What say ye ftcers? Bringing food to a friend coming from 405 south and can go anywhere near there around culver to Santa Monica.
Don’t say gjusta or gjelina lol
helms bakery
destroyer
fat + flour
augie’s on main
marden’s chicken
bread head
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What’s good there?
Roasted chicken sandwich from Augie’s on Main (parking lot in back).
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Breadhead.
I’m addicted to the Calabrian Turkey Sandwich and the Meatball Sandwich, but their bestsellers are the Turkey Pesto and the Muffaletta. Half a sandwich is plenty because the whole sandwich is enormous.
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We love everything we’ve tried from Augie’s - burger, chicken, fries, chopped salad, broccolini.
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Sandwich from A Cut Above, Andrew’s Cheese Shop, Wexler’s or Bay Cities
Taste of Tehran
Salad from California Chicken Cafe
I haven’t been to Marmalade since they moved to Santa Monica Blvd but that was good prepared food
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Ended up going to gjelina after not taking my own advice also went for bay cities. Sandwiches still rock and very reasonable in this inflationary period. Never had their chicken parm and it was delightful.
Speaking of inflationary a breakfast burrito at gjelina is listed at 22.77 lol
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Breadhead looks great but pushing $30 for a sandwich. Jeez. Sorry I’ve been on an old man rant lately. Every slice in NYC when we were visting last week was in the $4.50 - $5 range without toppings. I was telling my kids about $0.75 slices growing up. They coulda cared less.
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Half a sandwich and a bag of chips is plenty for me. And I have a big appetite. I only order a whole if I’m splitting with someone. Not the best sandwich in LA, but definitely worth it if you live close.
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I’ve gotten this twice since your comment, thanks for the rec! I add some homemade cherry pepper mayo on it to take it to the next level.
I went to Bread Head once and was sufficiently unimpressed to not have any urge to return.
It’s not at all bad, but…
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a whole sandwich at Breadhead feeds 4 people. A half is enough - it takes me two separate meals to finish a half.
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I easily ate a single sandwich on my own (and wasn’t stuffed at the end), but YMMV.
EDIT: just reviewed my post about my one visit back in July 2024. I only ordered half a sandwich (my vague memory is that I had a decent portion of partner’s sandwich, as well, since he found his unappetizing, and I don’t like wasting food).
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NOBODY - not even @PorkyBelly - get a full bread head! prices are the same or less than Lorenzo
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sichuan impression mapo tofu with rice lunch special has been good to me, if there are better mapo tofus on the west side please let me know - then, i use their side of pickled cucumbers with dry chili, sichuan peppercorn (comes with lunch special) for a cucumber avocado feta salad later so i don’t feel over the top. works every time.
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Paging @Probangbanger lol
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I picked up West LA lunch for an ailing friend at her requested Cafe Belen.
It’s on Santa Monica Blvd and Brockton Ave, in the same mini mall as Monte Alban. I got two good, not overly twee salads, and some truly excellent ginger lemonade.
It’s a small place and looked pleasant and busy with most tables eating their breakfast. My friend (who’s been going there for three years or so) really likes the food, and thinks the family who runs it is very kind. I believe the owners may be Guatamalan, but didn’t see that in my quick menu perusal.
Two entree salads, two ginger lemonades for take out - approximately $60.
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The first time I went to Cafe Belen all I could think about from the moment I walked in was - wow everything about this place, from the decor to the menu, is so similar to Cafe Vida. Then our server (who may also be the owner but I’m not sure) stopped at my table and I immediately recognized him from Cafe Vida. And just like Cafe Vida, I think it’s a very pleasant and enjoyable spot for a low stakes breakfast or lunch. Not cheap, but little of quality in the area is.
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