Depression eating

Tired of cooking gruel and potatoes at home? So are we. So we scouted out deals and specials all over town to help you get out of the house. In general, consider checking out restaurants with happy hours. For example, McCormick & Schmidt’s has $2.95 cheeseburgers, and other joints offer affordable and tasty small meals like tacos or sausages.

Bleu Boheme. Does Early Bohemian sound less lame than Early Bird? Order by 6 p.m. and get three courses for $22. 4090 Adams Ave. in Kensington. www.bleuboheme.com.

Kono’s Café. Cheapest breakfast with an ocean view. Order a massive breakfast burrito and walk it to the hidden oceanfront patio. 704 Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach.

Donovan’s. Weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m., order a drink at the bar and wait for the free filet mignon sandwiches. 570 K St., Downtown. www.donovanssteakhouse.com.

Punjabi Tandoor. Vegetarian lunch combos are the way to go. Less than $7 for curries, rice, bread and dessert. 9235 Activity Road in Miramar. www.punjabitandoor.com.

Costco. No Costco card is needed to eat cheap from the snack bar. A polish sausage and a soda is only $1.50. Many locations. www.costco.com.

The Better Half. “Stressed Economy” Blue Plate special: three courses for $20 from 5 to 7 p.m. 127 University Ave. in Hillcrest. www.thebetterhalfbistro.com.

Tacos El Gordo. Free refills of aguas frescas and some of the best, and cheapest, tacos in town. Don’t miss the pork adobada. 689 H St. in Chula Vista.

Sea Rocket Bistro. Way better than popcorn. Twenty bucks gets you a drink, two courses of food and a movie screening every Thursday. 3382 30th St. in North Park. www.searocketbistro.com.

Mama’s Bakery & Lebanese Deli. Everything’s good, but the vegetarian stuff (falafel, fried eggplant wrap) is better, and cheaper. 4237 Alabama St. in North Park. www.mamasbakery.net.

Convoy Sushi & Fish Market. A $5 fresh seafood lunch? Ahi salad, sushi rolls, ceviche, fish and chips and more. 7905 Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa.

Toronado. Trappist monks called beer “liquid bread.” Drink your dinner on Mondays from 6 to 10 p.m., when all drafts are $3. 4026 30th St. in North Park. www.toronadosd.com.

Wine Vault & Bistro. A cheap date that tastes rich. Candlelight and a fancy three-course tasting menu for $20 on Thursdays and Fridays. 3731-A India St. in Middletown. www.winevaultbistro.com.

Yum Cha Café. Dim sum on the cheap, if you don’t mind ordering your food cafeteria-style. Bring cash. 6933 Linda Vista Road in Linda Vista. www.yumchacafe.com.

Super Cocina. Two item combos, with rice and beans, are about $8 and deliciously filling. Anything with pork is pretty much amazing. 3627 University Ave. in City Heights.

The Oceanaire. How many oysters can you eat in one hour? Weekdays, from 5 to 6 p.m., test your at competitive-eating skills with $1 oysters at 400 J St., Downtown. www.theoceanaire.com.

K Sandwiches. Forget Subway—Vietnamese sandwiches are less expensive and way more delicious. 7604 Linda Vista Road in Kearny Mesa. www.ksandwiches.com.

Ichiban. Some of the cheapest (and freshest) sushi around. One-dollar sake and half-priced rolls during happy hour. 1441 Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach.

Northgate Market. An eatery inside a grocery store cuts down on food prices. From ceviche to tacos and stews, everything’s pretty tasty. 1410 S. 43rd St. in Southcrest. www.northgatemarkets.com.

Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria. More dough for your dough. Two slices of deep-dish pizza and a soda are $6 during lunch. 3448 30th St. in North Park. www.leftyspizza.com.

Lucha Libre. Big fat shrimp ’n’ fries in a burrito. Seven bucks, but could be two meals. 1810 W. Washington St. in Mission Hills. www.tacosmackdown.com.

El Camino. Very good taco platters for half price, plus $3 Coronas during Taco Tuesdays. 3023 Juniper St. in South Park. www.elcaminosd.com.

Cantina Mayahuel. The key to Mayahuel’s tacos is the tropical salsa, because it rocks. Mondays: three street tacos for five bucks. 2934 Adams Ave. in Normal Heights. www.cantinamayhuel.com.

The Pearl Hotel. BYO—bowl? Yep. The first 80 people who RSVP to kparker@thepearlsd.com—and bring a bowl—get free soup and bread from 6 to 9 p.m. April 26. The event will be repeated twice more on dates TBA. 141 Rosecrans St. in Point Loma. www.thepearlsd.com.    

Eric Wolff contributed to this story.