Now that we're all back to the school grind, I think it's time we talk about happy hour, and not just any happy hour, the happy hour at The Cannibal. 

While the term “happy hour” has been around for decades, dating back to the 1920s when prohibition banned restaurants from serving alcohol and thereby forced social drinking into private homes, the meaning has certainly changed over the years. No longer does it imply the five o’clock gathering of friends in Mr. Gatsby’s mansion to enjoy a Bees Knees cocktail in their cat’s pajamas or however they did it in the 20s.

Today, Happy Hour signifies something entirely different: cheap drinks. And if you’re lucky, cheap food.

Yet with the multitude of places in LA offering a happy hour menu, picking a spot can seem overwhelming. Especially when the advertised “Happy Hour” might just mean two dollars off cocktails with no food discounts.

Fortunately, I have found the highest quality and most college friendly Happy Hour in Los Angeles. And it’s just a fifteen minute ride from the UCLA campus. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the FREE all you can eat happy hour spread of charcuterie at The Cannibal.

Oooh! Ahhhh! Gasp! And the crowd goes wild!

antipasto, sausage, ham, bacon, meat, salami, platter, prosciutto
Giselle Abcarian

Free?! Did she say free?! Yes friends, yes I did. With the purchase of a $3 craft canned beer, a $5 old fashioned or a $20 bottle of rosé, you receive unlimited access to this glorious buffet of charcuterie delights. I washed down two plates of food with a stone IPA all for $3, does it get much better than that?

beer
Giselle Abcarian

There is a small catch though. At the Cannibal, happy hour really does mean happy hour, as in just one spectacular meat filled hour. This deal is only available from 5:30 to 6:30, so you do have to fight the LA evening rush hour traffic to get there and you can’t be too fashionably late. But I promise you it’s worth it. And if you don’t believe me, here’s a quick breakdown of what they had available during the charcuterie worshipping hour I experienced. 

A big bowl of chicken rillettes, which is essentially chicken cooked slowly in its own fat until tender.

chicken, pork, meat, sauce
Giselle Abcarian

Mortadella and ham with pickled sunchokes, two different kinds of mustards and cornichons. 

ham, antipasto, platter, meat, prosciutto, bacon, sausage
Giselle Abcarian

A big bowl of chips with spicy Spanish Serrano and golden raisin. 

corn, vegetable, pepper
Giselle Abcarian

So the next time you're deciding where to get your drink on with your friends, do yourself a favor and make it to The Cannibal before 6:30pm. You won't be disappointed.