Rodeo 39 Public Market

Opened in mid-2020 – almost certainly the most challenging time for restaurants in a century – Rodeo 39 Public Market is unquestionably the Voltron of fast casual food and drinks. Launching strong and remaining compelling despite significant changes in its tenants, it has emerged as a true destination in its own right, and a major reason to visit Stanton.

As of 2024, Rodeo 39 has 25 vendors spread across three major categories: restaurants, fashion/personal care, and broader shopping. It was originally a food hall where you could find a lobster roll and a beer, Laotian barbecue, mochi donuts, Hawaiian sandwiches, and ice cream; some of those ideas have dropped off and been replaced by others, while many of the original tenants remain and continue to thrill guests.

A few notable early success stories include Oi Asian Fusion, which has served jicama tacos and creme caramel desserts since early days; Bestea Bar, which makes beautifully colorful and multi-layered boba drinks; and Shootz, which serves butter Kimchi-sauced jumbo shrimp and chicken cutlets with Hawaiian sides. Phoholic, a particularly good Vietnamese restaurant specializing in pho, occupies a location immediately outside the main hall, and (thankfully) unlike anyone inside, routinely generates very long lines.

Some of the noteworthy departed vendors include Buenos Migos, which served tacos and noteworthy ube horchatas; the Vietnamese crepe and pandan horchata specialists Banh Xeo Boys; and Fika Fika Creamery, which offered a wide variety of homemade ice creams in colorful waffle cones. HiroNori Ramen, a popular small Japanese ramen chain, launched and then closed a glass-enclosed mini concept here called Nandomo – their black garlic ramen was really exceptional, but the confined, counter-style traditional ramen shop seating was an odd fit for the market.