In the sprawling urban landscape of Los Angeles, the intersection of culture and cuisine defines La La Land’s gastronomic identity.
From the vibrant city streets of Santa Monica Boulevard to the scenic shores of Venice Beach and the historic stalls of The Original Farmers Market, LA’s food scene offers an array of flavors that celebrates tradition and innovation.
Join me as I explore some of LA’s most beloved culinary destinations, where each bite tells its own story.
For starters: Norms Diner and the Original LA Farmers Market
We start off with breakfast at Norms Diner founded by Norm Roybark, which serves up classic breakfast specials and comfort food since 1949. The diner’s retro decor and extensive menu provide a taste of nostalgia with every dish. Whether it’s the fluffy pancakes with bacon, sausage and eggs for breakfast or a hearty meatloaf for dinner, Norms Diner continues to delight generations of Angelenos with its warm hospitality and American favorites.
We ordered the Lumberjack Breakfast Platter which was a hefty breakfast to say the least – three eggs, three strips of bacon, three pork sausage links, hash browns, and three stacks of buttermilk pancakes topped with a dollop of butter and a heavy drizzle of maple syrup. This classic breakfast platter was something I was looking forward to when we stepped into Norms, which was like stepping into an old school diner movie set and we were extras enjoying our meal.
Next stop is 3rd and Fairfax which can only be the Original LA Farmer’s Market established in July 1934 with a dozen farmers and a few merchants who sold their fresh produce from the back of their trucks. Today, the Original Farmer’s Market has over 100 merchants with specialty stalls, restaurants, artisanal shops, delis, and gourmet groceries. The Clock Tower has become the symbol for this iconic food market which has been featured in several movies and TV shows.
Magee’s: A slice of history
For over a century, Magee’s Kitchen has stood as a testament to LA’s culinary heritage. Magee’s has been offering comfort food since 1917 and has stood the test of time with their famous corned beef platter, hand-carved Reuben sandwiches with homemade horseradish, hotdogs and open-face turkey and roast beef served with mashed potatoes and gravy.
We ordered the classic Corned Beef Platter with fresh cut corned beef served with parsley potatoes and steamed cabbage and the famous Reuben Sandwich on grilled rye with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and spicy mustard. I enjoyed watching them hand cut all the deli meat which are made in house without any preservatives. The corned beef was so tender and juicy and the Reuben sandwich had the right balance with the grilled bread and condiments. Now we know why customers keep coming back for more.
Bennett’s Ice Cream: Scoops of nostalgia
Bennett’s Ice Cream has been a beloved family-owned ice cream shop and a permanent fixture at the Original Farmer’s Market since 1946. Bennett’s captures the essence of childhood summers with classic favorites like vanilla bean ice cream, banana splits and sundaes to inventive creations such as the award-winning cabernet sauvignon sorbet, and the Fancy Nancy (named after his wife’s favorite combination of coffee, caramel and banana)
The owner, Scott Bennett, who I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with when I visited their shop, makes his ice cream in store daily which you can watch through Bennett’s kitchen window.
I got a scoop of good old fashioned vanilla ice cream with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough which is my favorite ice cream flavor and it was as rich and creamy as I imagined it to be.
Roxy & Jo’s Fish Tacos: Fresh-off-the boat tacos
Monsieur Marcel started as a small creperie and cheese market in the 1990’s and has grown to include a gourmet market, two restaurants, a classic French Bistro and Roxy & Jo’s which is a seafood restaurant that offers fresh-off the-boat seafood and serves a variety of dishes such as fish and chips, fish tacos, lobster rolls, seafood chowder, poke, ceviche, and fresh oysters.
Roxy & Jo’s is committed to supporting sustainable local fishing. I ordered the Cod Fish Tacos and they were as fresh as it gets. The crispy batter complemented the tender and flaky fish and was topped with a fresh, crunchy, and tangy cabbage slaw.
We also visited other LA neighborhoods like La Brea to check out some of their popular LA Eats.
Bludso’s BBQ: Texas-style BBQ in LA
Bludso’s serves the best Texas-style barbecue in LA courtesy of owner and pit master Kevin Bludso. His story began in 2008 in the heart of Compton, where he opened a small stall and made a name for himself with his fall-off-the-bone beef brisket and baby back ribs to slow-cooked pulled pork, smokey sausages and, chicken wings. Let’s not forget the classic side dishes – corn bread, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens. We had a taste of the legendary barbecue at the La Brea Bludso’s Bar and Que which is a casual and spacious restaurant and sports bar. Bludso’s also boasts best-selling BBQ sauces and rubs and a James Beard award-winning cookbook.
We ordered the beef brisket, pork ribs, and smoked jumbo wings with a side of baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread with honey butter. The beef brisket was tender and juicy as well as the fall-off-the-bone pork ribs with the quintessential smoke ring indicative of proper smoking complemented with the thick, sweet, and tangy house barbecue sauce. We enjoyed the freshly baked corn bread smothered with honey butter paired with the classic baked beans and cheesy mac and cheese. It was everything you would expect from a legit barbecue joint that knows the art of good barbecue.
Mashti Malone’s: Exotic flavors and endless delights
We ventured to North La Brea to check out Mashti Malone’s, a Persian ice cream shop that has been heralded as LA’s best ice cream. In 1980, Mashti Sirvani bought an existing ice cream shop called Mugsy Malone’s and since he did not have enough money to change the whole signage he decided to replace Mugsy with his name Mashti and LA’s most iconic ice cream brand was born.
The ice cream shop offers traditional favorites and exotic flavors such as baklava, lavender, orange blossom, Persian cucumber, Alphonso mango, dates, rosewater, saffron, and Turkish coffee. I wish I could have tasted all but we were able to sample a few flavors. Mashti Malone’s commitment to quality and innovation has led to a cult following in LA’s vibrant food scene. They use quality ingredients such as imported Iranian saffron and offer unique floral, fruity and interestingly exotic flavors that keep people coming back for more.
We ordered a scoop of their best-selling Saffron Rosewater and Pistachio and it was delicious, creamy and had a stretchy pull that reminded me of the Turkish ice cream that I had in Istanbul. The saffron in the ice cream base created a beautiful golden hue and unique saffron infused flavor, then you get slight floral notes from the rosewater and crunchy texture from the pistachios. I was totally enamored with this ice cream and I savored it up to the last spoonful.
Then we were off to Downtown LA (DTLA) to check out the Grand Central Market, a 40-stall food market that is the oldest and largest public market in LA. Established in 1917, The Grand Central market is a legendary landmark in LA.
Villa’s Tacos: Taking tacos to another level
Villa’s Tacos‘ signature queso taco is a work of art built on a blue corn masa tortilla covered with melted Monterey Jack cheese, mesquite smoked meats, and topped with homemade salsa, guacamole, cotija cheese, refried beans, onions, and crema. We ordered the Villa’s Taco Trio which included Rachera Asada, Papas con Chorizo (Trio Exclusive), and Black Bean Pollo (Trio Exclusive). Each taco burst with flavor and hit all the right notes.
This stall at the Grand Central Market which just opened last March 24, 2024 is a milestone for taquero Victor Villa who first started serving out of his grandmother’s house since. He gained national recognition when Villa’s Tacos was included in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list and featured on Netflix Taco Chronicles. Villas Tacos also won the LA Taco Madness back-to-back taco championships in 2021 and 2022.
The Donut Man: Next-level donuts
Route 66, Glendora California is home to the popular small town donut shop, The Donut Man owned by Jim and Miyoko Nakano. Known for their made-by-hand, seasonal fruit-filled donuts, this iconic shop has been satisfying sweet cravings since 1972—specifically, their mouthwatering fresh strawberry donut. Owner Jim developed the fresh strawberry donut when one of his farmer suppliers had an over abundant strawberry harvest and asked him to create a donut using the fresh strawberries.
The Donut Man shop opened at the Grand Central Market in June 2020 with freshly made donuts that are fried, filled, and glazed in store daily. I approached the counter and ordered the fresh strawberry donut and I could not wait to taste it. It was massive and filled to the brim with plump and juicy fresh strawberries slathered with strawberry jelly and encased in a soft melt-in-your-mouth donut. I took my first bite and it was a perfect balance of sweetness from the donut and slight tartness from the fresh strawberries with strawberry jelly that really hit the spot. It was a messy bite, but it was definitely worth it!
For the Win Burger: Bold flavors
For the Win Burger is a household name in LA’s burger scene, thanks to its commitment to quality ingredients and bold flavors. Known for their classic single, double, and triple smash cheeseburgers and fried chicken sandwiches, this burger joint was established in March 2020 during the Covid lockdowns. FTW was previously Papilles Bistro, a Michelin Bib Gourmand French restaurant owned by chef and restauranteur Santos Uy, who pivoted to serve smash burgers and fried chicken sandwiches during the pandemic. FTW has been lauded as serving the best smash cheeseburger in LA since.
We can attest to the mouthwatering bite of the cheeseburger made with 3oz grass-fed beef patty smashed with grilled onions and served on a toasted potato bun and topped with pickles and their special sauce. It tasted like a next-level classic cheeseburger with the soft bun and crispy smash burger beef with the sauce which had hints of catsup and mustard that complemented the juicy beef patty. For the Win takes the win!
After lunch at the Grand Central Market, we headed to the trendy neighborhood of Abbot Kinney and walked the mile long boulevard lined with a curated selection of retail stores, boutiques, galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants. We ended our day walking along Venice Beach, enjoying the laid-back vibe and catching the sunset.
Salt and Straw Ice Cream: Redefining the ice cream experience
Salt and Straw, established in 2011, has redefined the ice cream experience with unique small-batch seasonal flavors such as Huckleberry Cornbread Pudding, Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero, Arbequina Olive Oil, Honey Lavender, Pear and Blue Cheese, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper. This ice cream shop is definitely a must visit for foodies who want to taste flavor combinations that they would not find anywhere else.
I sampled the Arbequina Olive Oil which had an interesting deep and earthy flavor. The Cinnamon Snickerdoodle reminded me of Biscoff Cookie Butter and the Pear and Blue Cheese was a sweet, tangy treat. After tasting some of the flavors on the menu, we opted to get a scoop of the Double Fold Vanilla which was velvety smooth and as creamy as can be.
When the vanilla base packs this much vanilla punch you know the other flavors will be amazing. The Coffee & Love Nuts which is one of the best coffee ice creams I’ve had, has a bold kick from the Colombian coffee, caramelized pecans for crunch, and a hint of sea salt that sealed the deal.
Hotdog on a Stick Venice Beach: A beachside classic
A visit to Santa Monica Pier would not be complete without a stop at Hotdog on a Stick. Since 1946, this iconic bright red shop has been serving up corn dogs and fresh hand-stomped lemonade that are as much a part of the beach experience as the sand and surf. Dave Barham opened a food stand that would become an American icon and perfected the hotdog on a stick concept using his mom’s cornbread recipe. With its cheerful staff and iconic striped uniforms, Hotdog on a Stick embodies the carefree spirit of Southern California and is a must visit when you are at Santa Monica Pier.
I walked along the pier and made my way down to Hotdog on a Stick and ordered a corn dog and fresh lemonade. The corndog was just as good as I remembered it to be, the hotdog was juicy and the slightly sweet cornbread batter complemented it really well. I added some catsup and mustard to complete the experience. Nothing fancy, just a simple all-American snack to enjoy while looking out at the white sand beach and the view of the roller coaster and Pacific Park ferris wheel.
As I conclude my journey through LA’s vibrant dining destinations, one thing becomes clear: the city’s culinary scene is a testament to tradition and innovation. From taco stalls and barbecue joints to delis and trendy ice cream shops, each place serves a taste of history, culture, and diversity which is what LA is all about. Whether you’re indulging in a nostalgic treat or going on an exotic culinary adventure, LA’s food scene has it all.
