Navigating: Westwood after hours | Metromix Los Angeles

Navigating: Westwood after hourspick

Where to tame the late-night lion

By Sara Tan

Special to Metromix
September 24, 2008

Navigating: Westwood after hours
Can't beat 35 cent cookies (Credit: Shane Redsar)

Fourth meal? Fuggetaboutit. Diehard collegiates know: By the time the midnight munchies hit, they are so beyond No. 4. With all the cram sessions and studious keg-tapping to be had, Taco Bell, popcorn and dormitory cereal just will not do. (Students may be hungry, even poor, but they aren’t stupid.) UCLA is back in session now, and Westwood Village is already teeming with apprehensive froshies and overbearing seniors roaming the manicured streets for grub to satiate the nocturnal hunger pangs. Because Metromix is nothing if not an advocate for the hardworking student, here's a go-to-guide to (almost) round-the-clock joints from Gayley’s fraternity row to Tiverton Avenue—devoid of all coffee houses and fro-yo shops because, let’s face it, you need real food.

 

Bella Pita

Bella Pita

960 Gayley Ave. - Los Angeles
310-209-1050

Picky about your pita? Build your own here—if you have enough coordination after that awesome keg stand. The self-serve salad bar has a variety of toppings and sauces to customize your falafel or, if you insist, meat of choice. Fresh, fast, cheap and open late every night until 11:30 p.m.

BJ's

BJ's

939 Broxton Ave. - Westwood
310-209-7475

What does BJ’s signature pizookie at midnight taste like? De-li-cious. Gooey, deep-dish cookie dough with melty vanilla ice cream—say hello to our freshman 15. There’s plenty of pizza too, which attempts to pass itself off as deep-dish and Chicago-style. It can’t fool us, but we might be persuaded after sampling the full roster of draft beer. Get in there before midnight Sunday-Thursday, 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Diddy Riese Cookies

Diddy Riese Cookies

926 Broxton Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-0448

A mere buck and a half buys you diabetes in the form of two cookies and one lump of ice cream, all smooshed together to become the legendary and delectable Diddy Riese sandwich. What? That too much for you? Well, you could just get a cookie. There are 10 varieties (from chocolate chip to ones studded with M&Ms) on any given day, all fresh-baked and 35 cents each. The Diddy Dozen for $3.75 would make Mrs. Fields weep. Open till midnight Sunday-Thursday, 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Enzo's Pizzeria

Enzo's Pizzeria

10940 Weyburn Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-3696

Is it truly the best pizza in Westwood? We think you should be the judge. Whether it's after a hard night of studying at the library or a harder night partying at the club, you'll find all sorts of people grabbing slices into the wee hours of the morning. Depending on how hungry you are, you can even get a 23-inch pizza all to yourself—we double-dare you. Tossing pies until midnight Sunday-Wednesday, 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday.

Gushi

Gushi

978 Gayley Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-4038

An amalgam of Japanese and Korean comfort foods, the menu at this little tin shack has won the carnivorous heart of many a skeptical passerby. Despite the limited space, dining in is preferable—the better for coeds to douse extra Sriracha and teriyaki sauce into ample bowls barbecued beef, teriyaki chicken, bibimbap and kimchi fried rice. The Gushi plate, otherwise known as bulgogi to K-town regulars, is the undisputed favorite item. Open till 11 p.m. nightly.

Gypsy Cafe

Gypsy Cafe

940 Broxton Ave. - Westwood
310-824-2119

Looking to dance and eat and inhale some more hookah smoke until 4 a.m. (an hour later than Habibi across the street)? Gypsy Cafe is open for your business. The restaurant—generally considered the nicer, in service and decor, of the two—serves beer and wine, but if you're looking for something less potent, the mint tea is certainly more detoxifying. Open till 4 a.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 a.m. Sunday-Wednesday.

Habibi Cafe

Habibi Cafe

923 Broxton Ave. - Westwood
310-824-2277

How did two hookah lounges end up facing off on the same Westwood street? No matter. If your craving for smoke and drink makes you impatient for a table at Gypsy Cafe, pull up a chair and a hookah here. Be sure, however, to have enough cash, as they don't accept Daddy's plastic. Until 3 a.m. nightly.

In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger

922 Gayley Ave. - Westwood
800-786-1000

You know it, you love it—and we certainly don't need to hash out the secret menu for you. This outpost—designed to resemble the retro logo—also offers the rarest of Westwood assets: a free parking lot. And if the spaces are filled up, you've got the option of drive-through. Eat-in or crawl-through Sunday-Thursday until 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday until 1:30 a.m.

Italian Express

Italian Express

10845 Lindbrook Dr. - Los Angeles
310-208-5572

When you get back from a wild night out at 2 a.m. and discover there’s nothing in your fridge, it’s good to know Italian Express is still open and ready to deliver. You can rely on the fatty cushion of cheese-filled calzones and meatball subs to counteract your oncoming hangover. Every night till 3 a.m.

Jerry's Famous Deli

Jerry's Famous Deli

10925 Weyburn Ave. - Westwood
310-208-3354

Open 24 hours: magic words, especially during finals week. It may be wildly overpriced for a bowl of soup or a pastrami sandwich, but it's well worth the use of a spacious booth and harsh lighting to help you burn the midnight oil. The waitresses are sympathetic to the college scene, giving generous pours of coffee, even if that's all you order for the rest of the night. Open 24 hours Friday and Saturday, otherwise closed at midnight.

Jose Bernstein

Jose Bernstein

935 Broxton Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-4992

Deep into the night, you might feel like a big, fat burrito—eating one, that is. If the name doesn't tip you off, note that the Mexican fare is hardly authentic. But menu items are cheap, generously apportioned and occasionally a little crazy. Consider fusion oddities like galbi and kimchi wrapped in a tortilla. Available until 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Lamonica's NY Pizza

Lamonica's NY Pizza

1066 Gayley Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-8671

Many—and not just drunk-tired coeds and frat dudes—swear by this place and its thin-crust Sicilian pies. Drunk or not, we've found it lives up to the hype. Get it by the slice for variety's sake, and don't forget the garlic knots. Open until 1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, midnight Sunday-Wednesday.

Mr. Noodle

Mr. Noodle

936 Broxton Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-7808

The comfort food of noodles helps stomach a long night ahead. The diverse pan-Asian menu of pho, chow mein, udon, or pad thai should feed whatever you're craving. And if you're miserably holed up at your desk (or just feeling miserably lazy), Mr. Noodle delivers. Available nightly until the odd hour of 10:45 p.m.

Roll Inn Sandwich (or Buck Fiddy)

Roll Inn Sandwich (or Buck Fiddy)

950 Gayley Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-2354

They'll know you're not from these parts if you call it anything but Buck Fiddy—an anachronism from a time when $1.50 would buy you a full stomach. The shack has a snazzy new exterior (a coat of paint does so much) and inflated rates to boot, but it still serves some of the best and cheapest sandwiches in Westwood. Found some loose change? That'll get you an extra order of chili fries to go with your 8-inch sub. Hours vary, but as a general rule of thumb: Walk on up by 10 p.m. Sunday, 11 p.m. Monday, midnight Tuesday and Wednesday; 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday.

Sepi's Giant Submarines

Sepi's Giant Submarines

10968 Le Conte Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-7171

Every campus has the place for beer, subs, watching games and casually hooking up with classmates; Sepi's has been UCLA's hangout for over 30 years. Don't mind the geezers in ties with the pitchers and sandwiches—they're just taking a trip down memory lane. Monday-Saturday until 11 p.m., but closes too early (7 p.m.) on Sundays.

Socko's Subs

Socko's Subs

920 Broxton Ave. - Los Angeles
310-824-1222

What makes this deli different from all the rest in Westwood? We're not sure, but it’s worth a shot, especially since these specialty subs are divided into three size and price categories: skinnies (ironically consisting of all meat, not veggies), super subs and giants. Some monikers, of course, reflect Bruin pride (the Gilmore, the Walton)—but how the heck is the Kareem Abdul Jabeef not a giant amongst sandwiches? Hours vary greatly, but management promises “open late.”

Stan's Donuts

Stan's Donuts

10948 Weyburn Ave. - Los Angeles
310-208-8660

Relish in the days when you can ingest one of Stan’s treats in the middle of the night and not regret it—those days (and our bodies) went quickly. For 40 years, Stan's has been doling out apple fritters, Danish and doughnuts decked out with chocolate, cinnamon and Reese's peanut butter cups. Dozens await you until midnight Monday-Thursday as well as Saturday, until 1 a.m. on Friday, and only until 11 p.m. Sunday.

Westwood Brewing Co.

Westwood Brewing Co.

1097 Glendon Ave. - Los Angeles
310-824-0820

There's happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Then, there are the unhappy hours, which are perhaps best left between you, your pint and the third helping of buffalo wings. Open until 1 a.m. every night.

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