Restaurant Guide
Best Cheap Eats Near UCLA
The best cheap eats near UCLA — real student-budget picks in Westwood Village and Sawtelle. Maximum flavor per dollar, from iconic ice cream sandwiches to Persian sandwiches and noodles.
Get a pick that fits your taste →Eating well on a student budget near UCLA is completely doable — Westwood Village and Sawtelle are packed with cheap spots that actually deliver. These picks are organized by taste and occasion, so you can match the right cheap meal to the moment instead of just chasing the lowest price.
From the iconic Diddy Riese ice cream sandwich to a Persian sandwich most students never discover, every one of these will fill you up — or sweeten the night — for less than you'd spend on a mediocre delivery order.
1. Diddy Riese
$Cookies / Ice Cream
Best for: The most iconic cheap treat in Westwood — an ice cream sandwich for pocket change
Vibe: Tiny walk-up window, perpetual line of students, Westwood Village landmark
Diddy Riese is a UCLA institution: warm cookies, fresh ice cream, and an ice cream sandwich — pick two cookies and a scoop — for just a couple of dollars. The line wraps down the block on warm nights and it's worth it. There's no cheaper way to feel like you treated yourself in Westwood Village, and it's the unofficial post-dinner ritual for half of campus.
Who would like it: Everyone with a sweet tooth and a tight budget. The ice cream sandwich is the move.
Who should skip it: Anyone looking for an actual meal — this is dessert, and gloriously so.
2. In-N-Out (Westwood)
$Burgers
Best for: A cheap, reliable burger fix open late, right by campus
Vibe: Classic In-N-Out, fast, consistent, the California standard
The Westwood In-N-Out is a UCLA staple for a reason: a Double-Double animal style, fries, and a shake for under ten dollars, open late, never a letdown. Learn the not-so-secret menu (animal style, protein style) and it becomes the dependable cheap answer for a late lunch, post-library dinner, or end-of-night burger run.
Who would like it: Anyone who wants a cheap, consistent, genuinely good burger close to campus and open late.
Who should skip it: Anyone craving variety or non-burger options — the menu is famously short.
3. Attari Sandwich Shop
$Persian
Best for: A cheap, authentic Persian sandwich on the 'Tehrangeles' strip
Vibe: Casual Persian sandwich shop with a hidden back patio, low-key
Attari on Westwood Blvd is a beloved cheap-eats secret: Persian sandwiches (the kotlet and the famous beef-tongue sandwich), a daily ash reshteh soup, and a quiet back patio to eat on. It's inexpensive, deeply flavorful, and an easy introduction to Persian cooking for students who've never tried it. The Tuesday soup special is a local favorite.
Who would like it: Adventurous eaters who want an authentic, cheap Persian meal a short ride from campus.
Who should skip it: Anyone wanting fast-food familiarity — this rewards a little curiosity.
4. Northern Cafe
$Chinese
Best for: Cheap, filling Northern Chinese — dumplings and noodles in Westwood
Vibe: Casual, busy, student-favorite Chinese spot, open late
Northern Cafe is the Westwood go-to for cheap, satisfying Chinese: juicy pork dumplings, beef noodle soup, and dan dan noodles that fill you up for not much. It's busy, fast, and open late, which makes it a reliable cheap-eats default for UCLA students after class or a long night. The dumplings and the beef roll are the standout cheap orders.
Who would like it: Anyone who wants a filling, comforting, cheap Chinese meal close to campus and open late.
Who should skip it: Anyone after a quiet sit-down dinner — it's casual, busy, and turnover-focused.
5. Fat Sal's
$Sandwiches
Best for: An enormous sandwich that doubles as two meals
Vibe: Over-the-top sandwich shop, indulgent, late hours
Fat Sal's makes absurdly large, loaded sandwiches — think the 'Fat Sal' stacked with cheesesteak, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and fries inside the roll. It's pure indulgence, cheap per calorie, and easily splits into two meals. A late-night UCLA favorite when you want maximum food for minimum money and zero restraint.
Who would like it: Big appetites and late-night eaters who want a ridiculous amount of food for the price. Split one to stretch it.
Who should skip it: Light eaters or anyone after something fresh and healthy — this is gleeful excess.
6. Gushi
$Korean
Best for: A cheap, flavorful Korean rice bowl in Westwood Village
Vibe: Tiny walk-up Korean spot, fast, generous, no-frills
Gushi is a tiny Westwood Village window doing Korean-style marinated meat over rice — the 'Gushi bowl' piled with garlic-heavy beef or chicken is cheap, fast, and seriously filling. It's a longtime student favorite for good reason: maximum flavor and volume for very little money, right in the Village.
Who would like it: Anyone who wants a garlicky, generous, cheap Korean bowl without leaving Westwood Village.
Who should skip it: Anyone wanting a sit-down meal or a quiet room — it's a tiny, fast walk-up spot.
Frequently asked
- What are the best cheap eats near UCLA?
- Westwood Village and Sawtelle deliver the best value near UCLA — from iconic Diddy Riese ice cream sandwiches to Persian sandwiches and noodle shops. This guide ranks them by flavor-per-dollar.
- Where can UCLA students eat cheaply in Westwood?
- Westwood Village has a dense cluster of student-budget spots; the picks here focus on the ones that punch well above their price.
- What's the best cheap dessert near UCLA?
- Diddy Riese in Westwood is the classic answer — famous for low-cost ice cream sandwiches. This guide covers it alongside other high-value picks.
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