Crowded space, long lines and loud noises do not seem like the ideal setup for a meal, but these are three of the things I love most about Downtown’s Grand Central Market.

When I first went to the market, I was ready to experience something new. Upon arrival, my expectations were blown away. I thoroughly enjoyed the bright lights and neon signs, but what was most exciting was the sheer number of restaurants in the space. There were so many places, I found myself questioning where to start.

After walking around for a while, I stopped at Tacos Tumbras a Tomas because the customers in line seemed eager to eat their food. I waited in line, as one must do with each restaurant in the market. Each customer eats at walk-up spots and dines at communal, cafeteria-style seating. I ordered tacos with carnitas and the jamaica agua fresca, and I was extremely pleased with both. The tacos were some of the best I have ever had, with the carnitas cooked to perfection. Each bite left me wanting more. I also loved the agua fresca, as it offered me a cool treat on a particularly hot day. The food was well-priced, and the restaurant served as an excellent start to an already exciting dining experience.

I was pretty full after I finished this meal, but I knew there were many more restaurants to experience at the market, so I came back for another visit.

On this visit, I tried some Thai food at a restaurant called Sticky Rice. I really enjoyed their counter-style seating, as it was the only restaurant with seats in it. I ordered the mango sticky rice and the beef Panang curry. Both were amazing. The mango sticky rice was extremely tasty; I loved the taste of coconut mixed with the mango, and overall, these contributed to an excellent dish. The beef Panang curry was the standout dish for me. It was so delicious, and the components of the dish worked well with each other. The dishes were well-priced, and I would definitely recommend Sticky Rice to anyone who stops by the market.

I am a coffee lover, so when I saw the sign for G&B coffee offering coffee with almond-macadamia milk, I was intrigued. I ordered an iced almond-macadamia nut latte, which was tasty. It was not too sweet or too bitter, although the one downside of it was that it was a bit pricey, as my latte was around five dollars.

Overall, I loved my experience at Grand Central Market. I got to experience so many restaurants, and I would recommend visiting it to anyone who is ready to experience an enticing atmosphere along with their food.

The Grand Central Market is located at 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 and is open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.