Midtown Lunch

Saheefa from Kebab Grill. Photo courtesy of the LA Times.

• CULVER CITY Bawarchi makes paneer tikka masala [Gourmet Pigs]
• CULVER CITY Kebab Grill specializes in Syrian flatbread [LAT]
• DTLA Bottega Louie is looking to upgrade their sandwiches [Grub Street]
• DTLA Chichen Itza’s cochinita pibil is awesome [The Minty]
• DTLA One Year In: A Look at Starry Kitchen [Eater]
• KTOWN Han Bat makes a good sulongtang [Squid Ink]
• VENICE A look at Gjelina’s new take out window [Squid Ink]
• MOBILE Roadstoves owner says “Be Cool!” [Squid Ink]

I don’t know what it is about fried chicken and waffle that gets me so excited- oh, who am I kidding.  Of course I know what it is.  It’s the excuse to pour maple syrup over a piece of fried chicken (and enjoy it with a waffle!)  Now, I know what you’re thinking.  “But Zach, you are a fat bastard.  Isn’t that excuse enough to pour maple syrup over your fried chicken, waffle or no waffle.”  Yes.  I suppose it is.  But doing it in a sanctioned environment somehow makes me feel better about myself.

So when I heard that Waffle Chix, a new fried chicken and waffle place, had opened in Westwood I figured I’d take one for team and go check it out.  You know… for you guys.

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At the end of last month NYC institution place that sells hot dogs in New York, Papaya King, opened  on Hollywood Blvd. Funny billboards appeared all over town, and people started emailing me to ask if I was excited. (“Short fat Jew from NYC must love hot dogs!”)  The Guru weighed in last week with a reverent but kind of lukewarm endorsement that still managed to make us all want to rush over to Hollywood & Wilcox- as only he can do.  So when I found myself in Hollywood yesterday I couldn’t help but swing by (short fat Jewish man does love hot dogs.)

But before I made it to the familiar yellow counter I was stopped in my tracks by another opening that really solidified Hollywood & Wilcox as the place to go whenever I need a little taste of New York City…

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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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Chimu photo courtesy of The Minty

• DTLA The Counter is coming to 7th Street [Brigham Yen via Eater]
• DTLA Another look at Chimu, the new Peruvian place in Grand Central [The Minty]
• HWOOD The Guru weighs in on Papaya Dog [Squid Ink]
• HWOOD The stewed duck at Ruen Pair is good [The Minty]
• SAMO Gjelina is now doing takeaway! [Eater]
• VENICE LA Isla Bonita can compete with any taco stand in L.A. [The Eaten Path]
• WESTWOOD Isaac Toast is now closed [Eater]

My love of all you can eat buffets knows no boundaries, but sadly there aren’t too many of them between Downtown and Santa Monica (my primary lunching boundaries.)  Thankfully there is all you can eat Korean BBQ to fill the void, and I’ve been doing my best to sample as many of the $10 versions as I possibly can.  It’s no surprise that most $10 ayce Korean BBQ lunch specials are limited.  You usually only get pork belly and brisket, and the quality is less than spectacular.  Then again, what do you expect for only $10.  So when I discovered Choi Ga Neh, back in November, I was pretty excited.  For just $11 you not only get brisket and pork belly, but also seasoned beef, beef belly, tripe, and chawan mushi. And for an extra $1 they’ll give you naeng myun (cold noodles) as well.  Once again, the quality is not the best.  But for $11, it was hard to imagine a better lunchtime all you can eat deal in Koreatown.

That is until now.

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