PROFILE: L.A. Lunch’er “Evan”

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 Evan, a grant analyst who works in Westwood Village- but has never lunched in the area just south of Wilshire! We need to break him of that…

Name: Evan

Age: Soon to be 31

Occupation: Grant analyst

Where in L.A. do you Work?: UCLA (but office is in Westwood Village)

Favorite Kind of Food: Mexican

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Most kinds of shellfish. I was vegetarian for over two years in my early 20s, and though I’ll eat all kinds of meat now, the texture of shrimp puts me off, and I don’t find lobster and crab to be worth the price (or the effort).

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Westwood isn’t a great lunch mecca, but there are some old reliables. It never gets mentioned among the best pizza places in LA, but I love LaMonica’s (1066 Gayley Ave, Westwood), and they have a Monday-Thursday deal for two slices of cheese pizza and a drink for $4.25. I found Isaac Toast (10887 Weyburn Avenue, Westwood) thanks to this site, and I’ve been there a few times and liked it, though I think the sweet sauce kind of overpowers everything else in the sandwich. I think the basic falafel sandwich at Falafel King (1059 Broxton Ave, Westwood) is one of the best deals in the area (around $5), and Sak’s Teriyaki (1121 Glendon Ave, Westwood) is pretty decent Japanese/Chinese hole-in-the-wall. It’s a bit expensive, but I also like Iso Fusion Cafe (1108 Gayley Ave, Westwood). They have a good sweet barbecue beef salad, and you get a lot of food. I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I don’t venture south of Wilshire all that often, and I haven’t tried the lamb tongue sandwich from Attari yet (1388 Westwood Blvd, Westwood), and I haven’t been to the new Sunnin yet (1779 Westwood Blvd, Westwood).

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? In-N-Out. Unoriginal, but don’t hate–if you had an In-N-Out a few blocks from your office, you know you’d be there all the time. I’m
also a fan of Fatburger, which doesn’t get anywhere near the love that INO does, but I think it should. And I’m also not immune from the big chains around here.

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? I don’t venture far too often, but I have made the drive to West LA for Pili’s Tacos (11924 Santa Monica Blvd, West L.A.). My pick for best al pastor on the Westside. Also, across the street used to be El Super Taco (11300 W Pico Blvd, West L.A.). Hoping they reopen from the fire soon–thankfully Monte Alban (11927 Santa Monica Blvd, West L.A.) is back. Zankou Chicken also isn’t too far away (1716 S Sepulveda Blvd, West L.A.).

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Hard to say, as I haven’t traveled all that much, but I would think Mexico City would be high on my list, as well as Lima–I am a big fan of Peruvian food.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers in L.A.? How often is too often to go to your favorite lunch spot? Do you ever get burned out and need to take a break from a certain place?

A goto lunch is named that because literally you should be able to eat there 2-3 times a week and never get sick of it. But that’s no excuse for not hitting up Attari! You’ve got to do it. Go something you’d like to say to Evan? Put it in the comments. And, as always, 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.

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2 Comments

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    You’ve never been to Cafe Hammer? Their soup and grilled cheese combo is great and is not a bad deal for $8.50. And yes – you have to get over to Attari – they have a delicious soup that is topped with fried onions and a little bit of creamy yogurt that is really delicious.

    • User has not uploaded an avatar

      Hey, Evan here. No, still need to try the Hammer. I never knew it was affordable until I read the review on here. I assumed it would be more expensive than that.

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