If Mexican's least costly, then what? Price bracket by ethnicity, west L.A.?

[Cinnamon]

Every time we go for sushi I'm reminded that even when we try to economize, the price bracket for Japanese food just blows a good Mexican meal out of the water. (Though we've found a good Izakaya option that helps.)

This will be unscientific, but what would your favorite ethnic dining options be, in terms of price bracket rank for a whole dinner with whatever extras you get except alcohol? (You can leave the outliers at the low and high ends out, just include the general range of what you like.)

So like... least costly to most... something like....

1. Mexican - $5-$20
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?

Etc.

[ipsedixit]

1. American
2. Taiwanese, Vietnamese (tie)
3. Mexican
4. Thai
5. Hawai'ian

[hppzz]

Great topic..
For the combination of quality food and price I would have to rank

1. Vietnamese
2. Chinese/Thai
3. Mexican/Latin
4. Korean

Somewhere much further down the list would have to be Italian...

of course i'm biased since i'm Vietnamese...

hp
http://ravenouscoupleblogspot.com

[Jack Flash]

Maybe it's the type of places I go to, but Chinese wouldn't be tied with Thai, but somewhere farther down the list. But I otherwise agree with that pecking order: Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican. I'd probably go Middle Eastern next; kebabs & hummous don't usually cost an arm and a leg.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Cinnamon, this is really an interesting topic. Would you consider posting on the gch topics or not about food boards. Would be good to get views that compare among cities, countries, regions.

[Cinnamon]

Voila:
Restaurant price bracket by ethnicity, in your area
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/624698#