It is ginormous (16 ounces) and is definitely a meal for me. Probably 600-700 calories not counting the croutons or bread it comes with. And Ivars Salmon House is definitely a restaurant.
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This thread does make you think of what you consider a meal. I often just order an appetizer at a restaurant for a meal, but if the rules mean the order needs to be a actually ‘entree’ - that changes the game.
Also probably much harder for anyone who wants a drink besides water.
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Those restaurants that have at Ikea are pretty cheap.
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You can still get a rather large burrito or multiple tacos for under $12 at many places in this rather expensive region.
Here too - and we love tacos and burritos. But usually I’m saving half that burrito for another meal so I’m also wondering if that is just me and most others are eating more as a ‘meal’.
Five taquitos at Datapoint Taqueria. Three are plenty!
I say anything on the menu counts as a meal except dessert or drinks. So no calling your giant margarita a meal. 
I often get an appetizer for a meal because I just like those food selections better. So you might get some chicken wings as an appetizer and call it your meal. Or it might be a sandwich and chips. Or a cup of soup and a small salad or 1/2 sandwich.
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I just looked at the menus of the places we tend to go to grab something quick and “cheap.” For $12, I could get a grilled cheese or a tuna salad sandwich at the diner, two Korean tacos (pork, fish, tofu, beef or chicken) at the fusion taco place, or 3 slices of pizza at the local by the slice pizza place.
If the budget was $15, I would have a lot more options, as lots of things seem to be $12.95 or $14.95.
This is a good reminder of why we don’t eat out too often.
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I purposely did not make it $15 because that would not be such a challenge.
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Yes - “meal” is defined by the eater. If you can eat off the kiddie menu or the appetizer menu and be full your have much broader options for something at/under $12. The sumu wrestler is going to starve.
Break it down by caloric intake maybe? But that’s probably getting too technical for what’s supposed to be fun exercise and the calories of meals in most restaurants are way higher than what we typically prepare at home.
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Don’t know whether this was directed at me, but while there are prepared items you can get off a shelf or at a counter, I’m talking about an actual cafe where you order and get warm food cooked to your specification. Here’s a sample menu from one of their stores.
https://www.centralmarket.com/events/austin-north-lamar-cafe-menu
Intentional choice of words? As in, for $12, how much can you fuel yourself for the next long hard workout?
You can just squeak under your $12 limit with a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese, medium fries and a medium Coke at McDonalds.
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If we were to include store food courts… Nothing though beats a $1.50 Costco food court hot dog that comes with a cup of soda! 
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S24 prefers the Chicken Bake for $3.99! 
The local “House of Pizza” near my office has a lunch small sub special Monday through Friday. It’s a small sub, chips and a can of soda for $7.45 including tax. The subs are very filling. Other that that I can’t think of a place that offers a decent portion of anything for $12.
was not directed at you!! I just got to thinking about that clarification.
Interesting that people are now noting more frequently LUNCH specials. This $12 can apply towards any meal - breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. Of course, you may get more bang for your buck for lunch - and it’s helpful for those who mention that your posting is the lunch price (if dinner is different).
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