A-B COFFEE, Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 t: (213) 625-8862
Excellent Mexican grocers run by Fernando Lopez and family. Home-made mole pastes, canned goods, dried goods as well as coffee, all accompanied with informed, knowledgeable service.
BARKEEPER, 3910 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029 t: (323) 669 1675
The most fantastic bar shop you can imagine. Unusual, quality booze, glasses, shakers, muddlers – everything you could possibly need for the home bar. This is where you come for some unusual bitters or a bottle of Cynar, and all the Absinth paraphernalia you could ever need.
CANTER’S DELICATESSEN, 419 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036 t: (323) 651-2030
Top deli counter and bakery, with a fantastic range of cakes, bagels and other assorted deliciousness. Their pickles are arguably the best in LA.
THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, 6530 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 t: (323) 468-3800
Quality English-style bangers available by the pound from this venerable pub, housed in an old studio commissary. (For old Hollywood buffs, note that bits of Casablanca were shot here. It’s not known, though, if Rick and Ilse ate sausages on the days in question.)
THE CHEESE STORE OF SILVERLAKE, 3926-38 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90026 t: (323) 644-7511
Simply the best cheese store in LA. Bar none. Enough said.
GUELAGUETZA, 3337½ W 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90005 t: (213) 427-0601
Oaxacan restaurant which sells its own mole sauces and Mexican baked goods, as well as Oaxacan chorizo.
HUNTINGTON MEATS, Farmer’s Market, 6333 W 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California 90036 t: (323) 938-538
Old-school butchers housed in the famous Farmers’ Market at Third and Fairfax. Dan and Jim stock excellent quality meat, and can deliver pretty much anywhere. If you’re looking for something unusual, call first — odds are they can get it for you (Dan stocks sweetbreads for me on request).
K&L WINE MERCHANTS, 1400 Vine St, Hollywood, CA, 90028 t: (323) 464-9463
Excellent, Hollywood based wine merchants with over 35 years experience. Solid list, with international wines well represented. Their real speciality is the western US — California, Oregon and Washington. Their annual autumn champagne tasting is a must. (They also have stores in San Francisco and Redwood City.)
LINDY & GRUNDY, 801 N. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90046 t: (323) 951-0804
The amazing Amelia Posada and Erika Nakamura run LA’s first sustainable butchery. With meat sourced no more than 200 miles from their shop, they’re on a mission to being the very best to the heart of Hollywood. With an in-house smoke house and their own dry ageing rooms, they have total control of their product. And from field to fork, they know its provenance absolutely. You will not find better in the city. Or in the county. They rock.
MALIBU SEAFOOD, 25653 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 t: (310) 456-3430
The best wet-slab on the west side, run by commercial fishermen. Well worth a trip out of your way – they also have a patio restaurant with damn fine deep-fried oyster sandwiches.
MONSIEUR MARCEL, Farmer’s Market, 6333 W 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California 90036
French and European grocer at Third and Fairfax, with a good selection of wine, oils, cheeses, charcuterie. Knowledgeable staff, too, which helps.
NICK’S CAFE, 1300 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 t: (323) 222-1450
Tiny, old-school downtown diner, famous for its ham and eggs, and well worth a visit. But the reason it makes the LBB is its take-away salsa – fresh, fiery and fabulous – and its hams. Half or whole hams are available for purchase with 24 hours notice, and they’re terrific.
PEKING POULTRY, 717 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012 t: (213) 680-2588
Fantastic Chinatown-based poulterer. You can get pretty much anything feathered in here, and rabbits too. Chicken livers and hearts available too. Very, very fresh!! Free-range also available.
PHILIPPE’S, 1001 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 t: (213) 628-3781
Justly famous for their French-dipped sandwiches. The real treat, though, is their mustard, available to buy from the news counter. Quite simply, it’s the best in town.
PURITAN POULTRY, Farmer’s Market, 6333 W 3rd St # 226 Los Angeles, CA 90036 t: (323) 938-0312
Chickens, ducks, turkeys, oh my! A Farmers’ Market institution.
SILOM MARKET, 5321 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 t: (323) 993-9000
Outstanding Thai market in the heart of Thaitown. In addition to the usual fresh veg and groceries, they also have very good value meat and fish counters. As an extra added bonus on weekends, there are street-food snacks made fresh in the car park plus extraordinary fresh dips and curries made by my good friend Baa Chalerm.
SILVERLAKE WINES, 2395 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90039 t: (323) 662-9024
Independent vintner with an excellent wine-list, focusing on boutique, small production wines from the US and around the world. Tastings on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. And on a Thursday evening you’ll also find the Let’s Be Frank hot-dog truck parked outside. So that’s dinner and wine – you can’t go wrong.
SPICE STATION, 3819 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 t: (323) 660-2565
2305 Main St, Santa Monica CA 90405 t: (310) 450-0505
Specialist spice store with outlets in Silverlake and Santa Monica. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. Great selection of spices and spice blends. Excellent quality at good prices. And they sell tea — always a plus.
TEHRAN MARKET, 1417 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403 t: (310) 393-6719
West-side Iranian and Arabic grocer with good baklava and great flat-breads. The usual canned goods, saffrons etc. My LA Middle Eastern store of choice.
