kOREAN BBQ

Dream Korean BBQ (K-Town) - $10.99 for AYCE for lunch. The salad bar with salad and other side dishes (noodles, etc) comes free for lunch, $3.99 additional for dinner. 1 bowl of rice is free, $1 per additional bowl

O Dae San (K-Town)- $9.99 lunch, $11.99 for dinner, on its lowest tier of meat selection. Limited options of: beef brisket, beef belly and pork belly

Sanya KBBQ (K-Town)- The basic tier is $11.99 (includes brisket, pork belly, short ribs and bulgogi amongst a few other things, but I’d say that covers all the essentials)

Bulgogi Hut (K-Town) - $9.99 bento boxes for weekday lunch. Their Happy Hour menu (cheapest tier) is $15.99 which runs 11 am - 6 pm Monday - Friday. Their Standard tier (a 29 item selection) for dinner is $17.99

Sun Ha Jang (K-Town)- Okay, this isn’t the cheapest (I’d say about $30-$35/person), but has to be mentioned because first you dine on duck prepared three ways, then at the end of your meal you enjoy a paella-style fried rice cooked with all the duck fat.

Hae Jang Chon (K-Town) - $21.99 for lunch, $23.99 for dinner; on the pricier side, but the quality of meat is good and they prepare kimchee fried rice at the end of your meal, which is easily worth the extra $.

Golden Pouch (K-Town) - Korean bbq dim sum. Informal restaurant setting, order and get in to-go boxes, boxes all under $10.

Pacific Rim Cafe (Hermosa Beach) - Carry-out Korean BBQ plates

Guh-Mok K BBQ (Torrance) - They have combo meals (serving 2 - 3 people), the cheapest tier is $44.99. Decent when split 3 ways. (*April 2018 update: Reported online that this restaurant has closed)

Ko Ryo Jung (Torrance) - $17.99 and $24.99 AYCE tiers. The $24.99 comes with Wagyu!! You can also go crazy at the salad bar, but save room for the meat.

Gen (multiple locations) - $25 AYCE with an extensive menu. 9 pm & on late night happy hour specials.

BCD Tofu House (multiple locations) - Soon Tofu dishes are $1095 & super filling after all the free banchan

JAPANESE

Rice Things (Redondo Beach) - Sushi combos $10 average, 3-item combos with drink $8.95 (comes with rice & salad)

En Sushi (Sawtelle) - Cheap sushi, good menu, 3 - 7 pm daily, Thurs & Sun 9:30 - 10:30 pm

Sushi Stop (Sawtelle - 2 locations) - Cheap plates of sushi, good selection

Hara Sushi (West LA) - Cheap and fast sushi

Niko Niko Sushi (West LA) - Nice interior, fresh sushi at good prices, combo lunch and dinner (affordable)

Kimuya (West LA) - Happy Hour 4 - 11 pm daily, cheap and fast Japanese combo dinner

U-Zen (Sawtelle/West LA) - 8 pm - close daily happy hour, best albacore, cheap sake

Sushi Avenue (El Segundo) - Cheap sushi rolls, bentos and combo meals

Maki Yaki (El Segundo) - Close to LAX, most sushi rolls $10 or under, $12 bentos

Nikuman-ya (Gardena) - Cheap dumplings

Hikari Japanese (Lomita) - Teppanyaki

Sushi N Go (Torrance) - $4.50/roll, wide range of selection. *Inside the S Mart in Torrance, this is unbelievable cheap sushi option but can bring you from heaven to hell in a matter of moments if you over-order & eat too many rolls.

Shin Sen Gumi (Torrance) - Mon and Tues 6 - 8 pm, yakitori skewers $1.50/each for Happy Hour

Murakami Sushi (Hollywood) - Chiraishi, sashimi or create your own combo sushi bowls, decent portions, all around $17

Furaibo (Sawtelle & Torrance) - Cheap lunch ranging from $7.45 - $11.50 on average (chicken is their specialty, served with rice, soup and salad)

Momo Paradise (Torrance) - Shabu Shabu $17.95 or $19.95/person (1 or 2 soup base options) for 2 plates of meat with unlimited vegetables, rice, curry, noodles, ice cream & drink.

Murakami Sushi (Hollywood) - $15 Chirashi bowls (fish is fresh)

GREEK/Mediterranean

Cava Mezze (Multiple Locations - Venice, Culver City, Santa Monica) - Build your own - the Chipotle of Mediterranean. You can add additional half orders of protein and if you’re ordering online, they also tell you your calorie count for the meal. Bomb!

Sabra Beirut Mix (El Segundo & Hermosa Beach) - Beef or Chicken Kebab Plate (Lunch) - $11.99

Petit Cafe (El Segundo) - Decently-priced mediterranean plates $9-$13, extensive menu, big portions, good for take-out

Poulet du Jour (Hermosa Beach) - Cheap Mediterranean plates (combos or salads + chicken)

Al Hamra Halal (Redondo Beach) - Decently-priced wraps, plates, combos (shawarma/gyro combo $12)

King Mediterrano (Torrance) - Gyro Salad, huge portions - $9.99

Chicken Maison (Torrance) - Kabob combos usually about $12, gyro plate is $10.95. Chicken is hormone free and lamb is from New Zealand, grass-fed.

Luna Grill (multiple locations in OC, Culver City) - A great selection of plates $11.50 - $15 range, salads can be customized with different meat options

Papa Cristo’s (borderline K-Town) - Gyro Plate!! Papa Cristo’s isn’t that cheap, but they have some of the BEST Greek Food. I come here before I go to a game at Staples if I can. *In Summer 2017 they ran a Yelp Deal - $25 for a meal for 2!

Oasis Grill (Hollywood) - Lavash wrap melts $11.99 and under, signature plates $15.99 & under, great reveiws on Yelp (over 1,000 reviews, 4 stars)

Almaza (Venice) - Entrees on average $10 - $15, with 2 sides of choice

Hungry Pocket Falafel House (Santa Monica) - Greek gyro salad $10, click to visit their menu (from Yelp link) directly to their site which will navigate you to Grub Hub and a $7 off first-order offer will pop up.
The Hummus Republic (multiple locations) - $10 salads or plates

Mykonos Greek Grill (Culver City) - Most salads and plates around $10

Aristo Cafe (El Segundo) - $9 -$10 pita wraps

Fresh Pita (Culver City) - $10 - $14 plates with 2 sides + catering options

Sharky’s Woodfired Grill (multiple locations) - You can usually get a plate of tacos, burritos, salad w/ protein, rice bowl, etc for about $12. Their meat and poultry is without antibiotics-free and all-natural, fish is wild-caught, produce is non-GMO and most everything else is organic.

Yummy Spot (Torrance) - Mexican/Italian hybrid restaurant with a wide range of salads, pastas, tacos, fries, sandwiches and tacos. All plates $10 and under.

Poquito Mas (multiple locations) - Farmer’s Market, shrimp scampi or ahi tuna burritos and other fresh Mexican options, $10 and under.

El Tarasco (multiple locations) - Plates (including carnitas) do not exceed $12. Prices are pretty cheap and most locations are small enough where there isn’t much of a sit-down area, so you don’t pay for wait service either. More of a grab and go option.

Gish Bac Mexican (Hollywood) - Most dinner plates in $10-$12 range

MEXICAN

House of Thai Taste (West LA) - Dinner combos Super Combo B $14.55 includes coco soup, chicken satay, steamed rice, salad and choice of main dish & pad Thai

The Taste Kitchen (West LA) - All day specials ranging from $20.95 - $12.95 that come with your choice of special & salad, shrimp fried rice & egg roll

BKK101 (West LA) - $9.99 lunch specials, $7.99 bowls. Dinner menu main dishes are all in the $10, $12 & $15

Thai Garden (Marina del Rey) - Outdoor, informal setting. Plates are under $10.

THAI

(this is a big ass list since I’m a burger addict)

Oh My Burger (Gardena) - Build Your Own Burgers (lettuce bowl options) or choose from menu. Chop salad is $10.

Rod's Charbroiler (Redondo Beach) - Bacon Avocado Cheese Burger $4.89

Classic Burger No 3 (Redondo Beach) - Bacon or Avocado Burger $3.99

C & M Cafe (Culver City) - Breakfast burger, grass fed beef, avocado, bacon, cheese $8.95, salads

Hole In The Wall Burger (Santa Monica) - Can do burgers on a salad for $3 more, $10 Burgers, weekly specials (like the Elk Burger), cash and debit only

Fat Sal’s Deli (Westwood & Hollywood) - Various signature burger options, ¼ lb - $8.99 (West Coast burger has swiss cheese, bacon, fried egg, chili, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle)

Howard’s Famous Bacon Avocado Burger (Culver City) - $3.85 for ¼ lb burger, $3.95 for ¼ lb cheeseburger. There are also ½ lb options and add-ons including bacon, avocado, chili, egg, all coming in around $1/add-on.

Bill’s Burgers (Van Nuys) - $4 Hamburgers w/ options for cheeseburgers, hot dogs, bacon and egg sandwiches, all at the $4 - $5 mark.

Irv’s Burgers (West Hollywood) - $3.80 for a burger. Other menu items include hot sandwiches, breakfast platters, all under $10.

Hiho Burger (Santa Monica) OPENED 7.26.27 - 100% grass fed wagyu beef from NZ. Double-cheeseburger and fries $9.75 or any burger ala carte $6.95, organic side salad $5

Burgerim (multiple locations) - Mini-burger sliders, comes in options of 1, 2, 3 ($10.95 for the 3) or party box options - the party boxes seem like a cool office catering option. You can also order salads ($8.95 for most, w/ option to add protein, $3.95 for sliced grilled ribeye as the most expensive add-on)

Slater’s 50-50 (multiple locations in LA & OC) - Decently priced dine-in option, they have both a burger menu and a “build your own” option. The 50-50 in the restaurant name comes from the patty being 50% ground beef, 50% bacon.

Then obviously In-N-Out and Shake Shack. Five Guys will let you add unlimited toppings or eat your burger in a bowl, sans the bun (unlimited free peanuts as well).

Bunz (Huntington Beach) - Cheap bomb-ass burgers and side salads, friendliest service ever. Order through window, outdoor seating.

TK Burgers (multiple locations) - Hamburgers starting at $4.99, tossed salad is $4.99. Add avocado/bacon for $1.19. Cheap breakfast sandwiches too.

Burger Boss (multiple locations) - Grass-fed customizable burgers starting at $6.49. Also options to make a burger bowl.

The American Dream (Huntington Beach) - More of a splurge, but these burgers look deluxe and gourmet. In the $12-$20 range but the BBQ Stout Bacon Burger or the Truffle Burger w/ wagyu beef may be worth the splurge.

GD Bro Burger (multiple locations) - Hamburgers starting at $8.95. You can definitely customize your burger here or order as is, either way, the burgers are stacked & super IG-worthy. They have a red bun option too. And pizza fries for $5.99.

Pie Dog (Fullerton) - Hop Dog is $2.50. $8 Sausages. Steak Burgers (sirloin and rib-eye blend) $7.50 and up. Plus options to add sides. Side salad is $4.

BURGERS (LA)

BURGERS (OC)

Pasta Sisters (Culver City & Mid City) - Pasta is average pricing; the secondi entrees like Roasted Organic salmon don't exceed $14.95 (& come with 2 sides).

Deluca Trattoria (El Segundo) - Average pasta dish is $20, but 15% off your order Yelp check-in offer

Pedone's Pizza (Hermosa Beach) - None of the pasta dishes exceed $14

The Good Pizza (multiple locations) - Good prices - steak salad is $11.95, entrees are at $15.95

Hank's (Playa del Rey) - Cheap menu items, good pizza and caesar salad (add chicken for a full meal)

Victor J's (Culver City) - Cheap salad and side menu options, pizzas are more expensive but can be split

The Coop Pizza (Culver City) - $8 entrees like chicken parmigiana, cacciatore or baked ziti (includes salad & garlic bread)

Il Romanista (El Segundo) - $8.25 for a whole pie of pizza (12-15 different varieties), $7.25 for salads

For Pizza, any of the make-your-own places including: Blaze Pizza (unlimited toppings), Pieology, 800 Degrees, Pizza Rev (gluten-free and cauliflower crust options)

ITALIAN

Grilliant (Culver City) - cheap kabobs and salads

Panini Cafe (multiple locations) - $12.95 Chicken Kabob Plate (sub-in all salad instead of rice)

Halal Guys (multiple locations) - Under $10 for gyro or chicken plates or pita wraps

Rosemary Grill (West LA) - $12.99 Gyro Plate

Zayna Flaming Grill (Redondo Beach) - $11 chicken bowl or $12 shrimp salad. They also have a Groupon cash back deal

PERSIAN/MIDDLE EASTERN

Samosa House (multiple locations) - Weekend (F-S) specials: $11.99 Thalis (combos) & most dishes $10 & under. (Also have seen deals on Groupon).

Annapurna (Culver City) - Vegetarian, most dishes (including specials) under $10

Jaipur (West LA) - Chicken tikka masala & most chicken dishes $10-$11 range

India Jones (food truck scheduled frequently Santa Monica, Beach Cities, Pasadena) - Mango pork ribs $7.50, 2 curry combo $8.50

India Sweets & Spices (Los Feliz) - lunch & dinner combos don't exceed $7.99. Vegan & vegetarian curry

indian

No Tipping Required!

Chipotle - Mexican, Create Your Own
Freebirds - Mexican, Create Your Own
Cava - the Mediterranean Chipotle, Create Your Own
In-N-Out - drive thru or dine-in
Shake Shack - burgers, hot dogs
Yellow Fever - Asian Fusion bowls
Ono Hawaiian BBQ - Hawaiian Plate Lunch
Poke Bowl Places - Create Your Own and set menu options
Blaze Pizza - Pizza, Create Your Own, free toppings
Bibigo - Korean bi bim bap
Wahoo’s - Mexican meets seafood
Komodo - Asian Fusion
Mendocino Farms - Sandwiches/wraps, Create Your Own
Panera Bread - soup, sandwich, salad combos
Veggie Grill - Now they changed it to buy 1 meal, get 1 meal free on your birthday if you are a birthday club member. Veggie Grill also does rainy day discount bowls for $6.95. On the occasion that it rains in LA, you can eat at Veggie Grill for half the price (they email about this)
Stone Oven - cheap sandwiches, salads & cheap add-ons
Dog Haus - hot dogs, sausages, burgers, Build Your Own
Yuko Kitchen - lunch combo meals w/ meat, sushi, soup & dessert for $10.95
Pita Cafe - cheap Mediterranean food, wraps are $8.99
Yalla Mediterranean - the Subway or Chipotle of Greek food
Porto's Bakery & Cafe - sandwiches in $6-$8 range