From California Post · · 1m 30s
LA's new 'affordable' dining: $150 tasting menus
In Los Angeles, fancy multi-course meals under $150 now count as budget-friendly as restaurant prices skyrocket.
In brief
In Los Angeles, fancy multi-course meals under $150 now count as budget-friendly as restaurant prices skyrocket. What counted as expensive dining just two years ago is now considered affordable in LA's inflated restaurant scene. Originally reported by California Post.
$150 is the new affordable
The Infatuation's updated LA dining guide lists tasting menus around $150 or less as 'relatively affordable.' It's a stark sign of how dramatically fancy dining prices have climbed.
Just two years ago, $100 was pricey
In 2024, Time Out LA featured tasting menus under $100 that wouldn't 'break the bank.' Even then, they noted $100 per person was out of reach for many.
Why everything costs more now
Inflation, rising ingredient costs, soaring commercial rents, and service fees have pushed prices up. Most omakase bars and Michelin spots now charge over $400.
Baroo and Holbox lead the pack
Arts District's Baroo charges $140 for seven courses with fermented black bean wagyu. Holbox in South LA offers eight courses for $130, plus tax and 18% service charge.
Some spots still under $100
Electric Bleu in Mar Vista serves five French courses for $79. At Osteria Mozza's Amaro Bar, four pastas and dessert cost $80 on weeknights.
The real bargain: Firstborn at $68
Chef Anthony Wang's Chinatown spot offers four inventive courses for just $68. That's roughly $17 per dish, which in today's LA feels almost free.
“Which in today's LA, is almost like getting a free meal.”
The takeaway
What counted as expensive dining just two years ago is now considered affordable in LA's inflated restaurant scene.
