50 places to eat for $5 or less in Southern California

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Chicken gumbo soup with corn bread from Cha Cha ChickenLa ArcaTropicana Bakery & Cuban CaféCubano sandwich from Porto's bakeryLos Cinco PuntosCampos Famous BurritosMy TacoEl Huarachito RestaurantBreakfast burrito from Frank's restaurantPastor taco from Tacos Leo truckTacos ChapilitaTamales from GuisadosEl RancheroShish kebab sandwich from Cafe BravoRotisserie chicken from Kosher Chapa GrillHalluomi pita wrap from Shanto's bakeryBlack Bean Wowshi from Bella PitaNoodle soup from Wat Dong Moon Lek restaurantVegan crispy nuggets from Charm Vegan restaurantExplore Southland ethnic eatsMini ramen bowl from Shin Sen GumiJazz fries from FukuburgerSpicy lobster hand roll from Go Go SushiRoti Bakar from Simpang Asia restaurant and grocery storeOld Country CafeKang Kang Food CourtFamily PastryBanh Mi Che CaliNha Hang $1.99Buu DienKogi Kimchi quesadilla from the Kogi truckPho Quang Trung 2Banh Mi My ThoVan RestaurantIndian food plate lunch or dinner from All Indian Sweets & SnacksWhite spinach slice from Richie Palmer's PizzeriaPoor Boy sandwich from Bay Cities Italian Deli and BakeryFolliero's Italian Food & PizzaSpanakopita from Papa Cristo's Greek restaurant and marketLarge Greek salad from Mediterranean CaféLanza Brothers MarketPortillo'sSchodorf's LuncheonetteAladin Sweets & MarketFried chicken meal at Honey's Kettle chickenNine-inch stretch chili dog from Pink's Hot DogsSliders from Nick & Stef's steakhouseInside-out albacore roll from Chaya downtownSt. FelixCafe La Boheme

Neighborhood: Los Angeles<br>
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Type: Mexican<br>
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Parking lot of the 76 gas station on the northwest corner of Venice Boulevard and La Brea Avenue<br>
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Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.<br>
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Price: $1<br>
<br>
On a bustling Friday night a quiet man making the al pastor sets up the spit of glistening meat outside his truck. After an order is placed, he quickly wields his large knife, shaving off chunks of meat into a warm corn tortilla. Then, with lightning speed he tops the taco with a chunk of pineapple that he shaves from atop the spit. After the show, you can top the taco with a choice of salsa and radishes from the complimentary condiment bar.<br>
<br>
—JH

Pastor taco from Tacos Leo truck

( Win Dat Lam / Yelp )

Neighborhood: Los Angeles

Type: Mexican

Parking lot of the 76 gas station on the northwest corner of Venice Boulevard and La Brea Avenue

Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Price: $1

On a bustling Friday night a quiet man making the al pastor sets up the spit of glistening meat outside his truck. After an order is placed, he quickly wields his large knife, shaving off chunks of meat into a warm corn tortilla. Then, with lightning speed he tops the taco with a chunk of pineapple that he shaves from atop the spit. After the show, you can top the taco with a choice of salsa and radishes from the complimentary condiment bar.

—JH