Grand Central Market

Buried in the heart of Downtown L.A. is this European-style food hall, which has been operating on the ground floor of the iconic Homer Laughlin Building since 1917. There have been plenty of changes throughout the years, with some prompting concerns about the gentrification that has pushed out older stalls to make way for newer, flashier (and oftentimes more expensive) ones. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that the culinary talent here is strong. Visitors can choose from breakfast staples like Eggslut (beware of the lines!) and breakfast burritos from Jose Chiquito. At lunchtime, diners flock to Shiku for Korean lunch sets, pupusas from Sarita’s and affordable combos from Bento-ya and China Cafe. I also like the dosirak (Korean lunchbox combos) from Shiku, McConnell’s Ice Cream, lobster rolls from Broad Street Oyster and Nonna’s Empanadas. On warm summer nights, gather a group and assemble a meal of tacos, barbecue and fried chicken on the sidewalk patio, then follow it up with a beer at Golden Road Brewery. Whether it’s your first time at GCM or your 80th, you’ll always find something new to love.