This is one of those places you might be afraid to go to if you didn't know they had excellent food. It's tiny and it's in a building that looks almost like a single room house in a strip mall from outside. Every time I've been there it's been almost completely empty also. I really don't know why. This place has some good falafel. I would venture to say that it's better than the places in Westwood as well. The meat gyros are pretty good also. The baklava is ridiculously sweet, great if you like baklava. Also they have a crazy juice machine so you can get fresh juice that is juiced right in front of you. They have a decent selection of fruits and vegetables to juice, so you can probably find something you like.
Juan's is a great restaurant. You would never know of this place unless someone else told you about it. It's hidden in an area that is very low traffic and mostly industrial in the western part of Berkeley. The food is great. I loved the flour tortilla chips there. Sometimes they don't bring them out for you, but they always have them on hand if you ask for them. The salsa is good. If you're hungry, you're going to be happy here. The portions are huge! The super burrito is reminiscent of a football. OK that's a slight exaggeration, but trust me it's huge! The wine margarita used to be really good but after the last few times I was disappointed with it, I stopped ordering drinks there. The food is enough anyways. Also, don't forget to tell them it's your birthday!
I consider this place a hidden gem. It's located in the 1888 building in Century City. Basically only people who work in the area will be able to enjoy the food here since it's inside an office building with limited parking and they only deliver within the block. It's only open for breakfast and lunch. I believe the grill closes around 3PM. This restaurant has what I believe is the best bang for the buck in LA, which is surprising considering the area it's located. The food is good, filling and inexpensive. The lunch crowd gets pretty crazy sometimes though filling up the relatively small area. There are only a few tables, so it's not much of a sitdown restaurant. It's basically a place you go to pick up your food. The food itself is excellent. There are daily lunch specials which are usually your best bet unless you have something particular in mind. The sandwiches and wraps are great. If you get there in the morning before work, the breakfast burritos are incredible. The omelets there rock as well. Typically you'll pick up a great, filling meal there for $5-10. If you're ever in Century City in the daytime, it's definitely worth checking out.
Hurry Curry is a trendy Japanese Curry Fusion restaurant in the Sawtelle area of West LA. In the cluster of Asian shops and restaurants, it used to stand out as a great place to have a nice meal and enjoy the ambiance. The restaurant itself looks trendy from the moment you see it. There are some tables outside if you'd like to enjoy the weather while you eat. The Chicken Cutlet Curry at Hurry Curry used to be my favorite dish when I wanted to eat out. Over the past couple years they have significantly reduced their portions. You don't get as much chicken and you don't get as much curry and typically leave unsatisfied if you went in hungry and craving the stuff. The food is not bad and my opinion might be slightly biased because it has changed over time, but typically I go across the street to Curry House if I'm hungry and feening for chicken cutlet curry. It's has less of a postmodern ambiance, but most days hunger trumps my desire to feel trendy.
The Apple Pan is a nondescript little place across the street from the Westside Pavilion in West LA. It can be hard to find along the row of small shops and restaurants in the area. There are no tables to seat your party, but just a countertop and some stools. When it gets crowded, expect to wait if you want to sit and eat. The food is pretty good though. The burgers are nice if you want a change of pace from the fast food burgers, yet don't want to go to a restaurant with $20 gourmet burgers. It fills a nice niche in between. The tuna melt is also pretty good. I haven't tried all the pies there but the boysenberry pie was the best I've tried there so far. The atmosphere is usually pretty busy and energetic. The service is quick but not necessarily friendly. If you ask them if something is good, they will probably tell you that it's not. It's no nonsense. Your order will come out fairly quickly, so it's typically a place to go if you don't have a lot of time and have a hankering for a good burger.
