The best Dine LA summer specials you can't miss

The deal: A $65 four-course dinner 

Why we recommend it: While $65 might not exactly be cheap, the four-course offering at Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne’s iconic eatery typically goes for about 10 bucks more when ordered à la carte—and A.O.C.’s California-style bill of fare never misses the mark for an elegant, seasonally inspired evening meal. Choose from three different starters, and four mains that include the restaurant’s signature Spanish fried chicken, plus a side of vegetables and dessert. Available at the original in Beverly Grove (and A.O.C. Brentwood until it closes on August 1), the dinner menu offers more variety than either outpost’s lunch and brunch menus—which we’d skip in favor of better deals elsewhere.

Address: Beverly Grove: 8700 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048; Brentwood: 11648 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

When it's offered: Mon–Thu 5:30–9pm, Fri 5–10pm, Sat 5–11pm, Sun 5–9pm

The deal: A $35 three-course meal

Why we recommend it: Move over, Honor Bar—this Beverly Hills neighborhood watering hole is the best place for area locals to grab a stiff drink after work and a great, not-too-expensive bite to eat. Deftly mixed craft cocktails balance out straightforwardly delicious gastropub staples, including a killer fried chicken sandwich and a smashburger. Owned and operated by neighborhood residents Matthew and Justine Raanan, Beverly Bar is our favorite place in the Golden Triangle for a reasonably priced meal even when it isn't Dine LA. Dish options include straightforward but excellent options like spicy tuna on crispy rice, Baja shrimp tacos and cookie butter cheesecake for dessert.

Address: 434 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

When it's offered: Daily 11:30am–10pm

The deal: $25 at lunch for entrée and drink, $35 three-course dinner

Why we recommend it: The affirmation-style menu listings might be fodder for serious L.A. satire, but any local diner in the know can’t deny that the plant-based mini-chain has some of the most delicious vegan food in the city. Available at their Venice and Larchmont locations, Cafe Gratitude’s Dine LA menus run $25 at lunch for your choice of entrée and a drink and $35 for three courses and a drink. Both prix-fixe menus include a non-alcoholic drink, though you can upgrade to a Prosecco-based spritz at dinner for $5 more, and we think the $35 dinner deal is the better of the two menus.

Address: Larchmont: 639 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004; Venice: 512 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

When it’s offered: Lunch: Mon–Fri 10am–3pm; Sat, Sun 9am–3pm; Dinner: Daily 3–9pm

The deal: A $68 four-course steakhouse dinner

The deal: A $75 prix-fixe four-course dinner (all guests at the table must participate)

Why we recommend it: Damian is one of L.A’s best restaurants for a reason—and although the modern Mexican menu hardly ever changes, it’s still an excellent time for a special occasion. For Dine LA, guests will receive their choice of four unique dishes, including dessert and an appetizer. I'm personally partial to the corn husk meringue for dessert—a carryover from NYC sibling spot Cosme—and the duck carnitas, which are being offered as individual tacos for Dine LA.

Address: 2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

When it’s offered: Wed, Thu 5–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm

The deal: A $65 four-course steakhouse dinner

Why we recommend it: A beautifully revamped steakhouse from the Rat Pack era, Dear John’s is here for a good time, not a long time, after the property’s owner indicated plans to raze the building. For now, the new version of this longtime Frank Sinatra haunt is offering a Dine LA menu with a choice of steak Diane, chicken parmesan or salmon in a white wine and sorrel sauce. Cheesecake or chocolate crunch cake for dessert, a starter and sides of both broccolini and truffle macaroni and cheese upgrade this deal from good to great. If you're more into seafood, check out Dear John's newer sister restaurant, Dear Jane's, which is running a similar deal in Marina del Rey.

Address: 11208 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230

When it’s offered: Tue–Sat 5:30–9pm

The deal: A $55 family-style set for two 

Why we recommend it: One of Japan’s most popular ramen chains has an outpost in a deep South Bay strip mall, and it’s one of the best ramen bowls in L.A. County. Unlike most of L.A.’s tonkotsu joints, Kitakata’s specialty is a clear, flavorful pork-based shoyu broth paired with shina soba—a wavy, softer Chinese-style noodle—and tender slices of chashu. For Dine LA, Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai is offering two spicy ramens, two appetizers and two desserts for $55—an absolute steal in this economy.

Address: 4338 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505

When it’s offered: Mon–Thu 11am–3pm, 5–9:30pm; Fri 11am–3pm, 5–10pm; Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–9pm

The deal: A $25 all-day three-course menu 

Why we recommend it: These oversized deep-fried pork cutlets have already gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, but Lasung House lives up to the hype with a delicious, surprisingly light schnitzel-like crust, fusion-style noodle dishes and a refreshing rice sikhye slushie drink that’s liable to conjure childhood memories for plenty of Korean Americans. Normally, Lasung House offers its fried shrimp combo entrées for $25 apiece, so this Dine LA menu throws in a side noodle dish (spaghetti bolognese, spicy cold wheat noodles or chilled buckwheat noodles), and a shikhye slush for dessert for the same price. 

Address: 3134 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

When it’s offered: Mon–Thu 4–9:30pm; Fri, Sat 4–10:30pm; Sun 4–9:30pm

The deal: A $65 three-course dinner

Why we recommend it: After a decade-plus in business, Tin Vuong’s flavorful dishes still make for a delightful upscale-casual meal rooted in the fundamentals of Vietnamese cooking. dDners can find a reasonably priced three-course Dine LA menu at the Redondo Beach and El Segundo outposts for just $55. You’ll start off with goi du du—a green papaya salad that mixes peanuts, beef jerky, chilled prawns with a chili lime vinaigrette—and fresh shrimp spring rolls. Three excellent entrées, including a coconut chicken curry, make this a great Dine LA option for those in the South Bay.

Address: Redondo Beach: 247 Ave Del Norte, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; El Segundo: 830 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 100, El Segundo, CA 90245

When it’s offered: Redondo Beach: Mon–Thu 4–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–9:30pm; El Segundo: Mon–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–9:30pm; Sun 11am–9pm

The deal: A $55 three-course dinner

Why we recommend it: They don’t make Italian restaurants like Locanda Veneta anymore. Tucked into a cozy space along West 3rd Street, this reasonably priced decades-old trattoria serves a rustic bill of fare loosely inspired by Venetian cuisine. Think plenty of seafood-centric dishes, plus Italian classics like minestrone, wild mushroom risotto and vegetarian-friendly spinach and ricotta gnocchi. Entrées are simply dressed in garlic, fresh herbs and olive oil, for quality you can taste. For Dine LA, the restaurant is offering a deal-worthy three-course dinner that includes Locanda’s excellent grilled calamari, tagliatelle topped with uni and black caviar and a bone-in pork chop stuffed with fontina cheese, crab meat and sautéed spinach. The $35 three-course lunch deal is reasonably priced as well.

Address: 8638 W 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

When it’s offered: Mon–Thu 5–8:30pm, Fri–Sat 5:30–9pm, Sun 5–8:30pm

The deal: A $75 family-style feast for two

Why we recommend it: A quick price-specific search of this spring’s Dine LA restaurants might accidentally filter out Mayura, a quiet Culver City strip mall gem and one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. The Kerala-inspired eatery’s family-style feast actually is meant for two, bringing the true cost of the substantial three course meal with drinks and dessert included to $37.50 per head. Available all day, Mayura’s Dine LA menu allows you to pick two mains, including their famous fish curry. Combined with choice of appetizer, bread, dessert and drink, it’s a veritable feast for two.

Address: 10406 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

When it’s offered: Tue–Sun 11am–8pm

The deal: A $72 family-style meal for three to four people

Why we recommend it: At 24 per person, if you divide up this family-style meal meant for three, this SGV mala specialist is one of Dine LA’s most affordable (and delicious) meal deals. Available all day, the spread includes bowls of rice and three savory courses, and lets you pick from several items like boiled fish with rattan pepper, tea-smoked pork ribs and mini lamb skewers. The same deal is also being offered at Sichuan Impression’s West L.A. location, albeit with a more limited menu.

Address: Alhambra: 1900 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803; West L.A: 11057 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

When it’s offered: Alhambra: Mon–Thu 11:30am–2:45pm, 5–9pm; Fri–Sun 11:30am–2:45pm, 5–9:15pm; West L.A: Daily 11:30am–2:30pm, 5–9:30pm

The deal: A $25 lunch menu and $35 per head all-day dinner menu, minimum party size of two

Why we recommend it: Soban is the best Korean restaurant in L.A., with some of the most delicious, unique banchan (side dishes) in Los Angeles. It’s also one of the best restaurants in L.A. overall—and for the first time ever, it’s participating in Dine LA. Here, Koreatown essentials like bibimbap and doenjang jigae (bean paste stew) are executed at the highest level; both dishes are available on the $25 Dine LA menu. The $35 all-day dinner menu, designed for sharing, also includes two of Soban’s signature dishes: braised black cod and galbi jjim. For $11 more, a party of two can also go to town on their famous soy-marinated raw crab, which I think is the best of its kind in Los Angeles. 

Address: 4001 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

When it’s offered: $25 lunch: Mon, Wed–Fri 11am–9pm; Sat, Sun 11am–4pm; $35 dinner: Mon, Wed–Sun 11am–9pm