Archive for February 2011

Has India Jones Switched Up Their Bread?

India JonesIndia Jones

It was almost exactly 1 year ago this week that I first hit up the India Jones Truck.  I was fresh off the boat from NYC, and hungry for a West coast equivalent to my beloved kati roll- a Calcutta street food that is very popular in Midtown Manhattan.  I really loved their butter chicken (you might say the secret ingredient is butter) but their frankies and stuffed “paratha” left me a bit disappointed.  Admittedly the frankie and kati roll are two completely different treats (the frankie comes from Bombay, and features an egg washed bread) but I was still hoping for something a bit more traditional than the Mexican flour tortilla they were using for both items.

Well, recently I heard an unconfirmed rumor that they may have changed their bread to something a bit more roti-like.  Excuse to try the India Jones Truck again?  Don’t mind if I do!

Read more »

Lunch Links (The “Half Order of Tan Tan Men” Edition)

Photo courtesy of Gastronomyblog

  • ATWATER VILLAGE Viet Noodle House has closed [Eater]
  • BEVERLY HILLS Nate N Al’s makes the best french dip!? [Right Way to Eat]
  • DTLA Here’s a great ordering strategy for Chin Ma Ya [Gastonomyblog]
  • SAMO The Market at Santa Monica Place will open May 20th [Eater]
  • WEST L.A. A list of lunch options on Sawtelle [Grub Street]
  • MOBILE See, I’m not the only one who likes sushi burritos [Squid Ink]
  • MISC A round up of some tasty looking L.A. chili dishes [LAist]

What’s Your Favorite Car Wash Lunch?

DSC01210

Yesterday I needed a car wash, and what better way to kill two birds with one stone than with a car wash lunch!?  I kind of love how a ton of car washes places in L.A. have little lunch spots attached to them, and I’ve been obsessed with trying as many of these places as I can.  Am I saying that lunch dictates where I am likely to get my car wash?  Yup.  That’s exactly what I’m saying.

Crunchy Sea is a great car wash option in Koreatown, and I’ve been really wanting to try the barbecue place attached to the Handy J car wash in West L.A. (even though I’ve heard bad things.)  But yesterday I was hell bent on checking out a sushi place that I was told about by Josh from the blog Food GPS.  That’s right… car wash sushi!  How could this be bad? (You know what… don’t answer that.)

Read more »

Buy One Get One Free Chipotle Burrito: Now that I've completely changed my stance on Chipotle, I guess I can pass this deal along: if you're willing to sit through a preview of a new TV show from NBC, you're rewarded at the end with a coupon for a buy one get one burrito/bowl/salad from Chipotle. (Bonus Tip: you don't actually have to like the show on Facebook.  Just watch the video.)

China Catering Unlocks the Mystery Behind General Tso

DSC01205

I love me some dim sum, and had every intention of checking out  the newish Bao Dim Sum House on Beverly yesterday for lunch. But naturally I ended up being drawn to the dingy little Chinese take out spot next door.  China Catering is not unlike most of the typical cheap takeout Chinese food places in L.A.  $6 lunch specials, assorted meins (lo, chow, etc.), and deep fried meats covered in a sticky sweet sauce that is supposed to resemble any one of a number of different citrus fruits.  Standard in pretty much every way- until I saw these words under the chicken section:

General Tso Chicken (New York Style or Chinese Style)…………………… $7.50

“Chinese style” General Tso’s Chicken? Who knew such a thing even existed! Now you have to understand I have an unhealthy obsession with general tso’s chicken.  And I don’t mean unhealthy in that cutesy “I’m a fat food blogger, and I love to eat pork belly!” kind of way.  I mean, unhealthy- it sent me to the hospital back in college– unhealthy obsession.  So… clearly I needed to try both versions of China Catering’s general tso’s (you know, for science.)

Read more »

PROFILE: L.A. Lunch’er “Caroline”

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 Caroline (on Crack), a Santa Monica booze blogger looking for a tasty grilled cheese sandwich.

Name: Caroline

Age: 39

Occupation: Blogger/Caroline on Crack

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Santa Monica, CA

Favorite Kind of Food: Healthy, comfort food

Least Favorite Kind of Food: French, just not into the meatiness, heaviness and the tiny portions to boot.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: The chicken pho and the eggplant tofu at Tiato in the MTV building (2700 Colorado Ave), build-your-own-salad at Mrs. Winstons (3150 Ocean Park Blvd), tuna melt at Bergamot Station (2525 Michigan Ave), the ever-changing food truck alley on Pennsylvania Street (off of 26th). The Counter‘s turkey burger in a bowl with cranberries, carrot strings, mixed greens and fried onion strings with a side of roasted garlic aioli. Huckleberry Cafe (1014 Wilshire Blvd.) is a splurge for me in terms of time and money but I love the quinoa with fried egg and the salted caramel bar for a treat.

Read more »

Lunch Links (The “Vito’s White Pie FTW” Edition)

DSC07593

  • BEVERLY HILLS Pizza expert agrees: Vito’s white pie is awesome… [Squid Ink]
  • BEVERLY HILLS …And their breadsticks are good too! [Savory Hunter]
  • DTLA Guisados looks like it’s worth the drive to Boyle Heights [Daily Dish]
  • DTLA The Argentine Kachi Deli is now open [Grub Street]
  • H’WOOD More dishes you should be ordering at Pailin Thai [Sinosoul]
  • H’WOOD Adam Levine from Maroon 5 loves Mozza 2 Go [Food is the New Rock]
  • KTOWN Cassell’s burger is a classic [Squid Ink]
  • VENICE Poke Poke looks like my kind of place! [Food GPS]
  • WEST LA Marukai Japanesen Market is opening soon [Grub Street]
  • WEST LA Hello pretzel bun from Hole in the Wall Burger Joint! [Squid Ink]
  • MOBILE Nom Nom Truck’s Jen crowned hottest chef in L.A. [Eater]
  • MOBILE Hear me talking about sushi burritos on the radio! [Dinner Party Download]