monkey in la: Weekday Food for All

Los Angeles is a town where the only issue for some is the cash burning a hole in their pockets. For the rest of us--the students, the PAs, the interns, the young professionals living on just enough to get by--there are specials. Drink specials. Taco specials. Let's-take-a-brief-vacation-to-Spain-via-wine specials.

For a few dollars and a little bit of help, Angelenos from Downtown to Venice can all eat like heirs. Here is a list of a few of my favorites and some I have yet to try:

MONDAY

AOC

Mediterranean Tapas & Wine

8022 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles

Flights & Bites on Monday Nights

At Caroline Styne's West 3rd eatery, two flights of wine and a selection of small plates are perfectly paired at a petite price. With destinations changing weekly, Mondays can be an escape where to sample interesting French fromage and various vinos from Spain all without the usual big tab of AOC. Call 323.653.6359 for reservations.

Citizen Smith

American Cajun

1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood

50% of all food on Mondays

Xiomara

New Latin

6101 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

Cubano Mondays: $25 per person family-style entrees, desserts & mojitos

TUESDAY

Marix

Tex-Mex

1108 N. Flores Street, West Hollywood

Taco Tuesdays

With a permanent barrel of chips and $4 margaritas during weekly Happy Hour (4-7pm), this lively West Hollywood spot is making weekdays likable. Add all-you-can-eat $1.50 tacos and good company and Tuesday feels like the new Friday. . .except for the workday hangover.

WEDNESDAY

JiRaffe

California French

502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica

Ravioli Wednesdays

With a formal interior and an ever-changing menu, JiRaffe seems like a restaurant fit for special occasions. But on Wednesdays for just $29, Chef Lunetta serves up homemade ravioli, a salad with local ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, a dessert and two glasses of wine.

THURSDAY

Ciudad

Latin American

445 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

Ciudad After Dark

This downtown restaurant is a packed spot for lunch and on the weekends,but if you can trek downtown for Wednesday or Thursday nights, you can find a late-night happy hour serving $4.50 specialty drinks and small plates.

FRIDAY

Edison

American Lounge

108 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles

Soup Kitchen Fridays

From 5-7pm, The Edison serves up free grilled cheese and tomato soup plus 35 cent concoctions with apropos names like the 401K and the Bailout. If you choose to stay longer, do your part and keep drinking--all proceeds on Fridays go to real local soup kitchens.

MONDAY-FRIDAY