By The Oregonian/OregonLive staff

Every year, when we round up our favorite inexpensive restaurants, readers tell us, THAT'S NOT CHEAP ENOUGH. So, this year, in honor of all of you who think $12 is way too much to pay for a meal, we created the $5 challenge to see how low we could go when it comes to eating on the cheap. We put out a call to the newsroom and asked our colleagues to eat on a budget of $5 or less, seeking bargains across the Portland metro area. They scouted food carts, grocery delis, fast food chains, and old-fashioned brick-and-mortar restaurants.



Our conclusions? It's challenging to eat on a bargain, but tasty bargains can be found if you know where to look.

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Tim Brown/staff

Binh Minh Sandwiches

What to order: The No. 1 dac biet sandwich ($3) and a guava juice drink ($2)



Possibly the best kept secret on Powell Boulevard, Binh Minh makes some of the most delicious banh mi sandwiches in the city. Fresh ingredients perfectly portioned on a crispy baguette leave you wondering why you didn't order more than one. Most of their sandwiches come in at around $3, so pairing it with an ice cold guava or white gourd drink makes for a cheap and quick meal on the go.

-- Tim Brown

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Binh Minh Sandwiches

7821 S.E. Powell Blvd.

503-777-2245

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Lynne Palombo/staff

Bui Natural Tofu

What to order: Lemongrass tofu ($3) and che dau trang pudding ($1.75)



You can get a lot of tofu products for your money at this grab-and-go spot, with several vegetarian and meat options available for under $5. I had a generously filled container with more than a dozen chunks of fried tofu infused with lemongrass and chilies and a half-pint container of Vietnamese rice pudding with black-eyed peas for $4.75. Bring cash if you plan on spending less than $10. The selection is better earlier in the day.

-- Lynne Palombo

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Bui Natural Tofu



520 N.E. 76th Ave., Portland

503-254-6132

http://buinaturaltofu.com

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Grant Butler/staff

Costco food court

What to order: The Al Pastor Salad, $4.99.



We all know about Costco's $1.50 hot dogs and $1.99 pizza slices – great deals for meat-eaters. Now vegetarians get their own sweet deal with this Tex-Mex salad. A bed of romaine is topped with orange and red pepper slices, jalapeno, black beans, black olives, shredded carrots and red onion, then covered with spicy soy shreds, taking the place of pork. It comes with a creamy dressing that's a touch too sweet. But you hardly need it when a salad is this fully loaded.

-- Grant Butler

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Costco food court



Multiple locations; we found our salad at the Aloha store, 15901 S.W. Jenkins Road

costco.com

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Kjerstin Gabrielson/staff

Dairy Queen

What to order: $5 Buck Lunch with chicken tenders, fries, soda and sundae



They had us at ice cream sundae, that hot fudge drizzled over the soft-serve we've been craving since childhood. With three made-to-order crispy chicken pieces, thick fries, a soda and a sundae, the $5 lunch special at Dairy Queen will keep hunger pangs away for a good long time. (Don't forget the honey-mustard sauce for dipping.)



-- Kjerstin Gabrielson

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DQ

Multiple locations

www.dairyqueen.com

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Andrew Greif/staff

El Nutri Taco

What to order: One chorizo taco and one pollo taco with avocado, $5.



At a restaurant – a brick-and-mortar location in Northeast and cart in Southeast – with "taco" in its name, you should probably order a taco or two ($1.75 each). Although customers can choose from vegetarian styles as well as pollo, carnitas and asada, we humbly suggest that carnivores try the chorizo for its crispy yet tender sausage and its salty and spicy flavor. Adding fresh avocado is extra ($1.50), but will still keep you under the $5 threshold.

-- Andrew Greif

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El Nutri Taco



2124 N.E. Alberta St.

503-473-8447

8438 S.E. Woodstock Blvd.

503-788-3492

elnutritacopdx.com

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Michael Russell/staff

Fuller's Coffee Shop

What to order: A double cheeseburger, $4.95



Is breakfast the move at this 60-year-old Pearl District diner? I used to think so, and often sat at the W-shaped counter eating fluffy hash browns, big strips of bacon, over-easy eggs and blueberry pancakes. But that was before I tried the burger, a double cheeseburger to be precise, with two thin patties, melted American cheese, tomato, lettuce and pickles on a sesame seed bun for $4.95. It's what a McDonald's burger might still look like if the global corporation hadn't been worrying about shareholders for the past five decades.



-- Michael Russell

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Fuller's Coffee Shop



136 N.W. Ninth Ave.

503-222-5608

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Grant Butler/staff

Jaffa International Market

What to order: Falafel sandwich, $4.99 (includes free drink)



This Middle Eastern market is worth seeking out for its unbelievably affordable falafel sandwich. Three chickpea fritters are fried to order, then tucked into warm pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and a smear of tzatziki or hummus. Each bite offers the perfect contrast of creaminess and crunch. And they toss in a free can of soda or bottled water, sweetening the deal.

-- Grant Butler

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Jaffa International Market

16300 S.W. Hart Road, Suite B, Beaverton

503-336-0415

facebook.com/jaffainternationalmarket

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Amy Wang/staff

Laughing Planet

What to order: Veggie chili, $5



At Laughing Planet, you can get a bowl of either veggie chili, available daily, or the soup of the day for $5, which is beginning to look like a steal compared with what some restaurants are charging for soup (soup!) these days. The zesty chili is packed with three types of beans, zucchini, carrots, corn and other vegetables, providing enough protein and fiber to pacify your stomach for hours. Bonus: This chili is vegan and gluten-free. Toppings cost extra, but it does come with a complimentary scoop of tortilla chips.



-- Amy Wang

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Laughing Planet



Multiple locations

laughingplanetcafe.com

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Jamie Hale/staff

Life of Pie Pizza

What to order: Happy hour margherita pizza, $5



Pizza makes happy hour so much happier. At Life of Pie, the happy deal is an 11-inch margherita pizza, which comes with a light red sauce, perfect amount of mozzarella and fresh basil. It's filling enough to be solid lunch or light dinner. The deal is available during the extensive happy hour, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

-- Jamie Hale

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Life of Pie Pizza



3632 N. Williams Ave.

503-719-7321

lifeofpiepizza.com

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Lizzy Acker/staff

Little Big Burger

What to order: Cheeseburger, $4.75



It isn't easy to find a quality cheeseburger for under $5 in Portland. One option is to go small at Little Big Burger, where the slider-sized cheeseburger fits easily in one hand. Though it's tiny, the patty is juicy, the options for cheese are extensive and the burger is almost filling enough for a meal on its own. Almost. Don't be surprised if your stomach forces you to order fries. Luckily, the delicious fry sauce is free.



-- Lizzy Acker

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Little Big Burger

Multiple locations

http://www.littlebigburger.com

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Kjerstin Gabrielson/staff

Market of Choice

What to order: Small roasted veggie panini ($3.99) and mini marionberry croissant (75 cents)



Market of Choice is one of our favorite spots to meet friends for coffee and a snack or dessert from the grocery's plentiful deli cases. Just right for a quick second breakfast or first lunch, the small veggie panini melds roasted eggplant, bell peppers, onion, garlic, spinach and tomato with a trio of cheeses on focaccia. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a tiny flaky croissant baked with a dollop of marionberry jam for another 75 cents, and you're still under the $5 budget.

-- Kjerstin Gabrielson

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Market of Choice



Various locations, but we visited the Beaverton store at 250 NW Lost Springs Terr.

www.marketofchoice.com

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Michael Russell/staff

Otto's Sausage Kitchen

What to order: An old-fashioned weiner, scoop of potato salad and a can of pop, $4.75

To find Portland’s best hot dog, head to Southeast Woodstock Boulevard and look for the guy (it’s usually a guy) grilling sausages out front of an Alpine-themed deli. He’ll have some pork links and beer sausages on the grill, but since you’re really on a budget, pick out a foil-wrapped bun for toasting and ask for an old-fashioned weiner ($3), a sublimely juicy hot dog with subtle smokiness and the perfect snap. Round out the meal with a $.75 scoop of priced-by-the-pound potato salad from the deli case and a $1.25 Sunkist orange soda from the fridge. Winner winner hot dog dinner.

-- Michael Russell

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Otto's Sausage Kitchen



4138 S.E. Woodstock Blvd.

503-771-6714

ottossausage.com

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Amy Wang/staff

Revolucion Coffee House

What to order: patzins, $3-$4.50



At Revolución Coffee House in downtown Portland's West End, traditional Mexican foods that are perfect for a quick lunch fill the display case. For our $5 challenge, we tried the pantzin, semi-sweet hoagie-shaped rolls flecked with sesame seeds and stuffed with one of three fillings: cream cheese and jalapeño, ham and cream cheese, or ham, cream cheese and jalapeno. They're sold, and heated for either dine-in or takeout, for just $3-$4.50. You could also put your $5 toward an empanada, available in four flavors, including potato and cactus, for $4.25-$4.50.

-- Amy Wang

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Revolución Coffee House



1432 S.W. Sixth Ave.

503-224-3174

Revolucioncoffeehouse.com

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Kjerstin Gabrielson/staff

Sabor Salvadoreno

What to order: Pupusas, $2.50 each



Sabor Salvadoreno's pupusas, the thick, round masa cakes, are stuffed with a variety of fillings and served with salsas and curtido (a pickled cabbage relish) and salsas. We tried and loved all six options, which include cheese, beans and chicken. Order the pork, beans and cheese mix and the tangy loroco (an edible flower) and cheese, and you'll have a satisfying meal.



-- Kjerstin Gabrielson

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Sabor Salvadoreño





3460 S.W. 185th Ave., Suite A, Aloha

503-356-2376

On Facebook

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Nora Simon/staff

Spielman Bagels and Coffee

What to order: Egg and cheddar breakfast sandwich, $5

An everything bagel -- kettle-boiled, chewy and delicious -- and roasted veggie schmear usually fits the bill on a typical morning. But for a vegetarian-friendly breakfast that’s more substantial, a super-savory garlic or onion bagel with a double dose of protein does the trick.

-- Nora Simon

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Spielman Bagels and Coffee

Various locations; we visited 2200 N.E. Broadway

Spielmanbagels.com

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Jim Ryan/staff

Straight From New York Pizza

What to order: Slices; several options for $4 or less



You can snag a sizable slice — double bacon Hawaiian, for example — for $4. Pepperoni for a quarter cheaper. Cheese for $3.50. My piping-hot slice didn't scrimp on toppings, and its thin crust was what you'd expect from an NY-style pizza. The best deal: A cheese slice and 10-ounce PBR or Rainier for $4. One slice may be enough for lunch, but you'll probably want two if you're doing dinner.

-- Jim Ryan

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Straight From New York Pizza

2241 W. Burnside St.

503-228-5260



3330 S.E. Belmont St.

971-279-5970

www.sfnypizza.com

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Nora Simon/staff

Taco Pedaler

What to order: Quesadilla, $5



The hand-pressed corn tortillas are the star of the show here, and this simple dish lets them shine. An order comes with two quesadillas, each filled with a generous mixture of jack, cheddar and cotija. House salsas and a lime round out the meal.

-- Nora Simon

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Taco Pedaler

2225 N.E. Broadway St., Portland

503-946-1173

tacopedalerpdx.com

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Nora Simon/staff

Taste Tickler

What to order: Potstickers and kimchi, $3.75



At this takeout-friendly sub and bento shop on the edge of Sullivan's Gulch and Irvington, a side of potstickers -- five per order, chicken or veggie -- and kimchi hit the spot for a snack or a light lunch. The thick, sweet sauce that accompanies the dumplings plays especially well off the spice of the kimchi.



-- Nora Simon

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Taste Tickler

1704 N.E. 14th Ave., Portland

503-282-3681

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Jessica Greif/staff

Trader Joe's

What to order: Cubano seasoned wrap, $3.99



Trader Joe's refrigerated wraps are filling, flavorful and affordable. The Cubano seasoned wrap includes roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese and sliced dill pickles, all wrapped in a flour tortilla. The Cuban-inspired mustard dressing on the side has an addictive zing that takes each bite to the next level.



-- Jessica Greif

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Trader Joe's

Various locations

www.traderjoes.com

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Randy Mishler/staff

WinCo Foods

What to get: All-American deli sub, $3.68



Oh, there's no haute cuisine twist to this one. This is a chunk of pure stick-in-the-lunchbox-and-eat-when-the-whistle-blows, artery-clogging, bang-for-your-five-bucks. Not only is it old-school, it really is a footlong slab of bread (maybe a little too much bread) with cheese, roast beef, turkey and ham. There are also Italian and chicken subs. They're filling enough that you can probably get two meals out of one sandwich. And some change.



-- Randy Mishler

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WinCo Foods

Various locations

www.wincofoods.com

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More Cheap Eats

If all you knew about Portland was what your read in glossy food magazines, you’d think the city survived on nothing but vegetable-focused, globally inspired small plates.



Locals know better. Don't miss the ultimate guide to Portland's 50 best inexpensive restaurants.