Ah, the vast span of festival food: The deep-fried goods and bizarrely healthy grain bowls, the fatty American favorites and the locally-sourced dishes laden with quinoa. All of them are Instagram-worthy — and also, inevitably overpriced.
In an effort to help you budget your hard-earned dough this weekend at Boston Calling, Vanyaland has outlined your best bets for lunch or dinner choices on the festival grounds, all priced at $10 or less. This is food intended to fuel your festival frolicking for the entire day. Dig in, you thrifty foodies.
Love Art Sushi
Get your seafood fix with the Love Art Special Bowl (pictured), packed with yellowfin tuna, salmon, avocado, scallions, sushi rice, spicy mayo, and unagi sauce for $10. A Hawaiian poke bowl also goes for $10.
Jaju Pierogi
This Somerville take on the traditional Polish dish brings some feistier flavors into the mix. Score four ‘rogies for $10 and pick between the flavors of potato and cheese, kielbasa and red pepper, jalapeño cheddar, and sweet potato and caramelized onion.
Whole Heart Provisions
The Viet Bowl from Whole Heart ($10) remains the guilt-free choice for the weekend, combining roasted broccoli, smashed cucumber, edamame, savory green beans, tomato, and basil in a dish, finished off with peanut crumble.
El Pelón Taqueria
Ten bucks at El Pelón scores you the Boston Calling combo: A cheese quesadilla, a bag of fresh tortilla chips, and sides of guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream to dump on top. Even by non-fest standards, that’s a bargain. (Ironically, no tacos are for sale).
Café Beatrice
This longterm pop-up restaurant on Western Avenue is brand-new to Allston, dishing out sandwiches stuffed with provolone, broccoli rabe, and roasted pork (pictured) for $10. Also on the menu are prosciutto, pepper, fig, and burrata sandwiches, and as well as more traditional meatball sandwiches.
Saté Grill
Grab a Banh Me sandwich from Saté Grill, packed full of cilantro, carrots, and zucchini. This veggie option from the Boston Vietnamese Grill sets you back $9.
Riceburg
Here’s where things get pleasantly weird: Over at the Riceburg stand, any of the signature “Riceburgers” — burgers with steamed rice buns — go for $10 or less. Choose from crispy chicken (pictured, $9), bulgogi shaved steak ($10), or shiitake mushrooms ($10) for your filling.
The Smoke Shop
Grab a fistful of BBQ pulled-pork wrapped up in a hamburger roll for a tenner at the Smoke Shop tent. ‘Murica.
Zinneken’s Belgian Waffles
Indulge in some sweetness from this Harvard Square eatery with the Gourmand (pictured), featuring a classic Belgian waffle topped with caramel, bananas, and whipped cream for $8. Alternatively, the Fruit Delight (also $8) piles melted chocolate, bananas, and strawberries on instead.
Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
If you’re going to splurge on comfort food, spend the extra cash on a sandwich from Roxy’s Grilled Cheese. A juicy Green Muenster ($9) adds north country bacon and house-made guacamole to the mix in the simple-but-saucy classic. This Allston favorite delivers every time.
