Best Meal for Under a Dollar

Anyone who balks at the appalling markups that posh restaurateurs impose on game birds should visit the quail hawkers of Ho Chi Minh City. From 5 p.m. daily they set up stalls at intersections and on sidewalks across town, such is the demand for chim cut chien , or deep-fried, marinated quail.

The birds are served with a warm Vietnamese baguette, slices of cucumber, fresh rau ram (a herb that tastes like a cross between coriander and hot mint), a salt, pepper and lemon dip, and a side of fiery chili sauce. The combination of flavors and textures...