Mercado La Paloma

With the arrival of Holbox, a new stall featuring Yucatan-style seafood, Mercado la Paloma has become my favorite lunch and early dinner spot near DTLA and practically adjacent to USC. It is a short walk from the Jefferson-USC Expo line station, and has a free parking lot. Inside, there are about 7 food stands and a number of tables shared by all the eateries. You order, get a number, and the food is brought to you. Holbox is the second stand operated by the owner of Chichen Itza, also in MLP. Chichen Itza has an extensive Yucatan menu, all of it delicious, but the star is cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork flavored with citrus, served as a plate or in a taco made with a delicious, freshly made tortilla. Chichen Itza bottles its own habenero sauce, which comes in two versions, very hot and deadly. But what a way to die!

One great thing about Mercado la Paloma is the variety of decent or much better food, so everyone can be happy. There is a very good Ethiopian vegan place that features wonderful stews with spongy bread, a Thai place in the back corner, a hamburger stand, and three varieties of Mexican food. And now Holbox. There is my picture of the scallop taco someplace here; most recently I shared the yellowtail and uni ceviche (which comes with tostadas [crisp plain tortillas]). My daughter and I ate it before we remembered to take a picture. Fresh, well seasoned, loaded with uni tongues, it was a real treat. Someday, lazy people will discover that they can share good and reasonably prices food from three continents without going outside, and this place will be mobbed. Meanwhile, beat the crowd and take your...

Lunch with friends and colleagues during my visit to LA. This place is amazing if you want local delicious food. Get here as fast as possible! Here are my thoughts:

Environment This is a great local establishment in South LA near USC. It's a midsize food court with plenty of great vendors to choose from. The space is ran by a local non profit that caters to local businesses in the area. During the time we were there it was just getting busy. It's an active busy but not too busy space.

Service We spent our time exploring the different food stalls deciding on which ones we wanted to try. Once you decide, like most food halls, you go up to the counter order your food they give you a number that you can take to your table and they will bring you your food.

Food and drinks I ended up ordering chickens tacos and beans and rice from Chichon Itzo and a fish taco from Holbox (to see what the hype was about!). I learned that both stalls are ran by the same family - the father runs Holbox and the son runs Chichon. EVERYTHING was delicious. Plenty of flavor and delicious. I would recommend trying both places. I will definitely go back.

Overall A wonderful food hall thats staple in the community with great food and a great place for lunch by yourself or for larger parties. Definitely a...

Today is 5/21/2019. This is an update: I'm here again for lunch with a friend. Parking lot has the same parking attendant. He's still just as grumpy. He needs to smile!

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I do enjoy eating at the market, specifically the vegan Ethiopian restaurant, Azla. The only thing I don't like about the market is the guy that works the valet. I eat at the market fairly often and, each time, he has been rude to me - hence 4 stars, rather than 5. Today, on my way out, i handed him my validated ticket. He just stood next to my car and stared at me. So, I said thank you. As i began to drive, he tapped on my car with his pen (not lightly) and yelled at me, "HEY!" I rolled my window back down and he said to me, in not a nice manner, "you owe me five dollars." I've never had to pay in the past if i got my ticket validated. I didn't mind paying though because i know it helps the market. Well, I hope it does, and doesn't go to that guy. Anyway, I feel that someone needs to monitor his attitude...