It used to be a Judaica store (oy vey!), but gourmet-to-go is the new religion at Hunger Market Cafe, an upscale but inexpensive deli counter in West Hollywood.

There's a daily selection of soups for $3.50 per cup and a variety of pre-composed salads: broccoli, bacon, cranberries and pine nuts; farmers market wild carrots with honey, pecans, and citrus; and a mélange of cherry tomatoes, fennel, cauliflower, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and spice. Get one scoop for $4, two for $7.50 or three for a cool $10.

The cold sandwiches are equally affordable, ringing up at $8, and coming in such typical choices as tuna, meatloaf and vegetarian, but also in more exotic iterations like curried chicken salad served with sliced green tomatoes, as well as a selection of hot panini with fillings like pulled pork (slow-cooked with tomatillos, pasilla peppers, onions, garlic and jalapenos), and pot roast that comes with horseradish, cheddar and grilled onions on ciabatta.

Small pizzas range from savory to sweet. One features mole chicken, another has Moroccan meatballs topped with hummus and feta, and then there is the thoroughly sugary sweet potato and goat cheese one seasoned with butter and maple syrup.

Want to take something home for later? No problem. You can even make a do-it-yourself meal from the fancy foodstuffs like spices, oils, vinegars, pastas and jellies that line the walls or just grab one of the toasty-looking baked goodies from the glass counter. Either way, you won't leave Hunger Market hungry.
Hunger Market Café
8731 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
(310) 854-0734
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