[teejers1]

Nothing is cheap here.  My wife and I almost never go to anything on University Avenue.  

California Avenue has a lot of choices that are one tier down in expense from University.  On California Avenue you have Izzy's Bagels, Kali Greek Kitchen is pretty good and healthy, Palo Alto Sol has been mentioned but is not cheap, probably the most popular on California Avenue now is Zareens--a Desi fast food place that often has a line out the door, and just off the main street is Anatolian Kitchen where a meat lover can get decent kabobs.  Mediterarrean Wraps is near Izzy's and I think does qualify as the one cheap eats on the street--pretty decent Swarma wraps. 

If you like Thai there is Siam on El Camino which is sort of a family run hole-in-the-wall. 

If you like somewhat authentic northern Chinese food Chef Zhao in Edgewood Plaza is your best bet.

I second Sushi House in Town and Country, although its prices have gone up in the last few years.  I bumped into David Shaw with one of his kids picking up take-out there a couple of years ago.

There IS one cheap eats in Town and Country--that is the Asian Box which is part of a chain.  Popular with Paly kids, for $8 you get a box of Asian themed food with vegetable, rice, meat, etc.  I don't think it is too bad.  Beats hot dogs at Maples.

Finally, there is always Jimmy Vs if you catch it at a time it is actually open--and you can often rub shoulders with Stanford athletes while you eat.

What, no love for Joanie's Cafe on California Avenue?
And Jimmy V.'s is a good call.  A group of us periodically meets there to discuss Stanford sports and get fired up for goings-on (hope on hoops, and softball, though baseball is looking bleak).

[teejers1]

Nothing is cheap here.  My wife and I almost never go to anything on University Avenue.  

California Avenue has a lot of choices that are one tier down in expense from University.  On California Avenue you have Izzy's Bagels, Kali Greek Kitchen is pretty good and healthy, Palo Alto Sol has been mentioned but is not cheap, probably the most popular on California Avenue now is Zareens--a Desi fast food place that often has a line out the door, and just off the main street is Anatolian Kitchen where a meat lover can get decent kabobs.  Mediterarrean Wraps is near Izzy's and I think does qualify as the one cheap eats on the street--pretty decent Swarma wraps. 

If you like Thai there is Siam on El Camino which is sort of a family run hole-in-the-wall. 

If you like somewhat authentic northern Chinese food Chef Zhao in Edgewood Plaza is your best bet.

I second Sushi House in Town and Country, although its prices have gone up in the last few years.  I bumped into David Shaw with one of his kids picking up take-out there a couple of years ago.

There IS one cheap eats in Town and Country--that is the Asian Box which is part of a chain.  Popular with Paly kids, for $8 you get a box of Asian themed food with vegetable, rice, meat, etc.  I don't think it is too bad.  Beats hot dogs at Maples.

Finally, there is always Jimmy Vs if you catch it at a time it is actually open--and you can often rub shoulders with Stanford athletes while you eat.

What, no love for Joanie's Cafe on California Avenue?
And Jimmy V.'s is a good call.  A group of us periodically meets there to discuss Stanford sports and get fired up for goings-on (hope on hoops, and softball, though baseball is looking bleak).