Favorite Meals Under $5

[soto i am]

C'mon all, double the pleasure, double the fun!

[wanderlustre]

Stewed pork rice (aka Lu Rou Fan) at Stinky Tofu King. Taiwanese comfort food.
Also, 3 bahn mi at for $5 at Bahn Mi Che Cali.

[WhereTheCopsEat]

Fish Tacos at Bear Flag in Newport Beach on Tuesday Nights! $2 each, share a table and meet new people!
Mike

[Warmsandz]

Funny, I was just thinking this morning that Costco sells a really good whole roast chicken for $4.99 If you're on a budget (or not) you can easily get 2 or maybe even 3 meals out of it . . ..

[westsidegal]

i've cut up MANY MANY of those chickens and served them on platters at buffet luncheons.
both adults and kids really like them.
of course, because of the messiness, i only serve them when there are chairs and tables set out--this is not finger food.

[Ogawak]

Honey Kettle Fried Chicken (in Compton only) has a gas buster special 2 chicken thighs and 2 biscuits for $5.00, the best bargain in town.

Bay Cities small Poor Boy comes in at $4.50, though I usually get the Godmother.

[burntwater]

Oaxacan style mole tamales.
The stand is across the street in a used car lot at the North end of York Blvd across from the CVS.

One dollar a piece and they are perfectly done with these beautiful chocolate and coffee notes.
I would love to wash one down with a Parabola.

[happybaker]

Oh! Sounds great!

Do they have any chicken or cheese, or is it all beef or pork?

[cant talk...eating]

York is an east-west street - is this Eagle Rock or HP? Sounds great.

[happybaker]

The only CVS on York is maybe a block away from the intersection of Eagle Rock Blvd. and York. So, more Eagle Rock than HP.

[burntwater]

Happybaker is correct it is near the intersection of ERB and York.

There is another stand next door that operates closer to the intersection of
ERB and York this is not the one you want.

The stand with the tamales is inside the used car lot with the metal fence around it.
It is not there every night so you just have to do a drive by and hope for the best.

They only have a green chicken tamale and the red. The red is the one you want the green is just ok.

They have other items as well I've tried but the best by far is the red tamales.

[Peripatetic]

I think the exact location is mentioned in this thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7965...

[cant talk...eating]

Ok, I just had the best <$5 lunch experience I've had in a while. Be Be (Taiwanese) restaurant on Valley in Alhambra. They're doing a $4.50 lunch special either pork chop or teriyaki chicken, served with a little rice (with salt pork gravy), pickled veggies, cabbage, and a wedge of fried tofu. I have next to no experience w/ Taiwanese food, but there's a waitress who speaks fluent English, which really helps. I think I've posted before on this place, on the smoked duck noodle soup (also excellent).

[TonyC]

Thanks for that feedback. Be Be's been running the < $5 lunch special since they grand opened. Reports have been mixed. Taiwanese duck noodle soup (though not smoked) is one of my fave things.

That said, the dearth of Chinese combo boxes in this thread is a disgrace. $4.50 3-item combo from Rolling Wok / Oriental Express/Kang Kang basically kills every arepa/pupusa/banh mi/taco/tamale in town in terms of value:tastiness ratio.

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Rolling Wok
1609 S San Gabriel Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

[scottca075]

McCormick & Schmick's Happy Hour with a pint of Guiness, Pig'n Whistle Happy Hour and Morton's Power Hour (except they are $6 & $7).

http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/L...

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McCormick & Schmick's
633 West Fifth Street,, Los Angeles, CA 90071

[rcompton]

Tacos in the back of Palms Market.

3568 Motor Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034

[meg3325]

I'm not going to sugar coat what it is. The neighborhood isn't the greatest, but the food is good, and that's the point.

[meg3325]

Tempura House on Sawtelle (West L.A.) - chicken curry for only $4.50.

[Servorg]

place link

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Sawtelle Tempura House
1816 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[meg3325]

Here's the link:

http://local.yahoo.com/info-20352131-...

The building looks like hell and the neighborhood is kind of ghetto. Parking sucks too. It's just a hole-in-the-wall teriyaki burger joint. Cash only. Run by a friendly Japanese woman named Sachi. The house teriyaki sauce comes in a bottle and gets passed around. Hands down one of my favorite places in L.A. The regulars even order things not on the menu.

[Servorg]

To write "...and the neighborhood is kind of a ghetto." is just so absurd I'm not even sure what to say in response.

[Peripatetic]

I think meg3325 was following up on her (?) other post, about Teriyaki House near East Hollywood:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6959...

I don't think she was referring to Sawtelle.

[meg3325]

Peripatetic - yes, I apologize for the confusion. The Teriyaki House is in Koreatown. The Tempura House is on Sawtelle in West L.A.. Here's a photo of the place:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/em8GiY...

[Servorg]

Ah, sorry. I just reacted without much (any?) thought between reading and posting...

[ChefRoux]

IN ANAHEIM:

Buche or Carnitas Burrito@El Super Market (Ball Rd. & Anaheim Blvd only)
Falafel Sandwich @ Sahara Falafel
Lunch Special (varies) @Fa Sai Thai
2 Jalapeno/Cream Cheese Bombs@ La Reina Bakery
Burger & Onion Rings@ Varsity Burger
2 Ramona's Chile Relleno Burritos @ 7-11

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Sahara Falafel
590 S Brookhurst St, Anaheim, CA 92804

Varsity Burger
600 W Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA 92805

[WildSwede]

Pasadena Area:
Dog Haus: Delicious sliders (angus beef, white american cheese & grilled onions) $1.50/ea. I eat 2.
La Estrella (Fair Oaks Loc.): Al Pastor or Fish Tacos; Ceviche; Burritos - all under $5. Meal Deal: 2 tacos, rice, beans & tortilla chips $4.
Roma Italian Deli: The Sandwich $5.50 (sorry, 50 cents over, but soooooooo worth it!)
Zankou: most of the wraps are around $5.
Rick's Drive In: Tacos; Tostadas; Burgers; Spuderito, Taco in a Bun all under $5
The Hat: Chili Fries; Chili Cheese Dog both under $5

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La Estrella
502 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Roma Italian Deli
2247 Michael Dr, Newbury Park, CA 91320

Dog Haus
105 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

[jeffandnat]

Spam Musubi and POG, (aka sugar in a can), at L&L Hawaiian. Or any Hawaiian BBQ joint, most likely.

[d_doubleyew]

Guisados in East LA
$5 for two tacos with various braised fillings -- recently enjoyed braised tongue; tuna; potatoes and chorizo; pork tinga; bistek; chicken mole etc. You also get a complimentary soup such as homemade cream of mushroom or spinach. The owner said his brother who has a store next door grinds all the corn for thick hand-made tortillas. Delicious.

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Guisados
2100 E. Cesar E Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033

[Harry Niletti]

A few favorite examples: 1/4-rack of ribs ($5.25) or BBQ sandwich ("your choice of meat," $4.50) at Big Mista; cochinita pibil burrito at Yuca's ($3.50); carnitas taco at Los Cinco Puntos ($3); cup of clam chowder on Friday evening at Pann's ($4.24); disgusting but delicious chili dog at Cupid's (under $5 for the dog and a small soda).

-Harry

[WildSwede]

Should say "delicious and more delicious chili dog..." ;-)

[d_doubleyew]

Recent cheap eats:

$2 "special" banh mi from Banh Mi My Dung in Chinatown. Gastronomy Blog had a post about a visit there this summer:

http://gastronomyblog.com/2009/06/03/...

[Hackenbush]

The small spaghetti with meat sauce at Andre's in the Town & Country Mall at 3rd and Fairfax. It's $5 and includes garlic bread.

[dotrat]

I've been enjoying the 'stimulus package" lunch at Rockenwagner near the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica. It includes a choice of a cup of soup (which have all been wonderful esp tomato bisque) and a mini sandwich (choices include lox/salami/turkey etc on his bread). It's $5.50 and definitely a light lunch but very very tasty and convenient after shopping at the farmers market.

[d_doubleyew]

Downtown LA:
$3 tamales at the Wednesday farmers market at Pershing Square
$2.50 spinach or olive boureks at the Lebanese place on 6th btw Hill and Broadway (Sultan's Kitchen?)
$2.50 cheese bourek at Bruno's Cafe on 6th btw Grand and Olive
$5 salad or soup of the day at Mendocino Farms on Flower St (opp. Central Library)
$4.50 soup of the day (cup) at Casey's Irish Bar on Grand and 6th

[soto i am]

Torrance/Redondo beach area. I posted this in the $10 thread, but I think it deserves to be posted here in the "Under $5" category.

Siam I Am, P.C.H & Torrance blvd. Redondo Beach Everything under $10 All day. great lunch specials about $4.99. Best tom ka kai and kao soi around! get it thai spicy.

All Indian Sweets and Snacks, Hawthorne & Torrance blvd. in the N.E. strip mall. Lunch specials all day @ $3.99 for vegetarian (3 veg choices, rice and chapati) $1 more for each meat choice (lamb, chicken, goat). Can recession busters be this delicious? YES!

* Siam I Am
215 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

* All Indian Sweets & Snacks
20916 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503-4612(310) 370-5156‎

[Rizza]

Continuing in the Torrance vein, Restraunt Christine has a happy hour from 5:00-6:30. Everything is $5. The menu changes weekly, and has quite a few items on it, most coming with a side of dressed greens. I recommend the vegetable mu shu which is not traditional, but very tasty. And last week I had a new item, pulled pork sliders. These were awesome for $5. Two sliders with a good amount of slow cooked savory pork (not sweet or bar-b-quey) on sweet sloder rolls topped with fried onions. I was really blown away that I could get something that good for the price of drive through. Their happy hour white wine, also $5, is excellent as well. An unoaked chardonnay that goes well with the food.

[christoofat]

bbq pork banh mi on 1/2 fresh baguette at Che Cali in Fountain Valley+ ca phe su da = $4.00 lunch

[Wolfgang]

One meatball and one sausage from the hot case at Bay Cities plus one medium roll to go makes a great sandwich for under $4.
3 al pastor tacos from Cuernavaca in Ventura. They have great al pastor. Tried the AP at la Taquiza a few weeks ago and it wasn't even close.
I think the barbacoa burrito from Gallego's in Culver City is about $5.
Carne Asada burrito with avocado from La Playita in Santa Monica / Venice. They don't have good meat but the burrito really works as a whole.
The whole rotisserie chicken from Costco. $4.95.
I love the beef brisket taquito plate from Border Grill at Happy Hour.

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Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

La Playita
3306 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

[westsidegal]

if you have two people in your party, and you're willing to go on a tuesday night, HENNESEY'S TAVERN has their two for one burger special for all their burgers (both meat and veggie burger). the basic burger starts at $8, so on tuesdays, you can get two burgers for $8.

[sel]

How is their burger? Only went there once in the early 90's and as best as I can remember it was liquid diet that time....

[westsidegal]

at half price, it is a bargain. after a couple of drinks AND at half price it is even more of a bargain.
at full price, with no alcohol in system, not worth it.

[sel]

Thanks.

[choctastic]

An espresso from Intelligentsia and a cigarette.

Haha, just kidding. Well, about the cigarette, anyway.

[schrutefarms]

A plate of Ikea meatballs, around $3 for ten, with potatoes, lingonberry sauce and gravy. And a soda. And a roll.

[Dogbite Williams]

I think the normal meal is 15 meatballs, mashed potatoes & gravy, plus a small dab of lingonberry sauce for $4.99. It's just $2.49 on Tuesdays - at least that's how it is at the Burbank branch.

[foodiemahoodie]

Was just there. 3 bucks gets you meatballs, gravy, mashed potatoes and lingonberrys. Another buck gets you a soda. Another buck gets you a cinnamon roll.

$5 for a 2 course meal!

[Dogbite Williams]

I just checked the Burbank page. It's now 10 meatballs, mashed potatoes & gravy plus lingonberries for $2.99.

[happybaker]

Yup - they changed the price. So now the everyday price is way better then the old everyday price. But no special single sale days. Works for me!

[PommeDeGuerre]

Hamburger and Fries at Jack's Classic Hamburgers in Toluca Lake.

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Jack's Classic Hamburgers
11375 Riverside Dr, North Hollywood, CA 91602

[mucho gordo]

Have they cleaned up their act? I can't count the number of times the health dept. closed them down, before they made it permanent, when they were located on Coldwater and Riverside.

[ns1]

only marginally.

stopped going there after Habit opened up down the street. Can't handle the guys' attitude.

[maxzook]

A medianoche sandwich at Porto's Bakery.

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Porto's Bakery
315 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

Porto's Bakery
3614 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

[Pathological Eaters]

TIto's Tacos

$4.35 will get you a Tito's Taco and an Enchilada that is to die for. TAX INCLUDED!

Ana Maria's in Grand Central Market
$2 tacos including carnitas, pollo, tongue, head and delicious green and red salsa. There is so much meat on these little bites of heaven that two corn tortillas are needed to tame such succulent meat

Weeneez in Downtown LA
$5 gets you a naked hot dog, coleslaw, a bag of chips and a medium soda. Not bad if you are in the mood for a descent hot dog

EAT EXPERIENCE ENJOY!

[crowmuncher]

my favorite vacation breakfast back in the day when I was a meat-eater; i used to get that with an "Americano" and a side of guava pastelito (i reply to max over a year later)

[carter]

The salad bar at Gelson's!

[westsidegal]

$5 at the salad bar at gelsons wouldn't keep me full for more than 45 minutes.
i really LIKE TO EAT.
wouldn't call that a meal, more like a snack.

[lil mikey]

You're better at that than I am. I usually rack up about $8 at that salad bar. But you're right. If you pay attention, you can get it for under $5. But I really like that salad bar, so I stock up.

[Sam D.]

Bahn mi from the Chinatown truck at Alpine/New High. $2-$2.50
Pastrami dip at Patra’s on San Fernando Rd. Under $5
Ceviche tostada from Maria’s in the Grand Central Market. $ 2.50
3 tacos & drink combo from El Atacor #11 on N. Figueroa/Ave.26. $2.99
4 enchiladas from Antojitos Carmen, 2510 Cesar Chavez. $4.50
2 hamburgers, animal style & drink at In N Out. About $5

[ipsedixit]

Hamburger from Yuca's

Minced meat noodles at Wong Wong Kitchen

Banh mi or any one of the bun chas at Banh Mi My Tho

Carne asada or al pastor taco from El Picoso

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Yuca's
2056 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Banh Mi My Tho
304 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

El Picoso Restaurant
307 S Azusa Ave, Azusa, CA 91702

[bulavinaka]

>>Banh mi or any one of the bun chas at Banh Mi My Tho<<

For $5, I think you need to add an "s" to "Banh mi." :)

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Banh Mi My Tho
304 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

[ipsedixit]

Is there a requirement that I spend all $5? Can't I just pocket the change and save it for a ... foot message? :-)

[bulavinaka]

Again - my kung fu is no good here...

[sel]

"He has no kung fu!!!"

[heckonwheels]

I'd also add the tacos de papa at El Picoso.

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El Picoso Restaurant
307 S Azusa Ave, Azusa, CA 91702

[ipsedixit]

... and the buche tacos.

[heckonwheels]

Heck, just about anything on their menu!

[mrgreenbeenz]

Banh Mi from the Nam Thai Truck in Chinatown (or anywhere). Specifically the pork sausage or the chicken and pate.

Carnitas and Chorizo burrito from Taco Zone.

Goat Tacos from Huarache Azteca ($2 a pop - weekends only)

Shish Taouk Sandwich from Skaf's.

Whole prepared chicken from Super King.

Pamboza Sandwich at Metro Balderas (like a torta made of fried sopes with chorizo and potato)

[outshined]

Tacos al pastor, La Estrella truck, York and Ave 54.

[hhewitt]

Falafel Pita with condiment bar at Bella Pita, Westwood = $4.50

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Bella Pita
960 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

[westsidegal]

a an 8oz to-go tub of any of the offerings at either samosa house or bawarchi.

[Pumpkin_Head]

A couple of past favorites:

"Chicken" sub at Vinh Loi Tofu = $4.50
Potato Paratha at India Jones Truck = $3.50

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Vinh Loi Tofu
18625 Sherman Way Ste 101, Reseda, CA 91335

[monku]

Dino's Chicken & Burgers

1/2 Char-Broiled Chicken
On A Bed of Fresh Cut French Fries,
Homemade Coleslaw,& Tortillas
$5 including sales tax (Azusa location) which I've never been to.

http://www.dinoschickenandburgers.com...

I frequent the Dino's on Main Street it's about the same price.
2817 N Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031

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Main Street Cafe
12939 Main St, Garden Grove, CA 92840

[Scootrvil]

I popped in after reading this post a couple weeks ago.

Chicken was ok. and tasted better than it looked
Beans and rice? below average and for LA... just BAD
fries were absoluely DISGUSTING!! Soggy greasy cold.

doubt i will return

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Dino's Burgers
2817 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90031

[Servorg]

You got beans and rice with your half chicken maniaco? I've never seen anyone get beans and rice, only the fries that catch the marinade that comes on the chicken. Did you order it with beans and rice?

[monku]

Other day I wasn't paying attention and must have said "yes" to beans and rice and I thought the beans were pretty good.

[monku]

Sorry to hear you were disappointed.
I always ask for crispy fries.
You thought they were soggy...most people like the chicken juice on the fries.
You should have talked to Andy the owner.

[WildSwede]

Absolutely, I always get the fries well done and extra-extra sauce. Never had rice n beans with my order (nor have they asked me if I ever wanted it) and I eat at the Azusa location regularly. I even usually say no to the tortillas and coleslaw (although the cs is pretty damn good!). I always sprinkle some lemon onto the chicken as well. Fantastic!

[wienermobile]

El Burrito Jr. Special " C " 2 Bean & Cheese Burritos with medium drink $5.75 (sorry I went a little over)

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El Burrito Jr
3830 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505

[Servorg]

In that case Dino's chicken plate for $5.50! http://www.losanjealous.com/2009/03/0...

[WildSwede]

AMEN! ;-) Love Dino's and such a deal!!

[Servorg]

Polish sausage and a soda at Costco for $1.50

[monku]

Hebrew National or Kirkland 1/4 pound plus?

[Servorg]

You know I like both of them. It really hasn't been that big of deal to me...so just call me a hot dog plebe... lol

[monku]

For $1.50 I can't complain...maybe there'd a difference in a side by side taste test otherwise they seem to be the same and serve the purpose.

[flylice2x]

With Kraut of course!!!

[perk]

absolutely.......

[degustateur]

5 tacos at Omana's in either South El Monte or Pomona, including tax! Choice of adobada, asada, buches, cabeza, camarones, carnitas, chicharron, frijoles, pescado or tripas.

Almost enough for two meals.

All damn good!

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Omana's
1050 W Holt Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

[Bob Brooks]

The Banh Xeo at Van's is $4.75 and utterly delicious.

[bad nono]

Pupusas at Con Sabor on Venice & Redondo. I don't have the menu handy but a couple set me back less than $5.

Breakfast: one croissant and one espresso at La Maison du Pain on Pico & Ridgeley

-----
Con Sabor
5105 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

[westsidegal]

make mine a chocolate croissant, followed by a defibrillator.
i once watched them cutting stick after stick after stick of butter into that croissant dough.
they also use a good quality chocolate.. . .
thankfully i live far from them or i'd be spherical.

[bad nono]

ha ha ha ,I live 5 minutes away and I gained 20 lbs since they opened. I stick to the plain croissant because their pain au chocolat is too rich for me.

[westsidegal]

taqueria sanchez:
3 tacos, whatever type you like
or
a burrito

hungry pocket:
falafal sandwich

the good pizza:
a slice

abbots pizza:
a slice

[monku]

Best Fish Taco in Ensenda
Fish Taco $1.50
Shrimp Taco $2.00
Soda $1.00

1650 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027

604 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale CA

http://www.bestfishtacoinensenada.com...

[NAspy]

I like the tacos at Tacos Don Jorge on Venice Boulevard by Cattaraugus. It graduated from taco truck to small shop a couple of years ago. Still taco truck prices.

-----
Tacos Don Jorge
8693 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

[hhewitt]

Agreed. The al pastor tacos are delicious, the salsas (green and red) are both great too.

[Feed_me]

I believe Tacos Don Jorge is now out of business. Passed by the place a few days ago and noticed the space is empty of tables and chairs. I think the sign is also gone now.

-----
Tacos Don Jorge
8693 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

[hhewitt]

Yep, I saw that too. A shame, really. But, I've moved away from near it, so it won't be missed as much by me.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

But there is a new restaurant [maybe Columbian or Venezuelan] Arepas, Tamales Empanadas] which are harder to find on the westside It's called Savor and it's in the old Tacos Don Jorge place. the Arepas we had were not bad. I will be back to try more of the menu

[Mr Taster]

Did you ever try the ones from Jim Leff's "Sainted Arepa Lady" under the 7 train tracks in Queens, NY? If so, how do these compare?

Mr Taster

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Unfortunately, I have not. While spending a lot of time growing up in in New England I can count on one hand how many days I've spent in NYC.

[Mr Taster]

I will add this to my impossibly long list of things to try and report back here when when I get there.

By the way, we had some visiting houseguests from Italy and we wanted to take them out for some great Mexican food. This thread reminded us of our visit to Antojitos Carmen (we hadn't been back since our visit with you). Somehow I had forgotten just how good her cooking is. That pambazo is just outrageous.... I don't think I've ever had a sandwich before that I would describe as being succulent, but this one was. I really should add her to my regular rotation. Thanks again to you and Dommy for introducing us to Carmen's cooking.

Mr Taster

[Norm Man]

Feed_me, the owners of Tacos Don Jorge went back to operating a taco truck, which they did before opening the brick and motar Tacos Don Jorge. Their new taco truck is called "Mariscos Tacos Y El Compa" (Bandini gets the credit for this info):

http://www.greattacohunt.com/2011/04/...

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El Compa Restaurant
7010 Rosecrans Ave, Paramount, CA 90723