For about a century now Grand Central Market has served as the go-to food hall for the hungry and eclectic Downtown LA crowd.
Much of that history has stayed intact with some of the current long-time vendors still going strong in 2019.
But we owe much of the credit for a resurgence of Grand Central Market as an LA go to dining spot, to the modernization of the market just a few years back in 2012.
In that year many new, hip and up and coming food & drink vendors came in and mixed with the classics bringing the Market up to the legendary foodie status it enjoys today.
Admittedly an overabundance of choices can be a good problem to have but a problem regardless.
We haven’t even tried every choice available but below is a list of some of our favorites that we have had the opportunity.
1 – Egg Slut
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Eggslut is one of the most beloved spots to eat in Grand Central Market and the long line proves it. In fact, I have been there dozens of times and there has ALWAYS been a long line.
The few times I braved that line the payoff was well worth it with a delicious bacon and egg sandwich served on a brioche bun.
Just be careful! Their egg sandwich is tasty but it can be extremely messy!
Pic Credit:@thrilllist
2 – Bel Campo
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Love a good burger but worried about where your meat is actually coming from? Belcampo is part luncheon cafe & part butcher shop, and this eatery uses meat sourced from their own farm so you never have to think about where it’s coming from.
Belcampo also throws some retail into the mix and you can buy some fresh cuts of high-quality meat to take home with you while you are waiting for your food.
PIC Credit:@arnoldatmyintba
3 – Ramen Hood
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Don’t let the casual vibe of this take-out counter in the heart of Grand Central Market fool you.
If you love high-quality ramen this is the spot for you and it boasts delicious dishes from “Top Chef” winner Ilan Hall, including their vegan ramen which many folks claim is the best in the city.
Ramen Hood is amazing any time of year but of course for those colder winter days there is no better lunch than slurping down a hot bowl of tasty ramen!
PIC Credit:@theveganzombie
4 – Lucky Bird
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Chicken sandwiches are all the rage in LA these days as people can’t seem to get enough.
Now, of course, the undisputed king of the chicken sandwich in this city is the Nashville style served by Howlin Rays in Chinatown (just be prepared for the 2-hour wait in line if you don’t believe me).
The simple but tasty fried chicken sandwich with smoked paprika aioli served at Lucky Bird proves that there is room for more than one chicken king in Los Angeles.
Or at least at the Grand Central Market!
PIC Credit: @feed_ME_denver
5 – Sari Sari Store
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I grew up with a ton of Filipino friends so I already knew how good the food from visiting their houses after school when I was a kid and enjoying some tasty native and authentic Pinoy home cooking.
Now everybody else seems to be catching on how delicious these ethnic dishes are and Filipino restaurants are blowing up all over Los Angeles.
Grand Central Markets answer to this demand is The Sari-Sari Store. Simple but delicious takes on classic Filipino dished and ingredients. There are lots of choices in their Rice bowls but almost all come topped with a fried egg (a Filipino foodie obsession).
Filipino food has not yet reached the level of popularity of Thai food but with spots like The Sari-Sari Store representing so well, it just might one day.
PIC Credit:@dinela
6 – Wexler’s Deli
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Deli sandwiches are not usually my first choice when I’m eating out but when I do have the craving it hits hard.
And that’s the beauty of Grand Central Market no matter what type of food you are craving at the moment they are going to have a high-quality choice like Wexler’s Deli.
Wexler takes the concept of a classic Jewish deli and added some new school twists that pay off big.
The next time you are craving an amazing sandwich like pastrami on rye, give Wexler’s a try.
Oh and also make sure to try their signature BIG Poppa at least once!
PIC Credit:@wexlersdeli
7 – Tacos Tumbras a Tomas
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In a city best known for its Tacos, you know Grand Central Market has to represent and they do not disappoint.
In fact, they have a few amazing Mexican food places making it a hard choice to just pick one. But since we are only picking one we have to give the nod to TacosTumbras A Tomas.
Not only are their tacos, juicy and delicious they are a great bargain.
One taco is about $4 but they pack so much in them they give you extra tortillas and you actually end up with about 3 tacos for that price of one.
The first time I went I had no idea and order 3 and couldn’t finish them! Don’t make that rookie mistake. Unless you’re a big eater stick with one and it should be plenty!
PIC Credit:@tacostumbras.a.tomas
8 – Horse Thief BBQ
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Ok, so Los Angeles is not exactly known for its BBQ. But the 2 founders of Horse Thief hail from Texas and try to stay close to the tastes of the classic smoked meats of Central Texas.
While the BBQ is pretty tasty on its own one of the best reasons to eat at Horse Thief is their location.
They have a large outside patio off Hill Street and directly across from the Angels Flight.
With an attached bar it’s an awesome spot to chill out with some BBQ, a cold beer and watch the DTLA action happening all around you in the summertime.
Pic Credit:@horsethiefbbq
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Do all these choices have you overwhelmed? Well, these aren’t even all of them! We got your back though!
Click for an easy convenient map that lists all the vendors at Grand Central Market and where to find them!