Los Angeles is another one of those cities where you have to spend a lot to get a little. But that doesn't mean you can't still eat for less. If you know where to go, you can find some amazing deals in the City of Angels. You'll need to if you're going to pay for gas anytime soon.
Eat at one of our top cheap eat spots and have a fun night out in LA by stopping by some of the nightspots with the best drink specials.
5. Diddy Riese Cookies
Diddy's lets you fill up on sweets for a little more than a dollar. College students flock to this spot to get their sweet tooth fix and they don't have to spend much to do so. You may often find a long line reaching out the front door but if you get there at the right time, you'll be pleased to find loads of snacks for just pocket change.
4. Sak's Teriyaki
This cash-only Japanese establishment offers full meals for pretty cheap prices. The interior is a bit small but cozy and you can easily order up a combo meal based on the picture menu on display. The meals are nearly as good as they look in the photographs too.
3. Versailles Restaurant
Enjoy delicious Cuban food at Versailles even if it is a bit of a chain. With a few locations around California, you may find one just about anywhere you go around town. And they know how to serve up a good dish. They even offer some imported soft drinks. But the bottom line is that you won't pay too much for Cuban cuisine.
2. Zankou Chicken
When you come upon Zankou, you know that it's not going to be an expensive meal but you should believe us when we tell you that it's still a pretty tasty meal. The rotisserie chicken has a pretty impressive flavor for something coming out of a little joint in a strip mall. The falafel is also worth mentioning. Fill up at Zankou and you might even be taking home some leftovers.
1. Pink's
For nearly 70 years, this hot dog joint has offered some tasty dogs to their customers. This spot is also something of a landmark, if you didn't already know. And even until 2:00 am, this stand will stay open serving the delicious hot dogs and homemade chili. And you'll never pay more than $5 to eat at Pink's.
Where to go for drink specials:
5. Lola's
Lola's is known for serving a great martini but the bar also offers a pretty amazing happy hour special ever since our economy started going down the toilet. The "Hard Times Happy Hour" invites patrons to $5 martinis and appetizers for only $5.50. It's a good deal you probably won't find elsewhere.
4. The Cat and Fiddle
Head to the bar Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm for happy hour and get special drink prices and hors d'ourves from this very sophisticated bar. The bar supplies a pretty wide array of beers and several cocktails that you might enjoy as well.
3. Cabo Cantina
When you visit Cabo, you'll notice that the prices on their drinks are generally pretty fair all the time. But with the addition of some great happy hour specials, they really get tempting. In fact, Cabo goes with a two-for-one deal during happy hour which really pleases the crowd that gathers at the bar.
2. Chaya Brasserie
During the day, Chaya serves some delicious but pricey seafood dishes to those who can afford them. But if you wait until happy hour, you are sure to find a great deal both on the drinks and on the food. You can choose from an array of small dishes for about $4 and enjoy specials on the martinis and other drinks as well.
1. Union Cattle Co
If you're not into riding the mechanical bull, that's fine. You can still order from the happy hour menu which includes quite a few cheap appetizers and drinks as low as $2.50. If you don't like beer you may have to spend about $3 to $6 on your cocktails though but it's still very reasonable.











Comments
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Posted on Nov 9th 2008
By Mike
5 bucks for a hot dog is not cheap. I love Pinks but for a cheap hot dog nothing beats Costco a Hot dog and coke for 1.50$ now thats cheap eating.
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Posted on Nov 7th 2008
By Penny Pincher
In the LA/Valley area, be sure to try LA Buffet in Northridge. Excellent Chinese food, Sushi, Mongolian BBQ, Seafood ALL YOU CAN EAT AT A GREAT PRICE!
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Posted on Nov 10th 2008
By Deal finder
Joseph's in Hollywood a name that used to be synonymous with celebrities and great parties is also a little known place for its excellent happy hour!
$2-3 bottle beer
$3-4 draft
$6 well drinks, and $8 at the most for top shelf liq and martinis! You won't find that kind of happy hour anywhere in LA.
And the Happy hour menu is $5-7 for quite a bit of Greek inspired food, and a little Spanish inspired stuff as well!
Plus, sit where you like, inside or patio, (and the patio is a smoking area, one of the few in LA where you can still, eat, drink and smoke all in the same place.)
Trust me, this is a great place to check out for their happy hour 3pm-7pm Mon-Fri!
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Posted on Nov 7th 2008
By Jane
DIDDY RIESE IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!
Us UCLA students WORSHIP Diddy Riese. You can pick any two cookies (from a variety of cookie types) and any kind of ice cream and they'll make you an ice cream sandwich for just $1.25! And you can get 3 cookies for $1. And there are brownies and hawaiian shaved ice and even hot dogs! Bomb!
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Posted on Nov 7th 2008
By Kristin
I Never heard of any of these places...Apparently, they must be in Hollywood. I don't know why you did not include places in the inner city. Nobody goes all the way to Hollywood for a cheap meal.
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Posted on Nov 8th 2008
By Donkeyplayssitar
The Cat and Fiddle has "very sophisticated bar"?
Compared to what? Shakey's Pizza Parlor?
I could get a better hamburger from a street vendor in downtown Whittier.
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Posted on Nov 14th 2008
By Suzanne
It's time to stop adding the frills and put a list together that includes real deals for the value....regardless if you have to get yer butt down to West Covina to the Hong Kong plaza Where you can chose from any asian restaurant, from Malaysian to Thai, to Korean, and even a great Mariscos Mexican restaurant...two people can easily eat for under 20 dollars, and eat like kings! I'm serious! This place is a real best-kept secret of the San Gabriel valley!
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