Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Despite its unassuming exterior, Sasabune is LA’s epicenter of power-lunching. It’s the best omakase (Japanese chef's choice) lunch in the city. You can bring anyone here—producers, actors, filmmakers—and they’ll be impressed. I like omakase for business, because it encourages a trusting mentality. Everything is in the hands of the chef.
Just know that it's impossible to walk in for lunch—make a reservation in advance.
30 locals recommend
Sushi Sasabune
11917 Wilshire BlvdDespite its unassuming exterior, Sasabune is LA’s epicenter of power-lunching. It’s the best omakase (Japanese chef's choice) lunch in the city. You can bring anyone here—producers, actors, filmmakers—and they’ll be impressed. I like omakase for business, because it encourages a trusting mentality. Everything is in the hands of the chef.
Just know that it's impossible to walk in for lunch—make a reservation in advance.
This classic power lunch spot has been around forever. It has an old-school New York or Chicago Italian vibe, with red booths and brick walls, and gets an older Beverly Hills clientele, plus Hollywood execs, lawyers, and doctors. And La Scala’s chopped salad is the best in town. They chop it so fine you can practically scoop it up with a spoon, and the dressing is basically a state secret.
Just get the salad. In LA, salad is the ultimate power-lunch order because it’s easy to eat and we like to be healthy—or at least be perceived to be healthy.
24 locals recommend
La Scala
434 N Canon DrThis classic power lunch spot has been around forever. It has an old-school New York or Chicago Italian vibe, with red booths and brick walls, and gets an older Beverly Hills clientele, plus Hollywood execs, lawyers, and doctors. And La Scala’s chopped salad is the best in town. They chop it so fine you can practically scoop it up with a spoon, and the dressing is basically a state secret.
Just get the salad. In LA, salad is the ultimate power-lunch order because it’s easy to eat and we like to be healthy—or at least be perceived to be healthy.
Santouka is a cafeteria-style place in the food court of Mitsuwa, a Japanese grocery. But if you want to show someone who’s interested in food something off the beaten path, this is a real hidden gem. Their broth is unreal. I get the spicy miso and a pork chop stew rice bowl on the side.
Come early to beat the lunch rush. You don’t want to be wandering around with a client, holding your trays waiting for a table to open up. And bring cash—they don’t take cards and you don’t want to require the other person to pay!
19 locals recommend
Santouka Ramen
3760 S Centinela AveSantouka is a cafeteria-style place in the food court of Mitsuwa, a Japanese grocery. But if you want to show someone who’s interested in food something off the beaten path, this is a real hidden gem. Their broth is unreal. I get the spicy miso and a pork chop stew rice bowl on the side.
Come early to beat the lunch rush. You don’t want to be wandering around with a client, holding your trays waiting for a table to open up. And bring cash—they don’t take cards and you don’t want to require the other person to pay!
Ricky’s is a food truck, plus some tables under an awning, in a parking lot where Los Feliz meets Silver Lake. That’s it. If you have a meeting with someone who will be more impressed by an authentic experience than by you dropping a lot of money, Ricky’s is the answer. And their Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos are the ultimate LA lunch.
You don’t want to risk just showing up at any time to get a deal done. Hours are limited, so check their Twitter account to make sure it’s open before going; they update it daily.
Ricky's Fish Tacos
Ricky’s is a food truck, plus some tables under an awning, in a parking lot where Los Feliz meets Silver Lake. That’s it. If you have a meeting with someone who will be more impressed by an authentic experience than by you dropping a lot of money, Ricky’s is the answer. And their Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos are the ultimate LA lunch.
You don’t want to risk just showing up at any time to get a deal done. Hours are limited, so check their Twitter account to make sure it’s open before going; they update it daily.
I like to take young actors to this colorful, bare-bones Silver Lake spot where Kris Yenbamroong is making out-of-the-box Thai street food cool by giving it a fresh spin. He does it so well that Food & Wine named him Best New Chef. I love the Northern-style larb and the Bangkok Mall Pasta, basically spicy Thai-style spaghetti with salt and fish.
It’s always crowded and it’s waitlist only, so get there early or be ready to have a couple rounds while you wait.
238 locals recommend
Night + Market Song
3322 Sunset BlvdI like to take young actors to this colorful, bare-bones Silver Lake spot where Kris Yenbamroong is making out-of-the-box Thai street food cool by giving it a fresh spin. He does it so well that Food & Wine named him Best New Chef. I love the Northern-style larb and the Bangkok Mall Pasta, basically spicy Thai-style spaghetti with salt and fish.
It’s always crowded and it’s waitlist only, so get there early or be ready to have a couple rounds while you wait.
Echo Park’s awesome old-school 1980s arcade comes complete with a pinball room. I took an actor client once, and we had a great time. It’s a good way to let off some steam and not take yourselves too seriously. The Thai bar food is exquisite. I love the crispy tofu balls and the tamarind chicken wings, and there are a dozen craft beers on tap.
This is exactly the kind of spot where you can impress someone who likes to nerd out for an evening.
106 locals recommend
Button Mash
1391 Sunset BlvdEcho Park’s awesome old-school 1980s arcade comes complete with a pinball room. I took an actor client once, and we had a great time. It’s a good way to let off some steam and not take yourselves too seriously. The Thai bar food is exquisite. I love the crispy tofu balls and the tamarind chicken wings, and there are a dozen craft beers on tap.
This is exactly the kind of spot where you can impress someone who likes to nerd out for an evening.
For a power breakfast, I like to take execs, filmmakers, and artists to this Tex-Mex place in Los Feliz. The everything taco is incredible—they make their own flour tortillas. I especially love the brisket beef.
There are no reservations. You line up, you order, you get a number, you sit down (inside or outside), they bring the food to you. Come prepared to chat.
188 locals recommend
HomeState
4624 Hollywood BlvdFor a power breakfast, I like to take execs, filmmakers, and artists to this Tex-Mex place in Los Feliz. The everything taco is incredible—they make their own flour tortillas. I especially love the brisket beef.
There are no reservations. You line up, you order, you get a number, you sit down (inside or outside), they bring the food to you. Come prepared to chat.
Drinks & Nightlife
If I need to have a real conversation, I like to meet up for drinks at this little speakeasy in Franklin Village. It’s actually in a Best Western, but has perfectly executed classic cocktails and a throwback style. It isn’t very well known yet, so it's easy to find a quiet corner. Sometimes happy hour, not lunch, is the way to go for a meeting.
Come casual. Unfortunately, I always show up in my suit and tie. Nobody cares, but this is a 30-something crowd of entrepreneurs, filmmakers, and artistic types, and everyone is dressed down.
14 locals recommend
MiniBar Hollywood
6141 Franklin AveIf I need to have a real conversation, I like to meet up for drinks at this little speakeasy in Franklin Village. It’s actually in a Best Western, but has perfectly executed classic cocktails and a throwback style. It isn’t very well known yet, so it's easy to find a quiet corner. Sometimes happy hour, not lunch, is the way to go for a meeting.
Come casual. Unfortunately, I always show up in my suit and tie. Nobody cares, but this is a 30-something crowd of entrepreneurs, filmmakers, and artistic types, and everyone is dressed down.