Food fads change rapidly. Restaurants try to keep up and offer what they think the public wants. That’s a mean feat with so many factors to consider: location, menu wording, ingredients and taste, preparation, presentation, service, cost. With the price of gas rising, so rises the price of so many other things. People want a bargain, value and satisfaction.



Restaurant trends seem to lean two ways: smaller, healthier, cheaper portions and large, inclusive combo meals. Not just fast food restaurants are riding the combo train. Dine-in sit-down places are going with all-inclusive course meals. Mama Stortini’s in Puyallup has dinners where guests pay one package price for entire dinners — appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert. Then there’s the joints that overfill your plate with deliciousness and don’t gouge you at the cash register. Here’s a list of spots to try based on price and portion size:



Old Milwaukee Café serves up big plates of grated hash browns, fluffy pancakes, waffles and French toast bathed in fruits and whip cream, seemingly bottomless bowls of oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar and cream. Even breakfast sandwiches require two hands or knife and fork. Big ol’ omelets ooze cheese and juices from ham, peppers and tomatoes stuffed inside. Nice. Nothing costs more than $10. Double Nice. 3102 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.761.2602.



The Harmon Brewery also opens for plentiful breakfasts Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. Their menu tops out at $8.95 for rib eye steak and eggs and all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with ham, bacon or sausage for $7.95. 1938 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, 253.383.2739.



The Hot Dog, our childhood friend. We miss you. The general public may not admit it, but there’s an adult T-town love affair going on with the meaty little monsters. Grab a quick dog for under $5 at Bertolino’s at Center Street Home Depot, The Red Hot on Sixth Avenue or Hot Rod Dog on Pacific Avenue.



On the healthier side of lunch, Margaret’s Café has truly flavorful sandwiches with fresh ingredients on really good bread for under $7. You really could eat one every day without it stopping your heart. 754 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.274.8788.



Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub has a lazy lunch special from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, ribs, and more with a buy-an-entrée-and-get-one-free’ discount. Similar to The Harmon, Paddy’s Steak Night on Mondays: 5-ounce petite sirloin and fries for $3.99. 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963.



What? Delivery that’s not pizza? You heard right, Yu’s Teriyaki & Wok delivers large boxes of steaming goodness right to your door for lunch or dinner. The food’s pretty good and a steal. Grab a 16-ounce container of egg flower soup for $3.95 that’s loaded with tofu, green peas, celery and carrot bits, large chunks of ginger and onion and a tangy white pepper broth. Try beef yakisoba or chicken chow mien with hearty noodles, seasoned meat, veggies and white rice ($5.95) or 12-piece barbeque pork appetizer with sesame seeds and housemaid spicy mustard ($4.45). 322 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.272.3081.



Famous Dave’s Barbeque makes dinner easy offering huge take-out meals that feed four for less than $40 — whole roasted chicken, full slab of savory barbeque sauce slathered St. Louis ribs, two half pints of side orders and fluffy corn bread muffins. 1901 S. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253.722.0500; 3811 Ninth St. S.W., Puyallup, 253.604.0340.



El Gaucho offers late night happy hour from 10 p.m. to close. It’s a sensible way to try tasty cuisine without dropping $80. Sit around the piano sharing discounted appetizers of beef diablo, capresse salad, clams in white wine and garlic (all under $10). Plus $5 house wine, $3 well drinks, $2 Bud Lights. 2119 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1510.