The “City of Angels” is a city of transplants, which makes the Los Angeles food scene diverse, unique and wonderfully multifaceted. The next time you’re in the city for a vacation or business trip, give these food experiences a try and see what the city of Los Angeles is really all about. From releasing your “inner hippie” to go vegan for the day all the way to a little day trip to the LBC, there’s something for every palette in a foodie haven like L.A.
Go seek out the city’s best banana pudding!
You can’t count Southerner’s out in a city full of transplants! La La Land is the headquarters of health consciousness and better living, but no one can truly escape a sweet tooth. Baldwin Hill’s Southern Girl Desserts is the only L.A.-based eatery devoted to desserts with southern roots, and their banana pudding is only comparable to any you’ll find in the south.
Honorable Mentions: Harriet’s Cheesecakes Unlimited, Comfort LA, and The Pudding Truck
Go vegan for the day!
L.A. is known for being health-conscious; after all, California is an agricultural powerhouse for the USA. Start your day out with breakfast at Sage Vegan Bistro, which has locations in Downtown Los Angeles, Culver City, and Pasadena, and be sure to try the cornbread jalapeno pancakes from Chef Mollie!
Here’s a great list of vegan spots to fill the rest of your day! Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine, Stuff I Eat, Azla, & Food Art by Lauren
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Splurge on a meal from one of L.A.’s top chefs.
A lavish dinner is an absolute must on a trip to Los Angeles. Many of the nation’s award-winning chefs call Los Angeles home, so having dinner in L.A. can be an event in itself. Get dressed up and make moves to Beverly Hills to try the amazing menu from Viviane at The Avalon Hotel, where Chef Michael Reed never disappoints.
For an easy on the wallet option, try out Poppy + Rose, owned and led by Chef Michael.
Explore DTLA’s food halls.
The rise of the food hall in Los Angeles isn’t shocking at all when you consider the benefits. Walk into any one of them, and you can enjoy a multitude of moderately priced eats from all over the world. Operating continuously since 1917, Grand Central Market is an L.A. institution easily accessible from the Metro red and purple lines. Taste Food Hall and Corporation Food Hall are a moderate walk or quick ride away, selling everything from tacos and ice cream to healthy eats.
Spend a day in The LBC!
Long Beach isn’t just the home of Snoop Dogg; it’s one of SoCal’s best-kept foodie secrets! Head to the LBC to see the Queen Mary, Port of LA, or the canals in Naples, and stop in at the best Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles to see what the California staple is all about. Mabel’s Gourmet Pralines, located in downtown Long Beach, is where Baton Rouge meets the beach, and meet Mrs. Mabel herself while you try out her banana pudding. For the best bbq in town, check out Twins SmokeHouse BBQ for fall-off-the-bone rib tips, and if you’re lucky, you can catch one of Long Beach’s Harvest Farmer’s Market, which boasts a number of vendors with fantastic eats like Mobo Mac & Cheese.