10 Best Dishes in Bernal for Under $10

photo via Boilr

Last fall, we published the 10 Best Lunches Under $10 in Union Square. It was so popular, we figured why not do every neighborhood? Rather than attack this subject as outsiders, we're approaching a hyperlocal dweller from each 'hood to give us their picks—in this case 7x7 contributor Antonia Richmond.

San Franciscans are pretty, ahem, vocal about food, so sound off in the comments about what you'd add to this list.

1. Pupusas from El Zocalo
Though you’ll find many things on the menu under $10, it’s the pupusas—all under $2—that are the star of the show at this mainstay. Cheese, chicken, veggie—you can’t go wrong, especially after knocking back a few at the Argus. Luckily, El Zocalo keeps very late hours. 3230 Mission St., 415- 282-2572

2. Super veggie burrito at Taqueria Cancun
Black beans, no guac, extra green salsa. Heaven. I’m also a fan of the carne asada tacos. Come to think of it, you could eat for several days on $10 here. 2288 Mission St., 415-252-9560

3. Sausage sandwiches at Locavore
Made in-house, the sausages—from Italian to Portugese to maple or cilantro-lime—are big, juicy and loaded with flavor. I love the kielbasa with sauerkraut. There’s also a grass-fed burger for $6. 3215 Mission St., 415-821-1918.

4. Katsu rice burger at Sandbox Bakery
Though there are rows of sweet treats at this Japanese-inspired bakery, it’s the savory mini sandwiches that I crave. The rice burger is really filling—the “bun” is actually grilled rice patties housing spicy chicken katsu or marinated tofu or whatever they've decided to make that day. And you’ll have money to spare for dessert. 833 Cortland Ave., 415-642-8580.

5. Tuscan pork panini from Avedano’s Holly Park Market
It’s fitting that the best pork sandwich around is from a butcher shop. The pork is cured for three days, slow cooked in wine, and then preserved in sunflower oil. The result is a sublime texture that’s perfect with sharp mustard and pickled onions. Yum. 235 Cortland Ave., 415-285-6328.

6. Carne empanda and alfajores from El Porteño
Housed in the tiny Marketplace on Cortland, El Porteño specializes in savory and sweet empanadas. I love the carne, with beef, olive and raisin stuffing. At $4 or less, you can get a meat, a veggie, and a delicious alfajor with dulce de leche or lemon curd. 331 Cortland Ave., 415-357-3621

6. Egg salad sandwich from Paulie's Pickling
This is right next to El Porteño and serve up huge sandwiches and salads. The "local" egg salad is generously flecked with dill and refreshingly light. I love that you can get half sandwiches—with a side of pasta salad. A full meal for four bucks. 331 Cortland Ave., 415-285-0800

8. Greek salad at Moonlight Café
On the rare occasions when I eat salad, I come to this non-assuming spot on Cortland. It’s a pretty basic crepe and egg joint, but the salads are big and fresh. I like this one because it’s full of feta and kalamata olives. 634 Cortland Ave., 415-647-6448.

9. Deluxe falafel at Goood Frikin’ Chicken
It took me about a year to stop laughing every time I saw the sign, and also to realize that this place served Middle Eastern food. I’m glad I did, as I am a falafel fiend. When I’m really hungry, I upgrade to deluxe, which has fried potatoes and eggplant. 10 29th St., 415-970-2428.

10. Spaghetti and marinara at Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack
I was so excited to learn that this only costs $9.95, because I love Emmy’s. Their spaghetti is comfort in a bowl. True, it’s a shame that you have to break the $10 to get meatballs—but maybe you can get a friend to buy you one. 18 Virginia Ave., 415-206-2086.

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I love eating so I like every food you mentioned in this post.

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By 5W FM TRANSMITTER (not verified) on December 07, 2011

I love empanadas with beef fillings. :) I am craving for some now. My father used to bring home really yummy empanadas.
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By Nathalie (not verified) on September 01, 2011

The most diverse neighborhood in San Francisco not surprisingly also has the most eclectic dining scene. Surrounded by nightlife and bustling activity, Mission dining is both comfortable and hip with ultra-chic (but approachable) restaurants like Foreign Cinema and late-night taquerias filled with the sound of ranchero music. Standouts in the Mission and Bernal Heights areas are hard to pare down because of the variety, but for the sake of an overview, Medjool is the spot for Mediterranean tapas and the best roof bar in the area (with views of downtown), Blue Plate, is the place for inventive American cuisine served on a patio dripping with night-blooming jasmine and the sound of fountains.
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By astrologie gratuite (not verified) on July 27, 2011

Sorry, correction: CESAR CHAVEZ is the northern border, not Mission.

By Bernal Flats (not verified) on May 17, 2011

Lived near the St. Mary's/Holly Park area for five years - Mission and College. I researched this while there.

Borders of Bernal are: Mission street to the north; 280/Alemany to the south; Bayshore to the east; San Jose Ave to the west. So yes, the flats on Mission Street from Cesar Chavez to way past the Safeway are indeed Bernal. I used to call it "Bernal flats."

Incredible food all over this hood, btw!

By Bernal Flats (not verified) on May 17, 2011

Go Antonio, go Bernalwood. I live in what the city calls "North Bernal Heights" - according to the city, Army/Cesar Chavez is the northern border (beyond that is the Mission) and Guerrero is the western border (beyond that lies Noe Valley).

My landlord appears to think that we are in "Baja Noe" - now THAT'S horrific pretension, aimed at jacking up rents. I do like the jokey TribeSa and KFC Heights classifications (Triangle behind Safeway {the one on Market & Church} and the area around the Duboce Street KFC/Taco Bell).

The neighborhood feels more like the Mission, but has Bernal aspects to it. The main thing is that our Really Good Affordable Restaurants area is especially densely packed. Especially because of this, I am entirely fine with referring to the neighborhood as "La Lengua."

But...do the names really matter? If someone opened up a truly stellar taqueria on Russian Hill, or a great Jewish deli in the Bayview, or (please oh please) a good, cheap BBQ place in Noe Valley,* would that render the food inauthentic? Enough factionalism. More good, reasonably priced restaurants.

*If you open up a true Eastern Carolina BBQ place anywhere within 25 miles of here, I will go. Frequently. Good BBQ + low prices + friendly service - do I really have to drive 60 miles to CJ's in Fairfield for a good, friendly BBQ place?

By ThatDamnedRedhead (not verified) on April 07, 2011

Bernal Heights is east of Mission. South of Cesar Chavez. South of Richland is St. Mary's Park but considered part of Bernal. West of Mission South of Randall is Glen Park. South of Silver and east of Mission is Excelsior. West of Mission is Mission Terrace. South of Geneva along Mission is Outer Mission to the top of the Hill (Daly City), East of Mission and South of Geneva till about Crocker Amazon Park (moscow) is Crocker Amazon.

By antonio (not verified) on April 06, 2011

20-30 years ago I always heard it referred to as the Outer Mission, from around army st (cesar chavez) out, when it was a much more apparent dividing line. The excelsior was further out. I read the wiki, but never heard Mission St. referred to as Bernal until the 90s myself. Anecdotal, but I'm surprised.

By Anonymous (not verified) on March 30, 2011

I've been living in SF for 19 years, and in my current house for 11, and yes I know what neighborhood I live in.

This is what I'm talking about: The other day I saw an event being advertised on "Mint Slope", which apparently is a brand new concept of a neighborhood near the SF Mint. Slope? That smacks of Brooklyn's Park Slope to me. See, some doosh from Brooklyn is trying to recreate it here, and flat made that shit up! It didn't exist as a concept previously! we long-time SF'ers can smell the bullshit of realtors and newcomers.

29th and Mission is damn well the Mission, Bernal Heights implies heights. I can walk out my back door and walk up the hill to Bernal Heights - I do all the time - and that's one of the supercool things about this town. One second you're in North Beach, walk a few blocks, now you're in Chinatown. Walk a few more in the other direction, you're in Fisherman's Wharf. It doesn't mean they're all North Beach.

The Outer Mission is not down by Daly City, that's the Excelsior. @Ryan, I should check Wikipedia? Lord help us all. I kind of like "La Lengua", because it's tongue in cheek , but honestly, Bernal Heights has traditionally been centered around Cortland Avenue. Way back in the 90's this block of Mission was the Mission, and we liked it that way! /end grumpy old man voice.

Inner Mission goes from 16th to Ceasar Chavez, Outer Mission starts at Ceasar Chavez and goes down past Silver Terrace till the Excelsior. Excelsior bumps into DC on Mission Street.

@Jen, I don't know what to tell you. If the Tenderloin got nice would it then be Nob Hill? Don't these geographical terms describe a neighborhood's orientation in relation to a landform? Yes, yes they do. And there's nothing wrong with the Mission; it's all good here. Bernal Hill is right behind me, and Bernal Heights is right around the corner. Pretty sweet, actually. But I'm down on the bottom, not in the Heights. Get why? Late!

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By joeny (not verified) on February 21, 2011

Taqueria Cancun is definitely in the Mission.

By Kevin (not verified) on February 11, 2011

"Le Lenqua is realtor speak"

Ha ha ha. Rest assured, La Lengua has nothing to do with realtors.

And Outer Mission is a different animal entirely -- it does deserve its own restaurant article. For the love of god someone start an Outer Mission blog to put an end to this confusion.

Viva La Lengua! Viva Mission Externa!

By Burrito Justice (not verified) on February 10, 2011

Fellow Citizens, all of the establishments cited in this article are in Bernal Heights. Some are also in La Lengua. But those are also in Bernal Heights. NONE are in the Outer Mission. Ms. Richmond got it right.

This matter of territorial nomenclature was resolved in a joint treaty between The Overlords of Bernal Heights and the Vassals of La Lengua, in which is was stipulated that our shared stretch of Mission Street would remain in perpetuity a "Liminal Zone" to be claimed jointly by both Bernal Heights and La Lengua.

Full details, treaty provisions, and maps, available here: http://bernalwood.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/memo-to-the-vassals-of-la-len...

By Bernalwood (not verified) on February 10, 2011

Do a piece on Outer Miasion/Excelsior. It is an ignored neighborhood but I am one of many fleeing the high prices of Bernal/Noe/Glen Park who have recently moved here. No fancy bakeries or butchers here, but amazing corner store tacquerias, Chinese bakeries, etc. Would love to find out more.

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 10, 2011

i love the neighborhood inspired comments! embrace bernal to all surrounding the hill!
i like the hummus plate at Progressive grounds, but also like many options at the deli-pub.
cortland st has MANY under $10 options, moonlight cafe, progressive grounds, los altos taqueria, the old school chinese restaurant...

all of the panini sandwiches and soups at avedanos are great!!

my personal favorie is the brisket sandwich at pauli's in the marketplace, but also the chopped liver is delicious

how about jasmine teahouse or angkor borei, on mission st. close to cortland! those places are both awesome & affordable!

By j (not verified) on February 09, 2011

Le Lenqua is realtor speak. It's the Mission folks or the Bernal Cut as the old-timers call it but Le Lengua? Mission Street is still in the Mission (Inner/Outer).

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 09, 2011

These are all great choices and there are so many more in our little corner of the city. I second the salmon wrap at Progressive Grounds and the kefta melt there is pretty darned good, too. At Moki's, the baby back ribs on wasabi mashed potatoes is to die for as is the miso marinated sablefish and both squeeze in under $10. Imad at the Deli-Pub makes a great hummus plate and I love his pastrami with garlic sauce sandwich on a crunchy baguette. Even in the industrial corridor of Bayshore, I just discovered delicious burritos at Taqueria La Michoacana (near the new Lowe's). I love my neighborhood!

By Jeff (not verified) on February 09, 2011

How have we not covered this a million times?

You don't live in the Outer Mission, Danno, because the Outer Mission is barely north of Daly City. You've got more neighborhoods to move through before you find it. And for the record, Mission Street isn't always the Mission because it is also SOMA and Daly City. Just because there's a street that runs through the neighborhood that shares the same name doesn't mean they have anything to do with one another. Realtor-speak doesn't have anything to do with it. You live in Bernal Heights, as does everything on this list.

By Jen (not verified) on February 09, 2011

I would like to point out that Good Frickin' Chicken, Locavore, Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, and Taqueria Cancun are all in La Lengua.

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By Anonymous (not verified) on February 09, 2011

These are all in and around the neighborhood. Some of these great eats I knew about but will have to check out some new spots.

By lisey (not verified) on February 09, 2011

Danno - kind of sad you don't know what neighborhood you live in. The Outer Mission is a distinct neighborhood a couple of miles from where you live in Bernal. Check Wiki for details.

By Ryan K (not verified) on February 09, 2011

With today's dreadful economic climate many folks would likely find more useful the dumpsters offering the freshest, most ready-to-eat discards from what the diminishing number of employed cast aside.

Such is the reality of life within today's USA.

By Obbop (not verified) on February 09, 2011

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By Boston_Blackie (not verified) on February 08, 2011

People can't you get your s*** together...

The BEST meal in Bernal Heights is the Salmon Lavash at Progressive Grounds

By your mom (not verified) on February 08, 2011

People can't you get your s*** together...

The BEST meal in Bernal Heights is the Salmon Lavash at Progressive Grounds

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 08, 2011

Half of those choices are on Mission St!

I live right across the street from Goood Frickin Chicken, and I was always under the impression that I lived in the Outer Mission, as I live RIGHT ON MISSION STREET. Bernal Heights is the high ground around the corner, centered around Cortland Ave. My question is, if Mission St. is not the Mission anymore, what is? Next you'll be calling San Jose St and 29th "Lower Noe Valley". It sounds like realtor-speak to me, and it reeks of BS. Give the Mission its due! Once a block gets cool enough, its not the Mission anymore? What gives?

By Danno (not verified) on February 08, 2011

Cool feature. Looking forward to seeing more neighborhoods covered, including the outer ones :)

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 08, 2011