The Best Cheap Eats in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a world-class city in most regards, but especially when it comes to amazing restaurants. It has everything one could ask for, from ethnic food to celebrity chefs, to cozy speakeasies and awesome food trucks—and many of them are as affordable as they are delicious. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? Welcome to our Tastemaker List. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. You’ll find everything from neighborhood gems to rustic Italian spots, buzzy taquerias to roadside burger stands—all vetted by the types of tastemakers who know the best spots around the city. Impress your friends and family and score a table; we wish we could join you.

The OpenTable Team

18 Restaurants

Updated 01 October 2021

Restaurants:	Westside Tavern, Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar - Hollywood, SHU - Sushi House Unico - Bel Air…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Californian, Pizzeria, Sushi…
Neighborhoods:	West Los Angeles, Hollywood, Bel-Air…

Westside Tavern

$$$$

Californian

West Los Angeles

4.5

1445 reviews

Westside Tavern is a fun, social restaurant that features seasonal chef-driven California tavern food in West Los Angeles. The menu has a variety of American pub food and a smattering of eclectic food styles and you can find affordable starters, flatbreads, and sandwiches here. The tomato-basil soup or the hummus and pita plate are good choices for a light meal. They also have a wide selection of handcrafted cocktails, local craft beers, and a boutique wine list.

Not available on OpenTable

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Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar - Hollywood

$$$$

Pizzeria

Hollywood

4.5

726 reviews

Stella Barra is an artisanal pizzeria inspired by the idea of keeping cooking simple and honest and using only top-quality ingredients. They use 100% fresh-milled California flour for the handcrafted dough and only sustainably farmed organic produce, meats, and cheese. Drop in for happy hour to take advantage of great deals on pizza and drinks. You can order homemade potato chips, the huge meatball, chicken wings, thin pizza, and focaccia pizza at dirt-cheap prices. They also have awesome specials on wines, well drinks, and beer.

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SHU - Sushi House Unico - Bel Air

$$$$

Sushi

Bel-Air

4.7

578 reviews

Tucked away in the canyons of Bel Air, SHU is a dining experience unlike any other. They offer a fusion of Japanese, Italian, and Latin flavors and influences, and feature traditional dishes as well as house offerings. The atmosphere is great for singles, couples, and families, and up to 10 people can sit at the bar. They serve a menu of exciting, affordable food with appetizers like edamame, shishito peppers, tempura, calamari, side salads, and sushi rolls—all for low prices.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Pizzeria Mozza

$$$$

Pizzeria

Hollywood

4.7

6169 reviews

Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood is a bustling, urban restaurant that’s open late seven nights a week. They're perfect for a quick lunch or a late night snack on your way home. The antipasti options are extra affordable—try some of the specialties like crispy goat cheese or cauliflower fritti. They also have great small bruschette plates with flavorful toppings. Come with a friend and split a pizza to keep costs down; they have awesome ingredients lined up, like fennel sausage, BLT pizzas, meatball pizzas, squash blossoms, and more.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Petty Cash Taqueria & Bar

$$$$

Mexican

Beverly / Fairfax / La Brea / Third St.

4.7

996 reviews

This is a semi-authentic taqueria that offers conceptualized street food classics with local, seasonal ingredients. Located in the Beverly/Fairfax neighborhood, the space has hand-painted murals by local street artist RETNA, picnic-style seating, and a laid-back, playful atmosphere. Come during happy hour to find awesome deals on cheap eats like roasted cauliflower nachos, quesadillas, oysters, and more. The everyday price of tacos is also super cheap—and you can get gourmet ingredients, like pork belly and Sonoma duck, for next to nothing!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Ca Del Sole

$$$$

Italian

Toluca Lake

4.7

3483 reviews

Ca Del Sole Ristorante in Toluca Lake opened in 1994 with a focus on Northern Italian cuisine. The vibe here is warm and friendly and you can dine indoors or al fresco on the newly renovated patio. They're a great place to catch up with friends or colleagues after work for happy hour. You can find extra cheap prices on drinks as well as selected snacks, like the bruschetta, polpettine di carne, rigatoni, french fries, and other rotating specials.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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AKASHA

$$$$

Contemporary American

Culver City

4.7

3545 reviews

AKASHA is a New American restaurant located in the historic Hull Building in downtown Culver City. They have a focus on sustainability and offer delicious comfort food with a creative vision. The restaurant has an Afternoon and Happy Hour Menu that boasts super affordable prices on some of the same dishes that are much more expensive during lunch and dinner hours. Try the Mumbai street snack, the masa-battered fish tacos, organic Yukon Gold fries, or the fried chicken sliders along with a happy hour drink without breaking the bank!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Perch LA

$$$$

French American

Downtown

4.5

10006 reviews

Perch is a French bistro on a rooftop that has two outdoor fireplaces, various fire pits, a lounge, and table seating both indoors and out. If you sit outside, you’ll feel like you’re floating in the downtown skyline and get great views of the city. The restaurant, which is up on the 15th floor, has ornate decorations, great music, and excellent service. Go for aperitif hour and enjoy fantastic deals on beverages and lowered prices on snacks like avocado toast, pork belly, and watermelon skewers, cheese plates, and more.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Takeout available

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Michael's - Santa Monica

$$$$

Californian

Santa Monica

4.3

1419 reviews

Michael’s is a pioneer in California cuisine and has an awesome menu of seasonal specials composed from the finest ingredients available in the area. Located in Santa Monica, they are in walking distance from the Third Street Promenade in Downtown LA. This restaurant has a gorgeous setting with an indoor/outdoor garden for dining, a classy bar, and private spaces for parties. They're not a super cheap restaurant but you can stick to salads and small plates to keep costs down. You can also visit during happy hour for cheap prices on tacos, pizza, and bar eats.

Not available on OpenTable

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Cecconi's

$$$$

Italian

West Hollywood

4.7

4141 reviews

Cecconi’s, located in West Hollywood, is a modern-day classic Italian joint that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. You can eat in the main dining room, the terrace, or the bar. The menu features handmade pasta, seafood, and traditional Italian dishes using fresh, local ingredients. Their mid-day menu is the best bet for cheap prices. You can order small plates like pizzettas, baked gnocchi, avocado and chickpea dip, meatballs, calamari, and more.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Musso & Frank Grill

$$$$

Steakhouse

Hollywood

4.8

8764 reviews

The Musso and Frank Grill will transport you right back to Old Hollywood. Steeped in tradition, the restaurant also serves amazing Italian food in a classic ambiance that looks the same as they did back in the 1940s. The appetizer menu has plenty of cheap specials on it, like the avocado cocktail, stuffed celery, baked escargot, and fruit cocktail. They also have affordable soups and salads that you can make a meal out of.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

The Tower Bar

$$$$

Californian

West Hollywood

4.8

1650 reviews

The Terrace at the famous Sunset Tower Hotel was recently renovated and now features an elegant new bar and restaurant with split views of the city. You can also dine outside in the open air for gorgeous views of the skyline. The menu showcases a smattering of delicious California bistro food and Italian fare. Try some of the starter plates to share with a group or sample the flatbread pizzas, which make a whole meal by themselves.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Catch LA

$$$$

Unspecified

West Hollywood

4.6

8947 reviews

Located on the corner of Melrose and San Vicente, Catch L.A. is the West Coast version of the original Catch in NYC. They're a seafood restaurant with influences from all over the globe and feature sushi, Asian influences, and lots of shareable plates. You can get individual pieces of jumbo shrimp for very cheap as well as eggplant, corn and chicken meatball skewers, individual pieces of sashimi, and rolls for reasonable prices.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Craft Los Angeles

$$$$

American

Century City

4.7

4040 reviews

Craft is the West Coast version of Tom Colicchio’s original New York version of the same name. The dishes here have his same signature flair but incorporate the finest local ingredients in a haute cuisine style. The vibe here is uber-cool and laid-back, making it a great place to check out for Happy Hour with friends or with a date. You can order shared plates like the Brussels leaves, potato chips, beet salad or veal ricotta meatballs for super cheap.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Bacari Adams

$$$$

Tapas / Small Plates

Downtown

4.6

531 reviews

Our perspective is coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy the restaurant’s description: Bacari W. Adams is a Venetian-inspired small plates restaurant featuring Mediterranean-influenced dishes by Chef Lior Hillel. We are the original restaurant of Kronfli Brothers, a family-owned, growing group of restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Offering a rotating curation of small-production wines and eclectic beers from around the world, we are also known for our one-of-a-kind 90-minute open bar special. Our team provides warm hospitality in our comfortable, intimate dining room marked plaster walls and vintage light fixtures. We welcome but do not require reservations — we love to accommodate walk-ins and large parties, even on busy nights. Bacari W. Adams is the go-to spot for our neighbors, and we look forward to hosting you soon!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Forma Restaurant

$$$$

Contemporary Italian

Santa Monica

4.7

765 reviews

Forma, short for Formaggio, is the place to go for simple Italian dining on the Westside. The space is sleek but inviting, and the casual dining style makes it an ideal choice for a happy hour stopover. They feature a cheese bar, an extensive cheese selection, and a modern Italian menu of instant classics. Stop in for Happy Hour and sample the burrata stracciata, fresh baby kale, roasted vegetables, filet mignon tartare, or one of the other super cheap bites (both cheesy and non-cheesy) on the menu.

Not available on OpenTable

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Harajuku Taproom

$$$$

Beer Garden

Culver City

4.6

205 reviews

Our perspective is coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy the restaurant’s description: The Harajuku Taproom is LA’s 1st Japanese Craft Beer Izakaya. We operate as a Taproom for Baird Brewing Company, one of Japan's leading craft brewers based in Shizuoka, Japan. As their 1st overseas outpost, we are the only location outside of Japan to offer such a wide selection of Baird Beer on tap, typically serving as many as 20 Baird Beers, including both traditional beer styles as well as unique beers brewed with a variety of local Japanese ingredients. Our Menu offers a mix of traditional and innovative izakaya dishes, including grilled skewers, house-made gyoza dumplings, creative sushi rolls, and a variety of daily specials, all designed to pair well with our selection of beers and sake. In addition to our selection of Japanese craft beer, we also have a well-curated selection of premium Japanese sakes, brewed by smaller, family-owned breweries.

Not available on OpenTable

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Shaquille's

$$$$

Southern

Downtown

4.1

720 reviews

Our perspective is coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy the restaurant’s description: Shaquille’s is an upscale casual restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine and service with personality. The menu focuses on farm fresh produce and features his signature fried chicken. Shaquille’s curated beverage program includes a wine vault, local draft beers, and hand-crafted cocktails with an emphasis on bourbons and whiskeys. Situated in the heart of LA Live, the space features an enclosed private patio surrounding the main entrance with a modern, upbeat vibe that transforms guests’ experiences from day to night. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

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