$5 Lunch in Seattle: Zaina’s (Food, Drinks and Friends)

A good cheap lunch doesn’t come in a greasy wrapper – at least, not in my book. When I’m out looking for a great meal at the five dollar mark, health is still as important as ever.

The lentil soup at Zaina’s on Pine Street in downtown Seattle fits the bill perfectly. The lentils are mostly blended for a creamy texture, but there’s still a nice bit of chunkiness with the finely chopped vegetables and crumbled feta cheese. The very friendly cook will ask if you’d like to add the “spicy” – and oh, you do. He spoons in a big dollop of oily red pepper paste that infuses heat all throughout the bowl.

Image courtesy of Michelle Schusterman

Along with the crumbled feta, you get a generous heap of lemony parsley on top. Another random criteria of mine on meals is color – I love seeing a variety of colors on my plate, and this bowl is filled with bright yellow, deep red and fresh green that tastes every bit as flavorful and delicious as it looks. The complimentary grilled pita bread on the side is great for dipping.

There’s seating inside – a few tables by the window and a row of bar stools at the counter – but on a nice day this soup is best enjoyed at one of the outdoor tables while watching shoppers head down to Pike Place.