you rented or owned?

NYC, I would love to say yes, but the answer is no. I have very little over head, so more drops down to the bottom line. The company we contract with gives us a full Kitchen, no rent, no electric, no water & sewer,no repair cost or maintenance on equipment. I am able to keep the prices down low, not really because the company asks me too, but because i feel they should be low, so the employees can afford to eat there........I am starting a new sandwich menu, I want to offer quality at a low price but its getting harder and harder to do. Cheesesteaks, Reubens, turkey clubs for around $4.75 .......................The same sandwich in town would be between $7and $8 ................... The account we service now, I offer them a Chef run operation, with specials like Blackened Chicken Alfredo linguini, Crispy chicken Caesar salad, Homemade Buttermilk Chicken strips with fries and slaw, homemade Lasagna, Beef stroganoff over egg noodles, Hot beef and Turkey sands with homemade gravy, potatoes, hot veg, Homemade soups and chowders, all kind of Mexican entrees, Sweet and sour chicken, spaghetti and meatballs garlic toast, open grill with all kinds of hot sandwiches, burgers, hot box pick up and go menu, plus we offer a full breakfast menu with fresh made omelets, eggs to order, bacon, sausage, chicken fried steak, country gravy, french toast, pancakes, butter milk biscuits, hashbrowns, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos...... Breakfast specials are $4.25.......................BillyB

As we say here "good food ain't cheap, cheap food ain't good", I don't believe a restaurant could survive selling GOOD, Filling portions of a rounded lunch for 5 bucks!

The Solution---------Pack Your Lunch!

In Northampton, Massachusetts ...
Five-Dollar Lunch: Week One
Five Dollar Lunch: Week Two
Five-Dollar Lunch: Week Three
Five-Dollar Lunch: Week Four
These are NOT all places I eat, The reviewer was a little to kind to everyplace he wrote about.  As always, if you are considering eating in this neck of the woods: 
http://www.wheregreggeats.com/northampton.htm

In Pittsburgh, I'd go to Zaw's Asian Food in Squirrel Hill. My usual order is the Curry Chicken lunch special, which leaves me full and happy for $3.75.

The Old Fart's rate ( "Senior Luncheon") at RYAN's (Buffet) is $4.95. Beverage puts it over $5, so drink water  !!
I do it about once a week.

In Roanoke, Va. Texas Tavern.
http://xrl.in/6ejk
http://www.texastavern-inc.com/
 
DT

The Ikea dogs are not bad.
One of these days I'm gonna bring my own chili to work. Grab some dogs to go and add my chili.
 
DT

plb


D (like in Dallas) Magazine just ran an article:
"8 Great Dallas Meals for Under $5"

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/2009/06/25/8_Great_Dallas_Meals_for_Under_5.aspx

 
Second that plb. I love our delicious and cheap taquerias in Dallas!

I think every town or city or whatever has a $5.00 menu in one way or another. Around here its the local deli who makes a huge grinder that needs a hydrolic press before you try an take a bite out of it. Three people have a hard time eatin it for $9.50. Illiano's pizza who serves up a stuffed pizza for $3.50 a slice and is an awsome sight to behold! If you can finish it and go back to work without wantin to find a couch somewhere, your doin good! Ya gotta roll yer sleeves up an tie napkins just above yer elbows to catch all the grease. Dont know if its the lb of meat in it or the grease that fills ya up but its pretty damn good!
 
Then we go to Manhattan all the time an get a couple of the NYC dogs with mustard an kraut for $5.00. Or we can hit the street markets in the city and get a nice stuffed gyro for $3.50.
 
Most all chinese food places have lunches for under $5.00...
 
Pretty much anywhere will have a great lunch for $5.00 if ya look hard enough!

Funny - I just got back from having lunch in Vernon Hills! I work in Lake Forest.
 
Where did I have lunch (and I spent just over $5)? Jamba Juice. Which I realize for many people doesn't count as a lunch. But I've always enjoyed their smoothies, and find them quite satisfying, especially the protein workout, which doesn't have any yogurt. It's more like a soy protein drink, so I feel Ok having it for lunch.
 
But for a sitdown lunch, it's hard to find anything at $5. Here at work, we have a cafeteria, and sometimes I'll have a veggie burger, a bag of chips or pretzels and a cup of water, with fruit for dessert, and it comes in near $5. But I doubt anyone on Roadfood would think of that as great eating.

When I think back 25 years, in high school, we used to walk over to the local Jewel Foods (we had an open campus), and I'd buy a roast beef sandwich on a fresh poppyseed roll for $1.90. With a can of generic soda for 18 cents, the whole lunch came in under $2.50.
 
There was also a Leon's BBQ down the street (this is back when Leon's had a North Side of Chicago location). For around $4, you could have five fried chicken wings with BBQ sauce and fries, along with a piece of white bread. Now that was a great lunch!

It may be a little far for you to go for lunch but not far from my town (Elkhart, In) I can get a great lunch for under $5.  On $1 taco Tuesday I go to Carneciera San Jose, an independent mexican restaurant.  I get three great tacos grilled fish is my favorite followed closely by pork or shredded beef.  They also have some more exotic meats but I haven't worked up the courage to try tongue or brain.  With 3 tacos, complimentary chips & salsa, a glass of ice water I am out of there for $4.25 including tax & tip.  The rest of the week the price on the tacos raise to a shocking $1.79 each.  I would bet that with a little bit of looking you could find a similar place in your area.

Stella's here in Madison has a couple of good $5 sandwiches on the standard lunch menu and some others for $5.50 and $6.  They're all decent size and on baked-in-house bread, and come with a pickle spear and a cookie.  I stopped in last Friday and the daily special was a $5 empanada; I bought a spicy cheese one and found it quite good.
 
Brad