Midtown Lunch

File this under “Things People Who Work and Live Around Melrose Already Know”…  Tere’s Mexican Grill is kind of totally awesome.  I first heard about this fast food Mexican spot on Melrose when I wrote about Inti Peruvian, a decent saltado slinger in the same strip mall (on Melrose btw Cahuenga+Vine).  A week later, two other lunchers suggested it in the comments again when I wrote about 3 taco spots in Culver City.  And once Lunch’er “Patricia” said it was worth the drive from West Hollywood the deal was sealed.

Read more »

Photo courtesy of Jose Wolff

If you thought that the Tan Tan Men at Chin Ma Ya (in Little Tokyo) looked amazing, but are looking for something a bit more refreshing for lunch, we’ve got great news for you.  The cold version of tan tan men at Chin Ma Ya (both locations) is now $6.95.  And you can add gyoza, fried shrimp, kara-age, or soboro gohan for just $2.65 more.   Nice.

Related:
Chin Ma Ya’s Tan Tan Men Combines Two of My Favorite Things (Dan Dan Noodles & Ramen)

As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we’ll profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week it’s Esther Hahn, a pro surfer/Yale grad/freelance food writer who is looking for somebody to dim sum it up with her today in the SGV.

Name: Esther Hahn

Age: 24

Occupation: Freelance Writer / Pro Surfer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Write in Hancock Park / Surf (mostly) in Manhattan Beach

Favorite Kind of Food: Japanese, Italian, Mexican, and Korean (in that order)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Green onions – I don’t mind them flavoring a dish but I hate actually eating them

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Hancock Park: The “Big Macro” burger with a side of chili-lime sweet potato fries at M Cafe de Chaya (7119 Melrose Avenue); the shrimp pad thai at Kamin Thai Fusion Cuisine (7275 Melrose Ave); the “Kot Sal” (prime boneless short ribs with all the Korean fixings) at Genwa Korean BBQ (5115 Wilshire Blvd); the uni and the California roll (with real crab meat) at Noshi Sushi (4430 Beverly Blvd); the “Calamari Diavolo” at Larchmont Bungalow (107 N Larchmont Blvd). Manhattan Beach: The “Bali Bliss” burger with avocado and sweet potato fries at Veggie Grill (720 South Allied Way); the chicken tacos at El Tarasco (350 N Sepulveda Blvd); the “Turkey Club” at Sloopy’s (3416 Highland Avenue).

Read more »

So let’s briefly recap for those of you who have just turned in.  I am fat.  I am semi addicted to cheap (read: Americanized) Chinese food… and while Panda Express is one of my few fast food chain weaknesses, I feel obligated to give the mom and pops a fair shot. So, a few months ago I agreed to eat at any of the tons of these spots that litter the L.A. food landscape between Downtown and Santa Monica… provided I received a challenge from a reader.  The last one was (surprisingly) good.  Here is the latest…

From Lunch’er Daniel: “Huge fan, I’ve been following your blog since my days working at BusinessWeek in NYC. Anyhow, I now live in LA and currently work in Culver City and have been interested in trying this Chinese Buffet and thought you would be the perfect person/guinea pig to try it out for me :-). It’s called the Chinese Deli and it’s located at 5808 Rodeo (cross street is La Cienaga)”

Daniel, that sounds right up my alley. I accept your challenge.

Read more »

Photo courtesy of Lindsay William-Ross/LAist

• KOREATOWN Kyochon has a new “honey wing”?! [LAist]
• BRENTWOOD After all these years Reddi Chick is still good [Squid Ink]
• BEVERLY HILLS Momed does look good! Wish it was cheaper [E*star LA]
• HOLLYWOOD The curries and pad thai at Pailin are also good [Noms Not Bombs]
• MID WILSHIRE Building employees caught squatting in food truck parking spots [LAist]
• SAMO Santa Monica Place is one month away [Eater]
• WEHO La Cienega Kebob House, a fave of Lunch’er Patricia, has closed [Eater]
• WEST LA Tamaya has replaced Bella Pasta in Mitsuwa [Grub Street]
• MOBILE Your first look at the White Rabbit Filipino truck [Squid Ink]

Food blogs are not exactly the bastions of humility- after all, it takes a lot of arrogance to spew your opinions daily on the interwebs.  But I’d like to admit something to you.  Despite living in NYC from 2005-2009 I know nothing about pizza.  Don’t get me wrong, I know what I like. And I know a few things… I know the difference between Neapolitan style pizza, and “New York style” pizza. I know that “real” Chicago pan pizza is better than Uno’s.  I think Mozza is amazing, but I also like Pitfire.  And as for the Vito’s vs. Joe’s battle in WeHo, they both tasted good to me.  I know that there is no DiFara’s here in Los Angeles (and there never will be.)  But you know what?  There’s no DiFara’s in Manhattan either.  And once Dom dies, there won’t be a DiFara’s in Brooklyn anymore either. John’s on Bleeker Street tastes great to me, but pizza “aficionados” seem divided.  In fact, pizza “aficionados” seem divided on everything. Which leads me to wonder… what the hell makes a perfect pizza?

I usually turn to Slice as my goto pizza experts.  They talk about things like tip sag, hole structure, char.  They take “upskirt” shots (and as a result, I’ve started taking upskirt shots.)  What are we looking for beneath that slice of pizza?  I haven’t the foggiest fucking idea.  I’m just a fat man, who likes to eat a few slices for lunch every once in awhile.  If you top dough with cheese and put it in the oven (with sauce or without), chances are I’m going to like it.  Which leads me to this question:

Last week I tried LaRocco’s in Downtown Culver City, and I thought it was pretty awesome.  Why aren’t they mentioned as one of the best slices in Los Angeles?  Is it just under the radar?  Or do I just not know shit about pizza?

Read more »