By Clarissa Wei
In a city sectioned off by jammed freeways, The Grand Central Market is the bustling community Los Angeles needs. Although the market itself has been around for nearly a century, the open-air bazaar got a fresh coat of life last year and a slew of attractive new vendors, putting it on top of the must-do list for both locals and new Angelenos.
Here are our top ten vendor picks within the market:
Wexler’s Deli
Wexler has the best bagels in town. And the pastrami is killer too. (See photo above) It’s Jewish deli food at its finest with tons of salt and spices because curing is a hallmark of the cuisine. There’s a lot of tender care that goes into Wexler’s craft. The meats and fish are smoked in house daily and the pickles are barrel fermented in salt brine.
Eggslut
Eggslut is the sexiest breakfast joint in town. Their signature breakfast sandwich is the Fairfax, a beautiful marriage of scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, cheese, and chives between a brioche bun. Pair it with a slut — the dish that is. It’s a coddled egg on a potato puree served in glass.
G&B Coffee
Hands down one of the best coffee joints in town, G&B is located at the market entrance so you can start off your day with a solid cup of joe. Their iced latte is arguably the best rendition in the country (pro tip: get it made with their house-made almond-macadamia milk). Owners Charles Babinski and Kyle Glanville, who met at Intelligenstia, are both award-winning baristas and it shows through in their frothy creations.
Horse Thief BBQ
Horse Thief is all about the Central Texan barbecue. The restaurant is a love note to the South and the true epitome of comfort food. We dig the brisket and the spare ribs, and if the jumbo chicken wings (dry-rubbed and smoked for four hours) don’t satisfy your craving for meat, we don’t know what will.
Oyster Gourmet
For an aphrodisiac pick-me-up, try the Oyster Gourmet. Just keep an eye out for the kiosk that looks like an oyster shell. Yes there’s a focus on oysters, but briny mussels, scallops, clams, and sea urchins are also on the menu. The stand comes to us from Christophe Happillon, who is known throughout town as the “Oyster Gourmet” himself.
Olio GCM Wood Fired Pizzeria
It’s fast food done in an artisanal way. Olio serves individual wood-fired pizzas whipped up within minutes of ordering. The speedy operation is almost magical but makes sense given that owner Bradford Kent was a food scientist before he got into the pizza business. Pies are rolled up, seasoned, and baked on demand.
DTLA Cheese
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, DTLA Cheese whips up delectable grilled cheeses perfect for take-out. We’re a fan of the mushroom variety, smeared with the luxurious Taleggio cheese. Be warned that while Taleggio is perfectly delicious, it — quite frankly — reeks.
Sticky Rice 1 & 2
Sticky Rice pays homage to Southeast Asian cuisine. The original stall has all things Thai, including khao mun gai (their rendition of Hainanese chicken rice) and a BBQ chicken with crispy skin, chili, and a touch of sweetness. Sticky Rice 2, just a couple of steps away, takes it up a notch with more Thai food but with a heavier focus on noodles.
Belcampo
Belcampo is a full-service butchery with grass-fed meats. For the hungry patron who wants food right there, a menu of prepared roasts and stews is available. The Oakland-based company is at the top of the sustainability movement, and sees the butchery process from farm to table.
Valerie Confections
Valerie is all about the sweets, and they have a wide assortment of chocolately confectionaries to satisfy any sweet tooth. There are also breakfast-minded selections like salted caramel croissants and creme-fraiche scones because they’re fun and artsy like that.
Got an LA tip for The Bold Italic? Email tips@thebolditalic.com. And be sure to like our LA Facebook page to stay up on all our So Cal content.
All photos by the author except Oyster Gourmet and Horse Thief, those images from the restaurants.
