Mercado La Paloma

Housed in a former garment factory, this South L.A. mainstay 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—and the eight 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.