L.A.’s love affair with food markets is long-running and rarely tumultuous—what can we say, we love our food stalls—and if we’ve learned anything from the success of Grand Central Market, Chinatown After Dark, 626 Night Market and Smorgasburg’s West Coast iteration, Angelenos want them as often as they come. The news of any newcomer is enough to make us salivate, so we’re pleased to announce there’s new game in town and it’s serving everything from "unicorn" elote to rainbow, layered organic teas.
This Saturday, catch Feastown right in the heart of Hollywood. This newbie, only two events deep, pops up at the Eastown luxury apartment complex right next to the Pantages Theatre every first and third Saturday of the month. It’s notably smaller than the aforementioned markets—with only about 12 vendors per event—but in an effort to help you explore more of the city’s sellers, the lineup will rotate every month.
“We try to change our concepts because we want to give chances to the [vendors] who can’t get into Smorgasburg or can’t do 626 Night Market,” says co-founder Aldo Lihiang. “We’re obviously selective about it, but we try to give everyone a try.”
The increasing popularity of some of the city’s markets makes the application pool more competitive for smaller and newer vendors, according to Lihiang. Feastown aims to provide opportunity, while also injecting some of the city’s independent food culture into a neighborhood populated by a number of commercial chains. Previous vendors include Smorgasburg staples Brothecary and Amazebowls, as well as Sarap AF, a Filipino cookie-order service.
Photograph: Michael Juliano
This weekend expect some retail, but for the most part Feastown is food-oriented. Helados Pops will be serving their colorful and refreshing organic ice cream served in a freshly hollowed coconut bowl, and new business Tiki Rose will be pouring fanciful boba drinks. Norigami Tacos, Mad Dumplings, Secret Lasagna, Swirlz, Paella! Paella!, Chick n’Skin, and Mid East Tacos—a new concept from the owners of Glendale’s Mini Kabob—are also on the roster for the events held this Saturday and on November 18.
There’s no cover charge, they validate parking for two hours in the Eastown structure and there’ll always be music, whether live or DJ’d. We can’t think of a reason not to get feasting.
Feastown is a new, bi-monthly food market held on the first and third Saturday of every month at Eastown, located at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard. November’s events run from 1 to 6pm.