Grand Central Market can be daunting, especially if you’re a first-time visitor with the colourful neon lights, signs and menus from the myriad of food stalls that have set up shop there. This guide narrows it all down for you to the top 10 stalls worth trying in LA’s Grand Central Market. (PS. We hope you’re not reading this on an empty stomach…)
Eggslut
Inspired by the universal love of eggs, Eggslut’s menu features a variety of food that centres around - you guessed it - eggs. Founded by chef Alvin Cailan, Eggslut started out as a food truck in 2011, roaming the streets of LA until 2013, when it opened its food stall in the Market. One of its specialities is the Slut, a cage-free coddled egg on top of a smooth potato purée, poached in a glass jar, topped with gray salt and chives and served with baguette. It’s an egg dish with a slightly different texture, and it will be an interesting experience for first timers. If you’re not feeling that adventurous, grab a regular cheeseburger - the scrambled eggs adds some new excitement to this comfort food. Don’t limit your eggs to just breakfast, have them for every other meal!
Opens daily, 8am - 4pm
Wexler’s Deli
Wexler’s Deli specialises in classic Jewish deli food and is known for its delicious smoked meat and fish made using old-school methods involving a slow smoke over applewood. Co-owners Micah Wexler and Mike Kassar share a deep appreciation for the traditions and craftsmanship of their food, selecting the best ingredients from small farms and closely overseeing every part of the process to give customers the best culinary experience. Their O.G. Pastrami Sandwich is the most well-known item on their menu - it’s not greasy, the bread is fresh with a crunchy crust, and most importantly, the pastrami is tender and juicy.
Opens daily, 8am - 4pm (weekdays) and 8am - 6pm (weekends)
Kismet Falafel
This casual sandwich and salad shop was founded by Chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson of Kismet in Los Feliz. Their Classic Falafel is highly raved about online on websites like Yelp, as the portion is sizable and extremely savoury, and is as close as it gets to a traditional falafel here. It comes packed with tomato, tahini, cabbage, pickles, onion, basil and red hot sauce The combination of tahini and hot sauce is not as spicy one might think, but it nonetheless packs a punch in terms of being a unique flavour combination. The signature Kismet Falafel is also very popular, with cauliflower and fennel being the unconventional stars of the dish.
Opens daily, 11am - 5pm (Sun - Thurs) and 11am - 9pm (Fri and Sat)
Sari Sari Store
This Filipino concept food stall gets its name from sari-sari stores in the Philippines. They’re everyday convenience stores that sell anything and everything you can find, from candy to BBQ skewers! Founded by James Beard-nominated Chef Margarita Manzke and her partner and husband Chef Walter Manzke, Sari Sari Store is known for its silog, or savoury rice bowls, that are rich in Filipino heritage. The chefs’ buko pie is also lauded by many - this coconut pie has a rich custard-like texture and a flaky crust that will leave you drooling. If you want to go even sweeter than that, try the halo-halo, a renowned Filipino dessert that consists of colourful shaved ice and ice cream - perfect for your summer days in LA!
Opens daily, 11am – 8pm (Mon - Thurs), 11am – 9pm (Fri), 10am – 9pm (Sat), 10am – 8pm (Sun)
DTLA Cheese and Kitchen
DTLA Cheese and Kitchen is your one-stop-shop for all things cheesy. It’s a full service cut-to-order cheese counter that also has its own eatery that sells salads and sandwiches. The staff here are friendly, and you can feel free to ask for some cheese samples if you want to try something from their vast collection of cheeses. Their mac and cheese with bacon is smooth, creamy and sumptuous. Their other classic, a good ol’ grilled cheese sandwich, is also a must-try. The bread is warm and crunchy after a good toasting, and the cheese is melted just right - pull your sandwich apart and you’ll see how stretchy the cheese gets! In short, the food here is no doubt simple, but classic and oh so feel-good.
Opens daily, 10am - 10pm
Lucky Bird
Lucky Bird LA serves an American classic - fried chicken. Sourcing locally for organic free range chicken and spices, every item on the menu is to die for. All its food is made from scratch, including its buttermilk biscuits and hot sauce. For your quintessential diner meal, order their Chicken N Buttermilk Waffle that comes served with habanero honey on the side. While white meat ordered elsewhere can often be too dry, Lucky Bird seems to have the perfect recipe for frying a juicy fried chicken - even the chicken breast! Top off your meal with some local Californian beer on tap and you’ll leave your table feeling full and satisfied.
Opens daily, 11am to 8pm (Mon - Thurs), 10am to 10pm (Fri & Sat), 10am - 9pm (Sun)
Sticky Rice
Sticky Rice is LA’s first Thai comfort food restaurant that, like many other restaurants here, makes use of local organic produce. Some of its specialities include Gai Yang, or Thai grilled chicken that’s served with some Thai sweet chili sauce and sticky rice on the side. Its Khao Soi Noodle Soup is also noted for its fragrant and solid yellow curry, with some reviews on Yelp labelling this the best yellow curry in Los Angeles. Founder David Thesawart is no fan of Americanised Thai food, and here at Sticky Rice he makes sure that the food tastes just like what you’d get at an authentic Thai street food stall. Pad Thai, anyone?
Opens daily, 11am - 10pm.
Sarita’s Pupuseria
Sarita’s Pupuseria is known for its pupusas, thick flatbread from Honduras and El Salvador that’s made with cornmeal or rice flour. The recipes here have been passed down in owner Sara Clark’s family. The Queso Pupusa (Cheese Pupusa) is one of its more famous menu items, and is more filling and satisfying than it may seem in the pictures. The coleslaw on the side is a perfect complement to your pupusa. If you’re keen on exploring more Salvadorean dishes, order the Platanos Fritos Con Frijol Y Cream Platillo (fried plantains with beans and cream). While it may not be something you’re used to eating that often, the salty and sweet flavours intermingle cohesively in a way that’ll delight your taste buds.
Opens daily, 10am - 6pm.
China Cafe
You can’t miss the China Cafe, a fundamental cornerstone of the Grand Central Market that was first opened in 1959. More than 60 years after its opening, it has remained popular with the local downtown workforce, with many coming down here for their lunch breaks. The menu has stayed pretty much the same since its opening, though current owners Susie and Rinco Cheung have tweaked some recipes just subtly to suit changing customer tastes. The wonton soup is a must-try, with many locals fawning over it - some even take their families here, reminiscing aloud to their children about their past eating at this very restaurant. If you’re looking for an authentic Chinese-American dining experience, China Cafe will give you just that.
Opens daily, 9am - 10pm
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
Founded in Santa Barbara in 1949, foodies and ice cream connoisseurs have been raving about McConnell’s for ages, with Time magazine even calling it the best in the world. With no preservatives, stabilizers and additives of any kind, the ice cream here is pure, smooth, creamy and sweet. The scoop size is generous, allowing you to fully revel in the rich taste of whichever flavour you choose. From age-old classics like chocolate and vanilla, to unique concoctions like eureka lemon and marionberries and chocolate covered strawberries, there should be more than enough for you to choose from!
Opens daily, 11am - 10pm
