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 Brandon, a freelance FX artist on the westside looking for a Sham replacement.

Name: Brandon

Age: 38

Occupation: Freelance FX artist

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

Favorite Kind of Food: Indian, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Korean, Italian

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Thai, Chinese,(not that these are bad, just only occasionally), Franchise Food.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: ZamZam Market (11028 Washington Blvd)- Tandoori, Kebabs and Biryani. BEST IN EXISTENCE for all 3. Mayura (10406 Venice Boulevard) Buffet Lunch. Friday is Chinese-Indian. All India Cafe (12113 Santa Monica Blvd) – good buffet. Pennsylvania Ave and Centinella/Olympic lunch trucks. Bay Cities Italian (1517 Lincoln Blvd.) Hot counter and Pre-made Godmothers.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Use to be Sham. Sham no longer exists. :( Best Shwarma and Falafels next to going to London. Havent found a replacement.

Places you have discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Quite a few, but haven’t had the chance. Discovered site on Friday!

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? From Santa Monica to the Valley. I make the rounds to Tonys Mexican Grill on Magnolia and Coldwater Cyn. Awesome fish tacos, great fish plates (just damn good prepared fish in general) and very good regular mexican fare. Family restaurant, small, busy, but worth it. Its better than Hugos tacos down the street. I also like Pita Kitchen on Ventura and Van Nuys, Its good and filling middle eastern fare. Cash only :( Portos in Glendale and Burbank, is always a must. Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City near Laurel Canyon makes some of the most amazing sandwiches

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? NYC. Just too many choices.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers in L.A.? I’d like to know where to find the best falafel and schwarma from beach to downtown. I’d prefer westside-culver. Ive been to Sunnin in Westwood, its good but expensive, and not a flexible menu. I want a great takeout place. Unfortunately the bar was set high by Sham, so I would prefer a Syrian place.

Right now, my favorite place for shawarma is The Pita Way (8532 West Pico Blvd), but pretty much because they stuff their sandwich with schnitzel. Good falafel too, but it’s Israeli not Syrian. Have you been to Sofra Kebab Express (10821 Venice Blvd) in Culver City? I think their shawarma is pretty tasty, and their falafel is excellent. (Just make sure you get it in a pita instead of a sandwich.) Got your own suggestion for Brandon? 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.