6 Business-Lunch-Approved Restaurants in West LA

West LA is often thought of as being in the in-between; not quite far enough west to be considered Venice or Santa Monica, not quite far enough east to be in Beverly Hills or Hollywood. Luckily, its food scene makes it a destination all on its own. It’s bordered by the 405 and the 10 and, although we can’t promise it won’t take you an hour to get there, it’s an ideal location to have a business lunch. Try out these places and enjoy expensing the bill.  

Tatsu Ramen

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If you’re going to West LA, you’d be remiss if you didn’t make your way to Sawtelle Blvd. The walkable stretch between Iowa and Tennessee Ave. features more than 20 options for Japanese eats, making it easy to see why locals have dubbed West LA as “Sawtelle Japantown”. Have a business lunch at one of the top ramen spots in the area, Tatsu Ramen, which has started to expand across the LA area. Unlike dinner time, there usually isn’t too much of a wait for lunch, but it’s always best to head there early, just in case. Try the Soul Ramen, a homemade tonkatsu broth loaded with black garlic oil, sweet umami sauce, ground beef, and chicken, tofu, or pork. They also have a vegan broth (Hippie Ramen) and broth-less (Naked Ramen) option, both unique and unusual choices for a ramen spot, but they work.

Address: 2123 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Baltaire Restaurant

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This upscale restaurant serves classy plates like Maine diver scallops and grilled Hawaiian albacore in a modern setting, all in the heart of Brentwood. Their large, fenced-in, and covered outdoor patio area is perfect on a sunny day. Eating inside isn’t bad either–their bar features retro leather seats and their lounge area boasts a fireplace and leather couches. The place gives off an old-school, exclusive vibe, perfect for making your business lunch date feel valued.

Address: 11647 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Hamasaku

Really trying to impress a client? Take them to Hamasaku. Their lunch hours are extremely limited (only available Monday-Friday, 11:30am-2:30pm), and they’re one of the only spots in West LA that offers counter-side omakase experiences in West LA. Although the omakase isn’t offered during lunch, we can’t think of a better excuse to have a follow up business dinner to seal the deal. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though; for lunch, try the bento box, which includes chicken karaage, mix sashimi, miso soup, mixed greens, hand roll or rice, and your choice of hanger steak, chef’s choice of sushi, cod, or tempura vegetables.

Address: 11043 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Il Moro Restaurant

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Whether you want to dine inside or on the outdoor garden patio, the atmosphere at Il Moro is perfect for a business lunch. The staff is always professional and courteous, just one of the many reasons this spot is a West LA favorite for client meetings and lunches. With thin pizzas, hearty salads, and classic pasta dishes done right, Il Moro is the perfect balance of delicious food in a relaxed, yet elegant, environment. They also validate parking, so use the adjacent parking garage and save a few bucks.

Address: 11400 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Chinchikurin

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If your upcoming business lunch has you struggling to find something more unique than the classic pizza, pasta, and sandwich spots, check out Chinchikurin. This place on Sawtelle is known for its Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki–a dish with more than 10 individual layers of meat or fish, vegetables, grilled noodles, and the famous Otafuku sauce. The best seats in the house are at the counter where you can watch the chefs prepare meals on the teppan grill. A meal for two will cost you around $50 with tax and tip, so this will be a fun one to write off as a business lunch.

Address: 2119 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Toscana

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Located in Brentwood, this white tablecloth Italian restaurant is sure to impress clients on your business lunch. Their simple, straightforward menu consists of under 10 items, but trust us, they’ll do just the trick. Try the Risotto Pomodoro Fresco, Orecchiette with broccoli and sun dried tomatoes, or Scaloppine Pizzaiola–chicken breast with fingerling potatoes, garden vegetables, and marinara sauce. You can’t go wrong with any of their options.

Address: 11633 San Vicente Blvd #100, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Did these restaurants whet your appetite? Well, you can only have business lunches if you’re a local! Find your next apartment for rent on Zumper and become a regular at some of these West LA spots.