LAGuide
Where The F*ck To Eat At 4pm
photo credit: Holly Liss
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner - the three meals humans generally survive on. There’s brunch on the weekends, of course, and late night eats when we’ve partied just a little too hard. But what about that one time of day that nobody talks about? The in-between time that’s not quite lunch and definitely not dinner. You know, 4pm.
Sure, it’s not every day you’re looking for food at this hour, but sometimes you’re caught in between auditions, or you’re sightseeing with your parents, or you simply fell asleep with your eyes open again at work, and you missed lunch. Good luck - it’s a war zone out there. Most decent restaurants close for a few hours in between lunch and dinner or haven’t even opened yet at all. Or so you think. Get out of that depressing drive-through or overpriced salad bar - here are 14 spots that make 4pm great again.
The Spots
photo credit: Holly Liss
Your childhood best friend is in town, and you guys are off exploring Hollywood Blvd. But Dora The Explorer just sucker-punched Spiderman outside Madame Tussaud’s, and now you’re starving. There’s absolutely nothing for you on Hollywood Blvd, so make the short trek down Highland to Salt’s Cure. The fantastic, casual spot has good food, a great front patio, and a specific “midday” menu from 3pm-6pm.
photo credit: Holly Liss
One of our favorite neighborhood spots in the Fairfax area, Escuela is open every day from 11am - 11pm. These aren’t the best tacos in town, but we don’t care. They’re still good, and the laid-back atmosphere inside is ideal for a quick 4pm drop-in. We love a good taco truck as much as the next person, but sometimes it’s nice to step into some AC, pop a squat, and watch the fools try to make their way down Beverly at rush hour.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
You just got out of a 3:30pm callback at one of those commercial casting offices on Ocean Park Blvd., and you think you nailed it. Time to celebrate. Milo and Olive might just have the best pizza on the Westside, and garlic knots laced with something dangerously addictive (probably butter). The low-key space is fun but relaxed, and though it can get pretty crowded at peak times, 4pm will be clear sailing.
Nobody ever really wants to house an entire sandwich in front of a stranger, but that PR girl keeps pushing your coffee date back and now it’s 4pm and you’re starving. Head to Sycamore Kitchen. The daytime cafe on La Brea is what lunchtime dreams are made of, and though they close at 5pm, they go strong until the finish line. So order that sandwich or tartine or whatever else looks good (aka everything), and don’t apologize for a thing.
Admittedly, almost every Thai Town restaurant is open all day, everyday, but we had to choose one, and it’s Hoy-Ka Noodle. Not only is the food excellent here, the space and vibe is as close to a Thai sports bar that we have in this town. You’ll order a quick beer, the Pad Ka Prao, and stare blankly at whatever sh*tty international tennis match is playing on the TV.
photo credit: Benji Dell
Your parents are in town, you just spent four hours at LACMA, and you might kill someone if you have to take another photo by those lampposts. Calm yourself and get to Jon And Vinny’s. The fact that this place is open every day from 8am - 10pm is not just a gift for your parents’ immediate safety, but to the city in general. This laidback, bright Italian spot on Fairfax is one of the best we have, and at 4pm, you get to avoid the rabid crowds that come later.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
There was a huge upset on The Bachelor last night and you’re taking a personal day. After a full afternoon of personal self-reflection though, it’s now 4pm and you need to eat. Thankfully, one of our favorite sandwich spots in the city is open and ready for you to eat your feelings at. Larchmont Wine And Cheese is technically a wine store, but their back deli counter is magic. It’s small, and there are only about seven sandwiches on the menu, but each one will cure even the worst reality TV-induced depressions. Call it in ahead of time to avoid the line, and find a seat at one the tables out front.
LA’s best pizza place you’ve never of before? That would be DeSano. Over the past few years, it’s built a quiet cult following for its tremendous Neopolitan pizza - and not just by LA’s standards either. Its East Hollywood location isn’t exactly what you’d consider in the middle of things - but if it’s 4pm and you’re roaming the LA streets looking for pizza, DeSano’s huge, casual space is exactly what the doctor ordered.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
There are just those days that lunch doesn’t happen and you’re caught slaving away at your beachside live/work microloft in Venice - we get it. But you need to eat at some point, and your move is Gjusta. Open from 7am - 9pm, this all-day deli/cafe/kaftan swap meet is definitely a scene, but the food is always great. You can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches, but if you’re still craving breakfast (who isn’t?), it’s served until 5pm.
photo credit: Dex Studio
You just landed at LAX after a week of eating broiled whitefish in the Midwest, and you need LA sushi back in your life immediately. Luckily, we have Sugarfish and no matter what awkward time of the afternoon you fly in, it’ll be open. Plus, with locations literally everywhere these days, chances are your Uber home will pass at least one of them.
photo credit: Holly Liss
We’ve all had that late afternoon meeting in Culver City, and we all know how truly terrible it is. So instead of starving yourself during the 405 gridlock, grab a quick bite at Loqui first and make the trip back home bearable. Located in a brand new complex next to the Blue Line stop, Loqui might seem like just another overpriced taco joint, but it’s not. Their spicy chicken is fantastic, the flour tortillas are made in-house, and even though $5 for a taco is a lot, they’re massive.
You felt it coming on yesterday and it’s here. Sore throat, stuffed up nose, chest congestion - time for a sick day. But after one Law & Order episode turned into five, you’re all of sudden starved and nothing is open. Except Northern Cafe. The tiny Westwood spot is open all day and cooking up some of the better Chinese food west of the SGV. Think dumplings, Dan Dan noodles, and plenty of hot soup. Time to cure the soul.
