Patch Picks: Top Five Cheap Eats

While the surest way to eat cheaply 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. 

Among the slew of local restaurants, taquerías and cafés 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 good food in the area that won't leave you wishing you had just made a PB&J. 

The following list of Capitola-Soquel Patch-recommended cheap eats consists of meals under $10, 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 are cheap, but operate in mass disregard for the environment.*

1. Paula's 

Basic egg breakfasts start at $2.99 and are cooked to order with delicious potatoes and toast. You can add in a veggie or two, breakfast meats or some cheese to give your breakfast a kick. As long as you don't add the entire menu to your scramble, you can easily keep it under $5. Calm atmosphere, with outdoor seating, which includes a van.

Paula's is at 3500 Portola Drive, Capitola. Cash only.

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 "3ish," depending on the surf and the flow of customers. 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. WI-FI for customers.

3. The Burrito

The burrito could possibly be one of the most popular cheap eats among locals. Easy, fast, portable, burritos 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 locals are often loyalists to one or two taquerias, but you should also check out Leo's Tacos—try the vegetarian burritos—and Taqueria Agave in Capitola.

Taqueria Agave is at 1836 Soquel Ave. (831-325-0831) and 427 Capitola Ave. (831-440-3919). Leo's Tacos is in Live Oak on 1710 Brommer St. (831-465-1105)

4. The Wow Wow Tuna 

Days Market in Seabright carries the Wow Wow tuna sandwich made fresh every single morning and sold for $1.99. These sandwiches fly off the shelves pretty quickly, a testament to their quality and a following of local Wow Wow loyalists. Wheat bread, a generous scoop of albacore tuna with finely chopped red onions and celery, one slice of American cheese and lettuce is what you'll get for the first wow, and the $2 dent in your wallet will win the second wow. 

Days Market is at 526 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-423-2389.

5. Charlie Hong Kong

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 fries 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 bowls" 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)

What are your favorite local cheap eats? Tell us in the comments!

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