It’s important to know some good places to grab lunch or dinner when you’re out in LA. After all, it’s not always easy finding something tasty to eat on a daily basis (especially when you work crazy hours).
Los Angeles is a beautiful, diverse and dynamic city. So, obviously it’s anyone’s guess who the best lunch spot in Los Angeles would be. But we have our ideas! This article will list out some of the best places to get a good meal in LA at a decent price.
We love eating healthy for lunch and these establishments definitely deliver. With locations all over LA you are sure to find one that is close to your office or school that fits the bill perfectly.
Where’s the Best Lunch Spots in LA?
Los Angeles has some great lunch spots, but all it takes is one bad experience to ruin a whole day. You need somewhere you can go and have delicious food with a great atmosphere. Luckily, there’s no need to fret! We’ve found the best of the best in Los Angeles.
Destroyer
This breakfast and lunch spot in Culver City, CA, is like something taken from outer space. The restaurant is minimalistic and the menu is displayed on a large wall. There are so many great combinations of flavors and good presentations that you’ll never find at any other restaurant in LA. For example, you can order a bowl of raw oatmeal and have it topped with a large vanilla custard. Find some people you like and go out with them. Order dishes that you can share, like the amazing beef tartare, sourdough sunchoke waffle, and the raw oatmeal. You’ll get back to work much later than you planned, thanks to all the delicious food and service here.
Weekends at Destroyer are pretty crowded; however, it’s easier to get in during the week. It’s only open from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday, so if you work somewhere near it, you probably haven’t made it there yet. It’s ideal to get here early for breakfast, and then have another meal there afterwards.
Petit Trois
Chef Ludo Lefebvre celebrates simplicity with his classic take on a Parisian bistro, either at his original strip-mall location in Hollywood or the bigger, more sophisticated restaurant located in Sherman Oaks. There are many classic French dishes on the menu, including steak frites, mussels marinières, and chicken legs. It’s all about ’90s hip hop and classic rock, which allows for some really cool French food and a place to experience some very technical food, but without too much flashiness.
Eat at Petit Trois when you’re feeling sick; order the steak tartare, and make sure to then buy their fluffy omelet and a pastry cream-filled Napoleon. This treatment cures all kinds of ailments, even those that aren’t real. Anyone who plans to stop by the Hollywood location for a meal should also visit Ludobab, the new kebab shop that runs out of the same kitchen.
Jon & Vinny’s
Jon & Vinny’s is a modern, high-end restaurant that serves authentic Italian cuisine and offers great value. It has locations in Fairfax, Brentwood and South L.A.
Try going for a late lunch at Jon & Vinny’s, preferably with a glass of good wine. You won’t have to elbow anyone to get a table; however, you will be able to eat a lot of linguine, meatballs, and clams to your heart’s content. If you see filled Italian donuts on the counter, you might want to reserve a table for yourself.
If you can’t secure a table for a formal dinner at Jon & Vinny’s in Fairfax, try visiting their Counter Service in the middle of the day. It’s a prime spot for a group of friends to enjoy some great Italian food. With a prime view of the cooking area and plenty of room, this is a great way for a single person or a couple to enjoy some of the best Italian classics found in America without having to break a sweat.
The Brothers Sushi
The Brothers Sushi is an upscale sushi bar in Woodland Hills that has plans to open a second location in Santa Monica. Mark Okuda sources fish from around the world, and serves up delectable delights like perfectly cooked salmon and top-notch toro nigiri in a small, intimate restaurant in the western part of the valley.
The high-end restaurant is situated in a gorgeous Victorian house in the San Fernando Valley, just south of the Ventura Freeway. It serves everything from grilled Wagyu to sushi omakase, and even steamed crab legs and sake that’s sourced from Fukushima.
Gamboge
You probably daydream about moving to a rural town once you retire from the big city and start a new life there. If that’s what you’re looking for, head to Gamboge. If that is your dream, then we suggest trying out Gamboge. Lincoln Heights’ Cambodian restaurant makes outdoor dining seem easy. Just order some food from the window and sit back and enjoy the view. Order what you want from the window and walk out to the lovely, peaceful patio.
There’s not a bad dish on the menu at Gamboge, but some of our favorites are: grilled pork shoulder numpang sandwiches, fresh-picked red cabbage and fried shallots. They alo have braised tomato with a sardine dish that comes with a crusty baguette. You’ll be sure to want to sit here and eat their food every day!
How to Pick the Right Lunch Spot in LA
We’re not trying to push any one place in particular. The best way to find a great lunch spot is by looking at the menu and picking what looks good (and don’t forget to bring a healthy appetite).
Look for restaurants with a wide selection of food, especially sandwiches, that are different from each other. This way, you can try something new every time you go out for lunch. Think about picking places in neighborhoods where there are lots of people and places that have outdoor seating for afternoons and evenings.
We also suggest looking for restaurants that serve good wine (they have more options than just beer), or ones that have an extensive bar so you can get drinks after dinner if you want to.