Our Musicians’ Favorite Places to Eat in Westwood, Los Angeles

Photo via LA Times

Part of what makes a day at Room Key Studios feel special is where we are. Tucked between Westwood, Brentwood, and the greater Westside, the studio gives artists a quiet, focused place to create while still being minutes from some of the best neighborhood food in Los Angeles.

That balance matters. You can spend the day locked into a vocal take, writing session, mix review, or full-room collaboration, then step out for a quick lunch, a proper dinner, coffee, or something sweet without having to leave the area. Around here, the food options feel like an extension of the day: easy, local, and genuinely useful when you are spending long hours creating.

These are the places we point people toward when they ask where to eat near Room Key Studios. Some are quick and casual, some are better for sitting down, and a few are worth saving for after the work is done.

Room Key Studios address: 10701 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Quick Picks

Best quick bite: Liu’s Cafe
Best sweet treat: Saffron & Rose Ice Cream
Best casual dinner: Joey’s Wings
Best sit-down option: Violet LA
Best takeout: Palm Sugar Thai To-Go
Best special occasion: Hamasaku
Best local Westwood pick: Attari Sandwich Shop

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Liu’s Cafe

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 15-minute walk, 5-minute drive
Best order: Pork Belly Rice or Chiayi Chicken Rice

Liu’s Cafe is an easy favorite when you want something comforting, quick, and reasonably priced. The Westwood location has the same Taiwanese and Hong Kong-inspired feel that made the original Koreatown spot so popular, with rice plates, spicy wontons, sesame cold noodles, milk tea, and Hong Kong-style French toast.

It is a small, busy cafe, so it can fill up fast, especially around lunch. The Pork Belly Rice is the richer option, while the Chiayi Chicken Rice feels a little cleaner and easier to eat in the middle of the day. However, Liu’s cafe’s most sought-after offering is the Hong Kong French Toast; unique with its crisp exterior contrasted with a soft interior filled with a velvety custard. Drizzled in brown sugar syrup and salted butter, many enthusiasts claim it to be the best French Toast you can have in LA. If you are ordering to-go, this is the kind of place where a quick counter pickup makes more sense than waiting around for a table.

Why we love it: It gives you a lot of flavor without turning lunch into a long sit-down meal. For a nearby, under-$15-style meal in Westwood, it is one of the easiest recommendations.

Saffron & Rose Ice Cream

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 16-minute walk, 3-minute drive
Best order: Saffron pistachio or white rose

Saffron & Rose is one of the most Westwood-specific stops on this list. The shop is known for unique Persian flavors like saffron, rose, pistachio, date, jasmine, cucumber, orange blossom, and faloodeh. Known as the Bastani Sonnati, this traditional Persian ice cream is known for its uniquely dense, slightly elastic, and stretchy texture, a true stand-out experience that differs greatly from regular ice cream and even Gelato.

This is also a good place when people want to try a few flavors before choosing. The staff is often helpful with samples, and the scoops tend to feel generous for the price. Saffron pistachio is the classic order because the pistachio adds crunch and the saffron gives it that floral richness, but white rose is a great choice if you want something lighter.

Why we love it: It feels rooted in the neighborhood. It is not just “ice cream nearby,” it is one of those Westwood stops that makes the area feel distinct.

Joey’s Wings

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 20-minute walk, 5-minute drive
Best order: Garlic cilantro wings, Honey garlic as the backup

Joey’s Wings is the move when everyone wants something crispy, salty, and easy to share. The wings have that classic balance you want: crispy on the outside, tender inside, and sauced enough to feel satisfying without getting overly heavy. Joey’s makes everything from scratch, and is known for their baked, never fried wings cooked with zero seed oils. So whether you are grinding through a long session or baked yourself and grooving to your track, it is cleaner comfort food that still hits.

Garlic cilantro is the standout if you want something more savory and fresh, while honey garlic is the safer crowd-pleaser for a group order. It is casual, simple, and built for those moments when people would rather pass around trays of wings than coordinate a more complicated meal.

Why we love it: It is straightforward in the best way. Good wings, easy flavors, and the kind of order that works when everyone is hungry at the same time.

NADC Burger

Cost: $$
Distance from Room Key Studios: 15-minute walk, 5-minute drive
Best order: NADC Burger with beef tallow fries

NADC stands for “Not A Damn Chance,” which tells you a lot about the place right away. The menu is intentionally strict, with a no-modifications policy that has become part of the brand. So if you are thinking about ordering it without jalapeños or asking for sauce on the side, the answer is probably already in the name.

The signature burger is a double wagyu patty with American cheese, secret sauce, onions, pickles, and slightly tamed jalapeños. Pair it with the beef tallow fries and chipotle-peppered ketchup if you want the full order.

It is definitely one of the heavier nearby options, but that is also the appeal. The burger is rich, salty, a little spicy, and satisfying without trying to do too much. It is the kind of place that makes sense when you want something filling, direct, and knows what it is.

Why we love it: It knows what it is. A focused burger-and-fries spot is always useful nearby, especially when you want something filling and direct.

Eduardo’s Border Grill

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 6-minute drive, quick online delivery recommended
Best order: Original Burrito or Border Burrito

Eduardo’s Border Grill is a dependable burrito spot when you want something filling and familiar. It is not trying to be fancy, and that is part of why it works. The seating is limited, so this is usually better as a pickup order than a long lunch.

The Border Burrito is the best, especially with flame-grilled chicken or steak. It is the kind of meal that actually holds up well to-go, which matters when you need something practical and filling.

Why we love it: It is simple, reliable, and satisfying. A good burrito is always useful when you need lunch to be easy.

Café Glacé

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 16-minute walk, 3-minute drive
Best order: Persian Mix Pizza

One of our favorite aspects of Café Glacé’s is its opening hours; open till 11PM most weekdays, midnight on Fridays, and 1:30AM on Saturdays, it’s one of the few late night spots we can count on.

The most popular go-to would be the Persian Mix Pizza, topped with beef mortadella, beef hot dogs, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and mozzarella, which makes it salty, savory, and very different from a standard slice.

Another favorite of ours is the Majoon; a famous Persian shake with a nutrient-rich blend of dates, bananas, nuts, and honey. It’s a healthy, quick and reliably tasty booster, great for long sessions where you just want to keep the momentum going without stopping for a full meal.

It also has sandwiches, ice cream, and desserts, so it works well when the group wants something casual but not predictable. The pizza often comes with ketchup and ranch, which is part of the experience. This is the kind of place that makes sense when someone visiting Westwood wants to try something local to the neighborhood rather than another chain lunch.

Why we love it: It has personality. Persian pizza is not something you find everywhere in Los Angeles, and Café Glacé gives the list a very specific Westwood flavor.

Violet LA

Cost: $$
Distance from Room Key Studios: 13-minute walk, 3-minute drive
Best order: Seasonal lunch or dinner dishes

Violet LA is the spot on this list for when you want the meal to feel calmer and more intentional. The restaurant is set in a historic brick building with a courtyard, dining room, rooftop terrace, and cooking school, so the space itself has more character than a typical Westwood lunch stop.

The food leans French-Californian, with seasonal dishes that are usually plated nicely without feeling too stiff. However, you can’t really go wrong with a signature steak and truffle frites, french onion soup, or the duck leg confit. It is a good option for a sit-down lunch, dinner after wrapping, or a meal with a manager, collaborator, or client where you want something polished but still relaxed.

Why we love it: The setting does a lot of the work. It feels warm, thoughtful, and a little more grown-up without being overly formal.

Lulu

Cost: $$
Distance from Room Key Studios: 10-minute walk, 3 minute drive
Best order: Seasonal prix fixe or produce-driven dish

Lulu is tucked inside the Hammer Museum, which already gives it a different pace from most nearby restaurants. The dining room opens into a calm courtyard, and the menu is built around seasonal California cooking with a produce-first approach championed by co-founder Alice Waters, the iconic pioneer of the farm-to-table movement (Chez Panisse).

This is not the place for a rushed group order. It is better when you have time to sit down and want something fresh, quiet, and thoughtful. The menu changes often, so the best order is usually whatever seasonal dish sounds strongest that day.

Why we love it: It feels peaceful and considered. The museum setting makes it a nice reset from the busier parts of Westwood.

KazuNori

Cost: $$
Distance from Room Key Studios: 14-minute walk, 4 minute drive
Best order: Toro Hand Roll or Bay Scallop Hand Roll

KazuNori is a good pick when you want something quick but still elevated. The setup is simple: counter seating, hand rolls made one at a time, warm rice, crisp nori, and clean fish. It is not ideal for a large group, but for one or two people, it is efficient and satisfying. It is sit-down only, but a great spot for an upscale but casual meeting vibe. It’s a frequent destination for us to bring a producer or manager for a 1-on-1. If you’re craving the same flavor and texture, but don’t want to risk getting into a long queue outside the restaurant, KazuNori has a delivery-only, Postmates exclusive spot on W Pico, just close enough to the studio for the rice still be warm in their nicely packaged boxes.

The Toro Hand Roll and Bay Scallop Hand Roll are both easy favorites. The best part is that the rolls arrive fresh as you eat, so the nori stays crisp, the rice warm, and the fish fresh.

Why we love it: It is fast without feeling like fast food. The format is clean, focused, and perfect when you want a lighter meal that still feels like a treat.

Hamasaku

Cost: $$$
Distance from Room Key Studios: 28-minute walk, 6-minute drive
Best order: Omakase

Hamasaku is more of a special dinner or client meal than a casual lunch stop. It has been open since 2000, and is known as a legendary entertainment-industry power-spot tucked into an unassuming West LA strip mall (owned by former CAA kingpin Michael Ovitz). It is universally famous for its fusion celebrity rolls named after A-listers and studio executives (like the Charlize Tacos or the Lourd roll).

However, some of our artists still prefer the omakase experience, and consider it the best and most pure way to experience what hamasaku has to offer. Depending on the menu, that can mean seasonal sushi, miso soup, chawanmushi, mochi ice cream, or a longer chef’s dinner with both kitchen and sushi bar items. It is the kind of place to save for a proper dinner after a productive day.

Why we love it: It feels refined without being flashy. When you want sushi nearby that feels like an occasion, Hamasaku fits.

Attari Sandwich Shop

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 15-minute walk, 3-minute drive
Best order: Persian tongue sandwich or koobideh-style sandwich

Attari Sandwich Shop is one of the clearest ways to experience Westwood’s Persian food culture. It is a classic daytime spot with sandwiches, kabobs, soups, and a front patio that often feels like a neighborhood gathering place.

The tongue sandwich is the signature order if you want the full Attari experience: rich, tangy, and served on a roll with that old-school sandwich shop feel. The koobideh-style sandwich is another strong choice if you want something grilled, juicy, and a little more familiar. The kuku sabzi is also worth knowing about if someone wants an herb-packed vegetarian option.

Why we love it: It has a real sense of place, and a hidden courtyard patio. Attari feels like Westwood, not just a restaurant that happens to be in Westwood.

Palm Sugar Thai To-Go

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 17-minute walk, 5-minute drive
Best order: Green Curry or Pad Thai

Palm Sugar Thai To-Go is a convenient Thai takeout option when you want something warm, flavorful, and easy to bring back. It is to-go only, so the whole point is speed and convenience rather than atmosphere.

The Green Curry is a good choice when you want something comforting, with coconut milk, bell pepper, kaffir lime leaves, and rice on the side. Pad Thai is the easier group-friendly order, especially if you are trying to pick something most people will be happy with.

Why we love it: It is practical without feeling boring. For takeout, that matters: easy ordering, solid flavors, and food that makes sense back at the studio.

Egg Tuck

Cost: $
Distance from Room Key Studios: 18-minute walk, 5-minute drive
Best order: Eggcellent Burrito or Bacon & Cheese sandwich

Egg Tuck is a strong breakfast option when the day starts early. The focus is simple: soft scrambled eggs, buttery bread, breakfast burritos, tots, and quick service in a small casual space.

The Bacon & Cheese sandwich is a good grab-and-go order if you want something classic, while the Eggcellent Burrito is better when you need a more filling breakfast. The eggs are the main reason to go: soft, fluffy, and rich enough to make a simple sandwich feel more satisfying.

Why we love it: It does breakfast comfort food well. When coffee alone is not enough, Egg Tuck is an easy nearby fix.

Final Note

Part of what makes Room Key Studios such a special place to record is that the environment is built for more than just getting clean audio. Our Westwood recording studio is designed to feel comfortable, private, and creatively focused, giving artists, producers, songwriters, and teams the space to settle in, collaborate, and stay inspired through long sessions.

Inside the studio, every detail supports the work: a premium recording environment, an inviting lounge feel, space for full-room collaboration, and the kind of calm atmosphere that helps people stay locked in without feeling drained. Whether you are tracking vocals, building out a song from scratch, hosting a writing camp, or finishing a mix, the goal is to make the studio feel like a place where the whole day can unfold naturally.

That is why the surrounding neighborhood matters too. When you can step out for a quick lunch, coffee, dinner, or something sweet and return to a space that still feels focused and comfortable, the day flows better. Great music deserves more than a technically strong room. It deserves an environment that supports the people making it.