Three at a Time - Chaya, Saddle Ranch and Miyagi

Chaya Brasserie
8741 Alden Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: (424) 354-3445

Food - 10
Prices - 5 for food, 7 for drinks, 6 average
Service - 8
Total - 24 out of 30

The food here was killer good, but the portions are astoundingly small. The drinks were delicious and the Happy Hour pricing on the fru-fru drinks was pretty good. Neither of us was hungry, and it's a good thing, because the three appetizers would not have filled us up. That said, they were soooo delicious, especially the mac-and-cheese (which should not have been eight bucks on a happy hour menu). Total price for two with three apps and two martinis -- $45, w/ big tip. The place was mostly empty on a weekday at 5:30, but the few tables that did fill up were folks from Cedars, so it might be a good place for a single girl or guy to meet someone.

Saddle Ranch Chop House
8371 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Phone: (323) 656-2007

Food - 5
Prices - 10
Service - 10
Bonus points: none, but there is a mechanical bull, if that has any value to you.
Total - 25 out of 30

The appetizers here are typical bar food, plenty tasty and HUGE. We had the mini cheeseburgers and the quesadilla with the intent of ordering more, but not the stomach capacity to do so. Don't forget to order the burgers medium rare, or they come out pretty dry. The drinks were huge and cheap. The scene is young or touristy, it was decently full at 5:00 on a weeknight, and some of the groups seemed to be having a great time. For two people, with two (large) apps, biscuits and honey, one long island iced tea (also huge) and one plain iced tea, the total was under twenty bucks, so we left twenty-five, took home a doggie bag, and still felt like we were ripping them off. One note - this is NOT gourmet bar food. It's really standard, but you could do much worse.

Miyagi's
8225 W Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046-2413
Phone: (323) 650-3524

Food - 4
Prices - 7
Service - 5
Bonus points: -3 for people smoking on the patio with the outside doors wide open
Total - 13 out of 30

Whatever glory Miyagi's once enjoyed, it no longer does. The prices were good (everything half price) but the quality was so low as to not make it worth it. Fish has to be fresh, and this simply wasn't. Maybe we got them on a bad night, but our waitress seemed...sad. I honestly can't remember what we got or how much it cost, only that we knew we weren't coming back. If you're on Sunset for Happy Hour, do yourself a favor and go to Katana for sushi, House of Blues for great bar food, or Saddle Ranch for an incredible bargain. I hate to kick a place when it's down, especially in this economy, but your hard-earned Happy Hour dollars should be better spent than this. Until next time...