Cost of Eating Out in Los Angeles 2026 — Restaurant Prices, Taco Truck Costs and LA Food Budget Guide

Cost of Eating Out in Los Angeles 2026

Los Angeles has one of the world's most diverse food cultures and a wide price range that spans $2 street tacos from a Boyle Heights taqueria to $400 tasting menus in West Hollywood. LA's legendary taco truck culture, its diverse immigrant food communities (Korean in Koreatown, Japanese in Little Tokyo, Mexican in East LA), and its food truck scene make it possible to eat brilliantly for very little. This guide covers eating-out costs in Los Angeles in 2026.

LA Restaurant and Food Prices

• Taco (taqueria or taco truck): $2-4 per taco ($3-$6 AUD)
• Korean BBQ (all-you-can-eat Koreatown): $25-45 ($37.50-$67.50 AUD) per person
• Ramen or pho (mid-range): $16-26 ($24-$39 AUD) per bowl
• Casual Venice or Silver Lake brunch: $18-32 ($27-$48 AUD) per person
• Mid-range West Hollywood or Brentwood dinner: $45-80 ($67.50-$120 AUD) per person
• Beverly Hills or Malibu upscale dining: $90-160 ($135-$240 AUD) per person
• LA fine dining tasting menu: $150-400+ ($225-$600 AUD) per person

LA Best-Value Food Areas

• Boyle Heights has some of LA's most authentic and affordable Mexican food including carnitas, birria, and tamales at generational family restaurants; Koreatown is outstanding value for Korean BBQ, sundubu jjigae, and Korean fried chicken; Grand Central Market downtown has diverse affordable food stalls at various price points; Olvera Street in Chinatown-adjacent area has traditional Mexican food at tourist-area prices

Tipping in Los Angeles

• Tipping of 18-22% is standard at sit-down LA restaurants in 2026; digital payment terminals increasingly suggest 20-25% as the default options; tipping 15% at a sit-down restaurant in LA is considered below the norm; tip screens at counter-service cafes are optional — 0% is acceptable at purely counter-service venues

LA Daily Food Budget

• Budget (taco trucks, ethnic restaurants): $25-50 AUD per day; Mid-range: $70-130 AUD per day; Upscale: $150-350 AUD per day

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.