Midtown Lunch

As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we’ll profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week it’s Meg, a Century City marketing person who spends a lot of time in the Century City Mall- but wishes she worked in Mexico City.

Name: Meg

Age: 30

Occupation: Marketing

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Century City

Favorite Kind of Food: French brasserie (moules frites, steak frites, cassoulet, roast chicken, frisee aux lardons, etc.)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Deviled eggs and anything with plantains

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Spicy pork ramen from Ajisen Ramen in the Century City Mall Food Court (10250 Santa Monica Blvd). It’s no Daikokuya (Downtown), but as far as fast food ramen goes, it totally holds its own.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Courtyard Cafe in the Century City Mall. The salad bar is quick, easy, cheap and healthy. It’s not in the food court, so it gets minimal tourist traffic.

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? If I have the time, I love driving up to Toluca Lake for lunch at Paty’s. Lately I’ve had great lunches in Thai Town (at Jitlada) and Koreantown (at Mapo Restaurant). If I’m walking, the longest excursions are to the Century City farmers market for tacos (Thursdays from 11 AM to 3 PM at Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars), and to The Stand right behind CAA (2000 Avenue of the Stars). My standard order there is a kraut dog and a beer.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Mexico City. My favorite restaurant in the world, Contramar (Calle Durango 200, Colonia Roma, Mexico D.F.), is located there and is only open for lunch. I like to imagine I could eat their tostadas de atun every day and never get tired of them.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers in L.A.? Where does everyone eat when they are on jury duty?

Got a suggestion for Meg? Put it in the comments. And if you want to be next week’s Profiled: L.A. Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nominate), email me- zach@midtownlunch.com.