But good news: there are still places where you can eat extraordinarily well without refinancing your apartment. We asked around, and the people have spoken.

First up: RT Bistro in San Francisco. The burger clocks in under $30, several dishes follow suit, and the duck — at $49 — is legitimately enough for two people. A half pour of wine exists for the budget-conscious (some would call it a sin, but we call it fiscal discipline). In a city where "affordable fine dining" usually means "only slightly less than your rent," RT Bistro is doing something genuinely refreshing.

Beyond that, Bay Area residents have strong opinions about their favorite single dishes — and the diversity of answers is a reminder of why this region's food scene remains world-class despite the price inflation.

One local raved that "Zareen's chicken is the best seasoned chicken I've ever had, and I'm not even a fan of Indian food." That's the kind of endorsement money can't buy. Another Bay Area resident swore by Mazra in Redwood City and San Bruno for wood-roasted Mediterranean meats, calling their salmon and lamb chops "heads and shoulders above" the competition — all at reasonable prices. The spot has landed on Yelp's national top 100 list multiple years running.

Other crowd favorites worth your time: Roli Roti's porchetta sandwich, sourdough pizza from Arizmendi, the masala dosas at Mylapore in Sunnyvale, the Ethiopian combo at Cafe Colucci in Oakland, and Japanese spots Demiya and Curry Hyuga for those craving something warming and precise.

One local put it perfectly about their go-to pasta spot, Belotti in Oakland: if it's your last meal, you're ordering from the top of that menu.

The takeaway? You don't need a tech salary to eat like royalty here. You just need to know where to look — and to stop letting algorithms steer you toward $47 pasta with truffle foam. The best food in the Bay is often the most honest.