As for zoning, there is zoning and there is "use" so your zoning might be commercial or mixed use but the assigned "use" of the property will be "restaurant".

I have small studio on first floor of my home within walking distance to restaurants.

The expenses are deductible, and I usually use the time to explore the city and check out new restaurants...i love my job :-)All in all, don't be hesitant to look at homes within an hour's drive that offer low cost housing and high rents.

He was recently out of the Marine corps & had a Chem Eng degree.His side gig was cleaning restaurant & commercial kitchen grease hoods.

But that's why businesses exist, I mean why go to a restaurant when you could grow your own food and cook at home.  

Too many chain restaurants for me.

Lots of neat chefie-foodie type of restaurant upstarts there too

Some of the finishes are a a little sloppy, but all-in-all, it is nicer than most apartments in WeHo, and it comes with a big backyard.Driving around the area, the businesses looked old and distressed - old auto repair shops, no fancy restaurants, a Wal-Mart, some Mexican restaurants.

I personally love living in a big urban area and enjoying all of the attributes of it(walkability, mass transit, culture, diversity, incredible restaurant and nightlife options, architecture, pro sports, entertainment), but I realize that's not for everyone.  

You say you run a restaurant and it's difficult to do all the rei stuff and all the more if you don't have your people in place.