#affordable-restaurants

#affordable-restaurants

The great truth of Los Angeles dining has, and I trust always will be, that $500 omakases and caviar-spackled tasting menus exist alongside tacos stands, noodle parlors, shawarma shops and sandwich specialists - the places, often mirroring the culture of their communities, that give the city its truest from-the-ground-up identity. This is the second year that columnist Jenn Harris and I have co-written the annual 101 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles,

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. For a long time, diners held the notion that dining at a restaurant listed in the Michelin guide was a luxury only a few could afford. But when you factor that the guide was created by the Michelin tire company to encourage people to take road trips, and therefore have to buy more tires, it makes sense that they would include some affordable options, divvying accolades among high-end restaurants and more casual, humble cuisines.

Finding affordable dining options in Greater Boston isn't easy. With rising prices, scoring a meal under $20 - one that's actually delicious - has become more of a challenge than ever. Thanks to inflation, high rent, tariffs, and other factors, a simple work lunch can cost a downtown diner $25. Double that for dinner, and expect to empty your wallet if your bill has any alcohol on it.

At Marlena, hyper-local ingredients dictate a frequently changing four-course menu that impresses without the pretension typical of fine dining.