by Kelly Wardle - 21 Reviews - 17 List
Cheap food is a happy hour staple, but free food in LA? Not so much. But if you're going out for drinks anyway, why not get some free happy hour food while you're at it? These LA bars and restaurants serve complimentary food during happy hour, which means even if you're nearly broke, you won't be stuck only drinking your dinner.
Updated: July 07, 2010
You don't have to be a member to sip cocktails at the swanky Main Bar at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in Downtown LA, where Monday to Friday between 5pm and 7pm you'll find half-priced wine, beer and mixed drinks, as well as a rotating spread of complimentary bar food favorites like quesadillas, chips and salsa, hot dogs and more.
If you're going to drink one (or more) of the large, potent margaritas from this Silver Lake Mexican restaurant, you're going to need something in your belly to soak up the booze. During happy hour (Monday to Thursday, 4pm-6:30pm), when you buy a drink you'll get a free appetizer plate with items like chorizo nachos, quesadillas, and chips and salsa. Just order a drink like the $7.50 margaritas or $4.50 beers and dig in.
Grab a free hot dog with your drink during the daily happy hour (5pm-7pm) at this Westwood spot with a huge whiskey list. The dogs are basic-but-tasty (they're topped with ketchup, mustard and onions), and you can't beat the price. Wash them down with $3.50 pints of beer or $5 glasses of house wine--if you're still hungry, try the addictive, so-cheap-they're-almost-free $2 potato puffs.
This stylish Italian gastrobar in West LA puts on an impressive free food spread during happy hour, with a bountiful buffet of small plate dishes such as chicken croquettes, eggplant lasagna and seafood ceviche. There aren't any drink discounts, so keep it in happy hour price territory by sticking to beer ($7 and up) or wine (starting at $8), or splurge on the $12 signature cocktails--after all, your dinner is free. Monday-Friday 5pm-7pm.
Drinks aren't discounted at this casual restaurant from the owners behind 3rd Stop and 1739 Public House, but daily from 3pm to 7pm, order a glass of wine or beer (there are some 30 types of beer on the menu, most for $6 each) and get a free cheese pizza.
During Friday happy hour (4pm-7:30pm) at this Burbank Mexican restaurant, get $1 off the potent margaritas, plus feast on a free buffet of items like chicken wings, flautas, taquitos and vegetable crudite.
An ever-changing selection of free food (think the usual Mexican items like tacos and chips and salsa), and drink specials like $3.50 house margaritas, $4 well drinks and $6 pitchers of domestic beer fill up happy hour revelers for less Monday to Friday from 4pm to 7pm.
Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7pm, this British tavern serves up free eats--anything from pasta to traditional bangers and mash. There's also $3.50 draft beer, well drinks and wine, not to mention one of the best patios for outdoor drinking in LA (plus men in plaid kilts, if that's your thing).
Happy hour here runs earlier than most (weekdays from 3pm to 6pm), so skip out of work early for a 25 percent discount on drinks (which means about $1.50 off large German brews) and a complimentary buffet of boozy snacks including cheese and crackers and a daily hot dish like chili.
This Calabasas seafood restaurant has multiple happy hours (Monday-Friday 5pm-7pm and Friday and Saturday 9pm-11pm), with drink specials like $3 draft beers and $5 wines and well drinks. During the weekday evening happy hours, drinkers can sample a rotating selection of free appetizers such as tuna tartare tacos, potato skins and bruschetta (but there's no food freebies during the late-night happy hour on Friday and Saturday).
There technically isn't a happy hour (and at $6 for bottled beer and $8 for cocktails, it's not the cheapest place for drinks), but if you find yourself craving a nightcap and a free snack, stop into this red-hued dive bar where bowls of freshly microwaved popcorn, chips and pretzels are always available, plus hot dogs with a choice of toppings frequently make an appearance.
