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 Kara, a carb fiend who is looking for a spicy lunch in Hollywood…

Name: Kara

Age: 30

Occupation: Assignment Desk

Where in L.A. do you Work?: KTLA, Hollywood, CA

Favorite Kind of Food: I love anything with carbs, spicy food, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Peruvian, Thai, El Salvadorean, Vegan & Vegetarian, German, Greek, Cuban & Moroccan food!

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Tasteless food, Chipotle & In-and-Out

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Tender Greens (6290 Sunset Blvd) – Seared Ahi tuna dinner plate-They also have amazing mashed potatoes, desserts & fresh drinks. Oaks Gourmet (1915 North Bronson Avenue) – Grilled Cheese Night is to die for here, plus they sell s’muffins! Palms Thai (5900 Hollywood Blvd.) – Pad See Yew & Raw blue crab is incredibly fresh! California Vegan (7300 W.Sunset Blvd. #A) Crispy Chicken dinner has a great chicken-like texture.

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Spotted this brand new lunch spot on 7th between Broadway & Spring right after my gut busting pre Thanksgiving lunch at Clifton’s Cafeteria. It’s called Flames Mediterranean Grill and while the menu looks fairly standard (falafel, shawarma, shish kebab, schnitzel) their delicious looking rotating spit sports the unusual combo of turkey and lamb. They also have something called a shawarma fajita which could be interesting. According to this shill post on Yelp the restaurant sports the same owners as the Falafel King in Westwood. Flames, you are now on my list. Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments.

Flames Mediterranean Grill, 225 W. 7th St., 213-622-3033

The tornado potato sausage. Photo courtesy of Guzzle and Nosh.

• MOBILE Best hot dog invention since the corn dog? I say yes. [Squid Ink]
• DTLA Get free lunch from Hop Woo on Thursday and Friday! [Deep End Dining]
• DTLA Nickel Diner is going to be on an H&R Block commercial [Blogdowntown]
• MAR VISTA Saby’s starts Fish Taco Tuesdays [Grub Street]
• MID CITY Simplethings is now open- and serving a Thanksgiving sammy [E*star LA]
• SAMO Sham is still doing their 2 for 1 deal on Syrian pizzas to go [Cork and Rind]
• MOBILE The Lobsta Truck hits the street a week from Friday [Gastronomy;Eating LA;Squid Ink]

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 Melissa, a journalist who is probably eating lunch at the LAX food truck lot as you’re reading this…

Name: Melissa

Age: 27

Occupation: Music and film journalist/editor of political and advice columns, and comic strips

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Creators Syndicate, LAX area/Winchester

Favorite Kind of Food: Thai, anything with basil or cilantro, copious amounts of cheese, Greek

Least Favorite Kind of Food: “fishy” fish, baby corn

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Ayara Thai (6245 West 87th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045-3901) – The lunch specials are killer! I usually get the pad thai $8 lunch special, which also comes with chicken sate and veggie rolls; The Counter (700 A Allied Way, El Segundo, CA 90245-5504) – BOMB build-’em burgers. I’m partial to a bleu cheese one with the garlic fries; Veggie Grill (720 South Allied Way, El Segundo, CA 90245) – A vegan reprieve from the aforementioned meals, but just as good! The All Hail Kale salad is delish, as are the sweet potato fries!

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I’m not sure what it is about old school cafeterias that cause me to so willingly give up quality, but they do. I will gladly accept dry turkey, meatloaf of an unknown provenance, congealed cheese covered mac and cheese, and terrible pies and pudding provided that the method of ordering doesn’t involve menus or waiters, but simply requires moving said items from a counter onto a tray.  Of course the food has to be cheap- otherwise a fat guy like me will end up spending a fortune, and that is no good.

So when I heard that Downtown L.A. was home to one of these such places, I knew I had to go.  And when I heard that their gravy topped roast turkey and stuffing was a winner, I knew I had to go before Thanksgiving!

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Fish custard from Silom Supermarket. Photo by Katie Robbins/Squid Ink

• HOLLYWOOD What the hell is Thai fish custard!? [Squid Ink]
• DTLA Best non-turkey sandwiches in L.A., but only 2 are under $10 [Zagat]
• DTLA The sirlion burger at Gram & Papa’s is a near miss [AHT]
• MID CITY The Gumbo Pot’s shrimp po’boy is better than it used to be? [Immovable Feast]
• MID CITY Tinga is good, but Loteria is better [Squid Ink]
• MID CITY Your first look at Simple Things Pie & Sandwich Shop [The Minty]
• WEST L.A. Everything at Sushi Stop is $2.50 [Grub Street]
• MOBILE Lobster Roll from a truck?  Why not.  [Grub Street;Eater]