2014 Food & Drink Awards nominees: Best new cheap eats

As you probably can infer from its name, Eggslut's choice ingredient is the (organic) egg, a conceit that, yes, we’ve seen almost too many times now, when no dish (Tacos! Pizza! French fries!) is complete without a fried egg on top. Thankfully, Eggslut largely succeeds even if you've grown weary of the trope.

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There is a way to eat bao buns, and it is with Kendrick Lamar and Biz Markie playing in the background. At least, that’s the way it feels at The Bun Shop, a Koreatown eatery and brick-and-mortar offshoot of The Bun Truck (now only available for catering). Founded by Detroit natives Brian Yeun and chef James Seok, the small restaurant bills itself as a "chill late-night spot for the homies"—and with a graffitied wall, big screen TVs, curated hip hop playlist and masculine decor, it could resort to just that: a dude's bun shop.

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Taking Garvanza's old spot along Highland Park is Amara Kitchen. The breakfast joint offers health nuts their own breakfast of champions, specializing in gluten-free, vegan and paleo options. Emphasizing straightforward, clean flavors, the menu runs the gamut from paleo pancakes to squash pistachio soup and a variety of baked goods. Our pick from the draw: their smashed avocado toast topped with proscuitto—creamy and moreish with an nice, salty kick to round things off.

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Throwback burgers and cocktails giving you the same-ol' blues? Look no further than Top Round, LA's latest homage to old-school, as in roast beef sandwiches, from the guys behind 800 Degrees Pizza and Red Medicine. With a prime Mid-City corner—La Brea and Olympic, to be exact—and retro furnishings (think: bright orange and red picnic tables), the charming, fast food joint seems like it's been part of this city block for decades.

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