Mercado La Paloma

We had a wonderful experience at what felt like a vibrant Mexican market, all housed in one building filled with small eateries. Every dish we tried was excellent, authentically delicious, and incredibly fresh. The drinks we ordered from another counter were equally tasty and refreshing. We’re excited to return and explore more eateries, shops, and special events on our next visit to Los Angeles!

A little overpriced imo, almost $30 for a grilled fish. People were good, nice and helpful with a smile on their faces. Loved the atmosphere kind of like a small Mexican town market. Food was delicious. There are different restaurants you can choose from.

Local eatery places with vast food options. Great service and tasty food.

Ate at Chichen Itza because the line at Holbox was too long. Aye their pork chuca plate, it was mey... The meat was overcooked, dry, and want really good. The tortilla and sides were good.

Came here for the first time with a big group of us, and we were able to find two large tables to sit at. It was nice to be able to order from different eateries, depending on ones taste.

Love this Mercado and the community that it builds. They have a small collection of family owned eateries, a couple of shops and even a seamstress on hand. Regularly there are different festivals with all kinds of activities, music and performances bringing together Angelinos. Love this place!

OMG!!!… what can I tell you about this place…..is awesome!!!!…. I used to come yo Mercado La Paloma about 15 years ago when I worked in this are …. It was great then…. And it’s better now…. I was in the area and I just Gad to stop by for lunch…. Many different types of food to choose from … food is great!!!!…. And the atmosphere is amazing…. You must try it ….

Lunch with friends and colleagues during my visit to LA. This place is amazing if you want local delicious food. Get here as fast as possible! Here are my thoughts: Environment This is a great local establishment in South LA near USC. It's a midsize food court with plenty of great vendors to choose from. The space is ran by a local non profit that caters to local businesses in the area. During the time we were there it was just getting busy. It's an active busy but not too busy space. Service We spent our time exploring the different food stalls deciding on which ones we wanted to try. Once you decide, like most food halls, you go up to the counter order your food they give you a number that you can take to your table and they will bring you your food. Food and drinks I ended up ordering chickens tacos and beans and rice from Chichon Itzo and a fish taco from Holbox (to see what the hype was about!). I learned that both stalls are ran by the same family - the father runs Holbox and the son runs Chichon. EVERYTHING was delicious. Plenty of flavor and delicious. I would recommend trying both places. I will definitely go back. Overall A wonderful food hall thats staple in the community with great food and a great place for lunch by yourself or for larger parties. Definitely a highlight of my trip.

A food hall in South Los Angeles near USC campus. The vibe at this place is always exciting because there are lots of places to eat. Probably the most popular place located in here is Holbox. But honestly, everything I've eaten at the different places here have been really fantastic. This includes their sister restaurant Chichen Itza and great newcomer Komal. I really want to try some more of the other stalls as well but it's always kind of hard to get to the area here for me so the trips aren't frequent. At all the places I've been here, I've always had great service and everyone has been so friendly - from the people you order from to sitting at the counter at a couple of the spots to the people bringing out the food. I personally haven't had a negative experience. I've been here around lunchtime during the week, which is still busy, but the weekends are really really busy. I think I've been lucky with parking and been able to find some parking in the lot close to the entrance but it really is luck of the draw and it can get pretty tight and hectic.

There's a place in South LA where you can get a great lunch, at a reasonable price, in a casual, communal environment -- Mercado La Paloma. I've really enjoyed coming here over the last 14 years or so. This is a food court with a variety of food stalls featuring Mexican, Latin American, Thai, and seafood vendors. My only problem is deciding what i want when I get here. You order your food, get a number, select a table, and your order(s) will be delivered to you. I've only eaten here on weekdays, so cannot comment on weekend crowds. Parking is free in a relatively small lot. If you don't mind a moderate walk, it's doable from USC and Exposition Park, walking under the Harbor Freeway.

There is no wrong food choice at La Paloma. Every vendor they have seems to have delicious food which varies between seafood, tacos, dessert, and other authentic dishes. My family and I go there specifically for the panuchos. We have not found another place where we have enjoyed them so much. I remember going to La Paloma when I was younger and had more of a 'mercadito' feeling, rather than now feeling more modern-hipster. Perhaps my memory is wrong. Either way, the place is nice, clean, with plenty of seating and has a great ambiance. The workers from all shops seem very friendly. There is parking outside, but it can be crowded depending on the day and time you visit, which might cause to park on the street. I recommend going with a group of people and getting something from each vendor to taste a bit of everything :)

The Mercado La Paloma is a busy, happening, casual place with wares, clothing to sell, and restaurants, including Komal and the Michelin-winning Holbox. Seating is on benches in the middle of the hall and servers will bring the food to you by looking for your number on the table. Come early to get free parking on the lot! It's a fun place to explore.

I've been in an on-again-off-again relationship with Los Angeles for technically over 6 years. I don't really go for Mexican foods even LA is popular for " Taco Everyday". If you're foodies, you'd feel like your grandma's kitchen. This is YELP which means it's not about just " Eaters", just so you know. I usually review for " vibe" and local business. Here, this is so hyped. Esp " Sea Foods". It's so hard to get with reasonable priced seafoods either in NY or LA ! Finally, I bumped into this hidden spot. It's the best coincident ever. The place is super clean, parking lots and just 5 minutes away from DTLA. Look like Grand Central Market, DTLA tho, smaller, nicer and I'd say better. Since this place is small, there's not a lot of variety yet. Asians, Seafood fusions or Mexicans. It's worth to try Tamales and yes, I mentioned, it's very reasonable squids, fried octopus ! Self-service. DMV is right around the corner that there's not much to do around here.

I heard passing mentions but for some reason didn't investigate what Mercado La Paloma was all about for way too long. What a cool spot. Small food hall with about six Mexican restaurants under one roof. Very close to USC, the Shrine Auditorium, Galen Center, etc. I got food from Holbox and my family selected Chichen Itza. All was delicious. The most beautifully plated ceviche I've ever seen. Drinks (non-alcoholic only there) were interesting and flavorful. Service was very good. Will definitely come back.

On the hunt for more iconic LA food halls-- this is one you should definitely check out. Former garment factory-turned-NPO/community arts center/marketplace, Mercado La Paloma is a cultural treasure in South LA. Small parking lot nearby + limited street parking. The entrance is facing the lot. Once inside, you'll find several food stalls from various Latin American regions (it smells AMAZING), a shop full of bedazzled sportswear, + one random Thai kitchen LOL. This is the lineup as of March 2024, at least-- some of the stalls were newly open to lease. Seems to be a popular lunch stop for locals, fairly packed on a Tuesday afternoon. We only realized there was a Michelin-rated eatery once we got there (Holbox)-- a nice surprise! Of course we had to try it. The others were enticing as well. A must-see if you're a fan of Latin American cuisine and/or seafood. NOTE: Being a NPO, this food hall is humbler, smaller, and not as flashy as Grand Central Market-- still full of incredible food but just a FYI. The restroom is a little janky. Consider donating to them on their website!

A smorgasbord of delicious food! Michelin star restaurant. Authentic as it comes cuisine. Plenty of seating. Really nice service where the workers all work together. Plenty of parking. Overall this place is my to go on a Sunday afternoon. It's perfect for crowds with different taste too. Give it a chance, legit, I promise you will be able to find something you'd like

Mercado La Paloma is located in the Figueroa Corridor of South Los Angeles. It was created as a way of investing in this area where there has been no investment, there are few good jobs, there are not good places to eat, and there are few artistic and cultural spaces. It's a really cool open space with a number of places to eat. The jewel of this wonderful space is Holbox, which was the LA Times restaurant of the year and received a Michelin star this year. I went with a group of friends. We primarily got our food from Holbox, though we tried a few things from other places. Holbox is amazing. It's a latin-inspired seafood restaurant. It has amazing ceviche, seafood tacos, creative shellfish, and various hot dishes. We tried many things, all of which were delicious. I had the oysters, the sea urchin and scallop ceviche, and a smoked fish taco. I tried bites of everything my friends ordered, and shared my orders with them. This is such an amazing place and such a beautiful, communal concept. We all loved it. We all will be back. This should be an LA icon. It's eclectic, culturally diverse, open, and a wonderful concept. It's the best new place I've been in years.

Super cute place!!! Yay! I unlocked another great LA place (I know I'm probably so late to the game, lol.) I didn't get to try Holbox, which was my intended restaurant. However, the line was too long :( I didn't have the time bc I was on lunch break. I tried 3 other places instead. I went to Chichen Itzá for tostada de pescado and menudo (so good). I went to Taco Hermoso for a taco de pastor (so good) and the cafe de olla place for a capuchino version (so good!) Really cute, happenin' place. I'm looking forward to returning.

Lunch with friends and colleagues during my visit to LA. This place is amazing if you want local delicious food. Get here as fast as possible! Here are my thoughts: Environment This is a great local establishment in South LA near USC. It's a midsize food court with plenty of great vendors to choose from. The space is ran by a local non profit that caters to local businesses in the area. During the time we were there it was just getting busy. It's an active busy but not too busy space. Service We spent our time exploring the different food stalls deciding on which ones we wanted to try. Once you decide, like most food halls, you go up to the counter order your food they give you a number that you can take to your table and they will bring you your food. Food and drinks I ended up ordering chickens tacos and beans and rice from Chichon Itzo and a fish taco from Holbox (to see what the hype was about!). I learned that both stalls are ran by the same family - the father runs Holbox and the son runs Chichon. EVERYTHING was delicious. Plenty of flavor and delicious. I would recommend trying both places. I will definitely go back. Overall A wonderful food hall thats staple in the community with great food and a great place for lunch by yourself or for larger parties. Definitely a highlight of my trip.

This is the essence of our beloved LA. It's a mix of real Angelenos. You have USC students, the little old folks from the neighborhood, and the foodies. It has art and delicious food.

This place makes grand central market look like a truck stop in the mid west. What a beauty. The white people are showing up in droves so I don't know how much longer it will last. But I'm grateful I was able to experience it. This place is Genuine. Good food, good portions, good culture, good atmosphere and good prices.

Great spot for a variety of vendors. Great spot with good vibes and music. Nestled in the Figueroa Corridor of South Los Angeles, Mercado La Paloma serves as a beacon of investment and cultural enrichment. In this vibrant open space, there are various vendors and one of my favorites is Chicken Itza Restaurant. It offers some great dishes such as the pollo asado, tiki-xic, but my favorite is the cochinita pibil. Food always arrive pretty fast since it is for lunch hour. It is located in a self seating venue so try to arrive early!

A wonderful food hall to meet with friends for a meal. Large tables to seat 8 people. Friendly service from the various restaurants ( seafood, Latin, Thai, Belizean, burger cuisines plus gelatos & beverages). Parking lot, or street parking are nearby. Definitely an L A place as there is a shop selling sports logos on caps & shirts for LA teams. Functional restrooms are available. Background music is playing throughout the food hall.

Delicious food, and good price, 100 % recomendado. The staff is pretty friendly, and the portions are great

We've eaten from the Thai place, the Belizean place, Holbox and Chichen Itza. All are great.

Great location with a wide variety of food selection. Parking is limited but definitely worth the effort.

One of the best places for food in LA. It gets really busy but all the different foods from different backgrounds is amazing and authentic. Food is simply delicious, desserts, drinks it's great. The service is amazing as well my mother accidentally spilled all her drink and the waitress brought her another one free of charge and cleaned it all off. We went to the Yucatán booth to eat. But have tried others and it's amazing. Definitely try this food market don't be put off by the looks of it.

The place is very nice. Plenty of parking s d tables to eat inside. The food was delicious at Chicken Itzá The staff were very nice and friendly. I had the Cochinita Pibil and it was awesome. Also the tacos con chicharrón were excellent.

Nice place to hang out and have something nice to eat and drink and do some shopping. The service is really great.

Excellent food high quality from all restaurants, my favorite los panuchos from chichenitza and the Ceviche mixto from Holbox entire building very clean and safe

The Mercado La Paloma has been a mainstay in Los Angeles for many decades. It is a super casual food hall, that now houses a very limited variety of food choices. They include Thai, Burgers, Belizean (very hard to find) and several Mexican eateries. The latter selections are dominated by the presence of Holbox and Chichen Itza, both of which have received accolades and had prominence on several LA Times Best 101 Restaurant Lists. Both these dynamic restaurants are managed by Chef Gilberto Cetina. His baby is the creative and innovative, seafood centered Holbox, the LA Times 2023 Restaurant of the Year (see my review on this platform). What is sad, and this is only my opinion, is that the food traffic gravitates mainly to these two eateries (every time I was there). So, when I recently walked in, and desired to take a look around (to find out if there is something new), the other eateries seemed desperate. Waving to attract my attention, as I passed along, coming out to converse with me, verbally coaxing me, trying their level best to entice me with a food promotion or a special. Sorry, I had to share this unsettling experience with you. There maybe a very small silver lining to this cloud. The parking at the Mercado lot is free. A very rare commodity in Los Angeles.

This is one of my family's favorite place to meet and eat and see artwork. Currently they have a beautiful exhibit centering Palestinian women. I wish I knew about it before now! Everybody should go see it. It ends May 6.

Most go is Holboxla for seafood Awesome food. Best in LA. Close to downtown. Would consider plus many options around

It's like a small grand central market . There are a few eateries inside . I went to Hoblox and ordered the grilled fish. It came fast . The service in the place was excellent . Attentive but not rushed . Parking is a bit small . It was busy inside .

Mercado La Paloma is a mercado with a mission. It's been called a food court but it's more like a mini-mall with a conscience. It's run by Esperanza Community Housing, a social justice nonprofit focusing on community development for Historical South Los Angeles. The building itself used to be a garment factory and was recreated into a space that local businesses can find opportunity. There are restaurants and there have been storefronts including a tax preparation office and a seamstress. I first came here to visit one of my favorite restaurants ever (Chichen Itza), continue to visit regularly for my favorite restaurant ever (Holbox), and love to wander about to look at the art exhibitions on the walls. Mercado La Paloma rotates exhibits featuring local artists and also hosts concerts and events. There's also a public health drop in center and a large community meeting room upstairs. Come for the food and stay for the art. Free parking in the lot as well as street parking. Vaya con Dios.

Great variety of food to choose. There are lots of options to choose. They have friendly staff and also have plenty of parking unlike other places in the area.

We were on a family trip and couldn't find anywhere to eat and stumbled upon this place. Food was tasty and different options for all family members.

Had a gathering with a few cousins and it was the perfect meeting spot. Parking was easy, great service, variety of food options, reasonable prices and good ambiance. Loved it!

Very friendly, and the food somewhat better than expected. Love their seating. Recomendaría.

I really enjoyed coming to this place, you can enjoy Thai, Yucateco, Oaxacan, Belicean and sea food at the same time. I recommend trying the 3 carnes tlayuda (by far the best Tlayuda in LA),the cochinita pibil plate (I'd say the best cochinita pibil plate), Oxtail and rice plate. I still need to try the mole negro plate & the sea food restaurant (which I am planning to do sooner than later). My only complaint is the agua de horchata which was rather lame. Besides that the service is great and the ambiance irradiates good vibes for the most part. Este es un buen lugar si gustan probar comida yucateca, oaxaqueña, de Belize y también comida tailandesa, aquí he probado el mejor plato de cochinita pibil, también la mejor Tlayuda de 3 carnes en todo Los Angeles, mi única queja es el agua fresca de horchata, no tiene nada de auténtica lo demás está súper bien. Buen servicio y ambiente agradable.

Different selections of food. Went to Holobox, food was food, I would like to go back and try the other food vendors.

A good place to have a delicious plate a little crowded but people eat fast Try it, you won't regret it.

Many, many great options! I've tried chichen itza and Holbox and enjoyed both. I need to return and try the rest! It has such a fun, market-like atmosphere that makes it great for group get-togethers. Indoor and outdoor seating available

To appreciate Mercado La Paloma, you should understand what it isn't, and what it is: Mercado La Paloma IS NOT: - A food hall/food-oriented theme park/ethnic museum. - A promotional platform for fashion-forward dishes created by young, tattooed cooks who seem not to actually like the taste of food. - A venue offering gentrified variants of foods preferred by the local community's residents, while literally pricing those folks out of the market. - A faux-local venue that's owned by a downtown/out-of-town/multinational corporation. Mercado La Paloma IS: - Home to more than a half-dozen food stalls that serve Yucatecan, Oaxacan, Michoacana and other cuisines. - A provider of community health programs, including Esperan Salud, a public health drop by center; Best Babies, focusing on reproductive and maternal care; and an asthma program. - Piece by Piece, an arts program that provides low-income and homeless people free art workshops. - A source for services such as tailoring, tax preparation and insurance. - A collection of vendors who sell jewelry, pottery, clothing and folk art from Mexico, Central and South America. - A public space used for community workshops, dance classes, live music, yoga and more. In 1999, the Mercado was established by the Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, as a part of that non-profit's stated goal of achieving long-term, comprehensive community development as they promote: - Affordable Housing - Health and Access to Care - Arts & Culture - Economic Development - Environmental Justice As for dining: Mercado La Paloma is clean and well-kept, and is popular with members of the local community and outsiders like myself. Some of the food is prepared by vendors renowned by Travel and Leisure Magazine, GQ Magazine, Hispanic Magazine, The LA Times and the MICHELIN Guide. Honestly, after eating food from three of the Mercado's kitchens, I don't believe there's a bad bite in the place. That, plus fair prices, comfortable seating and pleasant company, make me anxious to return.

Just came from a fabulous lunch from Holbox. It was so fresh. The civeche was hands down the best I've ever had and perfect on a hot summers day. The fish tacos were some of the best I've ever eaten. Had a bite of my friends plantains from one of the other diners...so sweet and delicious. Can't wait to go back. A real find.

This is one of the best kept secrets in L.A.! Phenomenal food options kinda like a gourmet food court just for true Mexican food snobs. Ambiance is laid back. Grab your food and find a table. Don't miss Holbox. Glad my neighbor brought me to try it out. So legit.

There's a place called Chichen Itza and this review is about that place: WHATEVER YOU DO GET THE CHICHARRON TACOS! They are entirely too good! Now I was a little skeptical because I never heard of these types of tacos and I've always known chicharron to be fried chips (pork rinds) so I figured that might not be good as a taco but I stand corrected! It's chopped and diced with actual meat but still crispy and crunchy! It comes with avocado! I would love some onions and some salsa to go with it but other than that it's great! I would suggest pairing it with the black beans and white rice. The price is also very good! There isn't much else I can say about this place! I haven't tried anything else but I will definitely be coming back to try other things. The place in general looks like it has a lot of nice little spots. Also a tip: there is additional parking if you don't see any at the building. You can follow the signs.

It's one of those places I spot each and every time I drove through the 110 followed by thoughts of someday checking it out. Then almost immediately becomes an afterthought. (Can't explain why, I drive through this freeway on a regular basis.) But then I saw a couple of eateries located inside the building featured on Guy Fieri's Diner's Drive In's and Dives, so I thought, "Huh. I really should check it out sometime..." With Big Bro in town, I figure it was a good time to do a little "discovering." Dragged our parents with us as well. (Apparently, Mom has been wanting to check it out for decades but never got around to it.) We arrived at around 11am and didn't find any issues with parking, although it was getting pretty full. We walked in and immediately spotted one of the places TripleD featured - Chichen Itza. But because we were curios, we all decided to walk around first. With the exception of a burger and a Thai place, most eateries were featuring Mexican cuisine hailing from different regions of Mexico, so it was an interesting mix. We got to try three different places (Chichen Itza, Thai Food Corner and Azla.) They also had a couple of shops featuring Mexican products. A good place to go to if you want variety. Definitely coming back to try the rest!

Mercado La Paloma reminded me of Grand Central Market, it's an indoor complex with various restaurants, shops, coffee-shops. It's not as big, but the idea is to share a meal even of you don't buy it from the same vendor. Everyone in your group can choose what they want to eat and then sit down at the table together and share a nice meal. There are a few areas with tables (some with nice tiles on top) and chairs,so there are seating options. I wanted to eat at Chichen Itza, read about it for years and had to try it. It was an enjoyable experience and the food was amazing. Chichen Itza has also a store where they sell souvenirs - t-shirts, etc, food items - Mexican imports, some of their Habanero sauces, etc. But there are other cool restaurants to try within La Paloma: a burger place, another taco stand, a vegan Ethiopian restaurant (food looked great!), a Thai Restaurant, a Juice bar (the merchandise looked fresh), so plenty of choices for everyone. There's even an alteration place inside! Some of the stores were closed when I was there in early evening. Or they were closing. It might me more lively in the weekend, but I didn't mind the relaxing atmosphere, no hustling or bustling. They do held events sometimes, so check their site and social media! Opened daily from 8 am - 9 pm, free parking, big lot, cool mural, so it's impossible for you to miss it! If you're in the area, don't hesitate to check out Mercado La Paloma for lunch, dinner or something in between, it has many cool options and this place represents what I like about LA - small business, unique restaurants, great flavors, reasonable prices, diversity. It's a nice place that we need to preserve and frequent. If you're visiting USC, museums around, try it out, if you're a foodie, then, you have no excuse!

This is my piece of food jewel I like to go to after a wait at the dmv. I usually go to Oaxaca or Thai corner express. They are great for breakfast and lunch. This place can get a little busy during the weekend. So the best time is during the week, evenings can be a little busy. Parking off of grand can be very slim, so the best option is to park off of exposition , in the parking lot across from the dmv. Inside The venue the seating is plentiful. Just a heads up for morning people although it opens early most food eateries open around 10-11. They have a wide range of ethnic food so no matter what you have a taste for it's most likely here.

A friend and I wanted find a cool place to have lunch and hang out. This has got to be one the best known "hidden gems" of South LA. A short walk from the USC campus and you're here. Inside you'll find a very well stocked gallery of local artists, a variety stores selling a variety of treasures from clothes to houseware to souvenirs. And then of course: The Food! So much to choose from... Vegan, Ethiopian, Asian, Mexican, etc. I had the pleasure of having a Baja shrimp taco from Holbox and some really delicious flavors of the Yucatan called tikin-xic at Chichen Itza. Definitely a place to revisit. I'm a bit skeptical on the "free" parking since the parking attendant tried to charge me even after my validation.

This a pretty cool food hall. It seems to be very popular so I recommend going before the lunch rush. They have Thai, Mexican, seafood, etc. I tried Chichen Itza restaurant and it was great! The chicken and sides were so good and the price was pretty reasonable. I also tried the guanabana agua from a different vendor, but I do recommend it!! There's plenty of seating and plenty of parking. I recommend going to this food hall 100%

The variety of foods sold at this place are deliciously incredible! Most credit cards are accepted!

We've been there plenty of times and there are a few places that are as authentic as this is. Taqueria Vista Hermosa is one of the business there and oh lord. What a great service and food they prepare for you. I asked for a customized chilaquiles with an specific salsa and they came through big time!!!! Most places will not even hear your suggestions and they just told me yes!!! We will do your plate as you want it. The menudo is glorious (best I tried in all Los Angeles) super tasty and super clean. Tortas, tacos and enchiladas. This is heaven!!!

So many options to choose from! I really like the laid back atmosphere and how many vendors there are. The pad Thai was really good, and the ceviche was fresh. Tacos were just okay imo

I tried the Clam Ceviche and it was awesome! I did not expect this place to be a 1 star michellin star.

Food court vibe. Free parking. Busy lunchtime hours. I've tried food from 2 vendor and neither disappointed.