Question: I am possibly re-locating to West Los Angeles (West Hollywood) shortly. I was wondering if you could tell me your top picks of food stores and restaurants/cafés in the area around West Hollywood/Beverly Hills? Thanks for your support and help. Erik, London
Answer: I’m happy to recommend restaurants you might possibly patronize. But first, as a native, I feel duty-bound to inform you that west L.A.’s not the same area as West Hollywood. The latter is its own city, perhaps best known for its friendly gay population and the home of the recent protests against Prop 8. West Hollywood has its own cops, its own recycling system, and its own gigantic Whole Foods.
West L.A., on the other hand, is a rather amorphous area of the city of Los Angeles that I generally think of as the area right around Beverly Hills (also its own city), but also serves as a catch-all descriptor for any in-between ‘hoods section of L.A. west of Fairfax (for ex, the section between Westwood and Santa Monica).
That 2-paragraph layout of the west side will make sense to you once you move here, unless you’re my friend Summer, who’s lived in Santa Monica for 3 years but still isn’t quite sure where Westwood is (why leave the beach when you don’t have to?).
Anyway, lemme move on to your actual question about good eats. Here are my recommendations:
For fast food, try Native Foods, a yummy vegan joint in Westwood or O! Burger, an all-organic burger place in West Hollywood (left).
For an order at the counter, stake out a table kind of place, try Urth Caffe in Beverly Hills or West Hollywood, or the newer Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop (right) in Beverly Hills if you’d like wine or beer.
For a casual sit down meal, go to The Abbey in West Hollywood or Le Pain Quotidien in Beverly Hills, Westwood, or West Hollywood.
Readers — Have other recommendations for Eric? Leave them in the comments —
So what do you call the area between Westwood and Santa Monica? Everyone else I know seems to call it West L.A. or the Westside–I’ve never heard it limited to the area around BH before!
Comment by KateNonymous — December 21, 2008 @ 10:21 am
As for restaurants, maybe Tender Greens in Culver City? It’s not West Hollywood, but there’s a lot going on in “downtown” Culver City, and Tender Greens might be a decent place to start.
Comment by KateNonymous — December 21, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Dude, did you read the post? It says in there that West L.A.’s “a catch-all descriptor for any in-between ‘hoods section of L.A. west of Fairfax (for ex, the section between Westwood and Santa Monica).”
Comment by Siel — December 21, 2008 @ 11:16 am
I did, which is why I know that you said “I generally think of as the area right around Beverly Hills (also its own city).” From the way you constructed the remainder of the sentence, it sounded like the part I’m quoting is how you use it, but that other people use the second description.
So I wondered if you personally use the first description, what do you call the rest of the area? Sorry if I misread you.
Comment by KateNonymous — December 21, 2008 @ 11:53 am
Some other suggestions … M Cafe de Chaya is in Hollywood on Melrose @ La Brea. Lots of vegan options, but they have seafood, too. Lots of seasonal and organic fare. They have some seating, but do a lot of take out business. Rahel Ethiopian Vegan restaurant is also pretty close to West Hollywood (on Fairfax, near Olympic). I’ve been to a lot of great Ethiopian places that have a vegetarian portion to their menus, but it’s not often that I’ve seen a wholly vegan Ethiopian restaurant!
VegiSoul is a bit further out, on Jefferson near Normandie, but it’s not that much further out and it’s one of my favorite places in Los Angeles.
If you’re interested in veggie food, check out Vegetarians in Paradise (http://www.vegparadise.com/).
Comment by jennyw — December 21, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Don’t forget Real Food Daily on La Cienega! Or there’s a great place a wee bit East…Bloom on Pico. It’s delicious and a deal! It’s between Fairfax and La Brea on the South side of Pico.
Comment by Jessica Jensen — December 22, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Can’t go wrong with California Vegan on Santa Monica and Bundy for some good orange “chicken” (tofu). Also Swingers (both locations) have great veggie selections.
Comment by Jack — December 22, 2008 @ 10:55 am
I really like Flavor Of India. It’s quite expensive, but it’s really delicious.
Flavor Of India
9045 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 274-1715
Comment by Gavin — January 9, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Just ate at Tender Greens this past week and once again, was very satisfied. I think if you’ve become accustomed to GIGANTIC portions at restaurants, then it’s not the place for you. Otherwise, simple and plenty of good, fresh food.
Comment by Organic Eating — January 29, 2009 @ 2:25 pm