Best Cheap Eats Restaurants in Westwood
28 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Diddy Riese Cookies
Iconic Westwood cookie-and-ice-cream shop known for ultra-affordable custom sandwiches.
Notable Picks
8.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Since 1983, this tiny counter-service bakery has anchored Westwood Village with made-from-scratch cookies, brownies, and custom ice cream sandwiches at student-friendly prices. Lines form nightly for hot cookies, nostalgic desserts, and one of the best value sweet stops near UCLA.
Must-Try Dishes:
Custom ice cream sandwich, Chocolate chip cookie, Double chocolate brownie
What Makes it Special: Iconic Westwood cookie-and-ice-cream shop known for ultra-affordable custom sandwiches.
#2
Egg Tuck
8.4
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Koreatown’s egg-sandwich specialist brings its soft-scrambled brioche stacks and breakfast burritos to the heart of Westwood Village. It’s a high-output, touchscreen-ordering operation geared to students and commuters who want something more interesting than a basic egg sandwich without sacrificing speed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avo Egg, Bacon & Cheese, Original Eggcellent Burrito
What Makes it Special: Korean-influenced soft-scramble sandwiches and burritos built for grab-and-go mornings.
8.4
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
Campus-adjacent Enzo's runs giant 23-inch pies, slices, and Italian-American comfort food late into the night, drawing Bruins, hospital staff, and delivery orders when most of Westwood has gone quiet. Locals lean on it for post-game slices, delivery, and group orders.
Must-Try Dishes:
23" Enzo's Special pizza, Mushroom garlic slice, Pepperoni slice with extra-crisp crust
What Makes it Special: Supersized New York-style pies and slices that stay busy well past dinnertime.
8.4
The French Way specializes in Frenchfolds—French tacos-style wraps stuffed with proteins, melted cheese sauce, and a full serving of fries toasted inside. Late-night hours and bowls of loaded fries make it a go-to for students craving maximalist, sauce-heavy fry combinations after class or bar time.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Paris Frenchfold, Frenchfold - Small (fries-filled French taco), Bowl (Loaded Fries)
What Makes it Special: French tacos-style wraps and bowls that build an entire meal around crispy fries and molten cheese sauce.
#5
Bella Pita
8.4
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Bella Pita is a tiny, late-night counter spot near UCLA where pitas and "wowshi" stuffed breads are griddled to order and loaded at a generous toppings bar. It’s one of Westwood’s most reliable under-$15 meals, especially when you need something handheld on the walk home.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Wowshi, Chicken Shawarma Pita, Hummus with Toppings
What Makes it Special: House-baked pitas and wowshi wraps with a generous toppings bar.
8.3
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Open since 1980 on Gayley, Lamonica's channels New York slice-joint energy with foldable pies, Sicilian squares, and garlic knots that have fed generations of Bruins late into the evening. It's the classic grab-a-slice spot before or after campus events.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic cheese slice, Sicilian pepperoni square, Garlic knots with marinara
What Makes it Special: Decades-old New York slice shop where UCLA generations still line up.
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Attari is a Persian sandwich counter tucked off Westwood Boulevard’s main drag, where lawyers, grad students, and office workers queue together for tongue sandwiches and Osh. It’s fast, affordable, and memorable—ideal when you want a working lunch that shows real neighborhood knowledge rather than another chain salad.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef tongue sandwich, Osh soup, Kabab koobideh sandwich
What Makes it Special: A long-running Persian sandwich counter that eats far above its price point.
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Comfort Food Classics
Qin West Noodle brings regional Chinese noodle traditions to the South Westwood corridor with made-to-order bowls and a compact, counter-service room. Diners come for chewy hand-crafted noodles, spicy broths, and a menu that leans into specialties rarely found elsewhere on the Westside.
Must-Try Dishes:
Liuzhou Rice Noodle Soup, Liang Pi Cold Noodles, Braised Beef Noodle Soup
What Makes it Special: Regionally focused noodle shop showcasing brothy and cold Chinese noodle styles.
8.2
Italian Express doubles as Westwood's all-purpose late-night canteen, turning out pizzas, pastas, and garlic bread until 3 a.m. for students and night-shift workers who need real food, not just snacks. Its menu leans heavy and saucy, matching the late-night crowd's appetite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Create-your-own large pizza, Pink sauce penne with garlic bread, Pepperoni and mushroom slice
What Makes it Special: One of the few spots in 90024 serving full pizzas and pastas until 3 a.m.
#10
Cafe Glace
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Sweet Treats Escapes
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Late Night Legends
Café Glacé is a Persian-influenced cafe where Crazy Fries and Special Fries sit alongside sandwiches, Persian tacos, and saffron ice cream. Students and neighborhood regulars drop in for oven-baked fries piled with mortadella, hot dogs, cheese, and sauce, then linger over milkshakes and coffee drinks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crazy Fries, Special Fries, French Fries
What Makes it Special: Persian-inspired cafe where loaded Crazy Fries share the menu with shakes, Persian tacos, and saffron ice cream.
#11
Naab Cafe
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Group Dining Gatherings
Naab Cafe is a casual halal Persian–Mediterranean spot where kabob plates, ash reshteh, and sandwiches share space with hookah and late-night crowds. It’s the kind of flexible Westwood address where you can grab a quick lunch or linger over big platters with friends well past typical dinner hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef koobideh plate with saffron rice, Cornish hen kabob, Ash reshteh soup
What Makes it Special: Halal Persian café mixing hearty plates, sandwiches, and late-night energy.
8.1
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Westwood Thai Cafe is a long-running neighborhood spot just south of UCLA that pairs classic stir-fries, curries, and rice plates with student-friendly combo pricing. The dining room is straightforward and comfortable, but the appeal is generous portions, reliable flavors, and value meals that keep locals coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad see ew with beef, Green curry with eggplant and basil, BBQ chicken with rice
What Makes it Special: Since the early ’90s it’s delivered reliable, affordable Thai to Westwood.
#13
Hangry Moon's
8
Hangry Moon’s is a family-run late-night fried chicken and slider shop where the menu leans hard into sauced tenders, pulled pork, and overloaded fries. With long hours, big portions, and strong multi-platform ratings, it has become a core Westwood destination for budget-friendly, barbecue-adjacent comfort food after games and concerts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy chicken tender sliders, Buffalo Chicken Tender Thicc Fries, Jack Daniels Pulled Pork Slider Combo
What Makes it Special: Late-night fried chicken and pulled pork sliders with huge portions.
#14
Gushi
8
Gushi is a long-running Korean walk-up in Westwood Village where charbroiled plates, fried rice, and budget-friendly ramen bowls feed UCLA students late into the day. The ramen here is straightforward—beef, chicken, egg, or kimchi—but combined with big portions and low prices, it’s one of the most relied-on hot-soup stops near campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Ramen (choice of beef, chicken, egg, or kimchi), Kimchi Pork Belly Plate, Kimchi Fried Rice
What Makes it Special: Korean counter-service spot where affordable ramen joins huge grilled plates.
#15
Pinches Tacos
8
Tucked just off the main Westwood drag, Pinches Tacos runs a casual counter-and-patio setup where combo plates of tacos, rice, and beans fuel long study nights. It leans into straightforward fillings and generous portions, making it a go-to for students and staff looking for a sit-down alternative to late-night chains.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Taco, Al Pastor Taco, Taco Pinche Combination Plate
What Makes it Special: A family-run taqueria with student-friendly combo plates and a relaxed patio.
Worthy Picks
#16
Falafel Inc
7.9
A counter-service Mediterranean spot built on Palestinian family recipes, with za'atar sourced from the founder's own farm — the kind of provenance detail that shows up in the food. Every $10 spent feeds a refugee through the World Food Programme, which gives the low price point a second purpose beyond just being one of Westwood's cheapest solid lunches. It runs like a college-town fuel stop — fast, clean, no frills — and the 84% five-star rate across 276 reviews says the falafel and shawarma wraps land consistently.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Wrap, Zaatar Fries
What Makes it Special: Social enterprise where every $10 spent feeds a refugee for a day through the World Food Programme, built on the founder's Palestinian mother's recipes with za'atar imported from the family farm.
#17
Tacos 1986
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
The Westwood Village location of Tacos 1986 brings Tijuana-style adobada tacos, mulitas, and quesadillas to a casual counter with sidewalk seating. Late student crowds and a constant line at the window turn the Kinross patio tables into one of the neighborhood’s most reliable cheap outdoor meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adobada Taco, Mushroom Mulita, Carne Asada Quesadilla
What Makes it Special: Tijuana-style tacos from a cult-loved stand with busy sidewalk seating.
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
ixlb DimSum Eats is a quick-service dim sum shop just off Westwood’s main drag turning out baskets of dumplings, buns, and small plates all day. The counter-format setup makes it easy to build a spread of classics like xiao long bao, siu mai, and baked cha siu bao without committing to a full dim sum hall experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Xiao Long Bao, Baked Cha Siu Bao, Shrimp Wonton with Chili Oil
What Makes it Special: Counter-service dim sum with an extensive menu of dumplings, buns, and snacks.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Goldies is a smash-burger-focused spot where seasoned fries and burger-and-fries combos are designed for quick, satisfying meals. It leans delivery- and takeout-friendly but still turns out crisp, well-salted fries that anchor its signature and classic smash burger combos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Smash Burger Combo, Classic Smash Burger Combo, Seasoned Fries
What Makes it Special: Smash burgers and crisp fries built for fast, affordable burger-and-fries combos in central Westwood.
7.8
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Palmsugar Thai To-Go Westwood is a takeout-focused Thai counter tucked off Weyburn Place in the heart of Westwood Village. The tiny operation leans on bold street-food flavors—wings, curries, and rice plates—built for quick pickup runs between classes or before a movie.
Must-Try Dishes:
Thai BBQ chicken with rice, Muay Thai wings, Pad see ew with chicken
What Makes it Special: Alley-adjacent to-go window delivering punchy, street-style Thai near campus.
7.8
The Westwood outpost of Tender Greens is a fast-casual, chef-led spot built on produce from Southern California farms, turning salads, bowls, and plates into everyday farm-to-table meals. Lines of students and office workers cycle through for customizable plates, from backyard-marinated steak to the plant-forward Happier Vegan salad, with plenty of patio seating when the weather cooperates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Happier Vegan salad with falafel and farro, Backyard marinated steak plate with greens and potatoes, California bowl with chipotle BBQ chicken
What Makes it Special: Fast-casual salads and plates anchored by locally sourced farm produce.
7.8
A gas station deli on Sepulveda that earns repeat visits on the strength of its breakfast burritos and smash-style burgers, priced well below what the neighborhood typically charges. It runs as a no-frills counter operation where the draw is portion-to-dollar ratio and reliable execution across a short diner-style menu. Go for the morning rush order or a quick lunch stop—expect to eat in your car or at a parking lot table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Burgers, Pastrami Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Gas station deli on Sepulveda turning out legitimately great breakfast burritos and burgers at prices that feel like a time warp.
A Mixe-run taco truck slicing trompo al pastor off a vertical spit curbside on Santa Monica Blvd, serving until the early morning hours when most options have closed. The al pastor here is carved to order from a bright red trompo—straightforward street-style tacos, burritos, and mulitas built around well-rendered pork with honest portions at food-truck prices. Pull into the commercial lot, order at the window, and eat standing up or in your car.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos Al Pastor, Al Pastor Burrito, Cabeza Burrito with Cheese
What Makes it Special: Mixe-run taco truck slicing trompo al pastor off a bright red spit curbside on Santa Monica Blvd until the early morning hours
#24
Minari Express
7.7
Minari Express is a new grab-and-go Korean market counter offering lunch boxes, banchan, and ready-to-eat staples in a compact Lindbrook storefront. It functions as a quick stop for students and office workers who want homestyle Korean flavors without committing to a full restaurant visit.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet Korean Fried Chicken, Daily Lunch Box with Rice and Banchan, House Banchan Assortment
What Makes it Special: Compact Korean grab-and-go counter with homestyle lunch boxes and banchan.
#25
Mr Noodle
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Mr Noodle is a long-running Westwood Village counter-service spot where a sprawling Thai-leaning menu covers everything from pad thai to Asian noodle soups. Its PHO (beef or chicken) sits alongside Thai boat noodles, tom kha noodles, and other brothy bowls that have fueled generations of UCLA students looking for a fast, filling meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
PHO (BEEF OR CHICKEN), Thai Boat Noodles, Tom Kha Noodles (Chicken or Shrimp)
What Makes it Special: Huge Thai-influenced noodle menu with a dedicated pho option steps from UCLA.
#26
Taco Plus
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family Friendly Favorites
A Bundy Drive fixture since the 1980s running the same formula—oversized burritos wrapped tight, slow-cooked weekend menudo, and carne asada plates portioned for the price of a fast food combo. Regulars treat it like a commissary, looping through the small lot for the same three or four orders on repeat. Expect a parking lot taco stand that delivers on quantity and flavor without pretending to be anything else.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Burrito, Pollo Asado Plate, Menudo
What Makes it Special: Old-school taco stand on Bundy serving oversized burritos and slow-cooked menudo at drive-through prices since the 1980s.
7.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
First Szechuan Wok is a longtime Westwood Village standby for American-leaning Chinese favorites and family-style dinners. The large menu covers everything from chow mein and kung pao chicken to honey walnut shrimp, making it a reliable option for mixed groups and takeout spreads.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken, Beef with Broccoli
What Makes it Special: Classic neighborhood Chinese restaurant with a huge menu and big portions.
7.6
SanSai’s Westwood location is a fast-casual Japanese grill where made-to-order rolls sit alongside teriyaki bowls, salads, and combo plates. It’s a reliable option for students and office workers who want customizable plates with a couple of sushi rolls on the side rather than a full sushi bar experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken and sushi plate, Baked salmon nigiri, Sushi burrito
What Makes it Special: A budget-friendly Japanese grill where you can tack on simple rolls to hearty combo plates.