You may have seen those memes showing how expensive it is to simply go outside these days: a person confidently steps outside of their home and a dollar sign pops up. They take more steps and more dollar signs pop up. Finally, they run back inside and shut the door. Who could blame them? It’s true: the cost of going out and socializing can really add up!

So imagine my surprise when I managed to go to four only-in-Los Angeles spots and spend less than $40! I was in town visiting my older daughter recently and these are the three eateries and one shop I visited in the Westwood Village neighborhood near the UCLA campus.

Gogobop Korean Rice Bar (Westwood location)
1059 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles

For lunch, I had a pork belly bowl with steamed rice drizzled with sesame oil. For toppings, I chose japchae glass noodles, avocado, pickled cabbage, green onions, cucumbers, and mac salad. I asked for gochujang sauce on the side. The combination of flavors from all of the fresh ingredients was excellent.

There are currently two Gogobop locations in Los Angeles. The other one is in Koreatown.

pork belly bowl, plus a can of soda: $16.01 (reasonable!)

Ministry of Coffee
1010 Glendon Avenue, Los Angeles

After my delicious lunch that I had with a Coke, I still had a hankering for more caffeine. It was 80°F so I got a cold drink from Ministry of Coffee, a restaurant and hangout which my daughter told me was popular with students. I ordered a regular iced mocha. Unfortunately, it was more milk than coffee or chocolate for my taste. There was nice outdoor seating and pretty Spanish tiles to look at, though!

iced mocha (without whipped cream): $6.25 (too pricey for what I got!)

Élysée Bakery and Café
1099 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles

This bakery has been operating since 1979

After the iced mocha, I found myself in the mood for something sweet to eat, so I was happy there was no line at Élysée Bakery and Café, which has been in Westwood Village for over 40 years. They’re known for their crêpes, omelettes, and assorted baked goods, including beautifully decorated cakes, pastries, and cookies.

Feeling a bit like Emily in “Emily in Paris” when she awkwardly tries to order a pain au chocolat, I asked the young woman behind the register for a couple of the round, lacey almond cookies. I called them tuiles. She looked at me and robotically informed me, “they are florentines.”

Ah, mais oui ! Tuile, florentine, potay-to, pah-tato! I ended up getting other cookies instead and I’m so glad I did. The walnut and pecan butter cookies were fresh baked, buttery, and just the right amount of crumbly. I enjoyed them while seated at a bistro table outside, feeling oh-so Parisian!

four cookies: $3.72 (sold by weight)

Flax Pen to Paper
1078 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles

After my brief cookie break, I crossed the street to Flax Pen to Paper. This small, family owned stationery store offers fine pens, paper, ink, stickers, notebooks, greeting cards, and gifts.

I got a pocket-sized, made-in-France Rhodia notebook, with its signature neon orange cover and sheets of vellum graph paper.

One of the reasons I love fountain pens is how they can be refilled with ink cartridges. In this age of sustainability and trying to reduce waste, it seems backwards to me that there are disposable fountain pens. That said, I bought one! I’m already dreading the day the blue ink runs out and I will have to discard (or recycle?) the pen with its beautiful silver nib. In the meantime, I will enjoy writing with it on my fancy French paper. So smooth!

blue Itoya Blade fountain pen and 5×5 Rhodia notepad: $8.20, plus free sticker

All in all, I had a good time exploring these one-of-a-kind places in Westwood Village. It was even better that I didn’t have to break the bank!

people and robot watching in Westwood Village (August 2024)