One sure way to find good, cheap food is to watch where teenagers go to eat. Who better knows how to stretch a hard-earned dollar?

So we take it as a good sign when we walk into the Gilbert Los Favoritos, one of several in the East Valley, and find half the booths filled with high school seniors and juniors.

But this is no teen hangout. The lunch crowd on this day also includes municipal workers, pool cleaners, businessmen and retirees.

The mood: Despite a fairly small storefront, the strip mall restaurant is surprisingly spacious. Blue, padded booths line both side walls; in between, there’s a bunch of four-person tables with faux-granite laminate tops.

The entire space is immaculately clean. We order at the counter, fill our sodas at the fountain and take a seat. Our food is ready in less than five minutes.

The food: Los Favoritos offers two everyday specials. The first is a carne asada burrito ($5.50), a large flour tortilla filled with well-seasoned steak, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and guacamole.

The second special is three rolled tacos ($4.20), shredded beef wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep-fried until crunchy. The tacos are covered with a generous amount of guacamole and two types of shredded cheese.

Both specials come with Mexican rice and refried beans, as well as a choice of a zesty red or green sauce on the side.

The drinks: Our fountain sodas are $1.45 apiece.

The damage: $13.65. Los Favoritos’ food is pretty basic, but very tasty and certainly affordable. Next time, we’ll try the breakfast burritos, which are highly recommended by two different groups of regulars while we’re there.

>> Los Favoritos Taco Shop, 727 W. Ray Road, Gilbert, is open 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. (480) 726-7310