Dining Guides
Top Cheap Eats on Upside
Ten spots where the cash back lands on a check that was already cheap.
Cheap Eats
Tacos, Noodles & Roadside Classics
01
The Park's Finest BBQ
Filipino-American smokehouse mashup - smoked meats with an adobo glaze. The Mount Mayon Hot Link Medley runs $12.49.
02
LOQUI
Bold, chef-driven tacos well above typical taco-stand quality for the price. Tacos run $6.99.
03
Tacomiendo
A classic, no-frills LA taco stand - carne asada or adobada is the move. Tacos al carbon are $2.95 each.
04
Irv's Burgers
A roadside-stand burger joint that relocated but kept its old-school menu. The Original Roadside Burger starts at $11.10.
05
Shin Beijing
Chinese-Korean fusion comfort noodles, a Koreatown standby. Chow mein runs $9–12.
06
Nick the Greek
Big, fresh gyro pitas that punch well above their counter-service price. A gyro or falafel pita with fries and tzatziki is $15.
07
Kanpai Santa Monica
Cheap sushi-roll lunch combo that still lands solidly under $20. The lunch special is 2 rolls for $14.99.
08
LaSorted's
Kobe Bryant-favorite "Mamba" pizza and inventive specialty slices. Slices run $4.50–$8.78.
09
Tatsu Ramen
Rich, fast tonkotsu broth ramen that's ready in minutes, not hours. The Old Skool Ramen runs $12.50.
10
Pop's Bagels
Buzzy new-wave bagel shop reinventing the classic with California toppings. A bagel with cream cheese runs about $4, sandwiches $7–10. Note: this shop moved from its original Brentwood location to Montana Ave, Santa Monica - same bagels, new address.
Prices verified via restaurant menus and delivery apps as of publish - always double-check before you go, since menus move fast. Restaurant photos via Google Maps.