Midtown Lunch

The proof that I love Korean food can be traced back to day one of Midtown Lunch.  When I launched the site four years ago in NYC, I extended the boundaries of “Midtown” a few extra blocks specifically so I would have an excuse to stuff my face in Manhattan’s Koreatown (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th).  I love it all- from Korean BBQ to Korean fried chicken (natch), bi bim bap to kal gook soo (knife cut noodles), jjajangmyeon (Korean/Chinese food) to kimbap (Korean sushi).  But the one thing I haven’t come around to is the modern Korean fast food chain.

If you’ve ever eaten in Kyochon, you know what I’m talking about.  I love the chicken- but the cheesy music, spotless decor, and shiny white walls with inspirational sayings I could do without. With crappy frozen yogurt I suppose it makes sense, but when it comes to Korean lunch I’d choose the atmosphere of Myung Dong Kyoja over Isaac Toast every time. But Midtown Lunch isn’t about decor. It’s about food. So when I heard that School Food, a popular Korean chain that specializes in kimbap and topokki, opened a location in Koreatown- I couldn’t help myself.

And after trying their giant combination roll platter for 3, I’m kind of glad I did. Bad decor and all.

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If you like gourmet sandwiches, the west side is the place to be these days.  Popular Downtown staple Mendocino Farms opened in Marina del Rey last month, Skratch has become Choppe Choppe in Downtown Culver City, and now- filling the hole in between- Earl’s Gourmet Grub has opened in Mar Vista, on Venice.  If you live in the area you may already be familiar with Earl’s.  They’ve been selling their gourmet sandwiches at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market, preparing for the opening of their brick and mortar storefront- which finally happened last week.

Some of the sandwiches look good in that healthy, has vegetables, marinted not fried, safe for L.A. kind of way (I’m looking at you heartichoke) but I look for something a bit meatier in my sandwiches. Also, paying $9+ for a sandwich is not my idea of good deal, but I can be persuaded by interesting combos, quality ingredients, and cutesy names involving two of my favorite foods (hello “pig n fig”!)  So yesterday, I headed over to try some of their less healthy sounding sandwiches and see for myself whether this was a worthwhile “Midtown Lunch’ish” option or one of those new places that sound good on paper, but ends up not being worth the $$.

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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 Lilly, a punk rock label check writer who hates white washed ethnic food but has a soft spot in her heart for El Poll Loco (as do I.)

Name: Lilly

Age: 26

Occupation: Accounts Payable

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Epitaph|Anti|Hellcat records, Silverlake

Favorite Kind of Food: Mexican

Least Favorite Kind of Food: White washed ethnic food

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Mariela’s Tacos (2501 W Sunset Blvd, Silverlake). Their 3 taco plate includes rice and beans, $5 (cash only). I prefer carnitas, but they are known for their Asada, and their pastor and pollo are great too! India Sweets N Spices, 3126 Los Feliz Blvd in Atwater Village (not the one in Culver City). It’s all vegetarian, and the number 2 is around $7 and includes rice, 2 veggies, 1 samosa, papadam, naan, salad, and a few sauces. Enough for 2 meals, and the veggie choices change every day. Dusty’s Bistro (3200 W Sunset Blvd, Silverlake) a French Canadian place that is perfect place for business lunches. We come here for office celebrations. Their breakfast menu is served during lunch time for around $10 per item. Their Poutines (fries with gravy and cheese) are a must, and their Dustys mimosa (with strawberry juice) is delish. The croques and salads are more popular amongst my co-workers.

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One of the best things about Starry Kitchen, the pan-Asian fast food spot in the Cal Plaza Water Court Downtown, is the fact that every week they rotate new dishes in and old dishes out.  It’s also one of the worst things about the place.  It’s fun, and keeps things fresh and new… but it also means that your favorites might be fleeting.  Case in point: their green crisped rice covered tofu balls (also called “Game Changer #2”, perhaps because it’s a vegetarian option that even fat dudes like me would like.)  Surprisingly, this pork-less option was one of the best things I tried on my first visit to the place back in February, and when they were rotated out if was kind of upsetting- not just for me, but for countless other fans.  Well, they have heard the cries from the masses and today the tofu balls are back on the menu.  If you missed out the first time around, don’t let it happen again.  They’ll probably disappear again in another few weeks.  You know… because that’s how they getcha!

And as an added bonus, if you go to Starry Kitchen today (5/17) you get a free soda.

Related:
Starry Kitchen is a (Now Legal) Downtown Godsend. Just Make Sure You Go By Friday!

This was the scene on Saturday in MacArthur Park, as over 250 people (and 6 finalists) gathered for the the first ever Los Angeles Vendy Awards.  The judges (Evan Kleiman, Bill Esparza, Javier Cabral, and Jon & Vinny from Animal) had a tough tough job (after all, how do you compare a short rib stuffed grilled cheese with a chile dipped pambazo) but in the end Nina’s Food, a  Breed St. vendor who specializes in Mexico City style street food, took the top prize.  Music was played, beer and wine was enjoyed, and nobody left hungry… but most importantly, money was raised for the organizations that advocate on behalf of street vendors all over the city- like Los Loncheros.

Check out scenes from the day, after the jump…

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