I work at a production company located in the South Bay, just a few miles from the beach and on a stretch of a main street populated mostly by office buildings and shopping centers. We’re surrounded by food, but much of it is of the chain variety: Fleming’s, Houston’s, Johnny Rockets, Noah’s Bagels, Il Fornaio.

We prefer to patronize chains that focus on high quality ingredients, or family-owned establishments that support local residents. One of my new favorites is Jackson’s Food + Drink, from the couple behind long-standing community favorite Jackson’s Village Bistro in Hermosa Beach, just a few miles down the coast from here.

At this new location, the food on offer is comfortable but more interesting – raw fish bowls varying from ceviche to poke to sashimi salads, charred broccoli salad, filet mignon risotto, spinach flatbread with creme fraiche – with daily lunch specials that are affordable options. Situated in the same shopping center as a fancy Arclight Cinemas and a bustling indie salon group, Jackson’s Food + Drink has all the things a city dweller like me could want: free parking garage, pre-/post-food activities, and ample patio seating.

We also really love Mendocino Farms, which I’m sure you’re all familiar with. Tasty dishes like prosciutto and chicken sandwiches, chicken-goat cheese-beet salads, balsamic-glazed steak and bacon sandwiches, curried couscous salads abound here. My favorite? The avocado toast – sans Green Goddess dressing because it has cashews and I’m allergic.

There are times when I really need a burger, and the girls at this office are happy to oblige when it’s Hopdoddy that I’m craving. There’s really nothing quite like a perfectly sized burger to lift the spirits, except maybe a super decadent milkshake…

One day, when we’re all in dire need of sushi, we’ll head further south for Izaka-Ya by Katsu-Ya. Until then, though, we’re going to become regulars at these yumtastic and convenient finds.