The bustle of hungry visitors, the clang of woks, the hiss of sizzling meats and the aromas of baked goods, chiles and freshly brewed coffee — these are some of the sensory experiences at L.A.’s thriving food halls. Bringing a global selection of cuisines under one roof, these open-format markets have reemerged in recent years, with several openings across Southern California.
For a century, food halls have nourished Los Angeles as gathering spaces and served as launchpads for some of our most exciting dining establishments.
For the record:
8:58 a.m. Jan. 16, 2024A previous version of this guide reported Maxwell Chicken Rice and Bellyful K-Food as vendors at the Northridge Eats food hall. In fact, both vendors are now closed and the food hall is currently undergoing construction. The article has been updated to reflect this correction.
Grand Central Market, the city’s first and largest food market, opened its doors in 1917 in the heart of downtown. The Original Farmers Market, located at 3rd and Fairfax, followed suit in 1934. What was once a place for farmers to sell their fruits and vegetables out of their trucks has expanded with vendors that encapsulate the far-reaching variety to be found in Los Angeles.
Aside from pleasing eager food enthusiasts, food halls also provide opportunities for up-and-coming chefs to springboard into bricks-and-mortars as well as established restaurateurs who want to reintroduce their food in a fast-casual format.
Nigerian chef Tolu “Eros” Erogbogbo began his residency in L.A. with an underground tasting menu celebrating the food of Lagos before landing a temporary stall at Culver City’s Citizen Public Market, creating build-your-own bowls with his famous jollof rice.
Chef Alvin Cailan took his success with Eggslut, which went from food truck to Grand Central Market stand in 2013, and has since spun it into new restaurants, a burger-themed show and a successful cookbook.
Many of the food halls on this list have opened within the last 10 years — and as recently as 2023— reflecting an ongoing desire for one-stop spots that carry diverse and affordable options.
In addition to food, many of these locations have stages and meeting spaces, used within the community for events and holiday functions. There are trivia nights, comedy shows, mariachi performances, cookie-making classes — and that’s just a sampling. The best part about visiting a food hall is that there is something for everyone: vegan options, sweets and coffees, wine and beer, and an assortment of delicious meals. Let’s dig in.
