A guide to the best food halls in Los Angeles and Orange County

What is it? A constantly evolving European-style food hall in the heart of Downtown L.A. that’s over a century old.

Why we love it: If you factor in the history and sheer number of dining and grocery options, Grand Central Market is greater than the sum of its parts. The neon signs and affordable lunch options draw in tourists and local office workers alike for both old-school and new-school options. Longtime favorites include Bento-ya and China Cafe, but you can also pick up the best doughnuts in Los Angeles from the Donut Man (look out for strawberry season!) and the city’s best pies and cookies from Fat + Flour, among other goodies. 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.

Time Out tip: I’ve found the quality to be inconsistent at the Villa’s Tacos and For the Win outposts at GCM—and thus would rather steer you towards their standalone locations.

Address: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Opening hours: Daily 8am–9pm (individual vendor hours may vary)

What is it? A community-minded South L.A. mainstay and the home of L.A.’s Michelin-starred Holbox.

Why we love it: Housed in a former garment factory, Mercado La Paloma isn't the typical sleekly designed food hall touting Instagrammable dishes or a million different places to eat. Founded by local nonprofit Esperanza Community Housing, Mercado La Paloma puts the neighborhood and first-time business owners first. The unique eateries inside reflect this guiding mission. Among the food vendors, you'll find Giberto Cetina Jr.'s seafood-oriented Holbox—and one of L.A.’s best restaurants—as well as its sibling spot Chichen Itza, my favorite place in the city for Yucatecan cuisine. More recently, the market has seen the opening of Komal, a masa-focused lunch counter run by former Holbox employees. Elsewhere in the market, there's also Oaxacalifornia, which runs both a juice bar and counter-service lunch joint; Taqueria Vista Hermosa, specializing in Michoacan-style cuisine; and Thai Corner Food Express, serving pad thai and other affordable takeout classics. 

Time Out tip: Given the popularity of Holbox, the on-site lot tends to be full at most hours of the day—your best bet is street parking or the adjacent, much larger lot closer to the DMV.

Address: 3655 S Grand Ave # 280, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat 10am–9pm, Sun 10am–7pm

What is it? A modern food hall in downtown San Gabriel that’s home to one of L.A.’s best bakeries.

Why we love it: Since 2021, Blossom Market Hall has served as a gathering place for casual diners and a veritable incubator for some of the San Gabriel Valley’s most exciting small businesses. Here, you can grab Vietnamese-style coffee from AK Fresh Roast, jerk chicken and oxtail from Caribbean Gourmet, and Korean fusion boxes from Manduyo. You can also pick up tacos, sushi, boba milk tea, barbecue plates and acai bowls. The standout Filipino-inspired cakes and pastries from Baking with Ish are among the best baked goods in the city; I particularly recommend the ube custard pie and seasonal doughnut. 

Time Out tip: Not all vendors maintain the same operating hours, so check their Instagram or website for the most up-to-date schedule.

Address: 264 S Mission Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri, Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 11am–8pm

What is it? Anaheim’s namesake food hall, which once helped usher in a new era in the Orange County dining scene. 

Why we love it: No longer just for Angels games and Disneyland trips, Anaheim now boasts a destination-worthy food hall. Split into three revamped destinations, the block-sized district is anchored by the Packing House, a former Sunkist citrus plant that’s been converted into a handsome, modern food hall. The roster of merchants runs the gamut from full-service restaurants to niche vendors that specialize in grilled cheese, patisserie, fish and chips, and more. Think of it as Orange County’s answer to Grand Central Market, albeit boozier—there are two bars and a speakeasy—and more suitable for lounging, thanks to comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and a lofty, bright warehouse space. Need a place to start? Always go for the poutine at the Kroft. On the other end of the district sits the Packard Building, a mission-revival car showroom that now houses the Anaheim Brewery. Between the two, you’ll find Farmers Park, a two-acre grassy field with a dim sum restaurant, a community garden and James Beard-nominated farm-to-table spot Poppy & Seed.

Time Out tip: Surprise, surprise: This place is pretty popular, so expect to park in one of the surrounding lots during lunchtime.

Address: 440 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 11am–9pm

What is it? An outdoor food hall in Central L.A. that’s popular with tourists and shoppers who wander over from the Grove. 

Why we love it: In 1934, L.A. area farmers began selling produce at the corner of 3rd and Fairfax, an address now known as the Original Farmers Market—and a prime pit stop for those shopping at the Grove or touring CBS Studios next door. A handful of stalls still sell fresh produce and other groceries, but these days they're easily outnumbered by restaurant stands offering a culinary trip around the world. Newcomers like biangbiangmian specialist Noodle Art, Polish grab-and-go Stara Pierogi & Sausage and full-service Mediterranean spot Savta have kept this L.A. classic thrumming with novelty, but you also can't beat the American comfort food served at the historic Du-Par’s, which has served pancakes since 1938 and the cheap, cash-only noodle dishes at Singapore’s Banana Leaf. Make sure to stop by Magee's for some of the best roasted nuts in town.

Time Out tip: Don't forget to validate for parking—all vendors offer 90 minutes free with any purchase.

Address: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat 10am–9pm, Sun 10am–7pm

What is it? A once-bustling Chinatown shopping complex dating back to the 1970s that’s now home to a handful of largely daytime-only eateries, plus Howlin’ Rays and Lasita. 

Why we love it: Technically, Far East Plaza isn’t a food hall. Instead, this multi-story Chinatown shopping complex packs some of our favorite restaurants and shops into a single plaza. Take one step into the first-floor corridor and you’ll encounter an open-air mall overflowing with local character and delicious food from old and new vendors alike. Most days, you'll see customers lining up for takeout Nashville hot chicken at Howlin’ Ray’s, while a casually stylish dinnertime crowd shows up at Lasita, a Filipino rotisserie restaurant and natural wine bar. During the day, you can also find excellent Chinese food from Kim Chuy, an older family-owned diner, grassfed beef burgers at Amboy across the way and some of the city's best Vietnamese food at Thien Huong. If all these creative eats inspired you to make your own dinner, stop by Now Serving, one of the city’s best kitchenware and cookbook shops.

Time Out tip: Vintage shoppers will find plenty to love at East West Shop, which sells deadstock jewelry and carefully curated secondhand clothing.

Address: 727 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Mon 10am–6pm, Tue–Sat 10am–7:30pm, Sun 10am–6pmTime Out tip: Vintage shoppers will find plenty to love at East West Shop, which sells deadstock jewelry and carefully curated secondhand clothing.

What is it? A slender food hall in Culver City housed in a revamped Beaux-Arts-slash-Art Deco newspaper building that dates back to the 1920s.

Why we love it: Citizen Public Market is proof that big things often come in small packages. Home to one of the city’s most laid-back rooftop bars (Bar Bohemien), as well as a slate of delicious food vendors, the food hall also hosts weekly trivia and comedy nights that have become a fixture for the surrounding community. My favorite pit stop, by far, is the chef-driven fried chicken from Hinoki & the Bird’s Brandon Kida. For bar bites, there’s New York-style pizza from Benevento; acai, poke and plant-based bowls from Sustainabowl; and smashburgers, sausages and pretzels from Boho Burgers & Brats. From Friday through Sunday, Smokey Chance BBQ also pops up, serving Texas-style barbecue. The only vendor I don't recommend in the slightest is Uoichiba, the dry-aged fish handroll bar, which offers extremely skimpy portions for the price. With Yunomi Hand Roll Bar located just across the street, I’d rather send you there for your temaki needs.

Time Out tip: Park in the pair of nearby public structures (one off Cardiff and another off Watseka) for one hour of free parking, then $1 for each additional 30 minutes thereafter.

Address: 9355 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Opening hours: Mon 7am–10pm, Tue–Fri 7am–midnight, Sat 7am–midnight, Sun 7am–9pm

What is it? A food hall and incubator program for first-time restaurant owners in downtown Montebello.

Why we love it: It’s a community-first affair at BLVD MRKT. The half-outdoor hall in East L.A. features seven food vendors grilling up tacos, making Filipino rice bowls and pulling express shots inside six repurposed shipping containers in a beautifully landscaped courtyard that’s particularly amenable for large groups with pets and children. Not every shop is a newbie, however; you’ll also find an outpost of For the Win, a popular smashburger concept originally founded in Hollywood and Vchos Modern Pupusería, which has served pupusas, plus other modern takes on Salvadoran food, for over a decade. 

Time Out tip: If you ask me, however, the must-order item at BLVD MRKT is the chicken pastelito at Vchos.

Address: 520 Whittier Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–9pm

What is it? A newer food hall housed in a revamped 1940s Wonder Bread factory on the outskirts of L.A. County.

Why we love it: For people living in the San Gabriel Valley, Glendora Public Market is a great option for a day of pet- and family-friendly fun. Anchored by local craft brewery Smog City Brewing and a new outpost of Dog Haus, Glendora Public Market features an airy industrial space full of bright colors and plenty of natural light. You’ll also find high-quality lattes from Penny Coffee Roaster, viral pho brisket sandwiches from Santa Ana’s & Broth, street tacos, boba drinks, bagels and more. Fans of highly Instagrammable food can also buy over-the-top specialty milkshakes from Crepes & Shakes LA. 

Time Out tip: Stop by at 6:30pm on Monday nights for trivia night.

Address: 905 E Arrow Hwy, Glendora, CA 91740

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 7am–9pm; Fri, Sat 7am–10pm; Sun 7am–9pm

What is it? A Santa Ana small business incubator with close to a dozen unique, ever-changing food businesses.

Why we love it: Walk through 4th Street Market and you might think that 4th Street Market is on the small side. Take a closer look and you’ll find that there’s plenty packed into the Santa Ana gathering place, with vendors serving everything from viral cream buns to Nashville-style hot chicken and Thai-style Hainan steamed chicken. First, though, be sure to stop by Alta Baja Market, a specialty food store and deli that highlights the flavors of California, Mexico and the American Southwest with dried peppers, baked goods, cheese plates and beyond. An outdoor patio hosts occasional bands, while Recess by Playground invites visitors to kick back with some craft beer or a glass of wine.

Time Out tip: If you have a particular vendor in mind, be sure to check their specific business hours, as not every tenant keeps the same schedule as 4th Street Market.

Address: 201 E 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–9pm