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.
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50 places to eat for $5 or less
Neighborhood: Long Beach Type: Cambodian 1644 Cherry Ave., Long Beach… (Chau Ichiban )
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.
LATIN AMERICAN
Chicken gumbo soup with corn bread from Cha Cha Chicken
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Type: Caribbean
1906 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
(310) 581-1684, chachachicken.com
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.
$3.50
Cha Cha Chicken is a small, colorful beach shack in Santa Monica with countless loyal fans of its Jamaican jerk-rubbed Cha Cha Chicken and coconut fried chicken, but the love doesn't stop there. This Caribbean, Latin fusion restaurant offers a Spanish style chicken gumbo soup with a fresh corn bread muffin for a light, flavorful meal under $5.
—JH
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.
$1.99
This Salvadoran restaurant with a "Happy Days"-feel has 10 different types of pupusas (stuffed corn tortillas) for about $2. They're sizable, so two should fill you up. Varieties include cheese with pork, chicken, cactus, beans or squash. Other items for $5 or less include tamales ($1.90), empanadas (3 for $4) and shrimp tostada ($4.99).
—JL
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.
$1.65
Tropicana Bakery opened in 1999 and is owned and operated by the Madrazo family. Melvyn Madrazo Sr., patriarch of the family, received inspiration for the bakery from his childhood in Cuba, where he watched his father bake Cuban bread and pastries. The bakery sells a number of pastries, sides and soups for $5 or less. For $1.65, you can get an empanada. For $1.19, you can get a Cuban potato ball (mashed potatoes filled with ground beef). $4.99 buys a bowl of albondigas soup (meatballs, rice and vegetables).
—JL
Cubano sandwich from Porto's bakery
Neighborhood: Glendale
Type: Cuban, bakery
315 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale
(818) 956-5996, portosbakery.com
Open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
$4.85
The bakery may be known best for its sweet treats and long lines, but it's also a go-to place for a traditional Cubano sandwich. This menu favorite comes with slow roasted pork, topped with salty ham, Swiss cheese and pickles. Everything is piled high on a crispy Cuban bread roll, with a hefty dose of special butter, mustard and mayonnaise-based creamy spread.
—JH
Los Cinco Puntos
Neighborhood: Boyle Heights
Type: Mexican
3300 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 261-4084
$1.25
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.
Los Cinco Puntos is part meat market, part deli and part convenience store. You can order a few pounds of prepared meat or a taco (an asada taco is $1.25). Their tortillas, which you can order by the dozen, are made by hand on a large black stove right behind the counter. Tamales and tortas are about $2.
—JL
Campos Famous Burritos
Neighborhood: Culver City
Type: Mexican
10352 Venice Blvd., Culver City (other locations in Santa Monica and Culver City)
(310) 836-2680, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Campos-Famous-Burritos/292986670516
Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
$1
You can attempt to stuff yourself with 10 mini tacos for $10 at Campos, but you're probably better off splitting the taco deal with a friend (conveniently bringing the price to $5 apiece). They also dish out burritos, combination plates and many other meals that hover around or fall below $5.
—MR
My Taco
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Type: Mexican
6300 York Blvd., Suite 4, Los Angeles
(323) 256-2698, my-taco.com
Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
$4.75
If you're craving meat, try My Taco's all-meat burrito ($4.75 for a small). If you're craving starch, try the potato taco, which is a hard shell stuffed with mashed potatoes ($1.70). Most of their tacos, burritos, taquitos and quesadillas are also priced for less than $5.
—JL
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.
$4.99
FEATURED
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