Where to find cheap groceries in West LA?

[quasiconvexity]

Hi everyone,

I am a grad student who recently moved to West LA to start school. I am looking for grocery stores in the West LA area that have cheap/affordable and fresh veggies and fruits. I used to be in Irvine for a while and used to shop regularly at the Super Irvine store. Are there any similar stores (Middle eastern/international) in the West LA/Westwood area? I have heard there is an area called Little Persia close by so I am hopeful. Has anyone tried Jordan market there?

thanks very much for all your help.

[LADave]

I second Top Valu at Inglewood and Braddock. Most of the clientele is Hispanic, but it's actually run by Persians. Also try the 99c only chain. Go around noon for best selection of produce. Another find is 99 Ranch at Artesia and Normandie in Gardena. And give the farmers markets a try. There are several per week in Santa Monica, Culver City on Tuesdays, etc. etc.

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99 Ranch
17713 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA

[Bergjessie]

Ranch market on Palmer off of brand in Glendale worth the drive

[RicRios]

Re-reading all of the above, it's amazing to notice in response to the OP's request: "cheap/affordable and fresh veggies and fruits", not a single suggestion went for the big chains ( Ralphs, Vons, &etc ).
Reading between the lines, that means that the "bigger is better" corporate dogma turned out to be untrue after all!

[epop]

Yes, Ricrios, the big lie. They'd be out of business if people would notice that.

[burratabelly]

Get over it! Eilat market is great. The cucumbers there are amazing and the hummos and baba ganoush are awesome, Just don't go shopping at prime times. Friday, Sunday Afternoons, and afternoons in general. Quit your xenophobic crying. Also go to the farmers markets.

[epop]

ditto on the xenophobic crying. Kind of disappointing to see that here. In the morning Eilat can even be pleasant.

[Miri1]

Eilat market is amazing! I've never had a problem and I am not Persian. Go with an open mind. It's a very cool cultural experience. And they have great food, too! Glatt market next door is almost as good, but a little more "Americanized" in their layout and selection of items. Also, they are usually not as crowded, unless you go right before a Jewish holiday or Shabbat. Then all bets are off. Watch your toes! :)

Plus there's Jon's market (I go to one on La Brea and Fountain near Hollywood) that has amazing produce prices, and their produce is also very good

These two places are very busy, but bear in mind, that's a GOOD thing! That means there is a high turnover and that their produce is fresh. You may find it irritating that the produce guys are constantly trundling around with their carts, bringing out boxes of fruits and veggies- but I find it comforting because that means they are putting out fresh produce.

Also, although not in West LA, there's Cochran produce on Fairfax just north of Rosewood (great produce, great prices) and another smaller one on the corner of Fairfax just south of Rosewood next to the old One West bank building. A little pricier but not by much, and also very good.

[happybaker]

I used to hit Elat BEFORE I went to work at my 9 -5 job. I loved it, I felt that I had the store to myself. Evenings were okay. Not as relaxed but okay. But Thursday night? Oy! Since we did not need to do all our shopping before Friday night, my husband and I learned to let that night go.

Ralphs has dropped their prices on produce, but it still cannot match ethnic markets.

And if you are ever in the valley or Glassell Park - Vallerta Markets and Super King are GREAT.

Oh and Whole Foods for Life on Los Feliz by the 5 admittedly can be spotty, but has great breads and surprisingly good deals. Raw almonds $1.29 a pound and imported fresh goat cheese $4.00 a pound were my last great finds.

[rcompton]

Palms!

Payless Produce on Venice right now: 6lbs of oranges for $1, apricots 2lbs $1,
Palms Market on Motor, about the same prices but with tacos and pupusas in the back.
Many assorted Indian markets along Venice also have cheap produce.

[jay 1]

surprised no one has mentioned jordan market. it is not particularly cheap, but is very good. fresh meat and fruits/veggies generally very fresh. the cashews there are particularly incredible! many of my persian friends shop there for the meat.

[PandanExpress]

I used to stop by Jordan market on my walk home from work to pick up groceries. They don't have much of a selection, but they do have the staples and the prices are certainly better than Whole Foods in Westwood.

The only complaint I have about it is that the check-out service has been slow 90% of the time I'm there. Usually it's because an old Persian lady is in front of me chatting away with the check-out person while I'm waiting to get my groceries rung up.

[epop]

I love Jordan market. Their produce costs more than at most of the Persian places but it is of higher quality and it is usually serene in there. I've never had that issue of being slowed down. THe check-out people there are particularly friendly, to me and to others.

[attran99]

I'm not sure if you have a Sprouts Farmers Market in the area, but it's great. Everything's fresh and much cheaper than the normal supermarkets. It's my favorite store.
http://sprouts.com/home.php

[Gaelic Spawn]

Sprouts is awesome for vegetables, nuts, wine, fresh meat & fish, but for prepared foods (dips, salads, other deli etc.), they are kind of pricey.

[echoparkdirt]

Luv sprouts in redondo

[wilafur]

there is a new trader joes that opened in westwood.

for a super ivine alternative, there is glatt kosher market on santa monica blvd and brockton.

[Phood]

Forget the stores; West LA is blessed with Farmers Markets in Santa Monica and the whole West Side. Besides the famous Santa Monica Wednesday market, they have two on Saturday (Arizona and Cloverfield), not including the Mar Vista Market also on Saturday. Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and WLA have one each on Sunday, Westwood and Robertson markets on Thursday. Culver City has one; Tuesday, perhaps. Venice, too. Google is your friend.
Even in WLA, small ethnic stores are a welcomed alternative to the corporate giants. Venice Blvd, from Sepulveda to Bagley has a number of small groceries carrying interesting goods including Indian, Middle Eastern, and European.
The fresh foods will keep your mind and body vital through your academic rigor!
You'll only need stores for cleaning and packaged goods.

[tarnmoor]

Try Star Market on Santa Monica Blvd just west of Bundy. The flatbreads are fresh and cheap, though the produce is occasionally a little tired. Good selection of tea, Persian sweets, and canned goods.

[ZoeZ]

99c Markets all have a varied selection of vegetables - most of them decent quality.
The astringent affect of shopping at Pavillons in BHills this morning (3 bags for $130) sent Mme Zoe to the Mercado in East Los on Whittier Blvd. We just finished unloading 2 weeks worth of meat, vegetables and fruit for $88 and that included 5 or six meat purchases. Its worth the gas to trot out there. Better than Vahatta (sp?)

[moggy]

For fresh vegetables/fruits at great prices, I like the little Persian market/store on Wilshire at 14th St. Not a huge selection, but its much better quality than what you'll find at most grocery stores. Sorry, the name escapes me. Also Stan's Produce on Pico.

[Bjartmarr]

It's called "Tehran Market". My go-to place for olives and feta.

[rcompton]

Also, great halvah

[happybaker]

Love Stan's.

[glutton]

Marina Farms on Centinela in Playa del Rey/Mar Vista is a good option for produce and lots of other ingredients that a good cook would appreciate.

[westsidegal]

it should be mentioned, though, that the prices at marina farms for their produce items are generally a little higher than those of a regular supermarket.
i love marina farms for their quality, but quasiconvexity specifically asked for "cheap."
elat is definitely cheaper than a chain supermarket; marina farms is not.

[mayersk1]

True, the stores on Pico are cheap, but they are DIRTY and the shoppers are rude. (At 8 months pregnant I was run into with a shopping cart and screamed at by an irate woman). It is almost as if that is not your element, the savings are not worth the bother. Try Top Value on Inglewood and Braddock. It is no Pavillions, but the prices are good and you probably won't get run over.

[RicRios]

You're absolutely correct in your assessment of the Pico stores.
But then again, the OP didn't mention courtesy as a deciding factor...

[feedthebelly]

i used to live near robertson and pico and never went to those stores once. the dirtiest stores and the rudest most inhumane people shop there. there is a produce store (stans?) further down pico across from Pats restaurant that i heard has good produce prices.

[westsidegal]

elat market on pico near robertson
Elat Market, 8730 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035

[compucook]

I hesitate to recommend it, but Farm Boy on Overland at National or just below.
The valley store is good, quality and prices. I think the Westside store is a bit higher with slightly poorer quality, but judge for yourself. They also sell amazingly cheap self serve yogurt that people rave about.

[happybaker]

I second Elat! Great breads and produce, nice fish and spices too.

[RicRios]

Any of the kosher markets along Pico Blvd., btw La cienega Blvd and Beverly Dr, will do.

[kevin]

also, santa monica kosher on sm and colby.

[noshie]

This market has very good prices and interesting produce.

Top Valu on Inglewood has good prices on meat and produce.

[a_and_w]

I like this place but you have to watch for expired food items on their shelves.