4 places to find lunch on the cheap in Avalon
![blog-2016-Quick-lunch a sandwich sitting on top of a wooden table](https://catalinaexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6639/2023/12/blog-2016-Quick-lunch.jpg?w=1000&h=1000&zoom=2)
Do cheap eats exist on Catalina Island? Surprisingly enough, they do. You can get a street taco for a buck, a meatloaf sandwich with soup for $6.50 or a juicy, jumbo burger for $5. Avalon has a lot of great places to have lunch, but cheap-and-easy spots are few and far between. So we’re making it simple. Here’s a list of a few of our favorite places to go when we’re on a tight budget.
Avalon has a lot of great places to have lunch, but cheap-and-easy spots are few and far between. So we’re making it simple. Here’s a list of a few of our favorite places to go when we’re on a tight budget.
Cafe Metropole: Dine inside or out — there’s often live music on the patio — at this colorful sandwich shop where you can get a panini, a salad, wrap or a cafe combo for prices ranging from $8 to $12.50. Or try the special, with choices such as a meatball sandwich and soup, for $6.50. Vegan and vegetarian choices are available, including a veggie stack sandwich. For a splurge, try the Cuban, $10.50, or the sand dab sandwich, $12.50. 113 Metropole Ave., 310.510.9095, CafeMetropole
Ben’s Bakery: Order a great cup of coffee here and try one of the new salads, such as Asian Chicken, Classic Caesar or Organic Quinoa, $9. Ben’s, in the newly renovated Shops at the Atwater arcade, also has fresh, grab & go sandwiches and wraps, plus baked goods, pastries and muffins. New menu items include warm paninis, such as ham & gouda, bacon & brie and classic Cubano, and a Spicy Local Ahi Wrap, $10-$12. 119 Sumner Ave., 310.510.7414, BensBakery
The Sandtrap Restaurant and Bar: If you’re walking, plan on a 10-minute uphill stroll to the Sandtrap, which has some of the cheapest food in town, especially during the 2-6 p.m. happy hour, when tacos are $1 and draft beer is $2. Located by Catalina Island Golf Course, the Sandtrap is more a fast-food joint than a restaurant, but there’s a bar and an outdoor patio. Lunch prices range from $9-$15; get a cheeseburger and fries for less than $10, or a regular taco for $3. 501 Avalon Rd., 310.510.2505, CatalinaSandtrap.com
Coney Island West: This fast-food eatery is a locals’ favorite, a place to get a great burger and fries or fish and chips in a hurry. Located by the bay, it’s easy to find and fills orders quickly. Get a burger for $5 or try the hot dogs, sandwiches or chili on an expansive under-$10 menu. Eat at outdoor patio tables, or take the food to go and enjoy it on a bench overlooking the harbor. 205 Crescent Ave., Avalon, 310.510.0763.
by Rosemary McClure