LA Grocery & Café

Review: Soom Sea Salt Chocolate Sesame Spread – A Hidden Gem in Hollywood I stumbled across this Soom Sea Salt Chocolate Sesame Spread at a tucked-away grocery café in Hollywood, and I’ve got to say—it’s a game-changer. If you’re into real ingredients, minimal dairy, and a little indulgence that doesn’t wreck your health goals, this spread is it. I’ve been mixing it into my oatmeal in the mornings and it adds a deep, nutty chocolate richness with just the right touch of sea salt. It melts beautifully into warm oats, and honestly? It makes my van-life breakfasts feel gourmet. Plus, it’s dairy-free and uses real sugar—not that corn syrup junk. What really impressed me though was the entire vibe of the store. The selection was super thoughtful—tons of healthy, creative products I haven’t seen at big chains. They had killer burritos and sandwiches too—like, café-level quality but made with the kind of ingredients you’d actually want in your body. If you’re cruising around Hollywood and want a spot with clean food, van-friendly parking, and lowkey good vibes, this place is worth scoping out. Grab the Soom spread, some fresh eggs, maybe a burrito… trust me, you’ll feel like you just leveled up. 10/10 would buy again.

We love visiting here to get unique groceries and yummy takeout lunch from their hot bar selection! They have lots to offer from everyday pantry items to fun vegan finds. The house made dishes are delish with both vegan and non vegan options. Flower section is super cute — all around it’s a fun vibe and shopping experience, and we’re so glad they opened!

I like this store a lot. I feel the prices are very fair for the quality. I have had the breakfast many times, and some of the lunch options and salads, and all are delicious. The staff is very friendly. And it’s a cute space to chill, or have a chat with a friend or colleague. My only suggestion is they add a few more tables to dine. Last time I went, it was busy and they were all taken. I hope LAGC does well! I look forward to visiting you often.

I simply love LA Grocery & Cafe. I’ve been coming here since they opened and have always appreciated the thoughtfulness of the selection of products, layout of the space and produce, the deliciousness of the prepared food and the fair pricing. This place feels like the Goldilocks of markets - less expensive than erewhon and a better experience than Whole Foods. Plus it’s a small business owned and operated in LA by a group of women. Reason enough to choose to shop there. For people saying it’s too expensive - every grocery store in LA is expensive right now. Ralph’s, Vons, Gelsons are ALL expensive. They are also all large corporations whereas LAGC is not. For people saying the basic produce had run out or wasn’t fresh all day - it seems like LAGC buys mindfully and sells through instead of having over stuffed shelves that might go to waste. They also seem to only buy what’s seasonally available and might not have every single vegetable :) They also get most of their produce from the same local farms I see at the farmers market on sundays which you can observe from the produce price cards. People should consider that rent and fair wages are also unreasonably expensive. I can’t imagine the overhead and small margins of the grocery business. I don’t think LAGC is marking things up for fun? All in all this place is doing a great job in a very competitive city during a very trying time for small business and food industries. They supported LA during the fires which the other stores cannot say. Think it’s best we support them back. Ps I am not a rich person xo

If you’re visiting this page right now and reading this review, it’s probably because, like me, you’ve grown tired of Erewhon and their recent greed that seems to have hit new highs. You’re tired of feeling like you’re being milked for every cent. Well, let me tell you, LA Groceries and Cafe is exactly what we’ve all been waiting for as a French guy living in LA for years. This place actually reminds me of Les terroirs d’avenir rue du Nil in Paris. Which is my favorite place. This place is a breath of fresh air in a sea of soulless, corporate grocery stores. LA Groceries and Cafe is a place with real taste, where every product is mindfully selected, without overwhelming you with too much choice. It’s clear that each item has been chosen with care and thoughtfulness, and I love that. Everyone here is so kind and genuinely helpful. They take the time to explain the origins of the products, how they’re sourced, and why they’ve chosen to carry them. You can feel the passion behind every recommendation they make. It’s not just about selling—it’s about sharing something they believe in. One of the standouts for me is their wine selection, which is carefully curated and displayed in a beautiful wine cellar. And for those who appreciate farm-fresh produce, you’ll find treasures like vegetables from Weiser Farms, including the incredibly rare Bonny melon. This melon is a true gem, with a taste that’s both salty and sweet. It’s something you’d typically only find at farmers markets, and having it available here is a testament to the knowledge and care that goes into sourcing every product. I wholeheartedly recommend LA Groceries and Cafe, 100% hands down! If you’re looking for a store where the staff cares, an owner not as greedy as Erewhon whose mark up is an insult to every customer, where the selection is thoughtful, and where you can trust the quality of the products, this is it!

Hot bar is good (a little over priced) but my biggest complaint is their coffee stand. I bought a latte and it was 99% almond milk. I didn’t taste any coffee. It feels like they stole my money for that kind of drink. Even the color looked like milk (I should’ve taken a picture). I don’t like to judge based on one experience so I went back and I got the Hojicha latte. Also terrible. No taste and over diluted. I’m quite the connoisseur when it comes to hojicha and this has got to be the worst one in LA by far. Also, I’ve had their matcha latte twice and it was solid the first time and then the second time it missed the mark (diluted and no matcha taste. Also very light green in color). Seems like there’s a quality control issue. Either way, I probably will never come back. I’ve given too many chances at this point!

Stopped by this afternoon and immediately fell in love with this gorgeous new neighborhood grocery store. Imagine if everything you like was perfectly curated and beautifully presented at your local shop. Your favorite produce farm fresh (literally, I met the citrus farmer who was sampling the best tangerines), the best breads, meats, cheeses, and even an incredible assortment of chocolates (my weakness). Now include a cafe with restaurant grade food - a lunch/dinner plate option with a protein and two sides of your choice - that tasted better than anything you’ve had recently. And a smoothie bar with actually healthy ingredients (think no refined sugars) that makes the most cravable smoothies east of the 405. And you’ve got LA Grocery and Cafe. It’s the perfect spot to pickup everything you need - both groceries and prepared foods. PS with a seriously thoughtful wine selection to boot!

Nice local bread but not better than La Brea Bakery's selection at Ralph's. Hot bar and to-go was cute but it's erewhon pricing because of premium ingredients. They will heat your sandwhich. Well staffed. Well organized. Nice offering of wines and beer. Cheese section was nice. Espresso bar. Little dining tables to enjoy the cafe. 3 stars. Don't buy the "fresh dairy". I bought organic Clover half and half, a brand that has had my trust over the years for quality and freshness. This $6 half pint, went sour in one day. My fridge is working. I went from LA grocery straight home (one mile drive), so it could not have gone bad in my car. There is very old dairy stocked here. Or their fridges are not optimal temperatures. Disappointing and more importantly bad dairy is a dangerous source of food poisoning. It was nice to check this spot out, but I think the customer base is largely one time splurge folks looking for fancier snacks.

This place is like a mini Erewhon with the greatest selection, a great market with organic produce, breads, cheeses, flowers and an awesome array of brands. Not to mention their food is so good. I love the egg salad and cauliflower so much. Hits every time. I'm also obsessed with their combo plates and fresh salads. They also serve coffee and more. Highly recommend. The staff is super sweet too.

At an event this week our hosts put out an artful platter of fruits, cheeses, crackers, and other appetizers. It was so beautiful and intricately arranged that I was sure they painstakingly did this themselves. But, no, they got it at LA G&C and went on to describe all the wonderful offerings in such glowing terms that we decided to go out of our way to give it a try. And so, on what could be called a rare dreary day in LA, we made our way to the up and coming hip neighborhood now called Melrose Hill. If you haven't checked out the area, you should probably Google it -- this is a dynamic area undergoing restoration. The main developers aim to keep the character of old Los Angeles while attracting the latest and best venues -- cafes, restaurants, bars -- among them Los Angeles Grocery & Cafe. There is a large parking lot accessed directly off Melrose. When it is time to leave, you simply drive through to the side street exit. Easy! Look at my photos -- the place is barn-like, keeping its rafters from the original building true to the promise of the building owners, with lots of unique inventory and room to add much, much more. You will find things you don't see elsewhere. We snapped up a bunch of items to try, including a few of my all time faves: gnocchi, sunflower butter, and egg salad. I would have gotten the pistachio butter but it has sugar and I like my nut butters sugar-free. If we hadn't been pressed for time, we would likely have loaded the cart with more, so that means a return visit. I want these people to thrive, so please consider coming over here and while you are at it, check out the rest of Melrose Hill, just following Melrose Avenue farther eastward. It won't be long before the entire area is the best place to be in L.A.

This store has everything I need. Grabbed some hojicha powder, some veggies , and pasta sauce on the way out. Super friendly staff. Elmer was extremely helpful!

Let's start with: parking is easy! Good variety of high end produce, meats, prepared foods, coffee beans and wines for Erewhon-like prices. Friendly folks and NOT A CHAIN.

Tried the tahini banana bread and it was sort of on the dry and stale side. Came late in the day and it wasn't what I expected, not moist like good banana bread. I might come back to try something else. Little market with its own parking lot. They have a decent wine and alcohol selection.

A new grocery store & café opened in June 2024. I love the concept that they are exploring food systems that enrich the lives of people and the places they live. They have deli-style food by the pound as well as grab & go items. Organic Produce, Meat, Poultry & Seafood, and Specialty items.

ambiance is great, I think my favorite thing is the baristas and the staff. everyone is friendly and welcoming but of course it's a bougie and healthy place so the prices reflect that. Love that they're a walkable place at least.

Is it delicious? Yes. Is the selection great? Yes. Is it over priced? Yes. Is there parking? YES! In concept, it's a great idea. In practice, it I am skeptical. There is no clientele that lives nearby that will pay the absurd prices, except for maybe the 25 houses that are located in Melrose Hill proper (the enclave in the strict sense, not the neighborhood in the broad sense). Larchmont already has it's overpriced hipster market (Cookbook), so people are not going to drive to LA Grocery from Windsor Square/Hancock Park to shop. Melrose Hill the neighborhood does not support the population that will go shopping here. It's simply not sustainable.

All things reconsidered: it's close, it's open, they have a variety of foods, the help is excellent--and then there are the prices. I bought a small sprig of Cilantro at $2.45--that about $1.45 more than anywhere else. It was wilting. I like the farm-to-market vive, but it's a costly idea, not that I want to be the cheap local neighborhood market--it's upscale and I have come to depend and like it a lot!

Welcome to the neighborhood! High end grocery store with locally sourced produce, meats, and cheese. Small cafe with tasty food - the mac & cheese and chicken are yummy. Nice wine selection. Fresh flowers. And an area to sit and eat. Easy parking. And Angie the manager is delightful.

What's uncanny is that for five years of washing my Lyft car twice a week directly across from this former bodega - I frequently thought to myself: "That place should be transformed into a high end grocer cafe. My psychic Edward Carrion claims it's my "...ability to see the future timeline of the building." The Kristen Wiig smiling service counter staff (undercover owner) replied: "You should be a developer!" - in response to my candid, anecdotal foretelling. Then I toured the precision crafted breathtaking space; like a museum to a bygone era. My eyes settle on the $10, 8 oz basket of cherries and I am slapped awake! Delivered from the gentrified grocer back to the parking lot where the mercurial security guard invites me to return soon.

So excited this place moved into the neighborhood! The quality of the food in the grocery section is amazing -- everything's super fresh, artisanal etc. And the pre-made food & coffee in the cafe section is also amazing! Highly recommend the Mac & cheese, cauliflower, and the chicken thighs. All the employees were super friendly and knowledgeable. And the space itself is beautiful! We learned the building was originally built out of redwood in the 30's and when they remodeled, they preserved the redwood A-frame ceiling & used any left over redwood to build the middle counter -- super cool! Will definitely be frequenting this place!

The store is beautiful. It's full of fresh and vibrant items. The reduced stars are for the hot food bar. I ordered a hot combo plate of tamari ginger chicken with sides. The food was only under hot lights and was served cold tepid. What? Those heat lights were the red flag I ignored. They don't have hot soup. The hot food counter is not to be trusted. The ginger chicken went in the trash. Plus expect to overpay for anything in the store. Also the girl at the register seemed so 'checked out.' I asked if I pay for the cup of bone broth at her register or at the coffee bar and she answered 'I'm separate and don't know anything about their products.' On the plus side, they have some off street parking which is a big bonus.

Although it saddens me that the prices are a bit outrageous and not accessible to the immediate poorer communities that live just behind the establishment... I enjoy this market on occasion. Firstly, I want to say the hours are great and it helps that they're open everyday of the week. I've discovered so many great organic snacks here and I pick up flowers monthly as a routine of mine and they have the best bouquets!! Lastly, I enjoy seeing people of all kinds in the aisles. It seems like such a chill place to work, security and parking out front & lots of goodies and good quality options for everything inside! I recommend you come down at least once-- if not for groceries then come for the hot bar or some wine and spirits!

Best hot bar when you're in a pinch, well prepared and choice quality. I love everyone that works here-- a resourceful and lively crew. If this market didn't open in my neighborhood I might have moved. The prices are fair and sometimes even good for the selection! I will never stop shopping here!!!!!

This place is great!!! They take such care in sourcing what they carry and everything tastes amazing! I recommend the Mango lime smoothie, it's delicious!! Also the deli salads are fantastic and they have lots of great grab & go options. You really can't go wrong! And they have parking! So excited to have them in the neighborhood!

Omgggg I am now obsessed! I have so many dietary restrictions and this place is a gem! Tons of gluten free options which are so hard to find in a cafe that's a quick grab and go like this! Vegetarian options and this is one of the best matches I have ever had. Super clean, super cute and there are places to sit and eat. The barista was soooooo nice and asked the chef if they could accommodate another allergy. All of the staff was helpful in asking if I needed help selecting a wine or trying any of the deli items. This is down the street from my house and I've waited a year for it to open. I'm so happy it finally is!

They didn't have much for me but there cofffe was so good service was pushy maybe cuss it's a small store they have a lot of high end and fresh options definitely recommend for groceries.its a new location so cute and hip

LAGC is a lovely, beautiful, special place with great variety and thoughtful curation. It's always a delight to be welcomed in by the staff at this one of a kind local gem with stellar service.

My first visit today. Was thrilled to see Peads & Barnetts Sausages! Our fave! I'll be back.

Selection is extra human friendly. The workers are helpful. Presentation of store is clean and organized with an awesome sound track jammin while you slammin food stuffz in your basketz 8P

Stopped in for drip coffee, matcha latte, and a few cans of kombucha. I'm digging the canned bevy selection. So many options/flavors I haven't tried. Price? $$$. This spot is on the pricier side of markets. Friendly employees throughout the store. Solid service. Produce looked clean and fresh. I'm very glad that this opened up in the neighborhood! Enjoyed my visit and will be back.

This is an amazing addition to the neighborhood. The folks working there are engaged and interested in the customer. They pretty much hit 100% in all area's I hope this market keeps up the cool vibe and selection of all types of food. If Cook Book is looking for inspiration and wants to learn a thing or two about how to run a small local grocery business this is it.

Overall the food, service and feel of the store were friendly and accommodating! I am very happy to stop by here as my new go-to for groceries and hanging out at the cafe.

I'm so happy to have this place in the neighborhood! So nice to be able to walk and get last minute ingredients for a recipe... and even though it's not huge they truly seem to have everything I need. The produce is organic and the brands they carry are fancy so it's not cheap per se but the markups aren't bad... much better than Erewhon or Lassens (low key the worst markups) or even Gelson's for the most part. Prepared foods are wonderful. Love the polenta cake. Staff is great too!

Cute local ma & pa market kind of like a sprouts or a Whole Foods without the pretentious vibe. Service was very nice. So exciting to have a cute little market in the neighborhood. Wine selection was on point !

I went into this new cafe and grocery store for the opening and I was pleasantly surprised by how they have healthy produce and list the local farms they get it from that was a first for me. then the man that owned the farm was handing out samples of the different oranges they grew and were selling there. I like that they have an area for people to sit and enjoy their food or socialize around. I ordered the beet, pistachio and feta salad and it was really good. Overall I'm very impressed by the quality and the service. everyone was very welcoming and nice. the prices were on the more expensive side but I'd say it's comparable to a pavilions or Whole Foods so it wasn't too crazy. I'll be back for sure!

This place is a lovely relaxed, beautiful atmosphere. They were really nice curated selection of produce, flowers and grocery items. They have a good selection of wine and Sake there's a seating area inside to enjoy their prepared foods. The flowers are fresh and a unique local selection. The service was friendly and relaxed.

great just what we needed another insanely unaffordable store upselling products people actually need and masking themselves as "being here for the community". also their coffee sucks. what a waste of space!

I have no idea why this place opened in this neighborhood. The prices are offensive. Who in the world can afford these things?? The staff is very nice but the owners/management are abhorrent. Disgusting people. Get out of the neighborhood. No one wants you here.

It's very concerning when you walk into a very expensive store and have mid to low customer service experience. Customer service at this price point has to be top notch. This includes attitude. Attitude is everything. A simple smile and a warm hello go a long way. We split a club sandwich and an olive oil cake with a coffee and juice for 39 dollars US. The store itself is a labor of love, but what will make or break any business is customer service. I'm certain the owners ( who invested millions). Would want that level of excellence too in the shopping experience.

The produce section makes you want to cook with more produce. Appreciate the speciality items. Cafe is really great and reliable in a pinch.

i am so delighted this is in the neighborhood! i live walking distance and it really increases my quality of life to have a store a short walk away with great wines, food, produce. they have a whole wine section under $25 and it's very well curated! very sweet staff as well. haven't tried the food yet but excited to. and there's little cafe tables to sit and eat at or work from.

My boyfriend and I came in out of curiosity. This high end grocery store replaced the local affordable one. Kind of a weird area for such an expensive store and I can't imagine that any of the true locals can afford it. But anyways, we tried the carrot cake and was disappointed but maybe those with a more simple taste palette would enjoy it. They do have a lot of unique grocery options so I guess it's a good place if you need something specific or have dietary restrictions. Will be interesting to see how long it lasts here.

This review is for the cafe. I've gotten their lattes quite a few times and it's always the same results. Half of the cup is pure foam and no milk. 3 sips and it's gone. Will not be back. Rather go to Cafe Telegrama right around the corner.

such a great new neighborhood spot. got several of the premade foods to try and all excellent. the mocha (made vegan) was 20/10. nicest employees too. plus some amazing hard to find items like Monty's cream cheese and butter.

The best thing to happen! The level of care that went into sourcing is unbelievable.

It's an odd neighborhood: there are hookers on the street at night, homeless people, drunken people asleep on the sidewalk, graffiti abounds. So it it's strange when new businesses move in. Maybe it is a neighborhood in transition--the art galleries, the new expensive coffee stops, all a block away from the fatally abandoned Jardinette Apartments (designed by Richard Neutra); which is taking its time being reinvented into something. What was once a local, neighborhood store--avocados seemed to feel like there picked from someone's local backyard; it was cheap, it was convenient and now its gone. Opened just this week is the L.A. Grocery and Cafe in its place. Spacious, airy and very expensive, it wants to think its it Larchmont Village, not East Hollywood (factually, Melrose Hill is EAST of Western Avenue, but if it can make home prices go up -- sure!) It has shades of Lazy Acres (up on Western at Hollywood Blvd) in that indeed, fruits an vegetables are rendered as beautiful tableaus, the shelves are stocked with a wide variety of products. Their mission statement sums it up: Our mission is to create a grocery store and café that directly connects our customers to sustainable and regenerative farms and food producers across California, the West Coast and beyond. A litany of buzzwords to be sure. The only question there is to be asked is: is this neighborhood willing to support this mission? We can only give it a try and wish them luck.

So cute, so friendly, and the best hot chocolate I've ever had. So excited about this addition to the neighborhood!