Big Food, Little Prices

The L.A. Times isn't necessarily referring to the cheapest food in L.A, but in its annual list of delicious deals, simply the best "incredible bargains."

Writes the paper:

There are also wonderful luxuries worth every penny you pay for them, including a cold, creamy hand-made ice cream bar studded with toasted almonds for the same three bucks you might pay for a cone at a chain ice cream store. Or a pair of happy-hour Kobe sliders with house-made chips for only $8.

Some of the best deals show up at lunchtime or are available only on certain days of the week. Check out the three-course Sunday supper under the olive trees at a popular West Hollywood restaurant for -- brace yourself -- $15. Or the Fridays-only New Orleans blue crabs and crawfish just off the plane and boiled with Creole spices for $4.99 a pound.

Check out the story for details, but here's an abbreviated version of the list:

1. Jamón serrano sandwich at La Española Meats, $4.95. (Harbor City)
2. Roasted chicken with beans and rice or fries, tortillas and garlic sauce at Pollo a la Brasa, $5. (Gardena)
3. Nostalgia breakfast at Chips, $4.50. (Hawthorne)
4. Frites deals at Fraîche, $13 and $22. (Culver City)
5. Platter of nem nuong at Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa, $13.99. (Rosemead)
6. Sunday supper at Dominick's, $15. (West Hollywood)
7. Daily special ice cream bar at Milk, $3. (Fairfax/La Brea district)
8. Red velvet cupcake at Jongewaard's Bake 'n' Broil, $1.95. (Long Beach)
9. Happy hour martini at Wilshire Restaurant, $7; bar snacks, $5.50 to $9. (Santa Monica)
10. Indian lunch buffet at Woodlands, $7.95. (Artesia)
11. Wednesday bagels, 18 for the price of 12, at Schwartz Bakery, $5.50. (Fairfax district)
12. Fresh boiled Gulf Coast crustaceans at New Orleans Fish Market, $4.99 per pound.(Los Angeles)
13. Fourteen-inch "calzone from the Caucasus" at Dream Bakery, $2.50. (North Hollywood)
14. Large cheese pizza at Folliero's, $10. (Highland Park)
15. Seven-course chef's tasting menu at Tagine, $42. (Beverly Hills)
16. Sansai soba at Yashima, $8.99. (West Los Angeles)
17. Taylor's prime cheeseburger at lunchtime in La Cañada Flintridge, $7.95. (La Cañada Flintridge)
18. Pozole at Taquería El Granjenal, $4.39. (Costa Mesa)
19. 1 Barrel Rum. $11.95. Beverage Warehouse (Los Angeles) and Hi-Time Wine Cellars (Costa Mesa)
20. Whole crab lunch special at Seafood Village, $17. (Monterey Park or Temple City)
21. Bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich at Rustic Canyon, $10. (Santa Monica)
22. Pan-fried dumplings at Mandarin Noodle Deli, $5.75. (Temple City)
23. Jerk chicken Sunday special at Ackee Bamboo, $6.95. (Los Angeles)
24. Khua kling from Jitlada, $8.95. (Hollywood)
25. Cabeza taco at Taquería Chihuahua, $1.29. (West L.A.)

Quite a diverse list, from all over Southern California. Looks like we'll be driving around a lot.