There are some smoking deals to be had at this Texas style BBQ joint in Lemon Grove where spare ribs, beef brisket, Southwestern jerk chicken and pulled pork reign supreme. Alongside great lunch specials throughout the week, every Tuesday you can tuck into 1lb of pork sparerib tips for $9.99, or eat your way through 1lb of any smoked meats except beef (also $9.99) on Wednesdays. Considered the best of its kind in San Diego, be sure to visit outside peak hours (12 p.m. – 2 p.m., and after 5 p.m.) when the line can stretch around the block.

All-day breakfasts “like mom used to make”, generous portions and killer ocean views have kept lines out the door since ‘91 at this longtime Pacific Beach favorite. Orders are taken at the cash only counter where wallet friendly menu items include four versions of Egg Burrito ($5.95), the Big Breakfast #2 ($7.95) and Breakfast Sandwich ($4.50). During lunch a grilled cheese will only set you back $3.95. With its primeoceanfront location beside Crystal Pier you can check the surf while chowing down one of three outside decks.

Famous for their handmade tortillas (watch as they’re created from an open bakery at the back), the Estudillo family sticks to street food basics –– rice, beans, pork tacos and tamales, rolled tacos, chorizo with eggs –– and does them well. It’s cafeteria-style, cash only with a no frills menu and there is always (and we mean always) a line, but fans agree that, for a bite at the most authentic Mexican joint north of the border, it’s well worth the wait.

From beef Shawarma to baba ganoush, this delightful 10-seat deli might serves up some the most deliciously authentic Lebanese fare in San Diego. Levantine flat breads are cooked daily on the ancient ‘Sajj’ oven, which also warms the tasty Combo Pies –– a flatbread sandwich ($6.49 or less) with assorted fillings.Orders can be phoned ahead and picked up to go, or made at the counter-service deli and enjoyed dine-in style on the adjacent covered patio. While reasonably priced Falafel, stuffed grape leaves, generously sized wraps and more grace the menu, make sure to leave room for a homemade baklava or two.

With roots stretching back to 1956 this charming old school Italian deli is a must-visit if only to peruse its fine selection of fresh breads, olives and hard-to-find imported edibles before ordering one of their deluxe deli sandwiches. Ranging in price from $7.25 - $7.95 there are nineteen varieties on the menu. Meanwhile the adjacent restaurant offers a wide selection of pizzas, pastas and salads during lunch and dinner (no dish costs more than $20), alongside a nice variety of Italian and Californian wines.

Tasty and affordable, this Kearny Mesa mainstay is a must for Vietnamese cuisine. The authentic eateryserves up over two hundred dishes, but the Pho and wings are two real menu standouts. Ranging in price from $4.25 (no meat) to $9.25 (shrimp) there are eight varieties of this delicious homemade beef brothgoodness in a bowl to choose from. While the wings, which come in two varieties –– glazed in the housespecial sauce, or garlic butter (lightly fried, butter, salt) –– have a fan club all of their own, and cost $11.95 for a dozen or $6.25 for a half order.

For old school burgers and craft brews with a no frills vibe this Pacific Beach pub has been a go-to since 1977. The drill is simple: order at the bar from the four-option menu which comprises a 1/3lb or 1/4lbburger plus or minus cheese ($6 - $7.25) and fries ($3.75), pay with cash then find a seat. The patties are juicy, made fresh daily and come garnished with mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. The Monday to Friday lunch special will get you a 1/3lb cheeseburger, fries and a soda or draft beer for $12.

Established in 1988, the expansive menu at this hole-in-the-wall gem covers traditional regional specialties from Michoacán, Oaxaca and Veracruz. Served cafeteria style, all dishes include a tortilla, a hearty helping of rice and beans and come in under $10. Cooked using family recipes from local housewives, as the full name suggests this really is Super Kitchen Homemade Mexican Food at it’s finest. Perhaps best known for its slow cooked soups and stews, you can get up to three free samples to help make a choice from the twenty five plus dishes on offer.

A Cardiff institution, since 1969 this old school-style bakery has been serving up the best baked goods in North County. Locals flock here for the “very good” cookies, éclairs, cakes and pastries within, but it’s the donuts that really keep lines out the door. The from-scratch creations (85 – 95 cents) are fresh, delicious, and highly addictive. From cake, raised, old-fashioned, jelly, buttermilk, to bites they come cherry iced, cinnamon crumbed, maple glazed, sprinkle topped and more. Look out for seasonal red velvet and pumpkin flavors, or for $2.25 why not try a ‘doissant’ – a donut-croissant hybrid in the ‘cronut’ style.