The smart money’s on these SoCal food and drink deals

Tower of hors d’oeuvres for two at Anisette brasserie in Santa Monica includes cheese, bread, charcuterie, olives and vegetables, $15 per person.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Chopan Kebab House in Northridge offers an Afghan dumpling dinner for two, about $20.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Bara chirashi bowl lunch special, which includes fresh, chopped yellowtail, tuna, salmon, squid, omelets, radish sprouts and salmon roe, garnished with shiso, wasabi and pickled ginger, is at Takumi in Los Angeles, $9.50  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Summer plum salad with endive, pecans and hazelnut vinaigrette is part of the three-course prix fixe lunch served at Marché Moderne in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, $20 weekdays, $25 weekends.  (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Kothey momo (dumplings) at Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine in L.A., $5.99.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Spinach flatbread, top, and red pepper flatbread at Old Sassoon Bakery in Pasadena. Flatbreads and turnovers are $1.50 to $2.50.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Beet and baked goat cheese salad at Little Flower Candy Co. Cafe in Pasadena, $9.50.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Four-course prix fixe menu Monday through Thursday at All’ Angelo in Los Angeles, $39. It includes grilled octopus salad with bottarga and celery, saffron-lamb lasagna and braised veal cheeks.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Three-course tasting menu Sunday through Wednesday at Tracht’s in Long Beach, $30.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Tamale spirals on tomato sauce at Chichen Itza in L.A., which has a tasting menu, $35.  (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)

The Sunday brunch buffet at the Mission Inn in Riverside, $34.  (BarbaraDavidson / Los Angeles Times)

Liter of 2007 Der Pollerhof Gruner Veltliner, $10.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Hot pretzels and a salt stick at Alpine Village Market in Torrance, $1.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Made-to-order bento box meal from Bento Asian Kitchen in Redondo Beach, $8.95.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Honey butter bread slice at MamMoth Bakery in Gardena, $1.75.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Wine director Jay Perrin pours a rose for diners at Campanile in L.A., which has hidden on its wine list some luxurious wines offered by the glass, including, for $20, a 2002 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes (750 ml bottles of it sell online for $300+).  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Amaranta in Canoga Park offers cocktails from 10 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, $3 to $6, and a selection of taco and tamale plates, $7.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Matt Lyman of Tender Greens in Culver City prepares an entree for a customer. The restaurant offers old-fashioned Sunday pot roast dinner with mashed potatoes and a salad or vegetable, $10.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Patrons enjoy dinner at Quan Hy in Westminster, which serves bun bo Hue noodle soup with pork and beef, $7.50.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)