Found Treasure: 9 Spots for Cheap Eats (and a New York Times Cameo)

March 22, 2024 – With a Monterey County foodie challenge in front of it, The New York Times found the best place to go: Edible Monterey Bay editor-publisher Deborah Luhrman.

(For the record, long before the N.Y. Times got a hold of her, I was making sure the West Coast knew Luhrman’s recommendations, with a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle called “An international traveler’s inside guide to Monterey.”)

For her Frugal Traveler column, NYT’s Elaine Glusac tapped a number of newsworthy places with Luhrman’s guidance. 

She nailed the best value of the season for nature lovers in the free-access Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, where overwintering butterflies clump by the hundreds November through February. (She also tabbed Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, admission $10; Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (also $10, transferable at all state parks for a day) and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (free).

Other outstanding recommendations: Pearl Hour happy hour 6-8pm Wednesday through Sunday with $10 botanical craft cocktails; Alta Bakery and Cafe for coffee and treats; Ad Astra Bread Co. to enjoy hearty loaves of sourdough ($10 each); and El Charrito Express because of the powerhouse burritos ($6.99) and tortillas worth a Found Treasure. 

Glusac also took to Moss Landing’s marine mammal splashed estuary with Monterey Bay Eco Tours, another trusted Found Treasure, particularly paired with fare from adjacent Woodward Marine Market, which you can take aboard for the electric pontoon cruise.

Inspired by the Frugal Traveler, my trove of cheap eats Treasures will stick to Monterey County this week, but I pledge to add Santa Cruz and San Benito chapters in the future.

Here appear nine to consider, ranked in overall value (I welcome your thoughts via mark@ediblemontereybay.com):

9. Bruno’s Market 

Given the tourist price on things like wine and cheese, this might seem like a misprint for this category. But migrate to the back where the deli lies and the tri-tip is a signature among the sandwiches (starting at $11.99), and a grilled burger with the fixings is a solid deal at $10. All-beef hot dog with toppings and soda goes $4.49.

6th & Junipero, Carmel | brunosmarket.com.

8. Tico’s Tacos

You don’t hold it down on Salinas’ Main Street since 1980 without delivering bang for your burrito (most are $5-$7). Breakfast burritos for $6.25, crispy shell tacos for $3.75 and chile verde quesadillas for $6 too. 

901 S. Main St. Salinas | ticostacossalinas.com.

7. Grandma’s Kitchen

Grandma doesn’t bother with a website because she’s too busy cooking comfort, steadily and reliably 7am-9pm daily (except Wednesday, until 4pm). Vintage-style crispy hash browns, chicken fried steak, SOS, pancake stacks, eggs Benedicts and massive three-egg omelets with potatoes and toast, all starting around $9 and rarely cresting $14. Plus some of the better biscuits and gravy going for $9. (Blue collar lunch and dinners happen too, but breakfast drops the best deals.)

2310 N. Fremont St. Monterey | 831.375.3033.

6. Red’s Donuts

Not many places provide this sort of coffee-and-donut lifeline at any hour, much less 4am, as does Red’s Seaside location. (Monterey starts at 6am.) The modest $14 for a dozen ($21 for 12 fancy donuts like apple fritters and chocolate custard bars) makes going back to the office tolerable, and makes whoever brought all the sprinkle French, maple old fashioneds and crumb cake donuts a hero.

1646 Fremont Blvd. Seaside and 433 Alvarado St. Monterey | redsdonutsinc.com/donuts.

5. Randy’s Sandwiches

This spot often spools a line out the door for the no-frills, all-flavor, high-value sandwiches and daily specials. The sandwiches come big and only $8-$9, and include monster breakfast sandwiches and house classics like The Godfather. Cash only, pour-you-own coffee, no website, no ATM and no promises it won’t sell out and close before you get there. In other words, old-school heaven.

1193 10th St. Monterey | ediblemontereybay.com/blog/found-treasure-randys-sandwiches.

4. El Charrito

The Frugal Traveler did well to hit the new branch in Oldtown Monterey. The since-1981 mothership in Salinas revs volume higher with an assembly line loaded with cheerful staffers and a motherlode of ingredients. A true family-owned community beacon for homemade Mexican done fast, done well and done affordably, even as they could get away with charging more. 

122 W. Market St. Salinas and 483 Calle Principal, Monterey | elcharrito.com.

3. Kathy’s Little Kitchen

Tell me where else a non-chain does homespun pancakes, two eggs and bacon for $8. Then there’s “country style” with two eggs and potatoes and toast for just $6, three-egg omelets with potatoes and toast for $8.50, six rolled tacos for $8, and an asada plate for $9. 

13 W. Carmel Valley Rd. Carmel Valley | places.singleplatform.com/kathys-little-kitchen/menu?ref=google.

2. Pelican Pizza

This rare bird does slices so sizable they cut them in half. Which is a long way of saying two pieces of pizza pie for $3.50 (cheese or pepperoni) and $4 for a combo double take. PP has been an MVP for soldiers, students and thrifty pizza lovers for what feels like forever. 

522 Lighthouse Ave. Monterey |  pelicanpizzaonline.com.

1. Chopstix

In a world where it’s become a universal experience to wonder aloud, “Wait, how much for a ____?” (Popular fill-in-the-blanks include “burger,” “egg” and “pound of fish.”), Chopstix provides an antidote. Basil popcorn chicken, pot stickers, fish balls and more all run $6.50 or less, with a half order of spring rolls with barbecue chicken or pork and shrimp for $4.50. Plus big dry noodle bowls and fried rice plates starting at $11, and hot phở at $12. While the Seaside outpost has closed, here’s hoping Monterey’s location near Del Monte Center never does. 

1244 Munras Ave. Monterey | chopstixboba.com.