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 its Cristina, a publicist who has a question about ham.

Name: Cristina

Age: 31

Occupation: Owner of NoiseNY PR

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Our office is located in Los Feliz

Favorite Kind of Food: Italian

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Chinese

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Il Capriccio (1757 N Vermont Ave) – the turkey panini with pesto spread (fresh basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic) is bellissimo. Their pasta e fagioli soup is amazing if you come on Wednesday it’s their green day special. And if you take the bus, walk, ride your bike, or bring recyclables, you get 10-15% off your meal

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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 its Veronica, a Downtown marketing expert looking for some solid Vietnamese food in Chinatown.

Name: Veronica

Age: 29

Occupation: Online Marketing/Social Media

Where in L.A. do you Work?: During the day, at First 5 LA – Downtown, near Chinatown/Little Tokyo

Favorite Kind of Food: Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I can’t stand veal or fois gras. Regardless of the ethical reasons, I just really, really don’t like the taste of either of them.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Despite working at the transportation mecca of Los Angeles, we hardly ever go anywhere that’s not within walking distance. The Rattlesnake & Rabbit or the Austin Blues at Wurstkuche (800 E 3rd St), along with a bucket of their life-changing fries. I also love hitting up the Little Tokyo Marketplace (333 S Alameda St) for fresh sashimi from Woori Market, the Spicy Champon at Hana Ichimonme and the macrobiotic bento boxes at Shojin. Phillippe’s (1001 N Alameda St) would also be on this list if I could ever get in at lunch without a huge line out the door.

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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 its Rebecca, a photographer who will travel just about anywhere for good lunch- but has yet to find a good doner kebab.

Name: Rebecca

Age: 31

Occupation: Photographer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: All over! But when I’m not out shooting, mostly from home in Silverlake.

Favorite Kind of Food: As a native Californian, I’ve been spoiled by fresh food all year round, so I love clean, bright flavors and anything at the height of its season. I also love tangy foods so Mexican, Lebanese, Thai, and Vietnamese are all favorites (anything where I get my own lime wedge gets big points).

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Not a big fan of anything heavily sauced, extremely rich, or overly sweet.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: If meeting a client for lunch near my house, Forage, because of its fancy-hipster vibe and its pork belly sammy (although their veggie version is just as good). If I’m heading up to my parents in Carpinteria, I’ll hit up Brent’s (the Westlake one) for matzo ball soup and half a tuna sammy on toasted rye. If en route to the beach via the 101, we’ll pick up turkey or veggie wraps from Tarzana Armenian Deli (11288 Ventura Blvd)–perfect picnic food. Any time I’m dropping off or picking up at my lab on La Brea is an excuse to go to M Cafe (7119 Melrose Ave)–their tuna burger is a thing of beauty and I’m still trying to figure out how to make that kale salad. When I’m running around doing errands in the neighborhood and need something fast I’ll go to Zankou (5065 W Sunset Blvd) and grab a chicken tarna wrap and stuff it with extra pickles, or Vietnamese Soy Cafe (1997 Hyperion Ave), when it’s open, for the tofu banh mi and their fresh, amazing soy milk. On a rainy day, Sanamluang for their wonderfully tangy tom kha gai which I like to eat over rice, or Good Girl Dinette (110 N Ave 56) for their grandpa’s porridge (congee w/ chicken and cabbage). And if it’s more of a breakfast-for-lunch kind of day I will indulge in Local’s BBQ pork hash and eggs (2943 W Sunset Blvd), which is abominably good.

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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 its Sade, a photographer and food enthusiast with some great lunch recs.

Name: Sade

Age: 25

Occupation: Photographer, Director, Food Enthusiast & Blogger

Where in L.A. do you Work?: SW Editorial & Strictly Foodie (Los Angeles & San Diego)

Favorite Kind of Food: Currently, a tie between Korean & Himalayan

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Fast Food chains (EXCEPT In-N-Out :)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Jitlada (5233 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood) – Thai Food, with a separate, extensive menu of AUTHENTIC Thai dishes. Spiciness for serious pain junkies. I adore their curries! Little Next Door (8142 W 3rd St, Mid City West) – Delicious, impeccable, AFFORDABLE French cuisine. Je t’aime! I live for their breakfast, and their Mini Pot de Creme. Hot Wings Cafe (7011 Melrose Ave) – Truly spicy wings, and a fun, casual atmosphere. I get the half-spicy BBQ-half-extra hot 8-piece. PERFECT for late night wing cravings as well. Genwa (5115 Wilshire Blvd, Mid Wilshire) – Awesome Korean dishes as well as Korean BBQ. Their 20+ different kinds of banchan make it worth the visit before the real food even arrives! Taste of Belize (1271 S La Brea Ave) – Growing up in a Belizean family, eating out means going over to someone’s house for an excellent meal. Taste of Belize is as close to Belizean home-cooking as it gets; stewed chicken and black soup(!) are childhood favorites. Daikokuya (327 E 1st St, Downtown) – Easily the BEST ramen I’ve had in my life so far (and the longest line I’ve had to wait in for it).

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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 its Tracy, a USC Student who works for DishDashLA, the website behind the big Food Truck event for charity going on at USC’s Greek Row (28th Street btw. Fig and Hoover) this Friday from 3-9pm featuring the Dim Sum Truck, Frysmith and more.

Name: Tracy

Age: 21

Occupation: Student & Entrepreneur

Where in L.A. do you Work?: DishDashLA.com, located in Downtown LA near USC

Favorite Kind of Food: Mediterranean.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Tough one, I love it all! Maybe olives…

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Mercado La Paloma (3655 South Grand Ave.) — the hidden gem near the 110 Fwy on-ramp by Exposition. I really enjoy Chichen Itza’s Brazo de Reina tamales with pumpkin seeds and its citrusy tomato sauce!

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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 its Mike, a Culver City TV writer and the blogger behind Unemployed Eater (which he obviously started before getting a job.)

Name: Mike

Age: 26

Occupation: TV Writer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Culver City

Favorite Kind of Food: Above average chicken sandwiches, pizza and fancy burgers.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Chipotle. Subway.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Victor Jr’s (10113 Washington Blvd) for chicken cheesesteak and caesar salad “with croutons” — real men, even in LA, eat croutons. Hole in the Wall (11058 Santa Monica Boulevard) for the most delicious turkey burger in these here parts. K-Zo (9240 Culver Blvd.) because like a good auto mechanic, every one deserves a reliable sushi spot. The Nook’s (11628 Santa Monica Blvd) salmon wrap is downright tasty), Mezza (9901 Washington Blvd) for Mediterrawesome kabobs and the such. Cafe Surfas (8777 W Washington Blvd) for Jorge’s Chicken Sandwich – never met Jorge, but the man’s a clear genius. And Tender Greens (9523 Culver Blvd) for “The Moody” – a caesar salad with steak AND grilled veggies. Really loved the burger at Beacon as well – may it rest in peace.

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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 we’re excited to welcome Josh Lurie, the guy behind the blog Food GPS. He is responsible for sending us to a lot of great lunches, but today we get his official faves…

Name: Josh

Age: 34

Occupation: Food and Drink Writer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Assorted coffeehouses

Favorite Kind of Food: Middle Eastern and Asian

Least Favorite Kind of Food: There isn’t much I won’t eat and enjoy, as long as it’s prepared well, but so far, my stomach has hit three walls. Water beetles, which look suspiciously like roaches, appeared at Typhoon as part of a Halloween insect menu and just the sight of them stopped me cold. Also, pickled pig’s feet. Pork is by far my favorite animal to devour, but it was hard to get past the ghastly pink flesh, which had the texture of something that was embalmed in a morgue. Finally, braised chicken feet. Limp, soggy skin on bony knuckles doesn’t exactly ignite my hunger. If they fried the feet, maybe it would be more appetizing.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: My job involves tracking down the latest and greatest food and drink, or interviewing people who may very well produce food and drink that good when they finally open for business. I often combine meals with in-person interviews or coffeehouse writing shifts, but there are some repeats. One of my favorite stops on the Eastside is El Mar Azul, a sea-blue truck that parks next to Sycamore Grove Park in Highland Park (4700 Figueroa St). They make terrific shrimp tostadas, which are slathered with creamy slaw, topped with fresh-shucked avocado and hot sauce, and cost only $2 apiece. Not far from the 10, Dino’s Burgers #2 (2575 W. Pico Blvd) is a Greek-Mexican-ish place that serves one of L.A.’s great value plates, pollo maniaco. The flame red half-chicken is grilled, plated on French fries, doused with more lip stinging red sauce, and “plated” with cole slaw and tortillas for only about $5.50. The price has gone up a couple bucks since I first started going there, but seriously, no complaints. If I’ve got to eat in an instant, a savory Middle Eastern flatbread (or two) is normally my go-to, either from Sasoun Bakery (5114 Santa Monica Blvd), Mush Bakery (5224 W. Sunset Blvd), Arax Bakery (4871 Santa Monica Blvd), Old Sassoon Bakery (1132 N. Allen Ave, Pasadena) or A. Partamian Bakery (5410 W. Adams Blvd).

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