How to Eat in Los Angeles on the Cheap

Eating out can be expensive in Los Angeles, depending on where you go. While it can be lots of fun to window-shop along Rodeo Drive or visit famous Hollywood attractions, you will almost certainly want to eat elsewhere if you are trying to stick to a food budget.

Things You'll Need

• Maps
• Local Newspapers
• Travel Services

Instructions

1. Get a good budget guidebook before your trip. Most travel guides contain lots of restaurant listings, organized by neighborhood, price range and type of cuisine.

2. Buy a local newspaper as soon as you arrive. Check out the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News or other local papers and magazines for restaurant listings and reviews.

3. Ask the management of your hotel or hostel for a list of good, affordable restaurants near where you are staying. Many hotels even keep a collection of menus from neighborhood restaurants on hand for their guests to peruse.

4. Surf the Web before you go, or visit a local Internet café once you arrive, to find restaurant indices and reviews. Some of these sites may allow you to search in specific price ranges.

5. Consider one of L.A.'s many ethnic options. These include noodle houses, Latin-American cafés and restaurants, and much more. French and Italian cuisine can be expensive, so you will probably find better deals on Latin/Caribbean, Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai food. Read the posted menus outside restaurants, just to be sure.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the locals where they eat. Or, just look for restaurants and cafés that seem to be really busy. You may have to wait a while for a table, but the food will probably be worth the wait.

• Check out the area around UCLA or one of L.A.'s other colleges and universities, or just ask a group of students where the best food deals can be found. Restaurants and cafés in university districts usually offer good food at student-budget prices.

• Avoid eating in heavily touristed areas like Hollywood Boulevard or Venice Beach, and steer clear of Beverly Hills if you're looking for a budget meal.