Midtown Lunch

As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week it’s Nick, a non profit researcher who is about to give up on bacon!?

Name: Nick

Age: 24

Occupation: Researcher

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Educational nonprofit ProCon.org on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica

Favorite Kind of Food: I was exposed to mostly bland chain restaurants growing up in southern Orange County, so I appreciate anything that is cultural and made with passion. Lately it’s been Indian, vegetarian, Chinese, and Japanese.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Pork. While I do enjoy pork when it’s used to flavor a dish, I had a realization this past weekend at Artisanal LA while I was munching on bacon trail mix and standing next to the Lardon truck that I am just tired of the bacon fetishism. I am going to try to avoid ordering slabs of pork belly in 2011.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: The third street promenade offers a lot of options in walking distance, but not necessarily the type you’d regularly want for lunch. Most tend to either be expensive fine dining options or tourist traps. I’m never disappointed with the taco plates at Border Grill (1445 4th St). A pair of chicken panuchos, potato tacos, lamb tacos, and avocado tacos all come under $10 and include delicious black beans. They also have a filling $10 quick lunch where you get a green corn tamale, an iced tea or soda, and the entrée of the day. La Cachette Bistro (1733 Ocean Avenue) does an excellent three-course lunch special that used to be $15 but I think its $18 now. The virtues of Bay Cities (1517 Lincoln Boulevard) has already been well documented here and Umami Burger (500 Broadway) is an obvious but good lunch option. My favorite lunch in walking distance is going to the Wednesday Farmers Market (Arizona & 2nd), grabbing an oyster or two from Carlsbad Aquafarms, buying a variety of fresh produce, and making myself a huge delicious salad when I get back to the office.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Ocean Café (100 Wilshire Blvd) for sandwiches, salad bar, and Korean food. Panera Bread (501 Wilshire Boulevard) and Wahoo’s Fish Taco (6258 Wilshire Boulevard) are popular. Today the whole office is going to Monsoon Café (1212 3rd Street Promenade).

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? If I’m craving Persian, I’ll gladly head over to Westwood for Attari Sandwich Shop (1388 Westwood Blvd), Shamshiri Grill (1712 Westwood Blvd), or Flame (1442 Westwood Blvd). When I am craving Indian food, I venture into Culver City. I’ve enjoyed every dish at Bawarchi (10408 Venice Blvd) so far, can’t get enough of the jackfruit at India Sweets and Spices (9409 Venice Blvd), and am currently enjoying exploring the menu at Mayura (10406 Venice Blvd). If I’m craving something greasy, I’ll hit up Honey’s Kettle (9537 Culver Blvd) for fried chicken and blueberry pancakes. I’ll brave traffic to Koreatown for mole from Guelaguetza (3014 W. Olympic Blvd.) or BBQ at Park’s (955 S Vermont Ave).

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? It’s always changing, but currently Jerusalem. Like Los Angeles, it offers a variety of different cuisines and flavors.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers in L.A.? This is a long shot, but I’ve been on a quest to find a place to buy my friend a Käsekrainer, a cheese-filled pork sausage. Also, what are some great coffee roasters?

Got a recommendation for Nick? 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 want to nominate), email me- zach@midtownlunch.com.