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 Steven, a writer who works in the lunch wasteland of Miracle Mile.

Name: Steven Armstrong

Age: 28

Occupation: Writer/Journalist

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Freelance for Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, MadeMan.com, Mutineer Magazine, among others. I work from home, in the Miracle Mile.

Favorite Kind of Food: Raw oysters; Pork; All things spicy, particularly Mexican, Indian, and Korean cuisines

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Peas (unless they’re stewed in curry)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: The food trucks on Wilshire. I usually stop by Bool for bibimbap or Phamish for pork banh mi. Miracle Mile’s tough because it mostly caters to non-foodie office workers who don’t know any better. So, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, there are a lot of chains (Baja Fresh, Chipotle, etc). But one of the better chains is The Counter (5779 Wilshire Boulevard). It’s not the best burger in L.A. Not by a long shot. But it’s pretty decent. They also have some tasty sides. The chili cheese fries are surprisingly delicious. And the fried pickles are delicious. The craft beer selection is also fairly decent — if you’re in the mood for a wet lunch.

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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 Felicia, a farmer’s market fanatic who works pretty far East, but lives in Highland Park.

Name: Felicia Friesema

Age: 38

Occupation: By day, spokesperson for a public transportation agency. By night, farmers market columnist for the LA Weekly’s food blog, Squid Ink.

Where in L.A. do you Work?: West Covina, CA

Favorite Kind of Food: In LA, I cannot have one favorite food. Depends on my mood and what’s available. Today it might be Palak Paneer with plain naan and raita from Delhi Palace in La Puente.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: This actually makes me sad. I want to love it because it has so much great tradition behind it. But I’ve never been able to eat Ethiopian cuisine. Every time I’ve tried, the spice has been uncomfortably overwhelming. I adore injera, though.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: It’s been somewhat difficult to find good lunch options out here that aren’t gigantic chain food factories. But there are a few gems. One World Café on Glendora Ave. has some great vegan options, including their “B.B.Q. Drumsticks”, which is actually gluten wrapped around a stick of sugar cane, fried, and then sauced, and their “Passionate Tofu” served over brown rice. Anna’s Pizza on West Covina Parkway makes some of the best pizza in LA. Love the carnitas at Bronco’s in Hong Kong Plaza on Glendora. And then Claro’s over on East College St. in Covina for their prosciutto sandwich with everything. There’s also 1+1 Dumpling House, Anjo Japanese, and Fonda Don Chon. I live over in Hermon, next to Highland Park, and my go-to neighborhood places are Good Girl Dinette (110 N Ave 56), The York (5018 York Blvd), Schodorf’s Luncheonette (5051 York Blvd), and Café de Leche (5000 York Blvd.)  Folliero’s (5566 N Figueroa St), too, though I often forget that they are cash-only, which leads to pizza pout.

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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 Lien, a writer who wishes she worked Downtown (but is still looking for a good Westside Mexican rec.)

Name: Lien

Age: 29

Occupation: Writer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: I contribute a fair amount of food content to The Huffington Post Los Angeles, Forbes Travel Guide, plus, the occasional 1,500-word piece for something like Marie Claire Australia. If I’m on deadline, I usually will not leave my Venice apartment – unless it’s to get lunch.

Favorite Kind of Food: Cheeseburgers. The more civilized side of me would answer “French” (steak, frites, rillettes) and “Japanese” (ramen, sushi, poki).

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Onions (raw). Big arugula (I love you, Huckleberry, but I don’t want that stuff all over my egg sandwich).

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: I like to bike over to the taco truck (La Isla Bonita) on Rose Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets, for the $2 ceviche tostada. I ration the two slices of avocado very carefully. The carnitas taco is also lovely to eat. I like to get over to Santouka Ramen in the Mitsuwa Marketplace (3760 S Centinela Ave) before the long line forms (so, like, 11:30am) for a bowl of shio, add an egg. Right now, I’m eating my way through the entire sandwich menu at Fundamental LA (1303 Westwood Blvd); the chicken torta steals my heart. I might also get a glass of Cava or rosé with my meal, and frankly, you should, too.

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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 Cari, a DTLA drinker/jogger whose love all you can eat buffets and shitty Asian food appears to rival my own.

Name: Cari

Age: 21, for the 8th time!

Occupation: Game changer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Downtown

Favorite Kind of Food: Fried sh*t, carbos, mayonnaise, peanut butter, fruits, salad, raw fishies, and piggies…mostly though I just drink my calories in the form of lovely 100% distilled agave or whiskey.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything with rubbery texture (ie: intestines, lengua, stomach, tripes, and steak). I’m lazy and I don’t like to chew that much. Also anything that has a beak still attached. Beaky food es no bueno.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Chirashi matsu from Sushi Go 55 (333 S. Alameda Street), Senor Fish (422 E 1st St) fried shrimp and scallop burrito, Fisherman’s Outlet (529 S Central Ave) fried platter, the DA special platter at Eastside Market and Deli (1013 Alpine St), the chicken with fries at Dino’s Burger in ktown (2575 W Pico Blvd), nengmyun at Yu Chun in ktown (3185 W Olympic Blvd), and cheapo reapo dimsum at Yum Cha Cafe in Chinatown (638 N Broadway).

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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 Monique, a noodle loving Santa Monica sales rep at Williams Sonoma.

Name: Monique

Age: 25

Occupation: Sales

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

Favorite Kind of Food: I adore noodles. I usually do not turn down anything in the noodle family. Overall its noodles and grilled foods.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Food made without any love or purpose.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: R & D kitchen (1323 Montana Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90403) I get the burger, its classic, clean and cooked to perfection. Blue Plate (1415 Montana Ave Santa Monica CA 90403) My go to spot for a nice BLT and sweet potato fries. Mongols (1064 Gayley Ave Los Angeles CA 90024) Lots of noodles and all under $10 built any way you want it, what more can a noodle lover ask for?

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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 Jason, a writer who loves Chicago sandwiches.

Name: Jason

Age: 29

Occupation: Writer of things

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Bon Appetit Magazine, Sunset Magazine, FoodRepublic.com. I do all my work from the comforts of my MiniHouse in Culver City.

Favorite Kind of Food: Italian/Southern (including Cajun/Creole)/Steakhouse

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Indian

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Mezza (9901 Washington Blvd) for their gyros and fattoush salad. Sushi lunch special at K-Zo (9240 Culver Blvd).

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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 Daniel, a Jew who loves pork (aka a man I can relate to.)

Name: Daniel

Age: 38

Occupation: Director of Delivery Management (Interactive)

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Work at iCrossing LA – Culver City/Del Rey area. Live in Eagle Rock!

Favorite Kind of Food: Being Jewish, i gotta say anything pork! Pulled pork, roasted pork, steamed pork buns – i think you get the idea.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I really do not have a cuisine and or ethnic food dislike – However, if it has Bananas in it, you can pretty much count me out.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Culver City area = Tacomiendo (they are one step away from being a corner taco stand, amazing tacos), the Jasmine Cafe (incredible/cheap Burmese food – it’s all good).  Eagle Rock area = I have to give a huge shout out to Dave’s Chillin’ and Grillin’ on Colorado Blvd in Eagle Rock (try the Meatball/Sausage sub and the Hummus and cheese sandwich)

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