There are some pockets of Los Angeles that we seem to ignore or, possibly, take for granted. Today, we're highlighting of one of those seemingly underrated food areas: specifically, that stretch of Westwood Boulevard between Olympic and Wilshire in West L.A. Over just a few blocks there's a surprising amount of casual, edible diversity. So whether you work in the area, have a friend who lives nearby, or just happen to be passing through after an MRI at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Westwood Boulevard is a great street to grab an open parking meter. Some people call it Tehrangeles, but in truth, it offers up a whole lot more than just Persian food (though there is plenty of excellent Persian food).

You can eat crackling, fire-kissed pizza at Pitfire Pizza, traditional, low-key Indian at Ambala Dhaba, or even the classic westside Chinese chicken salad at Feast From the East. For a cheap, quick lunch, it's hard to beat the kabob or shawarma sandwiches at Sunnin (their new outpost is also set to open just across the street). Westwood Thai Café is certainly not the best Thai food in the city, but it's really cheap, fairly serviceable and not all the way out in Thai Town. To drink beer, watch sports and eat a good sandwich, there's Philly West, but if it's the Persian version of meat between bread you're after, Attari Sandwich Shop (actually hidden just off Westwood, despite the address) is a very enjoyable lunch destination.

For more of a sit-down Persian experience, you can eat very good food at Shamshiri (where your plate will probably leave enough leftovers for a second meal), or the much-loved Flame. For dessert, you can stop by the Persian bakery Pink Orchid, or just pop down to that old neighborhood standby, Penguin's Frozen Yogurt. But if you don't want any of that–since you were just laid off and plan to get drunk all afternoon but you still want to seem like a connoisseur instead of an alcoholic–you can get some very nice beers, wine and cheese at Wally's Wine & Spirits. Then go home, close the blinds, and call it a day.

Pitfire Pizza, 2018 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 481-9860‎., Ambala Dhaba, 1781 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 966-1772.,‎ Feast From the East, 1949 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 475-0400‎., Sunnin, 1779 Westwood Blvd., L.A., (310) 477-2358., Westwood Thai Café 1375 Westwood Blvd L.A., (310) 477-7031., Philly West, 1870 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 474-9787., Attari Sandwich Shop, 1388 Westwood Blvd., L.A., (310) 441-5488., Shamshiri, 1712 Westwood Blvd, L.A. (310) 474-1410., Flame, 1442 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 470-3399‎., Pink Orchid Bakery, 1927 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 441-4410., Penguin's Frozen Yogurt, 2180 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 470-2919‎., Wally's Wine & Spirits, 2107 Westwood Blvd, L.A., (310) 475-0606‎

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