Figuring out what to order for lunch can be a real pain sometimes. Especially when your boss is counting on YOU to impress his clientele for that big lunch meeting. There are fortunately a bunch of great places that deliver the goods to make you seem like you’re not just the lowly assistant, but also an in-the-know-foodie. This list may seem obvious to some, but when it’s crunch time and you have to think fast, it’s surprising how we often forget these local favorites right around the corner.
Here’s a short list of well-known restaurants in the West Hollywood area that do breakfast and lunch up good… and deliver!
1. Simple Things – Simple salads, sandwiches and whoopie pies. Delicious, easy and “simple.” I love their chicken pot-pie. They offer delivery through LAbite.com
4. Mozza (2Go) – This quick serve version of the insanely popular Italian eatery (Osteria Mozza) is known for it’s gourmet Neapolitan style pizzas, salads and daily panini specials. Famed celebrity Chef Mario Batali is at the helm.
5. Angeli Caffe – Chef/Owner Evan Kleiman (of KCRW’s Good Food) fame, offers this unique modern family restaurant which features rustic regional Italian food with a California twist. Along with their regular menu, they also offer a large order menu for big parties and events.
Lunch Hours 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
6. Joan’s on Third – Joan’s has been a beloved favorite in the WeHo area for the past 13 years. Known for their fresh veggies, salads, sandwiches, delicious pastries, desserts and upscale comfort food. They offer a faxable menu for orders of 10 persons or more, or you can call it in. View their breakfast (8 AM to 12 PM) or lunch menu. $20 minimum and cost of delivery varies by your location.
Having lived in the Midwest for most of my childhood, I was accustomed to the different seasons. Autumn meant beautifully changing leaves, cooler temperatures and eating savory comfort foods. One tradition that is common in the Mid-western states is going to visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch and getting to pick your own apples and gourds. You’d usually enjoy a hayride and then sip fresh apple cider, leaving with a large sack of various delicious apples to make pie with. Last week, as the temperatures reached the upper nineties in my Los Angeles neighborhood, I most certainly did not get that brisk-air, fall feeling. Instead, I turned on my AC and made some ice tea to cool off.
Then, I get an email from my Detroit native friend with the subject line “It’s time to pick some apples!” She organized a fun-filled day at the 5-mile long orchards in Oak Glen full off pumpkin picking, apple picking, cider sipping and dare I say it, apple-wine tasting!
Located just over an hour from downtown LA, this is the perfect family fun day for Mid-westerners who are in need of that fall-fix.
I never knew this place existed! It’s definately a fun, fall mini-getaway but here are some tips to keep in mind before you go:
1. Bring a sack lunch. Though there are a handful of (high priced) diner-type restaurants scattered around the 5-mile stretch, they are really full on weekends and the wait-time for a table can be a little ridiculous (1+ hours) around lunch-time. There are also quick snack shacks, but your kids will need more than sweets, hotdogs and nachos to sustain them for the day. Smart family’s brought picnic baskets and saved time and money.
2. Keep the group to a minimum. There is no cell reception up on this large hill so don’t even think about trying to meet up with friends. We had a caravan of cars, which worked fine, but it was difficult (even with a designated meeting place) to meet up with other latecomers because we couldn’t call them.
3. Bring walkie-talkies. We lost our original group and it was nearly impossible to find them again. Keep your friends close and your kids closer. Think of the area as a similar to Napa Valley. You can walk the 5 miles, but you are more likely to want to drive it to cover more ground quickly.
4. Check ahead about the harvest. Hey sometimes, farmers get a bad harvest. It happens. This year the apple trees had too much frost, which didn’t allow them to grow properly. Alas, we weren’t able to pick any apples – there were none for the pickin’! However, I head someone say that this was the best pumpkin harvest so it wasn’t a total loss. Be sure to check ahead and read up on the Apple Education.
5. Bring cash. A lot of the places, like the petting zoo, tastings and orchards are cash only. I didn’t see an ATM anywhere.
6. Plan to spend all day. We left around 10 am and hit traffic on the way back – it was an all day event. You will want to take your time and enjoy the area and beautiful scenery. There’s an old west gun show (for the kiddos), petting zoo, raspberry, pear, apple, flower and pumpkin picking (in season) and cute little boutique shops for trinkets and souvenirs.
Didn’t get to try any apple pie, but I’m sure it’s really good. I did try an apple burrito though. It was basically a mini apple pie but wrapped in a fried, sugary tortilla. Reminded me of those little apple pies you get from McDonalds, so, unless you’re into that, it’s ok to pass on this one.
3829 Main St · Culver City, CA 90232 · Neighborhood: Culver City
Lunch is a super great casual sandwich/salad joint in downtown Culver City. Good for breakfast, “lunch” or snacking with a glass of vino after a midday matinee. On my weekly pilgrimage to Tender Greens, I decided to walk a different way out of the parking structure. It was on Main Street that I stumbled upon a long row of new-ish restaurants. Whoa? When did all these great restaurants pop-up!? Apparently I have been living in a cave.
Sandwiched between the small but solid, Italian eatery Novecento and the newly opened sports bar and pizza place, Roccos Tavern (not to be confused with LaRoccos NY-style pizza just up the street) there was my Lunch. Featuring a cute and welcoming patio, leading to a larger, open and airy restaurant, this place was just what I needed that morning. Hip yet casual, featuring simple healthful options, Lunch serves everything from espressos to wine along side really yummy sandwiches, soups and salads.
The people to my right were chomping down on these delicious leafy greens, however it was the sammies that woo’ed me. I tried the “Seared in the City” – funny name, delicious sandwich. Sometimes I worry when ordering a baguette as they are usually too hard and cut up the roof of your mouth. I was pleasantly surprised that the baguette was soft and moist and was a perfect compliment to the lightly seared albacore. The sandwich was light, but filling. Really good.
My side choice was an AWESOME Potato Salad – lightly spiced and the potatoes were crisp and hearty. Not too mushy or too mayo-y like many potato salads are.
I also tried the “California Turkey” whose size was deceiving. It was packed with turkey slices, avocado, tomato, sprouts and a delicious russian dressing. After eating his salad and half the sandwich, my boyfriend ended up taking the other half home for later. It kept well.
I MUST come back and try the freakin delicious looking chocolate chip cookies leering at me from the counter window. Also, gotta try one of their ice cream floats. I can see myself easily becoming a regular to this place.
Though they are a perfect casual “Lunch” spot, they do have a small breakfast menu which looked tasty too. It’s available from 7 am – 11 am Monday through Fridays.
BYB tip: Parking is a breeze. This place is located about 50 feet from the downtown parking structure.
Also, check them out for catering – Seems these guys probably make a lot of their business catering to Sony studios or the local offices. They have an extensive and affordable catering menu – great for business events and parties.
8075 W 3rd St · Los Angeles, CA 90048 · Neighborhood: Mid-City West/West Hollywood
One would imagine chef and owner, Bradford Kent has his work cut out for him. He is a chef, family man, businessman, food scientist, caterer and self proclaimed food nut. With such an extensive resumé, you might find yourself wondering if there is also superman cape underneath that apron he wears.
His restaurant, Olio Pizzeria & Caféhas undergone a lot of changes since its debut on the West Hollywood foodie scene just a year ago. Don’t let it’s small size fool you, having recently applied for a beer and liquor license and getting a mini-makeover, Olio forgoes it’s casual daytime look for a sleeker, more grown up vibe. This cute, popular lunch eatery is quickly establishing itself as one of LA’s great pizza places.
As a regular to this wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza joint since it’s debut back in October 2010, I have been noticing the accolades among pizza fans on Yelp increase in number. Still pretty much flying low and under the radar of most, Olio has become a local favorite and a place for foodies to come and share what they’ve discovered with other foodies.
I didn’t let my first time to Olio be the deal breaker, (they were so packed, they ran out of dough!) and I came back and have since tried multiple items on their ever-growing menu. From the Margherita Plus to the Hawaiian Pizza my favorites seem to fluctuate depending on my mood. I love their perfectly Wood Fired Shi-Shito Peppers and Prime NY Strip Steak Bites. Their Miso Salmon is a simple yet perfectly prepared filet that is both tender and crispy. Sometimes, I’ll just come in for that and an Intelligentsia brewed espresso.
About 98% of their menu goes into the wood fired oven, and yes, that includes the Chocolate Chip Cookies. Bradford tells me that he likes the fact that his “olive wood is a little dangerous.” It burns hotter and the heat and flavor that it imparts on the ingredients is simply AH-MAZING.
One wouldn’t think of Olio as a breakfast nook, but Olio also offers various delicious morning bites like their Bacon and Eggs Calzone or a Wood-Fired Fruit Danish. They are also actually one of few restaurants in the LA area to authentically make Bialys, a traditional Jewish bagel-like baked bread. Of that small few, Bradford is pretty much the only one that I know of to use the original baking techniques from Bialystok, Poland – making them in his wood fired oven.
201 Arizona Ave · Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Neighborhood · Santa Monica
It’s true, many people shudder at the thought of eating a salad. Visions of a bland, boring, wilted lettuce leaf is anything but appealing. Most Americans stay away from eating healthy food like vampires avoid the sun. However… Tender Greens is not your typical salad place.
The life of an arugula – this is hilarious! haha
Their menu is made up of a core, healthy, farm-to-fork, sustainably local menu which includes their popular “big salads,” “hot stuff from the grill,” “comfort soups,” sandwiches and “simple salads.” Each salad is fresh, light (but filling) and is sourced from local, respectable sources and I must add, are really freakin good. Have I mentioned they serve booze!?
Now with seven locations in the Los Angeles area, Tender Greens has been steadily gaining a mini cult following among health-conscious foodies. Locations are springing up quick like bunny… or asparagus.
For an in depth review about their newest Santa Monica location, check out my recent guest post for Buy Local Market, here.
109 N Fairfax Ave · Los Angeles, CA 90036 · Neighborhood · West Hollywood/ Mid-City West
One of the newest local restaurants to jump on the currywurst trend is a sleek and simple little joint located just kiddie corner to the Farmer’s Market/Grove. Owner Kai Loebach is a German native and accomplished chef and caterer who wanted to bring a little authenticity to this popular German fast-food craze. Of the many varietys of currywurst now easily available in Los Angeles, Currywurst I’ve been told is quite authentic to the real thing.
Often in Germany you will find restaurants/food-booths using a special machine to slice the wurst into perfect little pieces. I am told Kai imported one of these fancy smanchy slicers just for his shop!
(And, here’s where I would usually insert a picture of the slicer, but I failed to get one. Sorry for getting your hopes up)
Note: The red and white themed signage and decor represents the mixture of mayo and curry ketchup in the sauces… very clever, Mr. Loebach!
You may find find yourself asking, “What is currywurst and why is it the ‘wurst?”
Well, allow me to give you a brief history of the German wurst: Currywurst in a nutshell is street food brought to us via Berlin (invented in 1949). It consists of hot pork sausage cut up in to little bite sized slices and seasoned with a curry ketchup/mayo concoction. It’s an inexpensively made, filling meal that was originally given to construction workers and townspeople during hard times. So it makes sense then that so many restaurants, featuring this delicious “quick-food,” are popping up everywhere in the middle of our downtrodden economy.
They offer 3 simple versions of their currywurst dish from the menu. You can get it as-is or add one of their various sauces or choice of onion.
1. Sliced Bockwurst – which is veal/pork mixed with curry powder and organic ketchup
2. Thuringer Chicken Sausage – with mustard on a fresh roll
3. Hungarian Sausage – spicy pork
I liked the Hungarian one the best. It’s got a little spice to it and has a nice texture. If you prefer the melt in your mouth, soft variety – try the Bockwurst.
Moderately priced at $6.50, it’s totally worth it to add some yummy fries to your order for an additional $3.50. Go on and splurge – you deserve it!
I went with a few friends and that way I was able to try a little bit of everything. Located directly across from the CBS studio lot, we sat outside on benches and watched as the wacky Price is Right audience and other “interesting” West Hollywood folk passed us by. It is Fairfax, after all.
While they don’t offer alcoholic beer, (dang!) they do have a pretty good variety of German beverages (that look like beer). My favorite is the Lychee Bionade. It’s a lightly carbonated, slightly fruity drink provided in a bottle. There’s also this crazy, super caffeinated drink that comes in a little black bottle and looks curiously suspicious… sitting there… eyeing you on the counter… tempting you… daring you. I was told by the cashier to lay off the coffee after having this drink. I guess it’s pretty intense.
Currywurst is a great, casual and quick in/out fill-you-up-without-filling-you-out kind of place. Anyone who is over the sandwich thing or is trying to lay off the carbs – would especially love this great meaty alternative!
BYB Tip: Street metered parking is sparse or you can go around the corner in the residential area where it’s free. I would also recommend the Farmer’s Market parking and then just walk over.
Want more currywurst?: check out this cool little video short about the history of currywurst.
About the author
Amy T. Shuster is an actress, writer and food enthusiast. Her food blog, backyardbite.com, focuses on creating positive content to help generate awareness of local independent foodie “gems” in the Los Angeles area. Every review is honest and non-biased.
2420 Pico Blvd · Santa Monica, CA 90404 · Neighborhood · Santa Monica
The good people over at the Santa Monica focused, Buy Local Market invited me to the Grand Opening of the new farm-to-table casual eatery, Next Door by Josie. This place is soon to be a popular gastropub and chill spot for many Santa Monica locals and definitely one of my new favorite hangs. Next Door is the younger “Siamese” (joined at the kitchen) sister to the popular and upscale, veteran restaurant, Josie’s. While both venues are ventures of chef and owner Josie Le Balch, Next Door provides an opportunity for her and chef de cuisine, Mai Khanh Le to shake things up and “play” a little bit. Focusing on local and sustainable produce, Josie’s menu is primarily yummy finds from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. The menu is in one word, “eclectic”.
Next Door caters to a more youthful crowd as the sleek design and ambiance is that of an upscale sports bar with a cozy bistro feel. It’s the perfect gals night out or second date kind of place.
See pictures of the food and read more about Next Door by Josie at my guest blog post for Buy Local Market, here.
Josie’s: (Big sister restaurant to Next Door by Josie)
2424 Pico Blvd · Santa Monica, CA 90404 · Neighborhood · Santa Monica
An elegant, progressive-American restaurant with French and Italian influences, Josie’s has been a favorite of Santa Monica locals for the past 10 years.
Special theme nights include: No-Corkage Fee Tuesday’s and Farmer’s Market Wednesdays where they offer a $35 prix fixe menu that features seasonal discoveries from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.
BYB Tip: Parking for Josie’s and Next Door is complimentary around the back!
6333 W 3rd St · Los Angeles, CA 90036 · Neighborhood · West Hollywood/Mid-City West
This place is pretty hidden, located on the South side of the Farmer’s Market near the Grove. Singapore’s Banana Leaf gets a lot of visiting tourist foot traffic though as a WEHO local, knowing so many other “ethnic” eateries nearby, it really flew under my radar for a while.
A regular and fan of Singapore’s Banana Leaf convinced me to give them a try. Now, somedays I find myself simply craving this place.
In a nutshell, it’s delicious, fried, greasy hang-over appropriate food. It hits the spot when I need something heavy, filling and comforting.
One would probably not venture out and fight the 3rd St traffic at the Farmer’s Market just for this place, but if you DO happen to find yourself in the area, it’s good quick lunch food and way cheaper than some of the marked up specialty shops in the Grove.
Here are some of the items I chose. To be frank, I had no clue what I was ordering. Thank God for picture menus.
The Samosas (curry puff) are a must get. Really tasty, fluffy, curry potato-like inside.
Chicken Satay over noodles, Indo Style with Mee Goreng.
Mee Goreng With Chicken. Huge plate and scrumptious!
I have to be honest with you, I don’t really know anything about Singapore/Malaysian/Indonesian style food. I’m probably not your best source for this kinda thing. To describe it, it feels almost Thai food-like and reminds me most of Indian food; meaning very rich in the curry and sauces and quite noodley. I’m also not sure if Singapore’s Banana Leaf is considered to be authentic or street food or what.
Whatever it is, it’s good, it’s greasy and while it probably doesn’t look like the healthiest food in the world – do note this amazing fact I learned from our friends at Wikipedia: Adult obesity in Singapore is below 10%. Whaa? Sign me up for noodles everyday, please!
About the author
Amy T. Shuster is an actress, writer and food enthusiast. Her food blog, backyardbite.com, focuses on creating positive content to help generate awareness of local independent foodie “gems” in the Los Angeles area. Every review is honest and non-biased.
2056 Hillhurst Ave · Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
So apparently I’m way on the late train about Yuca’s Tacos in Los Feliz.
Hipster’s everywhere have already been in the know about this authentic little taco-mex shack since it opened shop in the Seventies.
Having won the James Beard Awards (the Oscars of the food world) in 2005, that has only helped to solidify Yuca’s status as a top-notch taco eatery.
Located off Hillhurst, and easy to miss, it’s over shadowed by the more traditional morning after, sit-down restaurants up the street like Home or the Alcove. Locals know what’s up though. This is as dive-y as they come. A small, family-owned Latin hut, Yuca’s sits on the front end of a parking lot adjacent to a liquor store. Hey at least there’s parking!
Driving around the neighborhood, hungry as can be, I finally heeded my boyfriend’s suggestion and went there for a fast and easy – not to mention CHEAP, lunch.
I ordered the carne asada burrito and sampled some bites from my boyfriend’s carne asada tacos. Both were delicious. The tacos are small but not as tiny as traditional street tacos usually are. I love that they double up the tortilla so that it doesn’t fall apart or spill out on to the plate.
I’ll have to come again to try their $3 hamburgers. Yes, that’s right, I said hamburger. And I hear they are pretty darn good for a taco place too.
These are not your standard Mexi-burritos, nor are they Chipolte sized. Instead, they are compact, full of delicious beans, tomatoes and onions and the steak is perfectly seasoned and flavored. The burrito comes on your plate flat as a pancake yet full of taste. The meat is really soft and buttery and reminds me of the way my boyfriend’s Salvadorean dad grills up his steaks. It’s really juicy. The tortilla tastes homemade (I think it is) and a bit dry and flour-y, but it works.
Yucas is mainly a grab and go type of place. You walk up to the counter and chat with “mama” who writes your order down on the paper plate. Then she adds up your order, old-school-math style. No calculators here! You then pick up your food, approx :30 seconds later, and walk off – to your car – or back to your little hipster home, tacos in hand.
There are a few small tables, which if you can snag, are great for people watching. Though there are a few beverage options available, regulars instead head across the street to the liquor store to lube up.
This place hits the spot without breaking the bank. Forget the scenester café – instead beat that hangover with some simple tacos y comfort food. Yuca’s is officially on my list for great LA tacos. Muy Delicioso!
BYB Tip: Local’s love the cochinita pibil taco or as a torta.
1570 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite Q · 90266 · Neighborhood: Manhattan Beach, CA · 310.297.9530
A good friend knows what you like to eat.
A great friend feeds you.
Two great friends of mine (shout out Abbie and Brian!) recently tipped me off to the magical world of BUNDT. Nothing Bundt Cakes is a great little bakery that specializes in just that, bundt cakes. They have over 30 locations across the US and are ever expanding. The founders, Dena Tripp and Debra Shwetz started small in Vegas with a lot of nay sayers, including their own husbands, who told them that they couldn’t create a business on bundt cakes alone. Perfecting their own recipes and actualizing their dreams, the women bound together, cooking out of their kitchens and created an empire.
I never knew how good a bundt could be until I tried one recently. I sampled a few of their mini-bundts. They kinda look and taste like cupcakes but are BETTER! They are super moist and a bit denser. There’s a yummy cream cheese frosting that is perfect on top, especially the Red Velvet. Everything about it, is just… magical.
Prices range from $20 to $30 per cake and they do deliver. They have over 9 different flavors including a flavor of the month. Also, each store has a variety of cutie gift ideas and they are even coming out with a line of baby clothes with cute little catch phrases: eg. “baby’s got bundt”.
The Red Velvet and Chocolate bundts were just perfect without being too sweet. My favorite was actually the Lemon bundt which my friends and I agreed reminded us of a grown up version of a TWINKIE.
If you like saying the word “bundt” as much as I do, pick up an 8″ or 10″ cake, a box of 12 buntinis (about $18) for your next event. You will be the hit of the party – promise!
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