When it first opened in 1917, the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles was the largest public market on the Pacific Coast. Originally called the “Wonder Market,” it offered residents one-stop shopping for meat, fish, produce, and prepared lunch.
The market has been in operation ever since, with vendors changing hands over time to reflect the immigrant populations that have shaped Los Angeles.
Salvadoran breakfast plates, Mexican seafood tostadas, saucy Italian pasta, decadent French pastries – the list of vendors goes on. The best way to explore this global buffet is to bring your friends or family and share. There’s a parking lot in the building for easy access.
If the promise of delectable food isn’t enough to lure you in, there’s also a pop up Bazaar that takes place Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays on the lower level. You’ll find vintage goods, crafts by local artisans and other unique items. Pop into the photo booth for a snapshot souvenir.
If you’ve got an extra hour or two, take time to see some of the other sights downtown. Angel’s Flight, the world’s shortest railway, has been whisking visitors up the hillside since 1901. The striking orange funicular has starred in over a dozen movies and TV shows.
It’s worth crossing the street to take a free peek inside the Bradbury Building, the oldest commercial building in Los Angeles. Built in 1893, this architectural gem is famous for its soaring atrium surrounded by elegant ironwork, marble stairs, and an ornate open cage elevator.
Grand Central Market
308 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, Ca. 90013
On a recent Girls’ Weekend, we did our best to sample as much as possible. We shared, sipped and sampled our way around the market, but left so much yet to be discovered. It was a valiant effort, but the five of us were no match for the 40 vendors tempting us from every aisle.
Top 3 Picks from the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles
| Market Vendor | Top Pick | Our Rating |
| Sticky Rice | Mango Sticky Rice | 5/5 |
| Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria | Brussel Sprouts with Almonds | 4.5/5 |
| Knead & Co | Pesto Pasta | 4/5 |
The 8 Best Finds at the Grand Central Market
Bento Ya Japanese Cuisine
Who doesn’t love meals that look like carefully packaged presents? Bento Ya caught our attention with their display of bento boxes. You can choose the ingredients for your box – salmon, beef, tofu, tempura and other traditional fillings.
They also serve Japanese curry, noodle dishes, teriyaki chicken, and sushi. The Crunchy Shrimp Roll was a pleasant, standard version of this popular cooked roll. No complaints, but maybe I’d go for a bento box next time to sample more of the menu items.
China Cafe
This lunch counter in the Grand Central Market with the neon signs and red swivel chairs is another long-standing vendor. China Cafe has been serving up Chinese-American dishes since 1959, drawing customers in with stir-fried noodles, chow mein, chop suey, and egg foo yeung since the day it opened.
Regulars take seats at the counter, slurping up bowls of wonton soup spiked with chili oil. Three women chatted, picking up hard boiled eggs, pork wontons and greens from their bowls with chopsticks while I waited in line.
Should I follow suit? Or try the fried rice? Maybe the egg rolls? Too many choices overwhelmed me. I made a hurried decision for the Vegetable Deluxe, which turned out to be a plate of crisp, bright broccoli stir-fried with bean sprouts and mushrooms served over noodles.
I appreciated the freshness, but the flavor was underwhelming. What I couldn’t get enough of was the soup that came with it. The clear broth with snips of scallions was addicting in its peppery, deep chicken flavor. What seemed like an afterthought was my favorite part of the meal.
Knead & Co
Does it get any fresher than watching the pasta fall out of the machine before your eyes? We tried the Pesto pasta, little shell-shaped noodles bathing in a sea of garlic basil pesto. Tiny bits of red pepper gave it a hint of spice, and like any good pasta, it was even better the next day.
The simply sauced items like Spaghetti with Tomato or Alfredo sauce let the fresh pasta shine; heartier appetites can indulge in Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti and Meatballs, or Buffalo Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese.
Ever heard of Pizza Fries? Me neither, but crispy fries tossed in garlic butter and parmesan and covered with tomato sauce and cheese sound right up my culinary avenue. Sandwich lovers will find Meatball Subs, Cheesesteaks, and Italian Heroes. Take home dinners are available too.
Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria
The perfect crust combines crispy and chewy, and Olio accomplishes this with their 900-degree wood fired pizza oven. The Margarita Pizza hit the mark on all accounts: satisfying crust, fresh basil, melty mozzarella, and flavorful sauce.
Since man cannot live by pizza alone, we tried the Brussel Sprouts with Almonds. Slightly blistered with heat and spiked with pieces of garlic, this crunchy dish with layers of flavor makes it easy to eat your daily dose of vegetables.
Sticky Rice
Sticky Rice has been serving authentic Thai street food in Los Angeles for over a decade at multiple locations around the city. The original location in the market was a springboard for success in expanding their locations.
They have a full line of snacks, like Crispy Shrimp Rolls, Chicken Satay (made with free range chicken), and vegan-friendly Fresh Summer Rolls. The extensive menu also offers soups, like the popular sweet and sour Tom Yum, and refreshing Papaya Salad.
The menu wouldn’t be complete without noodle dishes. The Pad See-Ew was everything we’d hoped for: chewy rice noodles with smoky wok flavor, tender Chinese broccoli, egg, tofu, and sweet dark soy sauce. Want more heat? Order the Drunken Noodles with two kinds of chilies.
And don’t forget the Mango Sticky Rice! We were all diving in at once for more bites, dipping ripe mango chunks into the coconut sauce and scooping up sweet, sticky rice for pleasing mouthfuls. This version seemed to have more coconut than others I’ve tried; no one complained.
Valeria’s
There’s something about a display of colorful herbs and spices that captivates me. At this Latin dry goods booth, chilies and spices in a range of colors and sizes are piled high, next to dried beans and nuts. Weekend shoppers lined up to buy supplies for homemade dishes.
Since our mission involved eating and not cooking, I had to be satisfied with deeply inhaling the fragrant aromas that wafted from the displays. On a return visit, it would be fun to plan a dinner party around supplies from Valeria’s and other vendors, including Torres Produce.
Roast to Go
The Veggie Gordita, stuffed with rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and guacamole was so satisfying I almost forgot it was meat-free. The little cornmeal pouch was overflowing with goodness – I took the hint and used the fork that came with it.
There are newer, shinier booths in the market, but this legacy vendor has been serving up Mexican comfort food since 1952. Choose from burritos, tacos, tostadas, and flautas with your choice of filling, or order a combination plate to try multiple specialties.
Roast to Go is also a popular place to pick up food for a party. Trays of barbacoa, carnitas, chicken, and more meaty entrees steam up the windows, all for sale by the pound. Experienced shoppers come for buche, cabeza, lengua, and other traditional meats.
Fat + Flour
Make sure to save room for dessert. The market has several options to satisfy your sweet tooth, from ice cream to candy and pastries. Craving cookies, we stopped at Fat + Flour. The Lemon Lavender cookie had a nice chewy texture, but a little too subtle on the lavender flavor.
There was no missing the mark on the rich Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies, packed with chunks of high quality semi-sweet chocolate. The Double Chocolate Chip cookies were also a crowd pleaser. Stop here first before they sell out.
This aptly named bakery also sells pies. Next time I’ll try one of their specialties, like the Tangerine Passion Fruit Meringue that called to me from the pastry case. Pies are available whole or by the slice.
Craft beer, Mexican fruit shakes, locally roasted coffee drinks – we didn’t scratch the surface of the beverages on offer. German sausages, lobster rolls, burgers, breakfast all day and candy stands are just a few of the places on my “try it next time” list. I’ll have to bring more friends!
The Grand Central Market is one of those hidden gems that even some Angelenos don’t know about. We’re happy to share the secret so you can experience a taste for yourself! Carve out half a day on your next visit to Los Angeles to explore this tasty downtown landmark.
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