Cheap Eats Near Encinal High: Six Lunch Specials for Under $6

For many hungry Encinal High School students, the lunch bell signals the beginning of a 40-minute hunt for fast food. Crowds of students make the half mile trek from Encinal High to Webster Street to score cheap food that they often end up eating on the return trip. 

"We eat lunch on the way back," said sophomore Trustin Camacho, as he rushed back to class with fellow student Jenny Nguyen during a recent lunch rush.

Popular choices on Webster Street are Little Caesars Pizza and McDonalds.

Students who want to eat closer to campus choose Santoro's Italian Market & Deli for sandwiches, drinks and chips.

"Normally the whole place is filled with students," said Heidi Ohrtman, co-owner of Santoro's. "We encourage them to call in advance to get them back to school on time."

On the other side of campus, a taco truck, a donut shop and a barbecue restaurant also offer affordable food lunch-time fare. 

According to Isaac Leong, co-owner of Ben's BBQ, the restaurant will begin offering a "Back Door Special" in two weeks. Corn dogs and pizza by the slice will sell for under $5.

Here is our list of West Alameda lunch specials under $6:

Santoro's Italian Market & Deli $5.50 lunch special includes a turkey, ham or salami sandwich and a can of soda

Little Caesars Pizza $5 large pepperoni or cheese pizza; $2.29 for crazy bread and crazy sauce

Ben's BBQ and Smokehouse $4.95 pulled pork sandwich and choice of side; $4.95 Caeser salad

Hometown Donuts $3.40 Hometown Hamburger; $1.85 hot dog

Fortune Cookie $4.75 lunch special includes an entrée with fried or steam rice and their soup of the day

Chow-down Special Truck: $5 steak burrito, $1.50 tacos, $2.50 grilled cheese sandwich