{"id":802888,"date":"2026-05-17T13:08:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T13:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/802888\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T13:08:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T13:08:29","slug":"4-food-halls-in-southern-california-serving-up-more-than-just-good-eats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/802888\/","title":{"rendered":"4 food halls in Southern California serving up more than just good eats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you and your friends are looking for a brunch spot to cater to everyone’s palates, or taking a trip to the historic Grand Central Market<\/a>, food halls make for an easy, affordable place to satisfy cravings \u2014 especially in SoCal, where diverse selections of dishes reign supreme.<\/p>\n

But these spaces fill a void much deeper than our appetites. They bring new life to old storefronts, factories or even airfields (see list below), and can offer a way to keep dollars within the community by becoming a hub for local businesses.<\/p>\n

With that said, here’s a short list of food halls where you’ll get more than just a killer meal.<\/p>\n

Keep up with LAist.<\/p>\n

If you’re enjoying this article, you’ll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. <\/p>\n

For good vibes<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

BLVD MRKT food hall on the corner of 6th Street and Whittier Boulevard in downtown Montebello.<\/p>\n

BLVD MRKT<\/b><\/a>
520 Whittier Blvd., Montebello
Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Monday.<\/p>\n

BLVD MRKT<\/a> is an open-air food hall in downtown Montebello that feels like a party. The 8,500-square-foot space currently has five eateries, or “concepts” as they’re known in the restaurant industry, and hosts live DJs every Friday night and Sunday during brunch. They also host Open Vinyl Night on the second and forth Tuesday of every month, where patrons get $2 off beers and margaritas from Alchemy Craft<\/a> if they bring a vinyl record to be played in the BLVD courtyard.<\/p>\n

The space is pet-friendly and has growing concepts like Los Taquero Mucho<\/a>, which offers classic al pastor, grilled chicken and slow-cooked carnitas tacos, as well as specialty flavors like vegan tacos with whiskil saut\u00e9ed in coconut milk, and Pork Belly Cochinita Pibil Tacos, perfect for those who crave crispy, slow-roasted pork with a hint of sweetness.<\/p>\n

Los Taquero Mucho participates in BLVD’s incubator program, run by co-founders Barney and Evelyn Santos. The program offers mentorship to local entrepreneurs until they can set up shop permanently.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Pork Belly Cochinita Pibil Tacos with salsa from Los Taquero Mucho at BLVD MRKT in Montebello.<\/p>\n

BLVD MRKT is part of the couple’s commercial real estate development firm, Gentefy<\/a>. Its mission is to invest in retail and hospitality projects that ignite economic development and revitalization in Black and brown neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

“Blvd Mrkt is our first project,” Barney Santos wrote in a text message. “It was our social proof to prove to banks, investors and cities that a socially conscious business model could exist in a traditionally overlooked area.”<\/p>\n

VCHOS Pupuseria Moderna<\/a> also has a spot in the BLVD courtyard, offering handmade pupusas with filling choices such as shrimp with spinach and cheese, and tender beef birria with a side of consomm\u00e9, onions and cilantro. Coffee lovers can get an Oaxacan Mocha at Cafe Santo, or stop by Cold Pizza for a wood-fired slice.<\/p>\n

For eclectic tastes<\/p>\n

\"Exterior<\/p>\n

Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton. <\/p>\n

Rodeo 39 Public Market<\/b><\/a>
12885 Beach Blvd., Stanton
Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n

An O.C. favorite, Rodeo 39 Public Market<\/a> lives on Highway 39, also known as Beach Boulevard, in Stanton. This 40,000-square-foot space is an eclectic mix of more than 20 food and drink concepts and retailers. There are three outdoor patios and five murals, plus an arcade, tattoo shop and photo booth. Food options cover everything from Lil’ Breezy’s<\/a> adobo breakfast burritos to Cajun crab fries at The Crawfish Hut<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Mural by artist David Flores outside of Joystix arcade at Rodeo 39 Public Market.<\/p>\n

Rodeo’s menu choices make it well-suited for a casual weekend brunch. At its entrance sits Here & There<\/a>, where you can grab a coffee or matcha latte, or try one of their signature drinks like the Iced Vienna, a combination of milk with caramelly demerara sugar and your choice of matcha or espresso, topped with sweet cream and garnished with sea salt. The result is a drink that’s smooth and not too sweet.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

Eggyo bulgogi egg sandwich with spicy mayo at Rodeo 39 Public Market.<\/p>\n

Eggyo<\/a>, a recent addition to Rodeo, offers Korean corn dogs and fluffy egg sandwiches on crispy, house-baked milk bread. Try the bulgogi option with spicy mayo for a savory kick. If you crave a cocktail, venture over to CAPO<\/a>, which also serves craft beer. Or just sit on one of their sun-filled patios while you decide what to try.<\/p>\n

For a page from history <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The Hangar in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

The Hangar<\/b><\/a>
4150 McGowen St., Long Beach
Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Hangar<\/a> is a 17,000-square-foot food hall that pays homage to Long Beach’s aviation history. It sits on former Boeing Co. land where military and commercial aircraft were built. Today, it serves as a dining destination at the Long Beach Exchange Shopping Center<\/a>, or LBX, neighboring the city’s international airport.<\/p>\n

This space currently has a mix of 14 food concepts and two retail shops. Patrons can enjoy local favorites outside their flagship locations, like the Joe’s Special bagel sandwich from Cassidy’s Corner Cafe<\/a>, with bacon, egg and the star of the show \u2014 tangy jalape\u00f1o cream cheese. Fans of spice can try Jay Bird’s Nashville Hot Chicken<\/a>, which offers chicken sandwiches and tenders, and Blazin’ Fries, all with six levels of heat.<\/p>\n

\"Interior<\/p>\n

Historic aviation photos are displayed above food concepts at The Hangar food hall at LBX in Long Beach<\/p>\n

Inside, there are vintage pictures of aircraft that were built at the site, and a wall of clocks showing the time in cities named Long Beach across the country.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Pan Am Hawaii travel poster (left) and a TWA Spain travel poster (right) at the patio of The Hangar food hall.<\/p>\n

Outside, you’ll find patio seating with umbrellas where you can sit and watch the occasional plane fly overhead. Or sit and enjoy the adjacent display of towering Pan Am and TWA posters promoting travel to Hawaii, Spain and Paris.<\/p>\n

For fun and work<\/p>\n

\"Exterior<\/p>\n

Mercado La Paloma on Grand Avenue in South L.A.<\/p>\n

Mercado La Paloma <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

3655 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.<\/p>\n

Open since 2001, the approximately 34,000-square-foot Mercado La Paloma<\/a> sits in the Figueroa corridor of South L.A., and is known for its focus on community, art and culture. From rotating art exhibits to colorful tiled tabletops, this space feels like it was made to nurture creativity.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Interior of Mercado La Paloma.<\/p>\n

There are meeting rooms to rent starting at $25 an hour. It’s a space where locals can bring their laptop to work or study, or have a long conversation with a friend, with bites from six acclaimed restaurants.<\/p>\n

\"Sea<\/p>\n

Holbox’s Erizo dish at Mercado La Paloma.<\/p>\n

At the Mercado, visit Holbox<\/a> for Michelin-starred seafood dishes like Erizo \u2014 velvety sea urchin laid atop a bed of tender scallop ceviche. The combination is fresh, flavorful and oceanic. Tip: If you can swing it, come on a weekday to avoid a long line, or order ahead.<\/p>\n

For something sweet, walk over to Oaxacacalifornia Cafe & Juice Bar<\/a> for a Spicy Pineapple Juice with a gingery kick, or go for the classic pairing of Hot Oaxacan Chocolate, made with your choice of water or milk, and light-as-air conchas crowned with a solid layer of vanilla or chocolate streusel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Whether you and your friends are looking for a brunch spot to cater to everyone’s palates, or taking…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":802889,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5123],"tags":[1582,276,59254,2961,224,5337,30772,66573,21490],"class_list":["post-802888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-ca","tag-california","tag-food-halls","tag-la","tag-los-angeles","tag-losangeles","tag-oc","tag-recommendations","tag-world-cup"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116590078746671058","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=802888"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802888\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/802889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=802888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=802888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=802888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}