Downtown Los Angeles Farmer’s Market

*****Farmer’s Market is closed till January 17^th, 2011*****
I love this market! Pershing Square in general is such a nice space, waterfalls, plenty of seating. The market has really good produce, and you can tell everyone who sells there really takes pride in their products. Plus the prepared Greek food stand… love them!
As for no dogs allowed, that’s fine with me, and I am a dog owner! This is a market, there is food around… it’s not a dog park. What if your dog has to poop, right in the aisle of the Strawberry stand? Downtown is a dog’s paradise but honestly, a open food market should not be included in that.

No dogs allowed. Really?

I went to two farmers markets in downtown LA for a conference. They are so much better than the ones I have gone to in the bay (with the exception of the ferry building farmers market of course). The food selection was overwhelmingly awesome, and the fruit, I swear the fruit looked like it came off a page from a Better Homes and Garden magazine. Loved the agua frescas, pastries, pupusas, and elote.

I work right here in downtown L.A., so I have been to and around the farmer’s market since it first began a few years ago. At first I was interested, and went out every Wednesday… then Fridays, but stopped because it started getting boring. The same vendors, same stands, and same items every week.
There are flower stands, fruit, a roasted nuts guy (MMmmmm), a rotisserie chicken truck, some mexican, some middle eastern, Chinese, and Thai food. Prices are inflated for the downtown crowd… You are looking at $ 7 – 10 a meal… I don’t attend the L.A. Farmer’s market anymore… It’s gotten old, and its the same thing every week!

way too pricy for me… not the best place to get fresh fruit don’nt get me wrong their fruit was fabulous if you do not take into consideration the price

I love the fact that there are so many farmers markets in the downtown community during the work week and during work hours. This is great place to get fresh food for lunch, and shop for organic, locally grown items to take home.
This farmer’s market is set up on the sidewalk along the 5^th Street side of the Central Library. All of the surrounding streets are still open for cars, buses, and foot traffic. Because of this, the sidewalk is extremely crowded and hard to maneuver. Expect to bump into plenty of people as you shop.

We take a walk every Wednesday, lucky for us the last two weeks the route has taken us through the Farmer’s Market in Pershing Square. The produce is really good, the fruit can be a bit on the pricier side but it is better than anything you’ll find at the grocery stores. The vegetables are great and are much cheaper than the grocery stores, you can buy bell peppers, squash and asparagus for a ¼ of the price.
The food is OK, a bit overpriced and some are better than others. The Yummy Fish was pretty yumy and fresh, I’ve had the mexican and you can’t really mess up tacos. The Greek is okay but I will not get it again given George’s Greek Café is up the street. I’ve tried a few others but they obvviously can’t be all that great if they don’t stick out in my mind.
I Ioooooove the candied almonds Mmmmm… I used to get them all the time when te Farmer’s Market was on 5^th Street, but I was spending $ 10 a week on stupid almonds that I didn’t need. Once a month treat is probably better.
If you’re in the area on a Wednesday it’s worth a go, the white peaches and pluots alone are worth the trip.

I like to go to the Farmer’s Market for lunch on Wednesdays. The quality of the food ranges from mediocre to very good. My favorites so far have been Yummy Fish (only been once, won’t swear by it given the bad review in this thread) and the guy selling cobblers (Heavenly Cobblers or something like that). A common problem is food that is flavorful but cold, like the dried out chicken kabobs I had at the Greek stand.

I still love the farmer’s market for flowers and produce. That said, I have to update on the hot food. I’ve been tasting the food they’re selling over there and it’s mostly overpriced crap. The Peruvian place is yucky and the guy who works there is a serious douche. The fish place is way overpriced, not fresh. My shrimps were doused in some icky sauce. The falafel place was alright. If you want avocados, a pre-​made dessert or some flowers, go there. In fact, it’s lovely for those types of things. Just don’t go there to eat hot food.

Every Wednesday several people in the office are out in the street. I’ll agree with a previous Unilocaler — its a bit overpriced but when you have produce & a change of lunch from the usuall coming to you downtown I’d say its worth it. Clothes, drinks, flowers, produce. It’s a little crowded but I think that is part of the fun.
NOTE: This market will be moving from its current location just outside the library to PERSHING SQUARE in Mid March!
Try the Hawaiian Chicken! Yum!

i find myself buying a styrofoam-​box lunches from the Fine Greek Cuisine, Thai Mexican BBQ, and the Happy Inca. The trade-​off for the higher prices is that you save gas, parking and time.
I recommend having cash-​money handy because it’s hard to hook a credit card machine up in the middle of the street to cha-​ching your purchase.

time: 1130am –130pm maybe 2pm latest
place:5^th and Grand /​Downtown LA
when: once a week, on Wednesdays
ive been going to this market from the start. You will find lots of vendors here and they sell anything from clothes to meats/​fish/​cheese, fast food, flowers, nuts, candy, bread, the list goes on. its always busy and for the most part all the stuff is fresh. ive had food from lots of the vendors and i have had good food from
stomach achs yet. but its always buyer beware at these kind of food street markets. my only neg feedback is that its $ than at other farmers markets ive been to. ive seen the same vendors at my local (torrance) farmers market and they charged more downtown for the same thing. So thats kind of lame, but what are you going to do.
i hope they keep it coming for a long time, the food selection for places to go eat downtown suck, its either fancy places or cheap crap fastfood, so this is a once a week get a way i like. Oh another draw back to this market is, downtown LA is a crap hole area, so it draws the weird/​smelly people out of the woodwork. keep your money close. If you work close by, come on down, but if you have to drive a distance, dont bother, parking will add to your lunch bill.
TIP, sometimes if you hang out until packup time, you can get a bargin, prices can drop, or deal with the vendors.

*Deep Breath*
Wow. Move over Disneyland, I’ve found my happiest place on Earth. Okay, well maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement. But for some reason, every time I randomly drive by 5^th and Grand, I always see the market bustling with food lovers. (But it happens to only be open on Wednesdays!) This time however, we decided to have a family outing from Ventura County and this was first on our checklist of destinations. Located on the same side of the street as the Biltmore Hotel; the Farmer’s Market is fairly small, sandwiched between Grand Avenue and Flower Street.
First thing we notice? Parking is a bitch. Bring about eight quarters and pray that you can find meter parking, as the lots in this area can easily charge you over $ 12. Considering it’s also located in the Financial District, you see businessmen and women rushing to get their grub on. I don’t blame them as the food here is enticing. You almost got a 1:1 ratio from produce to restaurant stands, and each stand is competing with another by offering samples of their products.
The produce here is also a lot cheaper than we had expected, compared to our local farmer’s market at least, and with plenty of variety as well. There were different kinds of fruit from papaya to mango, strawberries delivered straight from Oxnard (the strawberry capital of the world), tangerines, navel oranges, tangelos; shoot, I was almost getting my fix just from the samples.
Even the restaurants had a ton to choose from; there’s Greek food, Argentinian food, plenty of taco stands, and kabobs filling the air with it’s wonderful aromas, and of course Thai-​Mexican food. Wait what? Yeah. Apparently Thai-​Mex food consists of Polish Sausages, Chicken Salads, and Chow Mein. My favorite among them all though? The so fuckin’ good that it’s banned from L.A., Bacon-​Wrapped Hot Dog stand. *Drool*
Obviously, we were unable to leave this place empty-​handed. With plenty of fruits and veggies in hand, I found myself being the lazy one enjoying a bag of fresh roasted peanuts.
The few bad points:
— Parking
— The market is only open until 1:30 now!
— You can’t eat all the food here in one go.
— Buttered corn with mayo, lime juice, salt, and grated cheese was overcooked. (But then again we only had it right when the market was closing)
— Not much places to sit down, but everyone makes do with the half-​walls that are available. There’s also a park nearby.
Final Mood: Ginormahappy, even though this Farmer’s Market is small, you might end up finding yourself late for work.
*Exhale*

I love this place, the papusas, the mexican taquitos, the flautas, the tacos, horchata, i love this place, walking distance from the metro, its quite the adventure. ohh and good food 2

The downtown farmer’s market offers a great selection of fresh fruits and veggies. I get my FRESH asparagus, meyer lemons, spinach, bok choy, radishes, and beets here. They have about 15 vendors so you get a nice selection of veggies, flowers, prepared food, and gifts.
Sure it may be a cost more than your local supermarket but the veggies here are fresh from the ground. And don’t forget that they TASTE better. You don’t want to know how long the stuff you get from Ralphs have been sitting in the back waiting to ripen.
The market here even has these awesome homemade organic cupcakes. The mocha was super-​fragrant. It was like I was taking a shot of espresso as I took a bite out of the little cake. They offer two flavors a week on a rotating basis.
Oh yeah, lots of free samples too.

in downtown los angeles we got a little tradition called
the dtyl
it means the downtown Unilocal lunch. and its my final one.
today was especially chilly, i think some how dt knew i was gonna be gone. alas…
we always go somewhere new and the newest member jacqueline c recommended this place. its only on wednesdays til 2:30pm.
typical farmers market affair, food, fruits, bread, flowers, etc. but im used to small town farmers market and one downtown just didnt suit me. too much hustle and too much bustle. not enough heart. it was also all on one street and there were homeless and no grass and no place to sit…
farmer’s markets need grass for us to sit, laugh, and smell the pine, and feel the blustering january wind on our face and laugh as jimmy spills his soda on his shirt as rusty flirts with girls and Luanne with her daisy dukes… wait i think im talking about green acres…
either way my food was blah but… looks like the dtyl lost a founding member but got a new one in jacqueline, or jc as i call her. she will carry the torch well and make us proud. while i will be married to the open and lonely road…
my food may have been bitter sweet cuz the tears streaming down my face made the peruvian food salty…
:***(
(fyi — this review is supposed to be funny so go ahead and laugh! and vote funny!)

I went here after ice skating at Pershing Square and loved every bit of it. After walking through all the aisles, trying to figure out which stall to get dinner from, we finally went with one of the Mexican stands (I don’t remember the name) which had $ 2 tacos. The carnitas were absolutely delicious and there was a marinated beef that my bf got that was spicy and good. We ate in one of the seating areas while a soccer game was on but it wasn’t too crazy at all. I can’t wait to get back and try the papusas!

I remember when this farmers’ market started several years ago. My coworkers and I were so excited. Through the years, I’ve taken it for granted. I stopped eating the always yummy but very greasy Japanese food. And the Thai-​Mex stall always scared me. The lack of pricing on tamales also kept me away.
Instead, I’d come down for the occasional loaf of bread or veggies for the week when I didn’t have time to go to the store (caveat, yes, I know farmers’ market veggies taste better). I always avoided the fruit even though it always looked great. It just seemed somewhat unappetizing to see samples everywhere. And in the summer, you’re competing with flies and bums to get a taste.
I usually try to buy veggies from every vendor (about 4 or 5) just to be fair. Granted, I’ll walk the entire length of the block to figure out who has the cheapest cauliflower or the best looking bell peppers. My coworkers swear by the hot sauce vendor. And I know several are addicted to the Greek gyros. Oh, and the hot sweet nuts that are apparently made with no oil. The flowers guy made psst psst noises at me. But since I have no one to buy flowers for, I just look at the beautiful blooms every week on my coworker’s desk. Yes, every Wednesday she buys herself flowers.
But today I realized the true value of the market. Tacos. Yep, I have been craving tacos and I didn’t know where I could go for true tacos (La Salsa, eat your heart out!). I stumbled upon this vendor at the market and realized it was my duty to try all five tacos they were offering (chorizo, pollo, carnitas, asada, potato) for the impressively cheap price of $ 7 for five (#4 combo). Yes, I have heard of the quarter tacos elsewhere but when you’re stuck in Downtown, $ 1.40 each isn’t so bad.
The tacos guy has a place in East LA and was very attentive about putting on the cilantro and onion for me. He even spoons up the salsa asking if you prefer mild or spicy. I asked for medium and was overjoyed to see he put salsa verde on (my fave). I grabbed a couple of lemon wedges and was all set.
And with a $ 3 large horchata from the agua frescas lady, I had a very satisfying lunch.
Maybe next week I’ll try the rotisserie chicken or a hot dog since I’m back in the mood for street fare.
There are also cheese, olive oil, clothing and jewelry vendors, some of which take credit cards. Otherwise, bring your own bags to haul your fresh produce and small bills to pay.

I’ve had all kinds of mixed results from this farmer’s market, which is a 7.3 minute walk from work. From getting spectacular pluots to terrible apples, from a quick turnaround on my bacon-​wrapped hot dog to being forgotten about at a peruvian stand I used to enjoy, and from a ghost town (today, understandably) to sidewalks so packed I tried walking in the street behind the vendors (any sunny day between 75 and 85 degrees).
The good stuff:
Free samples!
when they’re properly done, the rotisserie chicken is pretty darn good. It’s not as juicy as it could be, but the #4 combo of ½ chicken, pita, roasted garlic potatoes, and a drink (canned soda or bottled water) for $ 8 is a solid bargain at this market. The potatoes are probably my favorite part, with the juice of each spit-​held chicken dripping onto the taters waiting below. A pita stuffed with chicken (and some spice covered skin, if you’re feeling anti-​diet) and garlicky potatoes is a good way to spend lunch. Just don’t expect to make out with anyone after without ½ a gallon of scope and a toothbrush.
Tamales. At $ 3 a pop, they’re not cheap, but they ARE good. I’ve had the chicken and the pork and was happy with both. The sauce they offer isn’t as spicy as I like, but I’m pretty sure I like things way too spicy for my own good.
Bacon wrapped hot dogs (aka death/​danger/​ghetto/​LA/​whatever dogs). Again, a bit pricy at $ 4 but when you want to shorten your life as quickly as possible, is there a better option? Bacon, grilled peppers and onions, ketchup, mustard, mayo and for me, hot sauce, combine in a pungent orgy of crispy/​spicy/​tangy/​sweet that reminds me of when I didn’t have to watch what I eat. If you’ve lived in LA long enough, and aren’t a veg-​head, then you’re probably had one. You’ve probably enjoyed one. And you’ll probably have another one. Ever since I got addicted to these while at SC, I’ve kept my eyes open for a somewhat reputable place to obtain them on a regular basis, and this is my answer. Long, long lines on typical day, so if you’re craving bacon-​wrapped goodness, get there before 11:30.
Peruvian. The pollo saltado is my mainstay. It’s not as good as Mario’s or Don Felix or a number of other Peruvian spots, but where else can you get it within walking distance of work? The aji isn’t as spicy as I like it, but they’re usually quick and it hits the spot if you’re craving stir fried meat and veggies. My only beef: no fries!
Specialty hummus. I’ve had about 4 different kinds of hummus from the vendors here, and they’re all been great. My favorite was the garlic parmesean. Expensive, like everything else, but better than what I get from Trader Joe’s or Costco.
The cons:
The fruit is really hit or miss, which I think isn’t unexpected, but it’s tough to swallow (literally!) how often I’ve had sub-​par produce. Bananas, apples, pluots, plums, and apricots, all wildly varying. Maybe I need to brush up on my selection skills, but I’ve never been this bad at choosing fruit anywhere else, whether it be Food4Less, Ralph’s, Lucky’s, wherever.
Lack of seating: when this place is jumping, you basically have to find an out of the way planter and (heh heh) plant yourself there. My friends and I eat at the 5^th and Flower location just to get away from the traffic.
There’s a reason we eat here, and it’s mainly because it’s something decent that’s different than what we get every other day. I don’t bring lunch to work, so that hour is my escape from the office. Our current parking and public transport situation don’t lend themselves to far off destinations, so we hit places we can walk to. It’s safe to say I’ll frequent this place 2 or 3 times a month as long as I work where I do.

«I wish it were Wednesday already…»
I decided to write this review this morning because I remembered its a place I go when I’m having a hard work day. All I can think about while I walk to get my coffee is that I want to escape to the Downtown Los Angeles Farmers Market.
I love the sights, sounds, and smells of any Farmer’s Markets. I start at the end with the weird cheese truck (never bold enough to try it yet) and the flowers. After smelling all the flowers and brushing my fingers on their petals, I linger around the fruits. I’m always looking for the weirdest ones and when in season, I buy strawberries and blueberries. The granola guy doesn’t come that often which I miss.
Then, it’s Tamale Time!!! I go to the tamale stand and order one pork with green salsa with extra green salsa on the side. I look for my hidden spot by the Patina restaurant and sit to eat. I love watching the crowds go by and making up little stories about their lives while I eat.
This market is always busy since it runs only from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm but it slows down when I go from 1:15 pm to 2 pm. Cash only, of course at most places.
A great place to take a break from work…