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Yummy House Lunch Special: What You Get For $11

Author Geno

Do Chinese restaurants make a dime in profit during lunch hour? In a world where prices climb and climb, there are 2 bargains left: those $1 cans of iced tea at Publix… and Chinese restaurant lunch specials. You get so much food for so little. There’s no better example than the $10.99 Yummy House Lunch Special.

I’m a typical Pinellas guy – I hate crossing the bridges over to Tampa. But that’s where the best Chinese food is. There are 2 takeout spots that are on my Chinese Food Champions list. There’s China Wok at the corner of 301 and Adamo across from Brandon Ford. (Get the honey garlic chicken lunch special.) My other go to is Shanghai Restaurant on West Shore with their super cheap lunch specials. I usually go with the General Tso’s chicken lunch deal.

With sit down restaurants you expect to pay more. But at Yummy House is still my favorite Chinese spot in Florida. Sorry Zom Hee. I know I rave about you a lot on my socials. You’re the best in Pinellas. But Yummy House still reigns supreme. And their $10.99 lunch special is criminally cheap.

The Yummy House Lunch Special I Get

For $11, the portion sizes are kind of enormous. Then there are the 2 mounds of rice (although it’s not fried rice, but maybe they’re looking out for my health). Plus your drink is included. You’re not going to leave hungry.

The sweet and sour chicken Yummy House Lunch Special is a bargain.
Geno / Q105
The sweet and sour chicken Yummy House Lunch Special is a bargain at $10.99.

That’s all well and good, but how does it taste? Just because it’s cheap, doesn’t mean it tastes cheap. I’ve only ordered the Sweet and Sour Chicken Yummy House lunch special – but I doubt you can go wrong with any of their others like Honey Walnut Chicken, Cashew Shrimp, or Broccoli Beef. They’re all $10.99. But that sweet and sour chicken just hits the spot. It’s not too sweet and there’s a great texture and flavor to the chicken.

For a couple bucks more, you can go with the Spicy Yummy Combo with beef, shrimp, chicken, mushroom and asparagus stir-fried in a sweet chili sauce for $12.99. Look at you big spender! Or there’s the Bistro Style Fried Rice. That’s the one I’ll probably try at some point. It’s shrimp, chicken, beef, BBQ, pork, cilantro, green onion, and egg mixed in with jasmine rice. That one’s $11.99.

There are a few Tampa area Chinese spots with a variation of the name Yummy House so it can get confusing. The one we’re talking about here is at 2620 E. Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. They’re open for lunch from 11 to 2:30. Then they close down for a bit before they reopen for dinner at 5pm.

Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.

Geno's 10 Best Lunches For Under $10 in Tampa Bay

  • The Hot Italian at Mazzaro's in St. Pete

    I have to lead off with what’s probably my favorite place in Tampa Bay. This Italian market in St. Pete has a bunch of great subs in the deli that are under $10. In fact, I don’t think there’s even one that’s more than $10. The $8 Hot Italian is my usual go to with ham, salami, pepperoni, shredded lettuce, tomato, provolone, banana peppers & Italian dressing. But I’ll tell you – I’m torn now. On my last visit, I tried the #7 with Prosciutto D’ Parma, sweet Soppressata, hot Capicola, marinated sundried tomato & fresh mozzarella on Ciabatta. Just 50 cents more and a great choice when the weather is too hot for a Hot Italian.

  • Chicken Salad Sandwich Combo at Chicken Salad Chick in Palm Harbor

     

    Listener Christine suggested this one. “The Chick” includes your choice of sandwich with lettuce and tomato and a side for $8.99. Sides include broccoli salad, fresh fruit, mac & cheese, chips, pasta salad or a seasonal strawberry salad. Lots of variations of a traditional chicken salad sandwich like lemon basil, one for onion lovers, or the “Sassy Scott” with ranch, bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.

  • Pasta and Meatballs at Mama Rosa's Italian Touch in Kenneth City

    I was devastated when I found out Italia Mia closed. But when I learned that the owners had just started a new place, I couldn’t visit Italian Touch fast enough. Their $8.95 lunch specials are a steal. You can get ravioli, lasagna, pasta with a meatball, ziti with sausages… but I always have to get the chicken parmesan sub.

  • A Triple Decker Sandwich at Stein's Deli in St. Pete

    The triple decker sandwiches here are enormous. I’m 6’4 and about 300 pounds and I can’t finish one. Yet they’re priced under $10. Go with the Broadway. It’s roast beef, turkey, ham, salami and Swiss cheese topped with some cole slaw and Russian dressing. There are about a half dozen similar options that switch out 1 or 2 ingredients. But the Broadway is my jam.

  • The Cuban at Latin Touch Spanish Grocery in Brandon

    Listener Sharon says this is the best Cuban sandwich in town and the drink is included for under $10. She likes their Spanish bean soup too.

    Posted by Latin Touch Spanish Grocery on Wednesday, December 4, 2013

  • Tacos at Don Pancho Villa in Clearwater

    Living in California for 5 years spoiled me. It’s tough to find great legit Mexican food in Florida. But this spot in Clearwater is a gem. A steak burrito for $9.99 just barely lands them on this list. But I usually go with a couple tacos.

  • A Philly Cheesesteak Delco's in Dunedin

    There’s no good reason this cheesesteak only costgs $7.25 It’s worth double that. Please don’t tell them though. By the way, bring cash. They don’t take cards. These cheesesteaks are Philly legit. Too few places in Tampa offer cheesesteaks “wiz wit.” If you know, you know.

  • The Honey Garlic Chicken at China Wok in Brandon

    If I had to pick a favorite from this list, it’d probably be this place. The Honey Garlic Chicken lunch special is the biggest thing I miss about living on the Hillsborough side. You’d easily miss this hole in the wall takeout place across from Brandon Ford. Comes with PLENTY of chicken, fried rice, and an egg roll. Easily feeds two.

  • Midianoche at Maikel's Kitchen in Tampa

     

    Listener Jim says this place has the best Midianoche. He says you can add in 4 croquettes and a bottle of water and you’ll still pay less than $10.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCLBFlMNUT/

     

     

  • Slices at Eddie & Sam's NY Pizza in Tampa

    I’m reluctantly going to include this place because honestly I have never been wow’d by Eddie & Sam’s pizza. But I’m pretty much the only one. Everyone seems to love their slices. They say the secret is using New York water. You can get two slices with a Coke for about $8. The big pain is finding parking. You either have to find a metered spot or pay $15 at the nearby lot.  Tampa loves Eddie & Sam’s but I still say the best pizza is found across the bridge over at Cristino’s in Clearwater.  And you can get their 12″ personal Margherita with tomato sauce, fresh sliced mozzarella, fresh basil and oregano for $9.99.

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