Feast at These 21 LA Restaurants for $21 or Less This Summer (2024)

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Dining out in Los Angeles has become increasingly expensive as inflation soars and restaurant operating costs continue to rise with it. When a cheeseburger and fries can go for $25 and an Old Fashioned co*cktail rings in at $38, the pleasures of going out to eat can seem out of reach. Fortunately, LA’s dining scene is home to an unrivaled diversity of cuisines, vibes, and price points.

Eater LA scoured the city to find 21 noteworthy, under-the-radar spots where it’s easy to fill up for less than $21 per person. The places on this list spotlight the mom-and-pops that nourish their communities with thoughtful cooking, bold flavors, and ample portions — all without breaking the bank. For even more affordable restaurants in Los Angeles, head to this map; for under-the-radar openings in Los Angeles, visit this monthly column.

Alejandra’s Quesadilla Cart de Oaxaca, Echo Park

If hand-made tortillas folded into stunning deep blue quesadillas by a longtime street vendor isn’t reason enough to visit Alejandra’s Quesadilla Cart de Oaxaca, the prices are. (The scents that emanate from the cart will likely make you hungrier.) Owner Alejandra specializes in Oaxacan fillings for these oval-shaped beauties, which include regional cheese with squash blossoms or the dreamy, earthy huitlacoche, also known as the “Mexican truffle.” Her cart is stationed near or on the corner of Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, and she’ll gently offer guidance on ordering something truly satisfying. Prices start at $3 and the $7 large quesadilla can easily feed two. 1246 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Mona Holmes, reporter

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Ban Ban Burger, Sawtelle Japantown

Ban Ban Burger is a sister restaurant to Chao Krung and Tuk Tuk Thai from sisters Amanda Kuntee and Katy Noochlaor. The new burger spot is located just two doors down from Tuk Tuk Thai on Sawtelle and injects a bit of casual-cool to the restaurant group. The idea for Ban Ban Burger is simple: blend Thai flavors like basil-tinted grapow, lime-flavored laab, and red curry into classic American comforts like cheeseburgers and fried chicken sandwiches. The results are quite spicy and truly maximalist. The grapow smash comes loaded with a crispy fried egg, holy basil, garlic, and smashed beef patty, and every bite offers the piquant bite of Thai chile. The burn increases slowly, held back by a feeble toasted potato roll that can barely hold all the fillings together. The experience ends up having the same adrenaline thrill of a Thai street food dish, but told through the lens of second-generation Thai Americans. Sawtelle Japantown is already spoiled with amazing casual food, and adding this feather in its cap just feels unfair. 1644 Sawtelle Boulevard #3149, Los Angeles, CA, 90025. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

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Bibi Sara, Woodland Hills

It’s easy to miss Bibi Sara while whizzing down Topanga Boulevard through Woodland Hills. The restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall with the shades often drawn, leaving the interior to the imagination of passersby. But step inside the unassuming restaurant to be greeted by a menu of homestyle Persian dishes like shish kebab, lentil soup, and dolmas. The owners are often working at the restaurant, and sitting down for a meal is like being invited into their living room. Plates of cherry rice land on tables to be scarfed down between bites of falafel and baba ghanoush. The entire menu is priced at under $20, making it very reasonable to add in an order of baklava for dessert. 4878 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 — Rebecca Roland, associate editor

B&T’s Deli, Santa Monica

Los Angeles is booming with focaccia and schiacciata sandwich shops competing to see who can stack the most towering mortadella or prosciutto pile on bread. B&T’s Deli, a vegan submarine sandwich shop that opened in February 2024, exists to upend that mission. Instead of topping its sandwiches with “vegan meats” whose plant-based ingredients have been processed or pulverized to look similar to their meat counterparts, it uses marinated and fresh vegetables. B&T’s Goddaughter, for example, layers 24-hour marinated eggplant slices with a pepperoncini-spiked grinder salad; the Meadow Soprano pairs marinated artichoke hearts with fresh basil, balsamic vinaigrette, and roasted tomatoes. Most sandwiches are in the $16 to $17 range, but offer heft for their price: these can easily be split between two people, or mixed-and-matched to share during an afternoon at the nearby Palisades Park. If you decide to eat at the deli itself, prepare to be charmed by its 1920s-style black-and-white checkered floor, spearmint green counter and tables, and friendly service. 912 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager

Cafe Cuba & Cakes, Hawthorne

While certain sections of Hawthorne have been impacted by the success of SpaceX, Tesla’s Design Center, and other aerospace-adjacent companies, other parts along Hawthorne Boulevard have remained relatively unchanged. The concrete castle that was once the Hawthorne Plaza Shopping Center sits hopelessly abandoned, crumbling like a remnant from Fallout. But across the street, a tiny Cuban cafe buzzes with those eager for tres leches, pastelito de guava con queso (guava cheese pastries), and jamon croquetas. Cafe Cuba & Cakes offers a small but delicious slice of Cuban specialties, and their sandwiches are worth making Hawthorne a destination. The $12 Cubano, stuffed with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, and mustard, would trounce the ones from Porto’s, while the pan con lechon filled with shredded roast pork offers a profound porcine flavor tinted with tangy, garlicky mojo. The sandwiches taste best with a side of potato balls. Be sure to order ahead, as this place can’t pump sandwiches out like a Jersey Mike’s. 12215 Hawthorne Boulevard, Hawthorne, CA 90250. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

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California Grill, Virgil Village

In some ways, California Grill feels like the heart of the rapidly changing Virgil Village. Bordering Silver Lake, the neighborhood has seen an influx of luxury developments and upscale restaurants open, coupled with rising housing costs and the displacement of longtime residents. But at California Grill, the community spirit lives on. Locals settle into tables covered in plastic floral prints for platters of pupusas and chicharron served with curtido and spicy salsa on the side. Just outside, people line up for bagels in the morning and settle in for a glass of wine on a bungalow patio once the sun goes down. Time seems to stand still inside California Grill, which opens daily at 8 a.m. The first guests come in for breakfast and coffee before work, while the rest filter in throughout the day. Pupusas only cost $2.50, so a modest feast is accessible even on a tight budget. The staff makes this place special, working day in and out, preparing pupusas to order, and greeting everyone as if they were family. 800 Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor

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CJ’s Cafe Mid-City

As far as classic diners go, few can beat CJ’s Cafe, a solid neighborhood joint that has been feeding Los Angeles for many years. Part of the fun is watching the mix of locals who have dined at either the Mid-City or Baldwin Hills locations for decades. This is the place for a taste of the best of LA food culture, with burgers, sandwiches, and soul food classics like fried red snapper or oxtails with sides of black-eyed peas, candied yams, or collard greens. CJ’s Mexican tortas, chile verde burritos, or saucy chilaquiles during morning hours always hit the spot. The most expensive meal is only $16. 3655 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90016. — Mona Holmes, reporter

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Doug’s Jerk Center, Altadena

The abandoned HC’s Service Station on the corner of Lake Avenue and Morada Place in Altadena lights up on Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 7 p.m. Follow the scent of smoke and the sound of reggae beats to Doug’s Jerk Center, a mobile Jamaican operation run by an affable wife-and-husband team. Priced at $10, the prized jerk chicken — an entire quarter of luscious dark meat hacked into sizable bites — arrives deeply imbued with mesquite and spice. Served alongside it is festival bread: crisp, golden, and slightly sweet from a bit of sugar added to its cornmeal composition. A whole roasted red snapper, which takes on the scent of smoke just as well as the chicken, comes tightly wrapped in aluminum with collard greens spiked with chiles. The entire parcel feeds two to three and costs around $20, depending on the fish’s size. The communal table on site makes it easy for folks to settle into unapologetically bold island flavors with a side of mountain views. 2020 Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

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Dumpling Mix, Redondo Beach

Dumpling Mix in Redondo Beach offers a sleekly designed dining room despite its humble strip mall setting. High ceilings are accented with what can only be described as reverse trellises that come down into arches into the main dining room. Natural birch wood comprises most of the other flourishes and furniture, which look like they’ve been chosen out of a Scandinavian catalog. The tasteful faux greenery and minty banquettes give off a chic Taiwanese cafe vibe. As advertised, the restaurant specializes in handmade dumplings, either steamed, boiled, or pan-fried, and filled with combinations of celery and pork, beef and onion, and surf and turf, like shrimp and pork. There are plenty of other types of dumplings, and the modest sub-$15 price for most of them encourages adventure. Servers will also insist diners start with the sesame noodles, which are the most affordable at $13.99. These thick strands have the pleasant chewiness of handmade pasta, except they’re dressed with a loose sesame sauce, grated garlic, julienned cucumbers, diced scallions, and chopped cilantro. Spoon over some chile oil for richness and spice, and experience one of the most delicious noodle bowls in the South Bay. Often, the decor isn’t a priority in utilitarian strip mall dining rooms, but sometimes a beautiful ambience lends to an even more memorable experience. 705 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA, 90277. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

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Jagalchi, Gardena

There are pockets of Gardena chock-full of Korean restaurants and cafes seemingly plucked out of Koreatown. The three strip malls across from one another on Western Avenue offer various kinds of Korean food experiences, from a blend of old-school mom-and-pops to sleek dessert cafes. In the middle of it all is pork soup specialist Jagalchi that opened without much fanfare in late 2023. The entire layout and look are meant for Korean-speaking diners to find comfort and familiarity. Named after a famous seafood market in Busan, the restaurant offers serious takes on the cuisine of the cosmopolitan city southeast of South Korea. The main attraction, daeji gukbap, pulls heavily from the recipe employed at Jinsol Gukbap in Koreatown, which isn’t a bad thing for South Bay denizens tired of driving to LA. A cloudy, rich broth resembles tonkotsu ramen, but is less heavy than its Japanese counterpart. And instead of alkaline noodles, the soup offers stark white slices of tender pork belly capped with wilted Korean chives. Well-fermented banchan accent every bite, including still-crunchy pickled radishes, leafy baby cabbage kimchi, and a mangled bunch of summer radish root kimchi. Season the broth with salt and pepper, and slurp away. 15410 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, CA, 90249. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

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La Azteca Tortilleria, East Los Angeles

Passersby cannot miss East LA’s longtime favorite La Azteca Tortilleria. (But just in case: Look for the red and yellow facade and the queue of customers.) The line is always present because this restaurant has an easy menu with excellent flour tortillas made on-site. It is always a good idea to take home a dozen, but not before getting breakfast or lunch. Egg burritos come stuffed with asada, chorizo, nopales, and the standard breakfast trifecta of bacon, diced potatoes, and refried beans. For lunch, always go for the cheese-stuffed and deep-fried chile relleno with grilled tomato, onion, cilantro, and refried beans. The signature burrito will make one tremendously full and cost just $11. 4538 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90022. — Mona Holmes

Happy Together, El Monte

San Gabriel Valley residents take dim sum seriously. News of newcomers serving expertly pleated dumplings or extra-fresh seafood spreads like wildfire, while places that rest on their laurels suffer from noticeably emptier dining rooms. It’s a highly competitive market where diners vote with their dollars on whose dim sum reigns supreme. The latest and greatest place to yum cha is Happy Together on the ground floor of the Holiday Inn in El Monte. The boisterous dining room attracts a crowd on weekdays and weekends, serving the genre’s greatest hits, including standards like shrimp har gow, pork siu mai, and steamed beef tripe, along with rarer finds like rice rolls braided with cilantro and beef or corn and barbecued pork. Most everything is portioned for sharing, making it possible for a large group to sample a bounty of dishes. 9920 Valley Boulevard, 1st floor, El Monte, CA 91731. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

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The Reyn, Pasadena

Los Angeles’s age-old diners form the backbone of the city’s many communities. On a busy stretch of North Lake Avenue in Pasadena, the Reyn has been holding it down for decades. The interior is chock-full of quippy affirmations that could be considered cheugy in some contexts but feel downright charming in this one. Snag a plush pleather booth by the window and order whatever sounds good, whether it’s a classic breakfast platter, a carefully layered club sandwich, or a tuna melt on toasty sourdough. Nearly everything is priced under $15, save for the $18 T-bone steak served with two eggs and sides. Best of all, onion rings can be substituted for fries without an additional cost. The quirkiest and most delicious part of the Reyn experience is its housemade banana bread, sliced thick and crowned with whipped salted butter. It accompanies most dishes or can be added on as a side. Better yet, grab a whole loaf for just $8 on the way out. 635 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

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The Sammich Shoppe, Inglewood

Los Angeles native Willie Jenkins opened the Sammiche Shoppe in 2018 with one goal: to offer non-fried options to the Black community. The restaurant is named after the way Jenkins’s beloved grandmother pronounced the word “sandwich.” Nothing on the menu is deep-fried and the offerings go beyond just sandwiches, with a wonderful tomato bisque and turkey or vegan chili. Cold sandwich options are solid with a turkey pastrami on sourdough. The chicken hot link sandwich is placed on a toasted bun with pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheddar, then smeared with mayo and mustard. Go for the $12 Lucy Mae sandwich with air-fried chicken on a ciabatta roll with pickles, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Swiss or cheddar cheese is optional, but the spicy mayo is essential. 222 E. Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301. — Mona Holmes, reporter

Sesame Dinette, Long Beach

Don’t let Sesame Dinette’s minimalist, blond wood interior fool you — each bowl of steaming soup coming from the kitchen packs complex, layered flavors. Run by mother-and-daughter duo Judy Mai Nguyen and Linda Sivrican, who also partnered on the since-closed superette Sesame LA in Chinatown, the dinette offers big bowls of long-simmering soups like pho (chicken and filet mignon run for $16 and $17 respectively), wonton noodle soup ($18), and a vegetarian “duck” noodle soup with braised tofu skin ($16); crisp, herb-packed salads (a large, refreshing cabbage salad runs for $13, while a green papaya and jerky salad rings in at $15); and picnic-perfect sandwiches like dặc biệt banh mi ($13) and its pho French dip ($17), the latter of which is served with a side of heavily fragrant pho broth. Whether you take it to go or eat inside propped on one of its playfully rounded table benches, a meal at Sesame Dinette will leave you filled without depleting your wallet. 1750 Pacific Avenue, Unit B, Long Beach, CA 90813. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager

Sun Kim Kitchen, Long Beach

It can be easy to miss Sun Kim Kitchen. Located in a not-very-tall standalone building, the restaurant is set a ways back from busy Cherry Avenue and often blocked by parked cars. Inside this aging white storefront, owners Vibean Ros and Dara Kim prepare a selection of satisfying Chinese and Cambodian dishes. The Chinese dishes are a carryover from the restaurant’s previous tenants, as is the exterior signage that reads “Chinese restaurant,” but the Khmer specialties are the couple’s own. The beef sticks — grilled to order and priced at $15 for five hefty spears that come with a carrot and papaya slaw — pack walloping flavors, including that of lemongrass, tamarind, and coconut milk. The Cambodian-style beef noodle soup ($13 for a small bowl or $15 for a large one) rivals its similarly spiced Taiwanese and Vietnamese counterparts. Each serving comes with a tangle of egg noodles and enough tripe to make every bite a textured treat. 5449 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

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SYTK Seolleongtang, Koreatown

SYTK Seolleongtang is a low-key soup spot that serves one of the richest bowls of seollongtang in town. For only $13.47, order the classic ox bone soup that comes with rice, kimchi, dotorimuk-muchim (seasoned acorn jelly), and other banchan. The seolleongtang comes out of the kitchen steaming hot with thin chewy noodles already in the bowl. Reach for the covered container of green onions on the table and add a healthy handful before generously seasoning with salt and pepper — the soup comes unsalted, so this is a necessary step. Leaning over the bowl may be the cheapest, and most delicious, steam facial in town. Wait for the soup to cool a touch before taking a spoonful of rice and drenching it in broth. The milky-colored soup is a punch of umami, and feels like it could cure most ailments with just a few bites. 2717 W. Olympic Boulevard #108, Los Angeles, CA 90006. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor

Tacos del Valle al Carbone, Culver City

Tacos del Valle, a truck that has been servicing the Westside for nearly two decades, serves rich Oaxacan fare to comic book aficionados, locals, and drivers passing by the punchy Dreamworld Comics store in Culver City, where its charcoal grill outpost is stationed. Here, you can find tlayudas ($18 for a tlayuda mixta that can easily feed two), served folded on a plate with tasajo, chorizo, and cecina; memelas ($6 or $7 depending on protein), which are painted with refried beans and roped with quesillo; tacos ($3); quesadillas, burritos, and tortas ($11 each); and mulitas ($4.50). This is some of the best Oaxacan street food on the Westside, served atop woven baskets that add a dose of charm to its outdoor picnic table set-up. On weekends, grab some new comic books and a tlayuda mixta or plato Oaxaqueño to take with you to the park or beach on the go. 12402 Washington Place, Los Angeles, CA 90066. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager

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Tacos Villa Corona, Atwater Village

Look for the sun-bleached red awning along Glendale Boulevard to find Taco’s Villa Corona, an Atwater Village mainstay for burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. Walk up to the window to place an order and peer into the tiny bustling kitchen where cooks prepare orders for the hungry line. Tacos Villa Corona opens at 6 a.m. for the early-morning crowd to fill up on breakfast burritos that start at only $3.99 for the version with potato, egg, cheese, cilantro, onion, and salsa. The addition of beans, steak, or chorizo adds another $2 to the total. Lunch burritos filled with beans, nopales, and more, come in at $5.99, while tacos are $2 a piece. The chilaquiles burrito stuffed with eggs, beans, chips, and cheese is one of the most popular orders here, the addition of steak or chorizo somehow just makes it even better. 3185 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor

Venice Beach Boardwalk: El Huarique and Wangs N Thangs

Venice is a peak weekend destination during summer given its impeccable vibes and idiosyncratic mix of high-low restaurants and dives. For a quick lunch on the Boardwalk, try El Huarique, a longtime Peruvian stand in an alley food court off of Ocean Front Walk. Chef Ernesto Guitierrez slings some of the finest rotisserie chicken in Los Angeles, punched up with a bright aji verde sauce that pairs well with the restaurant’s garlic rice or french fry sides (a quarter chicken meal with two sides runs for $16.75). Just down the way, newcomer Wangs N Thangs, which opened in January 2024, is serving up classic boardwalk fare (think wings spun in a sticky sweet-heat sauce, spiralized potatoes on a stick, cheeseburgers, and tacos) for $15 or less. The stand has become popular for its occasional specials, too, including garlicky seafood boils and its “chicken n waffle thang” — a plump chicken hot dog encased in golden waffle batter. The window is located in a boardwalk food hall near Market Street, home to a slice shop and a new location of Oklahoma-style smash burger specialist Burger She Wrote, among others, which makes for a compelling affordable food crawl should one stop not be enough. Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager