Grand Central Market
Food court · Downtown Los Angeles
317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Highlights
Historic food hall with diverse vendors, events, and casual dining.
Historic food hall with diverse vendors, events, and casual dining.
"Yes, Grand Central Market is for tourists. But it’s also for you. Because a) unless you’re a local or a senior, you’re definitely still kind of a tourist, b) the food options here are unparalleled and c) you can get away with not spending much at almost every vendor here. This place is absolutely essential to the LA eating experience - if you go to USC, consider yourself lucky that popping by Eggslut for breakfast or Madcapra for hummus or Wexler’s for pastrami is only a quick Uber away. For the full rundown check out our Grand Central Market guide." - katherine lewin
"When an international pita chain opens in Grand Central Market on Saturday, May 10, it will give away free pitas to the first 100 customers, limit one per customer." - Mona Holmes
"Opening May 10, 2025, in the former Sari Sari Store at Downtown’s 108-year-old bazaar, this first West Coast outpost will be the chain’s 26th location after making its U.S. debut in New York’s Chelsea Market in 2018 and expanding to Singapore, London, Paris, and Las Vegas. Founded by chef Eyal Shani, who has decades of fine dining experience under his belt and is an influential presence in Israel, the concept centers on Shani’s reverence for pita: “Pita is the most genius food in the world,” says Shani. “It’s like a womb, taking the food inside, and can make so many things.” Menu highlights carry through signature street-food riffs—examples include the folded cheeseburger a la smash burger pita that’s filled with dill pickles and a savory sauce; a pita packed with roasted cauliflower and tahini; and the steak and egg with sour cream, tomato, Lebanese cucumber, salsa, and green onions—while Shani plans to create a signature pita that reflects regional Los Angeles flavors after he visits later this year. Non-pita plates will include a fattoush-inspired salad, a lamb kebab platter, and brisket marinated overnight then seared on a hot grill with aioli; the counter spot will also offer wine and Goldstar beer, and diners can sit around the counter. The space has a fresh look by Turjeman Yaakov, and the opening is a partnership with Pagani Projects founder Giancarlo Pagani, who is also a managing partner at Mother Wolf Group. Situated amid Southern California’s diasporic communities and a local scene that includes venues such as Laya, Ladyhawk, A La Beirut, Kebab Shop, Dune, and past Grand Central Market stands Madcapra and Kismet Falafel (2015–2020), Shani frames the arrival not as competition—“It’s not my job to compete,” says Shani. “I didn’t invent the pita. But I know the roots, ideas, and essence of Israeli food. My job is to invent and find new things.” Beginning May 10, the counter will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Grand Central Market at 317 Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90013." - Mona Holmes
"Any trip to Grand Central Market should start with a lap around the space to take in all the options, ranging from currywurst to smash burgers to lobster rolls. Solo diners don’t have to navigate the ever-busy market with a group that can’t quite decide what they want. Instead, opt for a main from one restaurant like Shiku’s dosirak or Ramen Hood’s vegan ramen, and complement it with bites from other vendors like Oyster Gourmet’s freshly shucked oysters or sliced fruit from La Fruteria. The upside to dining alone and ordering from a few vendors is that it basically guarantees having leftovers for a second meal." - Rebecca Roland
"Chef Eyal Shani will debut his Tel Aviv–based Mediterranean street-food chain as a 27th outpost at Grand Central Market toward the end of April, marking the chain’s first California location and taking over the nicely sized Sari Sari space that closed in December 2023. The roster of global locations already includes New York’s Chelsea Market, Dallas, Las Vegas, Toronto, Paris, Singapore, London, and beyond. The new vendor will showcase the chain’s signature pitas stuffed with inventive fillings like charred cauliflower swathed in tahini and crushed tomato; a Bolognese-style sauce; a folded cheeseburger; scallion-roasted chicken liver; and even a dessert pita filled with chocolate and bananas, and—in addition to a frequently evolving base menu—Los Angeles will get its own pita built with regional ingredients and flavors. The Los Angeles expansion is part of a partnership between Shani’s Good People Group and Giancarlo Pagani of Pagani Projects (managing partner of Mother Wolf Group). Shani’s career began in 1989 with his renowned fine-dining Jerusalem restaurant Ocean, and he opened his first outpost in Tel Aviv in 2011. Grand Central Market recently underwent vendor changes (Ghost Sando Shop and For the Win moved in during 2023), Villas Tacos opened in April 2024 in the former Belcampo Meat stall, and as a hub for many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants, Los Angeles will soon be able to see how these pitas compare to established local pita experts like Bavel or Ladyhawk. The restaurant’s name translates to “canteen” or “cafeteria” in Hebrew." - Mona Holmes
