"The Meal: Lahmajun + Soujouk Sandwich, $15 There are several routes to an affordable meal at this casual Armenian cafe in Pasadena and all of them should involve lahmajun. The traditional razor-thin flatbreads here—topped with a savory mixture of ground beef, onions, and spices— are some of the best we’ve eaten in LA and somehow cost just over $2 for a 12-inch pie. A few of them make for a royal feast unto itself, but we like to round out a meal here with one of the sizable pressed sandwiches while still staying under budget. Get the combination of spicy cured soujouk, chopped pickles, and lemon juice that’s intense but well-balanced." - brant cox, sylvio martins