Attending San Diego Comic-Con or visiting the Gaslamp Quarter? Short on cash? You’ve got to eat, so here’s a list of Cheap Eats in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter — most are $5 or less.
[UPDATED 4/24/18]
Comic-Con is an event many save up all year long for. With tickets, travel, and hotels — not to mention items you might want to buy in the exhibit hall — it can get expensive. Sometimes having a super cheap place to eat is vital, so we’ve put together a list of places in (or very close to) the Gaslamp Quarter where you can get some cheap eats while at San Diego Comic-Con.
When deciding what restaurants or places that we should list in this post, we decide to go with those where you could eat for about $5 or less. We didn’t list places that are mainly a dessert-only spot, but those where you could get something more lunch or dinner-ish, such as a burger, sandwich, or even a quesadilla. We wouldn’t be surprised if we missed a few places, so if you know of another place to eat cheaply in the Gaslamp District while at Comic-Con, leave us a comment and let us know.
ComicCon Family Insider Tip: Some restaurants will give you a discount when you show your Comic-Con badge. Don’t be shy about asking! If you don’t ask, you won’t know. You can also download coupons to save at restaurants during Comic-Con.
Note: Due to changing menus, prices, hours, etc. some of the details below could be outdated, depending on when viewed. Visit the restaurant websites for most recent info. During Comic-Con, please note that some restaurants change their menu and not all items listed in this post may be available.
San Diego’s Gaslamp District Cheap Eats
Pizza on 5th
734 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
TIP: Very reasonable menu prices – most of the menu is between $5 and $10, with pizza slices at just $3.50.
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Sushi 2 on Broadway
(next to Spreckels Theater)
135 Broadway, San Diego, CA [MAP]
TIP: Many different sushi roll options for $5 or less.
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Gaslamp Pizza
505 5th. Ave San Diego, Ca 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Family owned and sells pizza by the slice for $4. They also offer 5 Piece Chicken Wings for
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Lucky’s Lunch Counter
338 7th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Several inexpensive breakfast options. For $4 you can get Irish Oatmeal or a bagel with cream cheese or butter. They also offer breakfast sides where you could create your own meal for $5 or less. For example, 2 eggs is $3 and you add on toast or a pancake for another $2. If you have a bit more to spend, they sell hotdogs or bratwurst for $6 for lunch.
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Gaslamp Burger
738 5th Ave San Diego Ca 92101 (MAP)
Tip: Burgers start at $10. Hot Dogs start at $4 and combos starting $8.99
Michos
762 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Inexpensive Mexican food, inside The Atomic. A lot of the menu is under $5 — tacos are $3-$4, bean and cheese burrito is $4.49, plus more.
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Lolita’s at the Park Downtown
202 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Numerous items under $5, most of the menu is under $10. You can get a bean burrito, shredded beef burrito, chicken burrito, or veggie burrito for $5 or less. All of their tacos are under $5 (except shrimp).
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The Old Spaghetti Factory
275 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 [MAP]
TIP: While there isn’t much food that is $5 or less on their menu, this is an inexpensive place to eat for lunch (Monday-Friday). They offer a pasta entree with marinara sauce, soup or salad, and bread for just $7. They also offer a lunch special of unlimited soup or salad for the same price. Dinner entrees are $11.25 and up, but they come complete with soup or salad, bread, and ice cream for dessert.
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Ralphs
101 G. St San Diego, Ca 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Grocery stores will almost always be able to feed you for less than a restaurant. Great place to stock up on water, sodas and snack foods.
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CVS
645 Market. St San Diego, Ca 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Lots of snacks and drinks to pick from. Stick with their store brand “Gold Emblem” products to save even more.
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7/11
1007 5th. St San Diego, Ca 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Everything from Slurpee’s to Big Gulps and lots of ready to eat foods.
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Subway
611 K. St San Diego, Ca 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Known for their $5 Footlongs of certain varieties, but many other varieties cost under $5 for a 6″ sandwich. Get a Kids Meal and you can have a small sandwich, apples, and a drink for less than $5. There are several more Subways in the Gaslamp District. This one is the closest to the Convention center.
Happy Hour Cheap Eats
One more way to eat cheap is to go to happy hour at restaurants that have one. Most of the time, you can get appetizers for under five bucks — and sometimes those appetizers are the same type of food you might eat for lunch or dinner.
Here a few Gaslamp restaurants that have some of the least expensive Happy Hour prices:
535 5th Ave. San Diego, CA 92101 (MAP)
TIP: half off featured appetizers.
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628 5th Ave. San Diego Ca 92101 (MAP)
TIP: Happy hour 3pm to 6pm everyday and 3pm to 7pm on Friday’s. Food and drink specials daily including $5 all you can eat Taco bar on Tuesday.
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715 J Street. San Diego, CA 92101 (MAP)
TIP: Happy Hour has 1/2 off Wings, 1/2 off Red Baskets such as Chips, Salsa & Guacamole and Tots and Onion Rings.
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536 Market Street San Diego, CA 92101 (MAP)
TIP: Happy Hour is offered 3pm to 6pm Monday thru Friday, $2 slices of pizza.
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544 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Happy Hour offered from opening until 7pm Monday – Friday. Black & Blue Sliders & BBQ Pork Sliders $2.75 each , Corned Beef Croquettes for $5, Homemade Chips for $3. On Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10pm – 11pm there is other specials such as chicken tenders for $5.50 .Every friday there’s a complimentary food buffet between 5:00pm – 6:30pm
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560 4th Avenue San Diego, CA 92101[MAP]
TIP: Happy hour is everyday 3pm to 7pm also 10pm to close. They have many appetizers under $5 like Cheese Quesadilla to Carne Asada Fries.
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527 5th Ave, San Diego Ca 92101 [MAP]
TIP: Happy Hour is Mon – Fri 3pm to 6pm with appetizers 50% off.
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This is just a short list of cheaper places to eat in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, but we hope this can help find a place that fits your budget.
Do you have a favorite place that should be in this post? Let us know!
Mmm! Sushi Deli is one of my favorites! And in Westfield Horton Plaza you can eat at Nordstrom’s Cafe. Little tip… get a 1/2 sandwich and salad for a cheaper meal!
Thank you, Danielle for that tip. I’ll be adding it to the post and we’ll be sure to give you credit.