Los Angeles is home to a wide variety of cuisines and delicious restaurants, and the restaurants in Westwood within walking distance can reflect this, both in variety and taste. Here are 5 of my favorite places to eat at in Westwood!
1. Poke Me
One of my favorite poke places, not only in Westwood but in the entire Los Angeles area, is Poke Me! Located just past Wilshire Blvd., it features a “build-your-own bowl” option where customers can shape their own meal with their favorite fish, toppings and sauces. Poke Me is also an extremely affordable option for students, offering a $15 poke bowl, which is comparable to the price of a bowl at Northern Lights Cafe. There are plant-based options for vegetarians and vegans, with their “Leafy Love” bowl as well as the option to have tofu as a protein instead of fish in any build-your-own bowl. For those who don’t like raw fish, Poke Me offers an array of baked bowls, including a baked salmon, baked albacore and baked shrimp bowl. For the build-your-own bowl, Poke Me comes in three sizes: a small, medium and large. Don’t be fooled by the names of the small or medium size bowls! The portions are extremely generous and filling. This is one of my favorite meals on the go – the line at Poke Me is almost always nonexistent, and my delicious poke bowl is ready in less than five minutes, giving me the perfect fuel for studying!
2. KazuNori Hand Roll Bar
Another one of my fish favorites in the Westwood area is famed sushi chef Kazunori Nozawa’s hand roll bar. Featuring the chef’s staple mouth-watering hand rolls from his restaurant Sugarfish, KazuNori is probably the best place in LA to get a quick and semi-affordable sushi fix. They have a wide array of hand rolls, including toro, salmon, yellowtail, scallop, monkfish, uni (sea urchin), lobster, Japanese potato and crab. KazuNori also has a multitude of meal options, anywhere between a three hand roll combo all the way to a six hand roll combo. Customers can order hand rolls and sashimi dishes a la carte as well. Dining in at the hand roll bar is extremely fun – customers get to sit in a dimly lit, ambient room and watch chefs make their hand rolls right in front of their eyes! Because of this, the hand rolls are extremely fresh, being served to you with the sushi rice still warm and the seaweed deliciously crispy. This is a somewhat more upscale dining option (while still being more affordable than sushi establishments like Sugarfish), so I would recommend KazuNori for a date night or celebratory dinner. Bring your parents here when they come visit!
3. Enzo’s Pizzeria
A classic New York-style Italian pizza joint, Enzo’s Pizzeria is one of my favorite places to go with friends after a long day of classes and studying. Not only does Enzo’s offer both slices and whole pizzas, but they also have a delicious caesar salad, a stellar pasta menu and great hero sandwiches. One of my favorite things to get at Enzo’s are the garlic knots, which are often made fresh on the spot! This side dish is perfect to share with friends and comes with a marinara dipping sauce too.
4. Falafel Inc
As someone who grew up on falafel and other Middle Eastern dishes, Falafel Inc always reminds me of home. This restaurant is actually the first “fast casual” falafel chain, and their falafel sandwich was recently voted America’s number one falafel sandwich! Some items at Falafel Inc are also completely vegan. The menu includes falafel, hummus, bowls and sides, all made with delicious, fresh ingredients. Falafel Inc is also an incredibly ethical meal choice; they have partnered with the World Food Programme to donate meals to refugees in need. Lastly, Falafel Inc is one of the most affordable food options you will find in LA, as you will not find anything on their menu for more than $6. Their award-winning falafel sandwich is $4 and their falafel bowl is $5. Falafel Inc also offers affordable catering if you are in need of something amazing for your next club social!
5. Tacos Tu Madre
Tacos Tu Madre offers many affordable and inventive tacos, including one of my personal favorites, the ahi taco. Customers order from a sidewalk window and can grab a seat in an ambient indoor space. Tacos Tu Madre also has a great selection of plant-based options, from plant-based bowls to crispy potato tacos and even some burritos.
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Featured Image Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
