Off The Beaten Path - A Foodie’s Guide To Los Angeles, California

When most people think of Los Angeles, their minds tend to wander to the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive, bumper to bumper traffic, and palm trees. While all of this is very much a part of the LA scene, there is more than what meets the eye. With a diversity score of 95 out of 100, Los Angeles is more diverse than other US cities. You can travel from a Thai market to a Guatemalan market in as little as 15 minutes. Thai Town. Koreatown. Chinatown. Little Armenia. These are the communities I fell in love with. These are the people of LA. People living their daily lives. Simply trying to make a living to support their families. And from that has come some of the best food you can find in the states. The best part is you don’t have to make a reservation at a fancy restaurant. It’s all right there, made for you on the streets. LA is a foodie's heaven. Today I look forward to sharing some of my favorite spots, environments, and some places I was dying to try along the way.
14 Places • 2 Saves • ago
Free

Breakfast

Gigis Café Cubano
@trailspicetravel
I highly recommend ordering Papas Rellenas! Papas Rellenas - A ball made of ground beef and mashed potatoes fried to perfection. Trust me, you will want one than one!
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Details

Located in Historic Koreatown / Bakery & Cafe / Cuban 

The bakery opens at opens at 6:30 AM and closes shop at 8 PM. The spot is perfect for breakfast, a hardy lunch, sweet treats, and everything in between. 

République Café Bakery & République Restaurant
@trailspicetravel
The space features a casual bakery, café, and bar in the front with a more formal dining area located in the rear, serving a French-inspired menu created daily by chefs.
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Miracle Mile / Cafe / French Inspired

EGG TUCK HOLLYWOOD
@trailspicetravel
The servings are large so come hungry! I reccomend the Gochuracha Royal Burrito and the Bacon & Cheese Sandwich. There is no indoor seating so we walked to Formosa Park to eat our breakfast!
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Details

Located in Hollywood / Brick & Mortar / Korean Breakfast

This meal made me have a whole new appreciation for eggs. With each bite, I kept asking, "How do they make them this fluffy?!"

There is nothing better than finding a restaurant that takes a simple meal, like an egg sandwich or a breakfast burrito, and turns it into something exquisitely out of this world.

Please note, Egg Tuck has four brick & mortar locations in Koreatown, Hollywood, and Westwood Village. Visit their website for additional location's addresses. 

Lunch & Dinner

Chicas Tacos
@trailspicetravel
The Miracle Mile location has a late-night food menu if you don't have time to make it for lunch!
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Details

Miracle Mile / Located Within All Season Brewing Company / Mexican

Please note, Chicas Tacos has four brick and mortars located in Westminster, Culver City, Miracle Mile, and Venice.

Visit their website for additional location's addresses.

IndiMex Eats
@trailspicetravel
Lunch menu available everyday but Wednesday!
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Details

Located in Hollywood / Brick & Mortar / Fusion of Indian and Mexican Delicacies 

Genghis Cohen
@trailspicetravel
Genghis Cohen was started up by Jewish owner, Allan Rinde. It serves up NYC Style Chinese food to LA locals. Yup, you read that right. There is also a small music venue in the back of the restaurant!
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Details

Fairfax District / Brick & Mortar / NYC Style Chinese Food

Street Food 

Thai night market
@trailspicetravel
Bring cash with you!
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Details

Located in Thai Town / Street Food / Thai

The Thai Night Market operates daily from 5 PM to 12 AM in front of a 99 Cents Only Store.

The atmosphere was like that of a neighborhood block party or a family reunion. The market was centered around locals, authentic food, and hospitality. Vendors lit up their small, charcoal stoves to cook skewers over the open fire.

Guatemalan Night Market
@trailspicetravel
Bring cash with you!
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Street Food / Guatemalan

The Guatemalan Night Market operates daily from 5 PM to 12 AM.

Alameda night market
@trailspicetravel
Bring cash with you!
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Street Food / Mexican

The Alameda Night Market operates Fridays from 6 PM to 11:30 PM, Saturdays from 5 PM to 11:30 PM, and Sundays from 5 PM to 11:00 PM.

Smorgasburg (Los Angeles)
@trailspicetravel
This is an event with trendy food trucks for any occasion. Smorgasburg had everything from local beer and micheladas to lobster, snow cones, oysters, and vegan dishes. Not hungry? No worries! Smorgasburg is well worth checking out anyways. The event has numerous craft vendors set up along with a DJ spinning tracks from her VW bus.
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Food Truck Market / Variety

The market takes place in Los Angeles every Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. 

Dollar Hits
@trailspicetravel
Featured on Netflix's Street Food documentary!
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Details

Located in Koreatown / Brick & Mortar / Filipino Skewers

Pick out skewers for $1.25 a piece and you grill the skewers yourself! 

Radna Silom
@trailspicetravel
I highly recommend the Pad See Ew but you cannot go wrong with any item on the menu!
Add to
Details

Located in Thai Town / Street Food / Thai

Radna Silom is right down the street from the Thai Night Market. I highly recommend checking out both spots!

Drinks

All Season Brewing Company
@trailspicetravel
Free Skee-Ball on Mondays & massive outdoor patio!
Add to
Details

Miracle Mile / Brewing Company / Craft Beer

Angel City Brewery
@trailspicetravel
Come take a peek behind the scenes of Angel City Brewery with free public & paid private tour experiences!
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Brewery / Craft Beer

Guide inspired by my blog post below! ⬇️

Have any questions? Contact Trail Spice Travel ☺️

* * *
CURATED BY
Trail Spice Travel aims to assist adventurous and open-minded travelers who are ready to experience immersive travel. I am here to do the hard work for you before your trip so you can fully engage in learning the history of a quaint town, taste test street food that is important to a city and feel comfortable having a conversation with a local about their culture and way of life. I understand that one travel plan does not fill all. My mission is to help travelers create an itinerary that fits their needs, wants, and budget so they can enjoy their travels to the fullest extent possible. Trail Spice Travel is an agency that takes trip planning to the next level. A constant line of communication between agency and traveler to create an itinerary and guide that is detailed yet flexible, so you have what you need in the moment.
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Off The Beaten Path - A Foodie’s Guide To Los Angeles, California

When most people think of Los Angeles, their minds tend to wander to the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive, bumper to bumper traffic, and palm trees. While all of this is very much a part of the LA scene, there is more than what meets the eye. With a diversity score of 95 out of 100, Los Angeles is more diverse than other US cities. You can travel from a Thai market to a Guatemalan market in as little as 15 minutes. Thai Town. Koreatown. Chinatown. Little Armenia. These are the communities I fell in love with. These are the people of LA. People living their daily lives. Simply trying to make a living to support their families. And from that has come some of the best food you can find in the states. The best part is you don’t have to make a reservation at a fancy restaurant. It’s all right there, made for you on the streets. LA is a foodie's heaven. Today I look forward to sharing some of my favorite spots, environments, and some places I was dying to try along the way.
14 Places • 2 Saves • ago
Free

Breakfast

Gigis Café Cubano
@trailspicetravel
I highly recommend ordering Papas Rellenas! Papas Rellenas - A ball made of ground beef and mashed potatoes fried to perfection. Trust me, you will want one than one!
Add to
Details

Located in Historic Koreatown / Bakery & Cafe / Cuban 

The bakery opens at opens at 6:30 AM and closes shop at 8 PM. The spot is perfect for breakfast, a hardy lunch, sweet treats, and everything in between. 

République Café Bakery & République Restaurant
@trailspicetravel
The space features a casual bakery, café, and bar in the front with a more formal dining area located in the rear, serving a French-inspired menu created daily by chefs.
Add to
Details

Miracle Mile / Cafe / French Inspired

EGG TUCK HOLLYWOOD
@trailspicetravel
The servings are large so come hungry! I reccomend the Gochuracha Royal Burrito and the Bacon & Cheese Sandwich. There is no indoor seating so we walked to Formosa Park to eat our breakfast!
Add to
Details

Located in Hollywood / Brick & Mortar / Korean Breakfast

This meal made me have a whole new appreciation for eggs. With each bite, I kept asking, "How do they make them this fluffy?!"

There is nothing better than finding a restaurant that takes a simple meal, like an egg sandwich or a breakfast burrito, and turns it into something exquisitely out of this world.

Please note, Egg Tuck has four brick & mortar locations in Koreatown, Hollywood, and Westwood Village. Visit their website for additional location's addresses. 

Lunch & Dinner

Chicas Tacos
@trailspicetravel
The Miracle Mile location has a late-night food menu if you don't have time to make it for lunch!
Add to
Details

Miracle Mile / Located Within All Season Brewing Company / Mexican

Please note, Chicas Tacos has four brick and mortars located in Westminster, Culver City, Miracle Mile, and Venice.

Visit their website for additional location's addresses.

IndiMex Eats
@trailspicetravel
Lunch menu available everyday but Wednesday!
Add to
Details

Located in Hollywood / Brick & Mortar / Fusion of Indian and Mexican Delicacies 

Genghis Cohen
@trailspicetravel
Genghis Cohen was started up by Jewish owner, Allan Rinde. It serves up NYC Style Chinese food to LA locals. Yup, you read that right. There is also a small music venue in the back of the restaurant!
Add to
Details

Fairfax District / Brick & Mortar / NYC Style Chinese Food

Street Food 

Thai night market
@trailspicetravel
Bring cash with you!
Add to
Details

Located in Thai Town / Street Food / Thai

The Thai Night Market operates daily from 5 PM to 12 AM in front of a 99 Cents Only Store.

The atmosphere was like that of a neighborhood block party or a family reunion. The market was centered around locals, authentic food, and hospitality. Vendors lit up their small, charcoal stoves to cook skewers over the open fire.

Guatemalan Night Market
@trailspicetravel
Bring cash with you!
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Street Food / Guatemalan

The Guatemalan Night Market operates daily from 5 PM to 12 AM.

Alameda night market
@trailspicetravel
Bring cash with you!
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Street Food / Mexican

The Alameda Night Market operates Fridays from 6 PM to 11:30 PM, Saturdays from 5 PM to 11:30 PM, and Sundays from 5 PM to 11:00 PM.

Smorgasburg (Los Angeles)
@trailspicetravel
This is an event with trendy food trucks for any occasion. Smorgasburg had everything from local beer and micheladas to lobster, snow cones, oysters, and vegan dishes. Not hungry? No worries! Smorgasburg is well worth checking out anyways. The event has numerous craft vendors set up along with a DJ spinning tracks from her VW bus.
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Food Truck Market / Variety

The market takes place in Los Angeles every Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. 

Dollar Hits
@trailspicetravel
Featured on Netflix's Street Food documentary!
Add to
Details

Located in Koreatown / Brick & Mortar / Filipino Skewers

Pick out skewers for $1.25 a piece and you grill the skewers yourself! 

Radna Silom
@trailspicetravel
I highly recommend the Pad See Ew but you cannot go wrong with any item on the menu!
Add to
Details

Located in Thai Town / Street Food / Thai

Radna Silom is right down the street from the Thai Night Market. I highly recommend checking out both spots!

Drinks

All Season Brewing Company
@trailspicetravel
Free Skee-Ball on Mondays & massive outdoor patio!
Add to
Details

Miracle Mile / Brewing Company / Craft Beer

Angel City Brewery
@trailspicetravel
Come take a peek behind the scenes of Angel City Brewery with free public & paid private tour experiences!
Add to
Details

Located in Downtown Los Angeles / Brewery / Craft Beer

Guide inspired by my blog post below! ⬇️

Have any questions? Contact Trail Spice Travel ☺️

* * *
CURATED BY
Trail Spice Travel aims to assist adventurous and open-minded travelers who are ready to experience immersive travel. I am here to do the hard work for you before your trip so you can fully engage in learning the history of a quaint town, taste test street food that is important to a city and feel comfortable having a conversation with a local about their culture and way of life. I understand that one travel plan does not fill all. My mission is to help travelers create an itinerary that fits their needs, wants, and budget so they can enjoy their travels to the fullest extent possible. Trail Spice Travel is an agency that takes trip planning to the next level. A constant line of communication between agency and traveler to create an itinerary and guide that is detailed yet flexible, so you have what you need in the moment.
Send A Tip
Support Haley Voss’s work.
Select your tip amount
$5
$10
$20
$50
Or type in other amount
Powered by Thatch
The home for unique & authentic travel
Powered by Thatch: Where great trips are made.
© Haley Voss Privacy Terms