Cheap Food Near Me Under $10? Los Angeles on a Dime: An Epic Food Challenge

Los Angeles, a city celebrated for its culinary diversity, often comes with a reputation for expensive dining. But what if you could explore the vibrant food scene of LA without emptying your wallet? Intrigued by the prospect, I decided to take on a challenge: to eat for an entire day in Los Angeles on a mere $10 budget. Initially, the idea of averaging just $3.33 per meal felt restrictive, especially in a city known for its gourmet offerings. While my New York colleagues might boast about their dollar pizza slices, and we Angelenos have our beloved dollar tacos, I wondered if true culinary satisfaction could be achieved within such tight constraints. We’ve previously explored affordable eats with our $20-a-day neighborhood guides, but this $10 challenge was a different beast altogether. Nevertheless, I embraced the mission. And to my surprise, by day’s end, I not only survived but discovered some truly fantastic and incredibly cheap food options Los Angeles has to offer.

Start Your Day Sweet: Maple Long John Donut at Big Mama’s (Under $1)

For breakfast, I made a beeline to my secret Eastside donut haven, Big Mama’s Donuts, for a maple long john. This place is a local treasure, dishing out some of the most delicious and affordable donuts in town. Forget the fancy, over-hyped donut shops; Big Mama’s focuses on lottery tickets and classic, no-frills donuts that deliver on taste.

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Price: $0.90 | Remaining Cash: $9.10
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Address: 5409 N Figueroa Street
Hunger Level After (1 being full, 10 being starving): 7

While Big Mama’s might prioritize lottery scratchers, their maple bar is a steal at just 90 cents. It was nearly perfect – soft, fresh, and generously glazed, requiring a stack of napkins. Bypassing the scratch-off enthusiasts, I left satisfied and ready to tackle the rest of my budget-friendly food day. People flock to places like California Donuts in Koreatown, waiting in long lines for decorated donuts, but I’ll take Big Mama’s cheap and delicious fritters any day.

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Lunch Stop #1: Tostada de Jaiva at El Mar Azul Seafood Truck ($1.50)

For the first round of lunch, I ventured to El Mar Azul, a humble seafood truck in Highland Park that I’ve been frequenting for years. A friend introduced me to this spot, and I’ve been hooked ever since. While their shrimp tostadas are usually my go-to, today’s budget called for the “jaiva” or crab tostada, priced at an incredible $1.50.

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Price: $1.50 | Remaining Cash: $7.60
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Address: 4702 N Figueroa Street
Hunger Level After: 5

Now, a word of caution: the “crab” in the jaiva tostada isn’t authentic crab meat. It’s the imitation pollack, similar to what you find in a California roll.

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Despite the imitation crab, the tostada is surprisingly satisfying. The creamy base sauce, fresh avocado slices, a squirt of hot sauce, and lime create a flavorful snack. However, if you have a bit more to spend, I highly recommend upgrading to their pulpo (octopus) or shrimp tostadas for a truly exceptional experience. While the $1.50 fake crab tostada filled a gap, knowing that just 50 cents more could have gotten me the real deal was a slight pang of budget dining compromise.

Lunch Stop #2: Banh Mi at Buu Dien in Chinatown ($2.25)

Still feeling a bit peckish, I headed over to Chinatown for a banh mi at Buu Dien. This unassuming spot is often lauded by food critics as serving some of the best banh mi in Los Angeles. While I personally lean towards the more compact and intensely flavored sandwiches at Saigon Bakery and Tip Top, Buu Dien’s unique, funkier version has grown on me.

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Price: $2.25 | Remaining Cash: $5.35
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Address: 642 N Broadway, Chinatown
Hunger Level After: 1

Buu Dien can be a little tricky to find, as its address is on Broadway, but the entrance is actually off New High Street. A major bonus is the free parking in their lot – a welcome relief from Chinatown’s parking meters. Stepping into Buu Dien is like entering a classic, no-frills Asian eatery. The ambiance is defined by a loud Vietnamese news channel playing on TV, mismatched vinyl chairs, and well-worn tables. The menus might feel a bit sticky and dated, but the $2.25 banh mi is where this place truly shines.

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The magic of Buu Dien’s banh mi lies in the details. The baguette is perfectly warmed, maintaining a fresh crust that doesn’t assault your palate. The generous smear of liver pate adds a rich, umami depth. The fillings include steamed pork (resembling a slightly elevated version of deli turkey) and chewy “ham,” as the counter staff describes it. Combined with cilantro, pickled vegetables, and jalapeño, it’s a substantial and flavorful banh mi that completely banished my hunger. In fact, I couldn’t even finish the whole sandwich!

Afternoon Pick-Me-Up: Coffee at Philippe the Original (Under $0.50)

For an afternoon coffee break, I made my way to Philippe the Original, a Los Angeles institution known for its French Dip sandwiches and, importantly for this challenge, its incredibly cheap coffee.

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Price: $0.49 | Remaining Cash: $4.86
Time: 1:40 p.m.
Address: 1001 N Alameda St
Hunger Level After: 3

Am I the only one who goes to Philippe’s just for their ridiculously cheap coffee, especially during the lunch rush? Probably not. They even have a dedicated line for drinks and desserts to handle the demand. Philippe’s is famous for its budget-friendly coffee, even after a significant price increase from a mind-boggling 9 cents to 45 cents years ago. Now at 49 cents, it’s still a steal. I was grateful for the simple pleasure of a “damn fine” cup of coffee (with plenty of creamer) for less than a half dollar. Interestingly, my hunger level actually increased after the coffee, which I attribute to its digestive properties, signaling my stomach it was ready for more food later.

Pre-Dinner Street Food: Corn on the Cob from the Lincoln Heights Corn Man ($1.50)

As evening approached, and hunger pangs returned, I opted for a classic Los Angeles street food experience: corn on the cob from the legendary Lincoln Heights Corn Man. This street vendor is somewhat of an institution, having served his simple yet delicious elote for nearly three decades.

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Price: $1.50 | Remaining Cash: $3.36
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Address: Near Workman and Broadway, Lincoln Heights
Hunger Level After: 5

Despite its technically unpermitted nature, the Corn Man, Timoteo Flor de Nopal, has been a fixture in Lincoln Heights for 28 years, drawing crowds and even attracting the occasional passing police car without incident. While you might find more gourmet street corn variations, especially in Mexico with heritage corn and grilled preparations, Timoteo’s steamed/boiled version is fantastic for Los Angeles. For $1.50, I ordered a corn on the cob loaded with mayo, liquid butter (likely a Parkay-like substitute), cheese, and chile de arbol for a spicy kick.

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Taking a quick photo earned me some good-natured ribbing from fellow line-waiters, but the messiness of the elote quickly became the main focus. Napkins were futile against the onslaught of creamy, spicy goodness. Embracing the delicious chaos, I savored every bite. For a mere $1.50, this street elote is an unbeatable cheap food find in Los Angeles.

Dinner Finale: Tacos al Pastor at Tacos Tamix ($3)

For the grand finale of my $10 food challenge, dinner had to be tacos. While Tacos Leo is a popular choice, renowned for its al pastor, I opted for my personal favorite, Tacos Tamix.

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Price: $3 | Remaining Cash: $0.36
Time: 10:15 p.m.
Address: South Tremaine Avenue & Pico Blvd, Mid-City
Hunger Level After: 2

Tacos Leo, while excellent, has drawbacks: smaller portions for their $1 tacos, weekend-only outdoor spit, and often long lines. Tacos Tamix, on the other hand, offers generously portioned, flavorful tacos al pastor straight from a well-maintained trompo for just $1 each.

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While perhaps not the absolute best al pastor I’ve ever had (that title might go to Tacos El Franc in Tijuana), Tacos Tamix delivers incredible quality for the price. Topped with your choice of salsas, three tacos al pastor from Tamix make for the best $3 meal in Los Angeles, hands down. Resisting the temptation to splurge on Tamix’s fantastic gringa (a flour tortilla loaded with cheese, al pastor, pineapple, and ham), I stuck to my budget and savored my tacos.

Driving home, I reflected on the $10 food challenge. My initial reluctance felt childish and privileged, especially considering the countless individuals facing food insecurity daily. I am deeply grateful for the vendors and establishments throughout Los Angeles that offer such affordable and delicious food. They provide a vital service, allowing everyone to experience the joy of a great meal without financial strain. From street corners to food trucks and humble Chinatown shops, the dedication of these food providers reinforces why Los Angeles is truly a world-class food city, accessible to all budgets.

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