Call it dining dejá vu.

Six years ago, YC’s Mongolian BBQ won Get Out’s $5 lunch contest. And while prices have since gone up at the build-your-own-stir-fry eatery, YC’s is still the best cheap lunch in the East Valley according to a trio of readers and Get Out’s duo of dining critics.

YC’s small stir-fry — priced at $6.50 — narrowly edged out the chicken shawarma pita sandwich at Tempe’s Sinbad during our 10-week contest.
And Geoff Stanisic, who owns YC’s three East Valley locations, couldn’t be more tickled.

“The readers are the ones who are out there every day and have to find a quick, easy lunch on a daily basis. Whereas, with critics, it’s their job to hunt out the good places. So, I think it means even more that the (three) readers liked us.”

YC’s was nominated by Danielle Boveri, 35, of Tempe who says she’s been a YC’s patron for about eight years.

“It’s a really good way to get all your veggies in a hot meal, not a salad. That’s one of the big reasons I eat there.”

Also, she says, “there is no way they can screw it up because you get to pick your own sauce, meat and veggies.”

At YC’s, diners can choose from a huge assortment of meat (turkey, chicken, beef and pork), veggies (including zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms and two kinds of onions) and sauces (sweet and sour, curry, teriyaki and more) and watch as their healthy creation is prepared, Mongolian BBQ style. The stir-fry bowl also comes with rice, your choice of soup and a beverage. “For $6.50 we really fill you up,” laughs Stanisic.

For nominating the winning lunch, Boveri will receive a $60 gift certificate to YC’s.

Try it yourself: YC’s has three East Valley locations: 3206 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, ; 752 W. Elliot Road, Tempe, ; and 9120 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale,

The results are in ...

Here’s how our 10 cheap lunches fared:

1. YC’s Mongolian BBQ’s small stir fry: 127/150

2. Sinbad’s chicken shawarma pita sandwich: 124/150

3. (tie) HT Seafood’s shrimp and lobster sauce: 123/150

4. Haji-Baba’s chicken shawarma plate: 123/150

5. Chuy’s tri-tip sandwich: 112/150

6. Claim Jumper’s little house salad: 111/150

7. Arriba’s chile verde plate: 101/150

8. Dirtwater Springs’ bean tostado plate: 92/150

9. Salty Señorita’s street tacos: 91/150

10. Balboa Bar & Grill’s macaroni and cheese: 85/150