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

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Neighborhood: Santa Monica<br>
<br>
Type: Caribbean<br>
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1906 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica<br>
<br>
(310) 581-1684, <a href="http://www.chachachicken.com">chachachicken.com</a><br>
<br>
Open 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. Sunday.<br>
<br>
Price: $3.50<br>
<br>
Cha Cha Chicken is a small, colorful beach shack in Santa Monica with countless loyal fans of its Jamaican jerk-rubbed Cha Cha Chicken and coconut fried chicken, but the love doesn't stop there. This Caribbean, Latin fusion restaurant offers a Spanish style chicken gumbo soup with a fresh corn bread muffin for a light, flavorful meal under $5.<br>
<br>
—JH

Chicken gumbo soup with corn bread from Cha Cha Chicken

( Google Maps street view / April 5, 2012 )

View Larger Map Neighborhood: Santa Monica

Type: Caribbean

1906 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica

(310) 581-1684, chachachicken.com

Open 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. Sunday.

Price: $3.50

Cha Cha Chicken is a small, colorful beach shack in Santa Monica with countless loyal fans of its Jamaican jerk-rubbed Cha Cha Chicken and coconut fried chicken, but the love doesn't stop there. This Caribbean, Latin fusion restaurant offers a Spanish style chicken gumbo soup with a fresh corn bread muffin for a light, flavorful meal under $5.

—JH