Incredibly affordable food near Eagle Rock HS

all photos taken by Abel Finch Smith

In the ever changing economy that encompasses our public domicile, prices skyrocket leaving us bare and open to the figurative cold that is inflation. This has caused economic flashbacks, bumping costs of commodities, particularly for food. Resources become harder to get, causing inflated market values, which affect prices of the wholesale food markets, which then force restaurants to raise prices to keep up with the economy, in fear of their establishments shutting down. Over the course of a month I scoured the streets of Figueroa, York Blvd, and Colorado in search of the best, most affordable foods under a $10 price point. It's these businesses I want to recommend to you today, and more importantly, offer cheaper alternatives to everyday meals.

NUMBER 1 - A SCRUMPTIOUS DELIGHT - L&L HAWAIIAN BBQ

L&L HAWAIIAN BBQ CHICKEN KATSU MUSUBI, PRICE: $2.95 - Tax applies 

The chicken katsu musubi is a delicacy beyond human delight. A perfectly crisp fried chicken strip that manages to ratio juice to dryness better than most. This marvelous piece of meat; a golden nugget of divine joy, baked and slathered in delicious sauce gently rests on a puffy pillow of bedded rice, perfect in consistency. While both work in harmony, a soft blanket of salty seasoned delight binds and nourishes the two lost souls; the golden trinket and his fluffy aide. A perfect trinity of heroes, each putting in a vital part of the amalgamation; a comfort meal. If I am looking to get lost in flavor and sensory delight then my #1 choice is L&L’s Hawaiian BBQ. Though it is just a humble chain, it is far superior to any of the other chain competitors in my opinion, and it’s a special delight to find a fast-casual food joint that can deliver such a refreshing meal. It's by no means healthy and by no means life changing, but I do believe this is an incredible alternative to more expensive options. I fully endorse this meal and give the final review a 9.4/10.

NUMBER 2 - HONORABLE MENTION - ARROYO RECORDS

ARROYO RECORDS $1 RECORDS, PRICE: $1 - No tax w/ cash.

If there’s one place on York I go to regularly with practically an empty wallet stepping in, it would be Arroyo Records. I’ve searched great lengths to find what is considered the “best” record shop in north-east Los Angeles, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this is one of the greats. Stepping foot in the establishment, and you're immediately hit with great songs being played and an atmosphere / vibe that's hard to find anywhere else. Lining every shelf has rows upon rows of $1 records hugging the floor. If you possess a record player of your own I highly encourage you to give this place a shot, and if you don't have one you can listen to any stock they have on their record player inside. One can find all sorts of hidden gems to indulge upon, including a variety of hip hop, bad country, good country, 60’s jazz, folk, classical, you name it. Arroyo Records has it all. Overall an incredible shop with some really nice people, final score is 10/10. You get exactly what you pay for.

NUMBER 3 - DOTH BE A SUPERIOR SNACK - SUPER A FOODS 

SUPER A FOODS ASSORTMENT OF FRESH PASTRIES, PRICE: $1 - Tax applies

When I'm in the market for a light snack I find myself often going to Super A Foods to get my hands on a delectable concha from the pastry aisle. Nothing satisfies the pallet better

than a fresh baked bread smothered with a fine coat of sugary paste. The ratio of crunchy sugar to soft fluffy bread creates a nice amalgamation of savory sweet delight. It's not to say the pastry is without its compromises, if it's after 2pm it can get rather dry. Although I’ve found they can be re-hydrated by applying small drops of water on the top and reheating it. Overall the Super A Foods quality pastries and sugary delights hit all the right boxes. I must say I’ve never been blown away at the constitutionality and status of it, if you're looking for a solid cheap snack however I simply go without mentioning these incredibly affordable snacks, especially since they are all made in house. Pretty good pastries, final score 8/10.

NUMBER 4 - FULL MEAL - DELIA’S RESTAURANT

DELIA’S CARNE ASADA TACO, PRICE: $2.50  - 2 for $5

This fine piece of nourishment comes in at a whopping $2.50 price tag, for this wonderful taco, I can only describe it as a meal beyond human design, as if god himself came down,

slapped me across the face and hand delivered a flavor so fine and delicate it would make angles themselves weep in bliss. Words cannot emphasize how marvelous these tacos taste on a hot summer day. Perfect in juice to dryness ratio, and ornate and delicate in rigidity. The price may very well increase the flavor due to its extreme accessibility, however I think it is prudish to assume this taco isn't of its glory. It is by far not the greatest taco I’ve come across, however it delivers solid blows to my gustatory cortex and it is infrequent for such a price to be found on York Blvd of all places. Final score 9.1/10.

NUMBER 5 - WHEN ONE NEEDS QUANTITY - ITALIAN BAKERY

ITALIAN BAKERY - BREAD LOAF, PRICE: $2.95

The bread is quite good. If I'm in the market for a group snack my first choice is the Italian Bakery. The atmosphere walking in is nothing i've experienced before, it creates an environment so fun and welcoming. The smell of fresh meat and baking bread permeates the shop overall contributing to the creation of an immaculate vibe. A lot of the store's

products are actually quite expensive. The bottled goods from Italy and fresh dried pasta are by no means cheap, but I find myself wanting to purchase as much as possible. Simply because their market is incredibly original, and you can't find these items anywhere else to this extent. The bread feeds roughly 3-7 people depending on serving size, and is relatively light making it a nice afternoon snack. The bread is fairly large, coming in at a foot long and rough 4-5 inches in height, and has a very satisfying crunchy outer shell and a soft luxurious pillow of bread on the inside. Overall it is very high quality french bread, and has exceptional taste. Final review, 9.2/10.

NUMBER 6 - WHEN OL’ FROSTY COMES KNOCKIN - FOSTER’S FREEZE

FOSTER’S FREEZE SMALL CONE, PRICE: $2.49

I think the majority of people who attend eagle rock know about its iconic chain Foster’s Freeze. It's been the cornerstone of delicious ice cream for as long as anyone can remember. The restaurant is packed with delicious fried chicken and burgers, but nothing has drawn me in more than their soft serve cone. Inflation has hit the ice cream industry hard, prices are doubling and serving sizes are shrinking such as businesses like Scoops and Magpies. Foster’s is an outlier in this situation, because both serving size and price are unbeatable. The ice cream is soft, flavorful and scrapes the sky with its towering delight. The staff are always very nice and get out orders quickly. The 60s roadstop diner atmosphere engulfs the surrounding and ever contributes to the overall experience. Overall very delicious and light ice cream, final score is 9/10.

NUMBER 7 -  THE FRIES OF LOS ANGELES  - FATBURGER & HOLDAAK

FATBURGER CLASSIC FAT FRIES / HOLDAAK CAJUN FRIES, PRICE: $3.95 - $4.96

Now deciding the top contender for fries was a bit difficult, and it depends very much on the situation and taste of the particular customer. On one hand, you’ve got Fatburger fat or skinny fries. Both the same costs and relatively the same flavor, and taste like high quality

McDonald’s fries. On the other hand Holdaak’s cajun fries offer a broad spectrum of flavor and ultimately have better taste and crunch than Fatburger. To decide what is best however you must first take into concern the price, portion size, and flavor. If you are sharing with other people, I'd go for Holdaaks, it typically can serve up to 4 people comfortably and also wins in the flavor department. However, if cost and loneliness are your ally, by all means the fat fries are a great choice. It offers a single serving and it is no doubt a bad fry by any comparison. Debating the best fry in complete fairness, my final score for Fatburger fries is 6.1/10 and Holdaak 7.3/10.

In the past few years inflation has jacked up food prices to an unreasonable amount, creating a living environment that's struggling to support itself. Through the foliage of lackluster businesses, yoga shops, oat milk lates, and 15 dollar sandwiches, I’ve found subtle gems over the years that break this inflating barrier. These places somehow strive from the social norm, and continue to keep their prices reasonable enough for students. It was not my intention to create a food-review article, but instead focus on what's arguably more important to high school students; the cost. Ultimately, it's these businesses that remind us eating well doesn't have to break the bank, and hopefully some new alternatives for afternoon snacks.