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do be alert and order one without jalapeños; otherwise, you'll feel the burn when
you bite into one. The blend of meat, carrots, onion, cilantro, and other greens
elevate a sandwich into a meal. But I think the special sauce, which I'd say has a
little honey it, makes them as addictive as they are. These babies may be the best
food bargain in the city. Take a few back to your hotel—they're just as good 6
hours later.
$ Meatballs and spaghetti for $6.50. Salmon fillet with rice for $7.75. Buffalo-
meat chili for $6. Welcome to ever-filling Tommy's Joynt 555 (1101 Geary
Blvd., at Van Ness; % 415/775 - 4216; www.tommysjoynt.com; 10am-1:45am;
cash only), a scream from the past, lined on one wall with a busy steam table and
on the other with a big, boozy bar with a huge list of imported beers and plenty
of football memorabilia. Going strong since 1947 (check out its antique neon
sign), Tommy's may be the last place on Earth to serve martinis for $3.50.
Although this place has the outward personality of a beer hall, and its cuisine is
appropriate to a haufbrau and nothing more swish, it's at its prime during lunch,
when folks from all walks of life line up at the carvery. This is definitely a carni-
vore's paradise: huge chunks of meat are served fresh daily, with daily specials
(Mon is oxtail), and some of the city's best pastrami. A particular value is Tommy's
Big Sandwich ($5.50), with your choice of four meats piled much higher than
you might think possible. I honestly don't know how they do it for the price.
Amazingly, this value continues on until 1:45am daily.
$-$$ Soothing even when busy, which is often is, Ananda Fuara 55 (1298
Market St., at 9th; % 415/621 - 1994; www.anandafuara.com; Mon-Tues and
Thurs-Sat 8am-8pm, Wed 8am-3pm; cash only) is a top value. Everything vegan
is marked as such on the menu; otherwise, it's vegetarian and homemade. The
soup of the day is usually something enticing (I like the Thai coconut), as is the
Neatloaf (made of grains, eggs, ricotta, tofu, and spices). The staff, all followers of
spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, a pan-religious, Hindu-inflected movement of
celibacy and vegetarianism (they sell yoga and meditation books by the register)
are helpful but on a different wavelength. Specials are more likely to be in stock
during lunch, but servings are enormous no matter the time of day. It's ironic that
a place dedicated to peace and non-consumerism should waste such a huge
amount of food. I love its lhassis (yogurt drinks), and I particularly love the fact it
sells baked potatoes—a rarity in this nouveau foodie town—for $4 to $7 with
elaborate toppings.
A modernized classic diner, Mel's Drive-In 9 (801 Mission St., at 4th;
$-$$
% 415/227 - 0793; www.melsdrive-in.com; Sun-Thurs 6am-1am, Fri-Sat 24 hrs;
AE, MC, V) has been around for 60 years. Befitting its 1950s shtick, it serves an
array of classic diner food, such as meatloaf sandwiches, patty melts, and burgers
in the $8 zone. The steak-and-eggs plate is a huge deal: a 6-ounce hunk of meat,
three eggs, grilled potatoes, and toast and jelly for $7.50. Late-night noshers
should venture here, because the kitchen serves until 1am Sunday through
Thursday and round-the-clock on weekends. This location isn't actually a drive-
in—for that, there's a Mel's at 2165 Lombard St. that was used as a location in
the movies Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and, most notably, American Graffiti.
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