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 Joanna, a professional eater who loves Korean Pho but hates improperly cooked risotto.

Name: Joanna

Age: 25

Occupation: Marketing and customer relations, the better half of LA in Stilettos, and professional eater and shopper.

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Miracle Smile Dentistry in Miracle Mile and El Segundo, but I mainly work at home in Downtown LA.

Favorite Kind of Food: Oh gosh, this is a tough one. Of course, Korean food is my comfort food so that definitely makes my list of favorites. But besides that, it all depends on my mood. I love a good cheeseburger and fries, but I also have a major truffle obsession.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I try not to discriminate when it comes to food and I’m not a picky eater, but I highly dislike overcooked food or food that’s not made properly, especially risotto. For some odd reason, that really bothers me so I’ll rarely order risotto from restaurants unless I know they’ll make it correctly.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: I mainly work from home in Downtown LA, but since I do work from home, I’m not restricted to eating lunch just in this area. Of course, like everyone else, I love Starry Kitchen for lunch. Not only is the food great and affordable, but Nguyen never fails to crack you up and bring some laughs and tons of f bombs into your life. I love their Tofu Balls, but I also like that their lunch menu always rotates. It can get a bit tiring eating the same thing day after day, but that’s never the problem at Starry Kitchen.

I eat a lot of sandwiches for lunch so Mendocino Farms is the place to go for that. I always get their Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi, which I love since the meat is so tender and it’s balanced out perfectly by the pickled veggies and has a nice kick to it from the jalapenos. I generally can’t handle too much heat (weird since I’m Korean…) so this sandwich provides the right amount of kick.

My regular lunch spot is actually around Larchmont.

I love the cute, quaint area and it’s great to grab a quick bite and a little shopping. For quick, delicious sandwiches, Larchmont Wine and Cheese (223 N Larchmont Blvd) is the way to go. Lately they’ve been getting really packed so if you’re short on time, call 20-30 minutes ahead and your sandwich will be ready for you. I always get the Turkey Sandwich on Ciabatta with spread on the side and pickles and olives.

I also love Le Pain Quotidien (113 Larchmont Blvd) for salads and if I’m trying to be healthy. The food is a bit pricey for lunch, but I love sitting outside people watching eating my $15 Tuscan White Bean and Proscuitto or Cobb Salad. Of course, after the salad, you can’t help but be tempted by some baked goods so I usually end up helping myself to a bag of chocolate chip cookies or chocolate croissant.

The “goto” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often? I don’t really have co-workers so my lunch is usually eaten alone (sad face), but when my friends have time, they join me for lunch and we’ll usually go to Koreatown. The food is cheap and if you know where to go, it’s cheap AND good. One of my girlfriends and I always go to Pho LA (3470 W 6th St). We like it, because it’s cheap and not filled with MSG so we won’t have food coma after. They have lunch specials for a bowl of Pho and spring rolls or egg rolls on the side for less than $10. If I also happen to be in the Miracle Mile office, we’ll hit one of the food trucks or grab a salad from Mixt Greens.

Places you’ve discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? I’m a Midtown Lunch newbie! I just started browsing, but I already have a list made for lunch spots I need to try.

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? I’ll travel anywhere for food. In college, my girlfriends and I would drive to San Diego for California Burritos, eat them, and drive right back.

Dream job location (anywhere in the world), purely for lunch purposes, and why? San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Spain, anywhere in Europe, etc. I’ve traveled a lot when I was younger, but of course, when you’re 15, you don’t really appreciate the food. I was grossed out the first time I tried escargot in Paris, but now it’s one of my favorite dishes. I’d love to be able to spend some time in some great cities just discovering good food.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Any good, affordable catering you would recommend for parties?

Got an answer for Joanna? 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.