One of my newer spots for dinner in my Brooklyn neighborhood is northern Italian restaurant Rucola. I recently got to try their brunch as well and it was just as tasty as I thought it would be. Their take on classic poached eggs (top) includes speck and a tangy tomato sauce. And their roasted pork sandwich (bottom) with pickled veggies galore is so juicy and perfect you could eat it every day. They also have a variety of other egg dishes and a nutella french toast that are equally delicious. Top it all off with one of their excellent bloody mary's and you will leave there with a very happy belly.

-Natalie

(Images by On the Cheap)

One of my absolute favorite brunch spots of all time is The Brooklyn Star in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. You basically can't go wrong with anything you order here, but I think their fried chicken with waffles and biscuits (with gravy of course!) are the tops. Oh, and their mac and cheese? The best I've ever had, and I've had a lot! To top it off, they have delicious libations to wash it all down with as well. Pictured above are the fried chicken, caramelized grapefruit, meatloaf sandwich, and biscuits. You can see the rest of their brunch menu here.

-Natalie

(Images by On the Cheap)

For our first feature in the Brunch Series, we visit Strong Place in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. This place is great in general as a local gastropub that serves tons of local beers on tap and really good food including oysters. Their brunch is definitely a great representation of their menu too. My two favorite items were the poached eggs over a crab corn cake with avacado and a super creamy hollandaise (top) and their chocolate chip bacon pancakes (bottom). I will definitely be back here, preferably in the summer when I can enjoy their awesome backyard seating.

-Natalie

(Images by On the Cheap)

We're very excited to announce a new series on brunch here at On the Cheap! Starting next Friday we'll bring you a delicious brunch spot that we've enjoyed, and we'll continue this every other week. I love, LOVE food and it's something that I don't mind splurging on. But this site is about enjoying life on the cheap! I've found that brunch is one meal that is moderately priced everywhere and a great way to try out a restaurant that usually wouldn't be in your price range. We can't wait to share our delicious adventures with you...have a happy weekend!

-Natalie

The biggest source of joy during these crisp winter nights in LA (yes, tis true!), is the promise of a steaming hot bowl of ramen. LA is a mecca for all things noodle—and ramen is one of its shining stars. Start with LA’s very own ramen classic, Daikokuya. It’s arguably the granddaddy of ramen houses—centrally located in Little Tokyo, the wait can be killer but it’s almost always worth it as you eat your weight in a fat slice of chasu (braised pork), mounds of green onions, and perfectly done noodles. A few blocks away is another Little Tokyo favorite, Orochon. Here you can choose different soup bases and levels of spiciness. A drive to the far east, as in Gardena, takes you to Asa Ramen. There, amongst the discerning mostly-Asian clientele, you can get two different types of broth, assari (shoyu) and kotteri (tonkotsu & shoyu blend) as the base of your ramen. And to all the West siders out there, rejoice for a ramen place has opened up in Hollywood! Slick décor aside, Ikemen serves up authentic Japanese fare—its specialty being Tsukemen, or “dipping ramen” where you dip your noodles into a bowl of broth that is served separately.

-Maurene

(Image from Ikemen)

It's no secret that I'm basically a cookie monster. Well a dessert monster really! My newest cookie infatuation is with these little guys from Trader Joe's called Peanut Butter Goodies.  A crisp biscuit topped with peannut butter mousse, then covered in chocolate and rolled in chopped peanuts. They are salty and sweet and heavenly! I think they would be just perfect tossed in with some banana ice cream. 

-Natalie

(Image by On the Cheap)

I'm personally a huge fan of s'mores (and every dessert for that matter) so when I finally had the S'mores Pie from First Prize Pies I was in heaven! This pie is so decadent and delicious and the marshmallow texture on top is exactly like a melted marshmallow you would heat over a fire. So good! I think this pie would be such a fun alternative to a birthday cake or any other occasion that calls for a special dessert. You can get mini versions of their pies or a full size one depending on how much you need. Although I wouldn't say these are super cheap for an everyday dessert, they are well worth it for a special occasion  or gift dessert. 

(Image from First Prize Pies)

   


The O.G. food truck that started it all, Kogi, is now a veteran of the L.A. streets. Owner Roy Choi opened up his first restaurant in 2010 in Culver City, called Chego. In Korean, "chego" means "number one," or "the best." And IT IS. Chego serves up insanely flavorful and affordable appetizers, main dishes topping rice bowls, soda pops, and desserts. My reliable faves are the Chubby Pork Belly and Buttered Kimchi Chow. With descriptions such as "kochujang-lacquered kurobuta" on their menu, how can you lose? Like all of L.A.'s best, Chego is tucked away in a strip mall and has a few large tables for family-style seating and stand-up eating room as well.
-Maurene

(Image from Citybest.com)

  

I recently went to the newly opened Van Horn Sandwich Shop on Court Street in Brooklyn and I must say, it was super delicious. Their signature sandwich is the fried chicken sandwich piled high with a tasty cabbage slaw, nestled in a perfectly buttery bun. The star is the chicken itself though, so juicy and flavorful - maybe since it's marinated overnight in jalepeno buttermilk. They also have a variety of other sandwiches including pulled pork and catfish and sides like collard greens, hush puppies, and mac & cheese. I cannot wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!

(Images by On the Cheap)

I am so smitten with these two sets of measuring cups! They are so cute they can double as kitchen decor and they hardly take up any space. Either of these would make a great little gift for a friend that loves to cook. Top: Milk Bottle Measuring Cups from Anthropologie, bottom: Whale Measuring Cup set from Urban Outfitters.  

(Images from Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters)