Updated Explore LA: Smorgasburg
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Every Sunday from 10AM to 4PM Smorgasburg LA can be found in the oddly gentrified factory lot located at 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. This is the perfect place for foodies to bring their friends to try some of LA’s signature food fusions. Not only is there great food, but it’s also a great place to just canvas shop and enjoy aesthetic lifestyle stands (after all, admission is free!). Looking for fun weekend plans? Keep reading!
Directions
Address: 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Driving: keep in mind, this is pretty much in the heart of DTLA. Be prepared to sit in a car for 30 minutes, even if you’re only commuting 5 miles. There are a bunch of parking structures near Smorgsburg but to my knowledge, the only free structure is at 6368 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles. You can park here for 2 hours for free, any day — but be warned: it will be super busy on Sundays when the Smorgsburg takes place and you may not find a spot.
Ride Share: Alternatively, you can also call a Lyft/Uber (ranges from $5-$20). Being the attraction that it is, Smorgasburg has its own rideshare pickup/drop-off location.
Public Transportation: From USC, it’s a very easy metro and bus ride away. You simply would take the Metro Expo line down to 7th Street Metro Center (the end of the line) and take the 60 down to 7th and Alameda. It takes half an hour which is the same amount of time you’d spend driving — plus you save money on gas, are more eco-friendly, and don’t have to worry about finding parking.
It’s definitely in an interesting neighborhood. Smorgasburg is nestled in the center of a bunch of storehouses with surprisingly upscale boutiques on the first level.
Booths
Food
The food, while delicious and unique was definitely overpriced. It also operates during some of the warmest hours and all the concrete definitely doesn’t help.
Smorgasburg has a huge array of food for any palette. They have super interesting fusion foods – ever wanted to try a sushi burrito? This would be the place.
My friend, Angela Wang, showing off curry bao, spicy kimchi bao, and bibimbap bao.
In the true LA fashion, you’ll find food for everyone here. Whether you’re gluten-free, keto, vegan, or just want to try cool things, there’s something for everyone.
My friend, Emma Hutchison, with the best VEGAN mac and cheese
All the concrete on a classic LA Sunday afternoon isn’t optimal but it’s the perfect opportunity to snack on some unique treats ranging from horchata popsicles or green tea sakura ice cream!
My friend, Kotone Matayoshi, with green tea sakura icecream from Wanderlust
Want to find more unique icecream places in LA? Check out my post on my favorite places!
Boutiques
Smorgasburg features many lifestyle boutiques. Overpriced? Yes. Aesthetic? Very. From cute succulents to handmade soaps to jewelry to books, this is a great place to find LA-specific gifts and souvenirs.
A really cute boutique at Smorgasburg
Fan of records? There are some pretty cool finds at almost every non-food booth.
I’m personally a huge fan of weird, unusual socks and Smorgasburg did NOT disappoint.
Some eccentric socks
There’s also a bunch of cute props and photo-taking opportunities around the parking lot that has been taken over for the sake of the food festival.
My friend, Corey Ho, as a lobster (that’s oddly paired with acai bowls)
Tips:
The best way to get here from UPC is probably Lyft. While it’s open from 10am to 4pm, I definitely recommend trying to catch the experience before noon. Yeah, you’ll have to wake up a bit earlier but trust me, you’ll appreciate the lines and morning breeze in comparison to standing in the sweltering sun.
I definitely recommend bringing some cash because some vendors don’t take card.
Whether you’re going on your own or with a group of friends it’s definitely a must-go LA experience with great food and eccentric gifts.
Also, shout out for Angela Wang for taking beautiful photos. Check out more of her work at our Instagram @trojans360!
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