Midtown Lunch

Clearly there is nothing I can’t write about Bay Cities that hasn’t been written before. If you want a sandwich, and you’re anywhere near Santa Monica, it’s pretty much the only spot that anybody and everybody will send you to. On my first visit I learned that waiting in line was for suckers. Ordering online saves a ton of time, but I get it. Sometimes you’re driving around, you didn’t plan for the visit, the craving comes all of a sudden- and boom. What are you going to do? I’ll tell you what you’re going to do… go for the hot foods! The bread at Bay Cities is unbelievably good. But the cold cuts they put in the Godmother? It’s just Boar’s Head. On my first visit the chicken parm sandwich blew away the Godmother, and last week I headed back for the meatloaf sandwich- a recommendation from Lunch’er “Jeff”.

Just a warning… it’s about to get super messy in here!

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I’ve heard little bits and pieces about the new fried chicken truck run by Dante Gonzales, the NYC artist/chef/party thrower now based here in L.A. It was enough to get me interested, but the Dante Fried Chicken Truck hasn’t really hit the streets full time yet (just a few private events here and there.) I was particularly curious how such a new truck managed to squeeze their way into Thrillist’s Food Truck Rally– featuring the 5 “Best of the Best” Food Trucks in L.A., but the pick turned out to be inspired… because not only were they the talk of the event this past Saturday, they won the people’s choice voting (beating out Frysmith, Dim Sum Truck, Komodo, and Lardon.) And not just for their fried chicken… it was also their fried tofu (vegetarians should be seriously excited for this), mac and cheese, and their coconut biscuit topped with blueberry stout brisket & almond banana slaw.

I’m not sure exactly when the truck will pop up in public next, but it sounds like they may be on Miracle Mile for lunch very soon. My twitter stalking has officially started (and if you’re smart, you’ll follow them right along with me.)

The Ciao Balla from Great Balls on Tires. Photo by Chow Balla.

• MOBILE Hello meatball truck! [Chow Balla]
• DTLA Daikokuya makes some great gyoza [Squid Ink]
• FAIRFAX Rama brings decent thai to the area [Squid Ink]
• INGLEWOOD Front Page for great Jamaican near LAX [Mattatouille]
• MID CITY The Guru is also a fan of Tinga [LA Weekly]
• MID CITY Is getting it’s own Jinya! [Eater]
• WEST LA Here’s a list of good gyros on the west side [Chowhound]
• MOBILE A 2nd cheesesteak truck has hit the streets [Grub Street]
• MOBILE Get 5 Trucks for $5 from Thrillist tomorrow [LAist]