Midtown Lunch

If I had to make a list of places in L.A. where I felt least likely to find a delicious lunch, a food court on Venice Beach would probably be top 5. Unless, of course, you like shitty pizza, old hot dogs, or sun chips covered in melted cheese masquerading as nachos. Even the “branch” of Chicago’s famed Mr. Beef was a dud, closing almost as quickly as it opened.  So when I read on Grub Street that a new Peruvian spot had opened up in one such food court (on Westminster and the Ocean Front Walk) I got mildly excited.  Poke Poke is my goto lunch when I find myself down on Venice Beach, but it’s always good to have a back up.  Especially if that backup is lomo saltado and a decent ceviche.

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I try to be positive here on Midtown Lunch… and I freakin’ love this city.  The food is amazing, and there’s no better place to be a “Midtown Lunch’er”.    But as much as I love most of the food in L.A. (and will defend it to the death against any outsiders, or natives with an inferiority complex) there are some things about lunching in this town that really annoy me.  Here are 7 of them, LAist style, for your enjoyment…

In a terrible blow to Food Court fans and Westside Korean fried chicken lovers, the Kyochon in the Fox Hills Mall Food Court has closed.  As a food court fanatic and Korean fried chicken fan who lives on the westside, it’s a double blow.  It’s hard to believe that, with all the complaining people do about the lack of authentic Asian food on the Westside, Kyochon couldn’t survive.  What’s even more upsetting is the realization that if Kyochon couldn’t make it, what chance does 101 Noodle Express have.  And, really, what chance does any great food court in L.A. have.  Fox Hills Mall was supposed to be that beacon of light, showing the path to other crappy mall food courts (I’m looking at you Beverly Center.)  It’s enough to set a guy off…

6 more things I hate about L.A. right now, are after the jump.

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A Bowl of Ramen “So far ahead of its competition…”

• RAMEN Jonathan Gold names his top 10 bowls of ramen in L.A. [LAT]
• DTLA The 2nd location of Ikemen is now open… [Squid Ink]
• DTLA … and this guy’s already been there [Darin Dines]
• MID CITY It sounds like Sycamore Kitchen has some pretty great new lunch specials [Table Conversation]
• VENICE El Huarique looks super promising! [Grub Street]
• EVENT Tickets are now on sale for the event FKA “The Gold Standard” [LAW]
• PODCAST Top Chef contestant CJ is this week’s guest on the Food is the New Rock podcast.  He’s doing a pop up here in L.A. Feb. 14-17th at Square One [FITNR]