Grand Central Market Los Angeles

Home to dozens of small food shops and restaurants, Grand Central Market is Los Angeles’s oldest and best-known food hall – originally known as “Wonder Market,” and now over a century old. While the nearly 40 tenants obviously change from generation to generation, some staples (Mexican, Chinese-American, and American classics) have continued to operate for many years.  No matter when you read this and visit, you’ll likely find everything from omelet and coffee shops to Mexican chili and candy vendors, taco stands, donut and ice cream specialists, and much more. As of today, most of the shops serve good to very good renditions of their specialties, so locals and tourists alike aren’t wasting precious time or money by choosing to eat here.

Its closest parallel in Orange County is the Anaheim Packing District, a much newer but similarly large space focused on gourmet food vendors. Some of Grand Central Market’s appeal is historic, including unapologetically old school dining concepts: for instance, the diner-style China Cafe maintains glowing neon signs offering “chop suey” and “chow mein,” Chinese-American dishes that may resonate with older visitors.