Downtown LA's Grand Central Market offers a variety of flavors

Saturday, April 25, 2015
Downtown LA's Grand Central Market offers a variety of flavors
From fresh oysters that were flown in from Oregon to carnitas slow-cooked to perfection, Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles offers a remarkable culinary palate.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- From fresh oysters that were flown in from Oregon to carnitas slow-cooked to perfection, Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles offers a remarkable culinary palate.

Chef Mark Peel has worked in some of L.A.'s top restaurants and is considered a founder of California cuisine. Now, he's behind the counter at Bombo, one of the market's newest offerings which focuses on seafood cooked quickly inside steam-powered kettles.

"This cooking method is fast, low-fat, low calorie, absolutely delicious," Peel said.

Near the Hill Street entrance, the floral aroma of gourmet coffee brings people to the wooden countertop at G&B, where coffee from some of the world's top roasters is prepared to perfection.

Charles Babinski has won top honors at national barista competitions. He and his partner opened G&B two years ago.

"Every month, we get more and more people from all over the city who are coming and are like, 'This is amazing! I didn't know this existed,'" Babinski said.

In the heart of the market, lines form at Tacos Tumbras, where Tomas Martinez has been creating a market favorite for more than 20 years.

Martinez has seen the market change drastically over the years. Many of the bargain eateries have been replaced by high-end, more expensive options, but Martinez says it's made for a better experience overall.

"It's a big change, but, you know what, it's good for everybody because we have more people, more traffic, so it's good," he said.

Grand Central Market is located at 317 S. Broadway in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.grandcentralmarket.com.