latimes.com/50eats
50 places to eat for $5 or less in Southern California
Dining out for $5 or less may seem like a fantasy, but Southern California has much to offer for those on a tight budget. For affordable Vietnamese fare, for example, venture to Garden Grove or Westminster. Or look to food trucks for unique, inexpensive eats. Even some pricier restaurants offer a selection of cheap eats during happy hours.
Our list covers a wide range of tastes. We've highlighted some items for you to try, but many of these eateries offer a variety of choices priced $5 or less. View list in article format | Photos
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Latin American
Cha Cha Chicken
Cha Cha Chicken
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Type: Caribbean
1906 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
(310) 581-1684
Open 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. Sunday.
La Arca
La Arca
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Type: Salvadoran
5570 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
(323) 340-8528
Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Tropicana bakery
Tropicana Bakery & Cuban Café
Neighborhood: Downey
Type: Cuban, bakery
10218 Paramount Blvd., Downey
(562) 806-8343
tropicanabakeryandcubancafe.com
Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Porto's bakery
Porto's bakery
Neighborhood: Glendale
Type: Cuban, bakery
315 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale
(818) 956-5996
Open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Los Cinco Puntos
Los Cinco Puntos
Neighborhood: Boyle Heights
Type: Mexican
3300 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 261-4084
Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Wednesday.
Campos Famous Burritos
Campos Famous Burritos
Neighborhood: Culver City
Type: Mexican
10352 Venice Blvd., Culver City (other locations in Santa Monica and Culver City)
(310) 836-2680
www.facebook.com/pages/campos-famous-burritos/292986670516
Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
My Taco
My Taco
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Type: Mexican
6300 York Blvd., Suite 4, Los Angeles
(323) 256-2698
Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
El Huarachito
El Huarachito Restaurant
Neighborhood: Lincoln Heights
Type: Mexican
3010 1/2 N. Broadway, Los Angeles
(323) 223-0476
Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Frank's restaurant
Frank's restaurant
Neighborhood: Miracle Miles
Type: Mexican
363 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 655-5277
Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Tacos Leo truck
Tacos Leo truck
Neighborhood: Los Angeles
Type: Mexican
Parking lot of the 76 gas station on the northwest corner of Venice Boulevard and La Brea Avenue
Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Tacos Chapilita
Tacos Chapilita
Neighborhood: Lincoln Heights
Type: Mexican
2929 1/2 N. Broadway, Los Angeles
(323) 222-4751
Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Guisados
Guisados
Neighborhood:
Type: Mexican
2100 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 264-7201
Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5p.m. Sunday.
El Ranchero
El Ranchero
Neighborhood: Alhambra
Type: Mexican
511 S. Garfield Ave., Alhambra
(626) 281-3452
Special available 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday.
Middle Eastern
Café Bravo
Café Bravo
Neighborhood: Glendale
Type: Middle Eastern
1135 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale
(818) 500-4005
Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Kosher Chapa Grill
Kosher Chapa Grill
Neighborhood: Sherman Oaks
Type: Israeli
14845 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks
(818) 782-8995
Open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.
Shanto's bakery
Shanto's bakery
Neighborhood: La Crescenta
Type: Middle Eastern
3747 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta
(818) 330-9835
Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Bella Pita
Bella Pita
Neighborhood: Westwood
Type: Middle Eastern
960 Gayley Ave., Los Angeles
(310) 475-4070
Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Asian
Wat Dong Moon Lek
Wat Dong Moon Lek
Neighborhood: Thai Town
Type: Thai
4356 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 666-5993
Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Charm Vegan
Charm Vegan
Neighborhood: South Pasadena
Type: Vegan Thai
711 No. K Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena
(626) 441-2484
Open 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh Noodle Restaurant
Neighborhood: Long Beach
Type: Cambodian
1644 Cherry Ave., Long Beach
(562) 433-0032
Open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday.
Shin Sen Gumi
Shin Sen Gumi
Neighborhood: Little Tokyo
Type: Japanese
132 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles
(213) 687-7108
Open 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
Fukuburger
Fukuburger
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Type: Japanese fusion
1634 Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles
(323) 464-3858
Open 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
Go Go Sushi
Go Go Sushi
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Type: Japanese
2269 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 585-9990
Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Simpang Asia
Simpang Asia
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
Type: Indonesian
10433 National Blvd. No. 2, West Los Angeles
(310) 815-9075
Open 11 a.m. to 12 am. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Old Country Café
Old Country Cafe
Neighborhood: Alhambra
Type: Taiwanese
2 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra
(626) 284-4610
Open 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
Kang Kang Food Court
Kang Kang Food Court
Neighborhood: Alhambra
Type: Taiwanese, Chinese
27 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra (other locations in Monterey Park and Temple City)
(626) 308-3898
Open 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
Family Pastry
Family Pastry
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Type: Chinese
715 N. Spring St., Los Angeles
(213) 622-5255
Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Banh Mi Che Cali
Banh Mi Che Cali
Neighborhood: San Gabriel
Type: Vietnamese
135 San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel (other locations in Alhambra, Rosemead, Monterey Park, Westminster and Garden Grove)
(626) 286-8728
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Nha Hang $1.99
Nha Hang $1.99
Neighborhood: Westminster
Type: Vietnamese
7971 Westminster Blvd., Westminster (other locations in Fountain Valley and Garden Grove)
(714) 893-8364
Open 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
Buu Dien
Buu Dien
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Type: Vietnamese
642 N. Broadway, Los Angeles
(213) 617-8355
Open 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Pho Quang Trung 2
Pho Quang Trung 2
Neighborhood: Westminster
Type: Vietnamese
9211 Bolsa Ave. Suite 101-103, Westminster (other location in Garden Grove)
(714) 891-2800
Open 8:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
Banh Mi My Tho
Banh Mi My Tho
Neighborhood: Alhambra
Type: Vietnamese
304 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra
(626) 289-4160
Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday.
Van
Van Restaurant
Neighborhood: Garden Grove
Type: Vietnamese
14122 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove
(714) 530-6858
Open 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday. Closed Wednesday.
South Asian
All Indian Sweets & Snacks
All Indian Sweets & Snacks
Neighborhood: South Bay
Type: Indian
20916 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance
(310) 370-5156
Open 11:20 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Aladin Sweets & Market
Aladin Sweets & Market
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Type: Bengali
139 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
(213) 382-9592
Open 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
European
Richie Palmer's Pizzeria
Richie Palmer's Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Glendale
Type: Italian
658 Americana Way, Glendale
(818) 240-4440
Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Bay Cities Italian Deli
Bay Cities Italian Deli
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Type: Italian, deli
1517 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica
(310) 395-8279
Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Folliero's Italian Food
Folliero's Italian Food & Pizza
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Type: Italian
5566 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
(323) 254-0505
Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Papa Cristo's
Papa Cristo's
Neighborhood: West of downtown Los Angeles
Type: Greek
2771 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles
(323) 737-2970
Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Mediterranean Café
Mediterranean Café
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Type: Greek
273 Shoppers Lane, Pasadena
(626) 793-8844
www.kokosmediterraneancafe.com
Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3p.m. Saturday.
American
Lanza Brothers Market
Lanza Brothers Market
Neighborhood: Lincoln Heights
Type: American
1803 N. Main St., Los Angeles
Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Portillo's
Portillo's
Neighborhood: Buena Park
Type: American
8390 La Palma Ave, Buena Park (other location in Moreno Valley)
(714) 220-6400
Open 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Schodorf's Luncheonette
Schodorf's Luncheonette
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Type: American
5051 York Blvd., Los Angeles
(323) 258-8040
Open 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Pink's Hot Dogs
Pink's Hot Dogs
Neighborhood: Los Angeles
Type: American
709 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 931-4223
Open 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Honey's Kettle
Honey's Kettle
Neighborhood: Culver City
Type: Southern
9537 Culver Blvd. Culver City
(310) 202-5453
Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Happy Hour
Nick & Stef's steakhouse
Nick & Stef's steakhouse
Neighborhood: Downtown Los Angeles
Type: Steakhouse
330 S. Hope St., Los Angeles
(213) 680-0330
Open 3 to 9:30 p.m
Chaya downtown
Chaya downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown Los Angeles
Type: Japanese
525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles
(213) 236-9577
www.thechaya.com/downtownLosAngeles/
Open 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
St. Felix
St. Felix
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Type: American
8945 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
(310) 275-4428
Happy hour, 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday
Cafe La Boheme
Cafe La Boheme
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Type: American
8400 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
(323) 848-2360
Happy hour, 5 to 7:30 p.m. every day
