Where to find the best cheap lunches in Boston

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. 

When Dylan Bloomfield started a job in downtown Boston last year, he was shocked by the cost of a simple lunch. As a Worcester native working in the Financial District, he was suddenly confronted by daily prospect of $15 sandwiches and $20 bowls.

“I’m very much used to the cheaper prices out in western Massachusetts,” Bloomfield, who calculated that the extra cost of could add up to several thousand dollars a year, recently told me.

So, he set out on a mission to find “lunch under $7 in downtown Boston” — and began documenting it on Instagram and TikTok. It wasn't an easy search. “There was one video that I did when I went to Seaport and I did not find anything. I had to scramble and I think I ended up at Shake Shack getting a single hot dog,” he said.

Other times, he’s had more success. Bloomfield says he is able to find lunch for under $7 near his workplace almost every time. And his videos have garnered thousands of views and comments from locals, usually commiserating over the cost of food in the city or suggesting new eateries and neighborhoods to try.

I recently chatted with Bloomfield about his advice for finding the best cheap eats in Boston. Here’s what he shared — plus, over a dozen affordable lunch recommendations from WBUR readers who responded to our recent callout.

Hanna Ali: Which neighborhood has the cheapest eats?

Dylan Bloomfield: “Chinatown, one million percent, Chinatown. I find myself almost trying not to go to the neighborhood every time I make a video because it's like playing it on easy mode.”

HA:  Sometimes at the cheaper spots, you might end up waiting in line. If I'm looking for something really quick, what would you recommend?

DB: “ I'm gonna say Chinatown again. They turn stuff out very, very quickly. I don't want this to sound like an advertisement for the neighborhood, but it's a pleasant surprise.”

HA: Which place has the finest cuisine you’ve found for under $7?

DB: “It’s called 163 Vietnamese Sandwich. Like this little hole-in-the-wall store [Editor’s note: yes, in Chinatown]. I got a giant sandwich … it's like a chicken curry sandwich, and it was amazing. It was probably the best tasting thing that I've ordered so far.”

HA: Which place offers the best bang for your buck?

DB: “ Galleria Umberto's in the North End. It's a cash-only joint. You can go in and you can get arancini for $2, you can get a slice of pizza for $2, and you can get a drink. And that's not small. They don't cheap out on it. I think it's family-owned. They make the food and they're open until they sell outta the food, which is pretty much every day.”

P.S. — We asked our readers where they like to grab lunch for less than $10, and they did not disappoint! Here are 14 recommendations for affordable eats in Greater Boston, from deli counters to pizza shops to Indian grocery stores.