$5 Food

Citysearch lists $5 fill up foods you can get near public transportation in Los Angeles. I don't know about you, dear reader, but I find this almost totally useless. For one, I don't use these public transportation outlets and therefore, wouldn't go out of my way to find $5 meals. Going out of your way means extra cost. I'd rather eat something convenient for $7. You know what I'm saying? So I thought I'd do an alternative - since we're entering recession and everyone is trying to save dough - ten $6 meal options in Santa Monica.

1. Panera Breakfast Sandwich and a coffee. $5.29 total. It's breakfast, so you're right not to be too impressed. But it is a good and filling breakfast - I like the bacon, egg, and cheese. They use Vermont Cheddar. Yum. If you get make coffee at the office, like I do, it'll only cost you $4. Maybe add an orange for health.

2. Black Bean Soup plus an apple from Whole Foods. $5.75. It's not a huge lunch, but if you're not too hungry, the "Black Bean Soup" really should be called Black Bean Chili. Toss a little cheddar from the salad bar and add an apple, it's a decent lunch.

3. Small Poor Boy with the works from Bay Cities. $4.35. You can't beat this deal. It's a decent sandwich for a pittance. Toss in a soda or chips and you're still under $6.

4. Small Turkey and cheese from Bay Cities. $5.75. A small with the works is only $6.10 and is definitely a good lunch - but unfortunately, doesn't quite make the cut. So cut out the works and you're still eating a good quality, fresh, and simple sandwich.

5. Spaghetti with Sausage or Meatball from Bay Cities. $5. A small pile of Spagehetti with a Sausage or Meatball and a Dinner Roll. Not a huge meal, but tasty, quick, and cheap.

6. Bean, cheese and guacamole burrito from Baja Fresh. $5.35. It comes with free chips and some of the best salsa in town if you ask for the dark red stuff they carry behind the counter. This fills you up no questions asked. But Baja Fresh is borderline fast food.

7. Two slices of cheese pizza from Dagwoods. (or one slice and a garden salad). $5.75ish. You may be able to throw on one topping and keep it under $6. Either way, the slices are huge, good, thin crust style. I know it's nearly impossible to eat pizza without soda, but it'll put you over because one slice isn't enough to fill up a grown male.

8. Lucy's Lunchbox grilled cheese with tomato. $5-6. I think they throw in a side of potato salad or pickles. It's a small lunch, but they make it well.

9. Panera Asiago Bagel with cream cheese and tomato. $3. Great small breakfast and you can add on fruit and coffee and still make it under $6. Oh wait, tomato is a fruit. PS - Panera doesn't charge for the tomato. I don't know why, they just don't.

10. Double double plus fries from In and Out is still under $6 as far as I know. It's as good as ever.

11. Chipotle. Enough said.