My husband and I had a good laugh over the fact that he thought my 10 Affordable Date Night Restaurants in Los Angeles suggestions were expensive! So I said, “FINE, I’ll put together a list for cheap eats dates to satisfy my cheapskate!” In all seriousness, there are so many great inexpensive options in L.A.—from taco stands to food trucks to just about any international cuisine you can think of—it’s all here. This is my list of 10 great restaurants in Los Angeles that you can swing for under $50, and still manage to have a solid date night.
Note to my husband: If this is still too expensive, you married the wrong girl!
- Grand Central Market: There are so many delicious options. I happen to love going before 6pm and having afternoon oysters at Oysters Gourmet, a lovely hidden gem way at the back.
- Badmash: A modern take on Indian in a gastropub setting in DTLA. I’ve yet to have anything I didn’t like.
- Cassell’s Hamburgers: This makes the list because of its cool location at Hotel Normandie. Have a very good burger and then head to The Walker Inn, a speak easy just inside the hotel, where you splurge on cocktails after saving on dinner! *Momofuku chef David Chang says their Patty Melt would make them one of the top 50 restaurants in the world!
- Baco Mercat: The El Pesco is one of my favorite dishes in LA. Like a lot of places, you can over order and spend more than $50, but trust me when I say the baco is enough!
- The Original Farmer’s Market: We love Singapore’s Banana Leaf, especially the Mee Indo Style and Paratha, but if you want something with a little more atmosphere, head to Monsieur Marcel.
- Wurstkuche: This was on my other list, but it’s cheap enough for this one too. What can I say? I love this place!
- Pine & Crane: A fantastic Vietnamese spot in Silver Lake with the best soups and dumplings. I like this as a day date, but they are also open for dinner. Their sister restaurant Joy in Highland Park is equally as great.
- Dune: This is an adorable little place in Atwater Village that has the best Falafel. Don’t miss the rosewater dates. Just note that they only have a small amount of counter seating inside, so if you go at night, bring a sweater (they also have tables outside).
- Mercado Happy Hour: Every weekday from 5pm-7pm you can order tacos (get the papa!), tamales and so much more for around $10 and $8 margaritas.
- Uovo: I’m cheating a little bit, as this is on my list of places to try. But two people in the last week have suggested it to me, and the prices are really affordable. Located in Santa Monica, this is a casual “pasta bar” from the owners of SugarFish. If you’ve been, let me know what you think!
