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Community Corner

Patch Picks: Top Five Cheap Eats

Five local gems making quality eats that won't break your bank.

While the surest way to "eat cheap" is to buy and prepare your own food, this isn't always convenient. On a busy day, grabbing quality grub while on the go is one sweet luxury Santa Cruz County has to offer. 

In the slew of local restaurants, taquerías and cafés, there are a few bad apples that serve up a side of buyer's remorse with their “goods.” There is nothing worse than paying for a sandwich on stale bread or a burrito made of mostly rice and dripping grease.

Spending less on lunch should not mean scaling back on quality, though, and there are several reliable sources for quality food in the area that won't leave you wishing you had just made a PB+J. 

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The following list of Scotts Valley Patch recommended "cheap eats" consists of under $10 meals substantial and nutritious enough to get you through most of your day. They also come from small, independently-owned operations that support the local economy rather than fast food monopolies, which can be "cheap," but often operate in mass disregard for the environment.*

1. Heather's Made To Go

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A drive through breakfast, coffee, and lunch spot, located off Mt. Hermon Rd., Heather's Made To Go makes delicious and filling breakfast burritos that go for $4. Choose from bacon, sausage or beans, with potatoes and green chilies. Not a bad price at all. Heather's Made to Go also has outside seating and two killer lunch items: the Corralitos Sausage Sandwich and the "healthier alternative" lunch sandwich, both just $5. 

Heather's Made To Go is at 75 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley. 831-461-9383.

3. Taqueria Los Gallos

The burrito could possibly be one of the most popular cheap eats among locals. Easy, fast, portable, they are almost always under $10 and the rice and beans base provides enough calories and deliciousness to fuel the better part of an active day. Understandably, Santa Cruz County locals are often loyalists to one or two taquerias, but in Scotts Valley, we recommend Taqueria Los Gallos its scrumptious taste, large portions and modest pricing.

Taqueria Los Gallos is at 243 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley. 831-439-9507

3. Auntie Mame's

If you have time to eat in, Aunt Mame’s serves up some very huge breakfast and lunch plates for under $10. Try the breakfast burrito, which will easily provide you with two meals it is so big. The coffee is also pretty strong and the atmosphere is a good one for some fine people watching. Historic photos of Scotts Valley add an old-timey feel to the cozy spot where $10 can get you 1,000 calories easily.

Auntie Mame's is at 3103 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley. 831-438-1840.

4. Charlie Hong Kong

If you are in Santa Cruz, this place is not to be missed. On the Soquel side of Seabright, right down from the Rio Theater, Charlie Hong Kong shines like a beacon for those looking for an inexpensive yet super healthy meal. Brown rice, jasmine rice, and a variety of rice and egg noodles make up the base of most of these dishes, while meat and vegetarian curries and stir fry make up the protein and nutrient-rich toppings.

The signature bowls are the most elaborate ones on the menu and go for $6.25, with a “smaller bowl” option that starts at $4.95. They are packed with organic vegetables and flavor filled sauces and curries. There are also pork, beef, chicken, salmon and prawn rice bowls on the menu, which range from a modest $5-$7. Order at the counter for fast service or call in your order on your way home for a convenient and inexpensive feast to take home.

Charlie Hong Kong is at 1141 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-426-5664.

2. Windmill Cafe

Just up the road from Twin Lakes beach and down the street from Live Oak's East Cliff Plaza, the Windmill Cafe offers a laid back environment in the only historic windmill building in town. You'll find the two owners of the cafe manning the cash register and griddle every morning starting at 7 a.m. until around 3 p.m. depending on if surf's up and the flow of customers keeps going. Patch recommends trying the "Daily Scramble," a fresh medley of whatever vegetables are coming out of the garden in back, served with a side of toast with butter and jam. More basic breakfasts are available and start at $3, and a compact list of lunch sandwiches and salads averages around $7.

Windmill Cafe is at 21231 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz. 831-464-4698. Cash only. Wifi for customers.

*This statement comes from a recent experience at a busy rest stop McDonalds which confirmed the complete absence of a single recycling bin among its numerous garbage bins, a reality with severe environmental implications.

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