Lunch @ Huckleberry Bakery + Cafe

Let’s talk about what I had for lunch on Sunday. Huckleberry Bakery and Cafe is a mecca for the Los Angeles cafe lunch scene. It has a fanatic following, and lines usually stretch out the door. And for good reason! The prepared salads and and sandwiches are fantastic, the bread is to die for, and their pastries oh-so-tempting. Huckleberry’s sunny, modern rustic interior is great for Westside LA people watching, and despite the popularity it certainly doesn’t feel past its prime at all. The restaurant recently released a cookbook which you can purchase online or in-store. Can you believe that bread on the cover?!

When you walk into Huckleberry, you will (usually) directed to the line in the back where you will wait in line to order. While in line, they offer you a bonus recipe! I think I’ll certainly make the Vanilla Apple Butter, which will go amazing with the Whole Wheat Apple Harvest Cinnamon Quickbread that I’ll be posting later this week. Stay tuned!

While in line, you get plenty of time to peruse the menu. Popular options include three of the pre-made salads (I went with that choice), but equally as enticing are the brunch options and made-to-order sandwiches. Since there is usually a wait, you have plenty of time to go back and forth between their raw kale salad and just going all in for their reuben or insane grilled cheese. Raw kale salad…grilled cheese…

Thankfully right before you make your order you are presented with their trays of fresh pre-made salads to help sway you. Popular favorites include their quinoa salad (on the right), the lentils (second from the left) and the cumin-roasted carrots (zomg) which I ordered on my plate, in the first picture. This aromatic roasted carrot and avocado dish has garnered such a following that the LA times finally recreated the recipe for all of us to make at home. Add that to the list!

You place your order, feel virtuous for avoiding the grilled cheese (maybe next time…) and take a seat. Despite the long lines, there is generally seating available when you are finished ordering as you aren’t allowed to take a seat until your order is placed. And then, you enjoy the scene and the food. Below is a picture of me, smiling at my food (#awkwardfoodbloggerproblems). Despite Huckleberry’s relatively expensive tag for lunch ($15 in total for 3 pre-made salads), this was certainly enough for two meals and I packed away half of it for lunch during the week.

If you are looking for an tasty lunch spot that has excellent, fresh and healthy options, Huckleberry is the spot for you (and for me). If you are looking for a place to indulge in some pastries and coffee, Huckleberry is also the spot for you (and for me). And you can always do a little bit of both, because we all need balance in our lives! So, see you here next weekend? And we’ll split the grilled cheese and raw kale salad?!