Los Angeles - December 15, 2008

Dialing for Dollars

Ten Under $10

It’s time for change. Specifically, the quarters that are hiding in your couch.

1. Late-night mobile munchie truck Kogi serves $2 Korean short rib tacos and $5 spicy pork burritos. Track them down on Twitter.

2. No dough? No sweat. Erbaviva organic deodorant goes for $6.

3. Maple-glaze bacon donuts, Cher cupcakes, homemade Pop-Tarts, and nearly everything else on The Nickel Diner menu comes in way under $10.

4. Hold onto your affordable hat: Everything’s $3.99 at cheapie kitsch vintage store Thank You Mart.

5. Trade your Andrew Jacksons for Pimm’s Cups, house wines, risotto balls, and crispy artichokes during the happiest of weekday hours, 5-7 p.m., at Chloe.

6. Hand over a five-spot and take in a show (Facebook, formerly MySpace, perhaps?) at Upright Citizens Brigade any night of the week. And no funny business.

7. A pretzel-bunned cheeseburg with house-made zucchini pickles on the side sets you back $7.95 at Hole in the Wall Burger Joint (11058 Santa Monica Boulevard, at South Bentley Avenue, West Los Angeles; 310-312-7013).

8. You can have that hormone/antibiotic/nitrate/junk-free 100 percent grass-fed beef hot dog, soda, and bag of chips for $9.25 at Let’s Be Frank.

9. Read ’em, don’t weep at Stories. The recently opened bookstore cafe stocks new and used titles and Raven’s Brew coffee.

10. Depression-era 35-cent cocktails and free grilled cheeses and tomato soup are still going strong, 5-7 p.m., during Soup Kitchen Fridays at The Edison. Local charities and food banks wind up with 25 percent of the night’s sales.

That’s our two cents.