While I loved exploring all of the different museums and cultural institutions that Los Angeles has to offer, I also fell hard for another aspect of the city’s culture: the food.
On a tight schedule (and budget), I stayed away from some of the city’s bigger name eateries. But at least when it comes to downtown L.A., my culinary highlight was the Grand Central Market.
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A bit of history about Grand Central Market
Opened in 1917, the Grand Central Market has been in continuous operation for almost 100 years. According to the market’s website, “A hundred years ago, Broadway was the principal commercial and entertainment corridor of downtown Los Angeles. Stately Victorian mansions covered Bunker Hill to the west, and the area’s stylish residents rode down on Angels Flight to shop for groceries in the Market’s open air arcade.”
Must-Eats
If you find yourself in the neighborhood and are looking for a bite, here are a few of my favorites from downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market.
You may chuckle at the name but this cheeky eatery makes the most incredible egg sandwich I’ve ever tasted. I arrived about five minutes before they opened for the day to find a line already forming. But things moved quickly and in less than 10 minutes I was enjoying my sandwich elbow-to-elbow with a hoard of other early morning diners at Eggslut’s bar seating.
Because I’m a gigantic nerd, one of the first things I do when I’m scoping out a new city is look for quality coffee. In my Google searches, G&B Coffee was routinely one of the most highly recommended for downtown L.A., and I couldn’t agree more. Sweet drinks aren’t usually my favorites, but the almond cortado I ordered was perfection.
Let’s take a minute to talk about this falafel. Not only is it delicious and perfectly cooked, but it’s also the staple of Madcapra which means you can get falafel any way your heart desires. With salad and sandwich options, this tasty (and healthy) option is a great spot for lunch to go.
Who would I be if I left L.A. without downing a cold pressed juice (or five)? This one just happened to come in delicious popsicle form. I opted for the Liquid Gold—which includes apple, lemon, mint, and pineapple—but all of their flavors sounded fantastic.