Pel'meni Restaurant
$9 Russian Dumplings · Open Till 2:30am
A 30-plus-year Bellingham institution with a gloriously simple menu — for about $9 you get a bowl of bite-sized beef or potato dumplings (or a mix), topped with sour cream, cilantro, curry powder and hot sauce. It's a brick-and-mortar food truck, basically, and two eat for around $18. Open till 2:30am every night, which makes it a State Street legend. Open daily.
Cafe Rumba
Peruvian Sandwiches · Shattering Yucca Fries
A hip little Peruvian sandwich joint on State doing the #7 choripollo (chorizo + chicken) and butifarra (roasted pork), with yucca fries so crisp they shatter. Sandwiches are huge — one is easily two meals — and Tuesdays are buy-one-get-one, so two eat for around $18. Heads-up: cash is best, since cards add a 3% surcharge. Open daily.
Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine
Generous Combo Plates · Eat With Your Hands
A tiny State Street spot (4.9 stars) pumping out a genuinely unique, delicious experience — order a combo plate of chicken tibs, lentils, lamb stew, kale and homemade cottage cheese, scoop it all up with spongy injera, and don't skip the house green hot sauce. Portions are generous and made to share, so two eat for around $20. Closed Sun.
Mi Rancho Taqueria
Cheapest, Tastiest Tacos · $1 Tacos
Locals call it the cheapest and tastiest tacos in town — $1 street tacos, grilled dark-meat pollo (not the watery light stuff), flavorful adobada, and a side of those simple, addictive house beans when you dine in. It's the classic no-fuss taqueria experience, so two eat very well for around $14. Order as much as you like. Open daily.
A Que Tacos
Food Truck · Great-Deal Burritos
A Northwest Ave taco truck that regulars rank a notch above the rest — flavorful, fresh-ingredient tacos (buche, cabeza, fish), 10/10 horchata, and burritos that are a genuinely great deal for the size. Turnaround is fast and the price-to-food ratio is excellent, so two eat for around $16. One of the best trucks in town. Open daily.
Super Mario's Taco Truck
The $9 Wonder Burrito
A long-running corner taco truck on N Forest whose claim to fame is the Wonder Burrito — about $9, asada or veggie, packed so full (whole broccoli florets, slices of cabbage, flavorful rice) that fans order nothing else for years. Hit the salsa bottles with healthy amounts of both red and verde. Two eat for around $18. Cash only; closed Sun.
Pho 99
Best Pho in Town · Brisket Pho
A hole-in-the-wall pho spot with serious staying power — aromatic, rich brisket pho, lemongrass chicken and prawn rice, all well-priced for the portion, and you'll leave full with leftovers. It's diner-vibe, not fine dining, and beloved for it. Two eat for around $20 (split a big bowl with a side to stay under). Popular — go on a weekday. Closed Sun.
Luchadora Burger
Best Smashburger in Town · Food Truck
A Bellingham food truck turning out what locals call the best smashburger around — patties smashed thin for caramelized crispy edges, great fries and standout sauces (try the con safos and vato loco), plus a sneaky-good burrito. The owners are famously kind and generous. A burger, fries and a drink keep two around $20. Hours vary by day. Mostly daily.
Burnt Side Down
Gourmet Grilled Cheese · Best Food Truck 2024/25
A grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup food truck (named Bellingham's Best Food Truck two years running) doing comfort food at a high level — the signature has three cheeses with a seared, crispy cheese crust spilling out the sides, fresh basil and hints of bacon. One sandwich plus soup splits nicely, so two eat for around $18. Wed–Sat only, so plan ahead.
The Sandwich Odyssey
French Dip & Philly · Best Bang for Buck
A slept-on Cornwall Ave sandwich shop that locals swear is one of the best bang-for-buck spots in town — a top-notch French dip with au jus worth slurping, tuna melts, Philly steak and an eggplant parmesan, plus house potato salad and cookies. Reasonable prices for a lot of food, so two eat for around $18. Dine-in or to-go. Closed Sun.
El Capitan's
Gourmet Hot Dogs · Late-Night College Spot
A cozy, pirate-themed Cornwall Ave hot-dog joint that's the local late-night stop — a wide variety of specialty dogs (gluten-free buns available), beer on tap, karaoke, and a welcoming-to-all vibe. Two dogs and sides keep two around $16, and on weekends they're open till 1:30am. Unpretentious and fun. Closed Sun–Mon.
Horseshoe Cafe
Oldest Cafe in WA · Chicken & Waffles, Open Late
The oldest operating cafe in Washington, on Holly Street — a basic-in-the-best-way diner with huge chicken and waffles (crispy, tender, with leftovers to take home), tots, sandwiches and an extensive drink list, all at a great price. Quick seating, friendly staff, and open till 2am, so two eat for around $18 any hour. Open daily.
💡 Pro tip: All deals are community-verified but prices and availability change. Always check the restaurant's website or app before making a special trip — and if something's expired, flag it on our main directory so we can update it.
These chain deals work anywhere in the country, including Bellingham.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Pick 6 — Meal for Two from $19.99
The Pick 6 lets two people build a shared meal — choose six items across wings, tenders, and sides — starting around $19.99. A reliable two-for-$20 play at any BWW. Dine-in or takeout; pricing varies slightly by market.
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