Open Market
Sandwich shop · Koreatown ·
Sandwiches, coffee, local goods, and all-day breakfast
Sandwiches, coffee, local goods, and all-day breakfast
"Tucked in the back of a concrete Koreatown plaza, this neighborhood cafe and sandwich shop serves inventive takes on nostalgic deli classics while doubling as a market selling natural wines, jars of Mejorado salsa from Burritos La Palma, locally made makgeolli, black truffle-flavored potato chips, and a small selection of home goods. In a city with sandwich shops on practically every corner, it carves a place for itself as a reflection of Los Angeles’s diverse flavors between two slices of bread. The Normandie, named after the neighboring street, pays tribute to Philippe’s French dip with Creekstone Farms brisket on a chewy baguette with provolone, mustard mayonnaise, ginger pickled radish, and scallions, with au jus on the side. The Kenmore translates Korean tuna gimbap into a sandwich, piling radish- and gim-studded tuna salad onto toasted, fluffy brioche topped with a thick slice of salty American cheese and a minty-herbal perilla leaf; if only summer camp tuna sandwiches tasted like this, maybe the sandwich wouldn’t have such a bad reputation. Fridays bring one-day-only specials available starting at 11 a.m. — past hits include a shrimp po’ boy and a kimchi jjigae dip — that sell out quickly and often don’t return; sandwiches are available at 11 a.m., while breakfast runs all day (the outstanding breakfast burrito wraps up when lunch starts). Best for lunch with friends for under $25 a person, daytime laptop warriors who want good food and coffee while they work, and picking up affordable bottles of wine to impress any dinner party, with a handy free lot around the corner on Catalina under the 3333 sign." - Rebecca Roland
"When LA residents talk about one of the best bites in the city, they are likely talking about the Normandie brisket sandwich. Chef Andrew Marco says the sandwich is based on Japanese broth flavors from the Yoshinoya chain and Philippe the Original’s signature French dip sandwich with provolone, mustard, mayo, ginger pickled radish, scallions, and a side of au jus for dipping or sipping." - Mona Holmes
"Calling something the best of any genre is a big claim, but I stand by my choice in naming Open Market’s Kenmore sandwich the best in Los Angeles. It’s a tuna sandwich unlike any other, imbuing the tuna salad with the flavor of gimbap, and sandwiching them between soft brioche reminiscent of slices of challah a Jewish deli would serve its sandwiches on. There must be at least a full inch of tuna between each plush slice of bread, dotted with seaweed and radish making it almost look like a pointillist painting from the right angle. The perilla on top is an unexpected addition but brings a green, earthy flavor, while a thick slice of cheese is the right type of fatty contrast. — Rebecca Roland, editor" - Eater Staff
"For a community art night I plan to check Open Market, which is hosting a Halloween edition of its First Fridays on November 1 with the burger pop-up Softies providing food and costumes encouraged; it is walk-ins only." - Rebecca Roland
"When in Koreatown, always duck into Open Market for breakfast. A big draw is the restaurant’s strong coffee, the milk bun OM breakfast sandwich satisfies. It’s made with a house-made sausage patty, cheddar cheese, fried egg, arugula, pickled fennel, harissa tomato jam, and a healthy smear of paprika aioli." - Eater Staff
