81609 Thu May 04 15:33:09 -0700 2006 13 2 Los Angeles Area 0 452474 To eat there-and take home Haven't been there in years. Driving from Huntington Beach next Sunday afternoon Link: http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/vendors.asp Image: http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/images/gcm40.jpg Thu May 04 15:33:09 -0700 2006 0 Bob Barnett 1 452477 there seems to be some agreement that Tacos Tumbras A Tomas is a stong choice. huge plate of carne asada or other meat of your choice, warm tortillas, rice. extremely reasonably priced. hope you enjoy and report back. Thu May 04 15:42:42 -0700 2006 452474 0 kotatsu 1 452487 I *always* get the campechana (mixed seafood cocktail)from Maria's Seafood. Thu May 04 16:10:54 -0700 2006 452474 0 Joe O. 1 452488 Ana Maria's for burritos, tortas, gorditas. Tacos Tumbras a Tomas is run by the same folks; the food is pretty much the same at either place. I think there are a couple of things at each one that aren't served at the other. If I'm eating there, I like to get an agua fresca from the bakery/agua fresca place against the south wall (a few paces towards Broadway from TTaT). Roast to Go isn't bad, either. Their combo plates are pretty copious (semi-hard shell tacos or flautas are recommended). Thu May 04 16:14:48 -0700 2006 452474 0 Jack Flash 2 452495 Had the carnitas gordita at Ana Maria's yesterday. I've become addicted to them. Thu May 04 16:46:22 -0700 2006 452488 0 martyR 2 452520 From what I can tell, Tacos Tumbras a Tomas specializes in tacos, tortas, burritos and combo plates. Anna Maria's [which is run by the brother of "Tomas"] serves tacos, gorditas, flautas and sopes... To make it even more interesting - Tomas got his start working at Roast To Go, until he struck out on his own and started Tacos Tumbras. Link: http://tacohunt.blogspot.com/2006/03/tacos-tumbras-tomas.html Thu May 04 18:21:22 -0700 2006 452488 0 weebie 2 452528 Roast to Go has a great carnitas torta for $4.25...got to be as big as your head. Thu May 04 18:39:15 -0700 2006 452488 0 K 1 452524 Kind of kitchy but China Cafe is a landmark place to eat there-very Americanized Chinese food. Almost everything at GCM is good, I say almost because I've only gone to the stands where I see people lined up to get food. Ana Maria's seems to have the largest following-if you want to taste and sample get the carnitas gordita then move on to another stall and sample something else. Portions are good sized there. Thu May 04 18:28:42 -0700 2006 452474 0 K 1 452534 TO EAT THERE: AWESOME: Ana Maria's [EVERYTHING] Maria's Fresh Seafood [SOUPS, FISH TACOS, COCTALES, FRIED FISH] Roast to Go [GOOD PORK ITEMS] Sarita's Pupuseria [PUPUSAS. ASK FOR THE SLAW THEY USUALLY SERVE THEM WITH] Tacos Tumbras A Tomas [EVERYTHING] PRETTY DARN GOOD: China Café [EVERYONE GETS THE NOODLES] Kabab and More [ALL BEEF KABAB ITEMS ARE VERY GOOD. PRICEY BY MARKET STANDARDS] La Adelita Panaderia/Tortilleria [TAMALES] Picnic [NOT OPEN WEEKENDS] PRETTY DARN GOOD FOR THE PRICE: Mongolian BBQ Hawaiian BBQ OK: Bento YA Japanese Cuisine -------- TO TAKE HOME: Assorted Herbs & Spices, Moles & many varieties of Rices and Beans @ AB Coffee, Del Rey and Valerias. Lots of interesting Mexican candies, trail mixes and snacks @ La Huerta. Sweetbreads from either of the Bakeries. Cool/Strange Chachkies from FARMACIA MILLION DOLLAR next store on the corner of Broadway/3rd. Thu May 04 18:48:54 -0700 2006 452474 0 weebie 1 452556 My personal favorite is the carnitas burrito with salsa verde from Ana Maria's (with a bit of lime juice squeezed onto it as it's eaten). Thu May 04 19:31:10 -0700 2006 452474 0 David Kahn 1 452810 The Shrimp Place, next door to the Grand Central serves excellent fried shrimp fritters. I have been going there since I was a kid. 40 years now. The shrimp are fairly large in a nice light and doughy batter. Great Stuff. They serve them with ketchup and a truly great dry chile hot sauce. Get a dozen shrimp, skip the fries and grab a couple of cold beers from the adjacent beer bar. Fri May 05 21:51:28 -0700 2006 452474 0 Al Bondigas 1 452877 Does it get really growded on the weekends? Is Sunday worse than Saturday? Sat May 06 15:13:44 -0700 2006 452474 0 iLoveFood 2 452895 It does get crowded, but not everyone stays to eat in (There are great vendors of fruit, breads, meats and spices!), last time I've gone at ~11:30ish, we've never really had a problem with getting a table... --Dommy! Sat May 06 17:33:40 -0700 2006 452877 0 Dommy! 2 452956 Agree with Dommy. It does get really crowded on weekends, as tons of families do their weekly shopping and make a day out of being Downtown on Broadway. But I kind of enjoy "the Market" when it's super crowded. The people watching is better, the food is moving quickly [so freshness is at it's peak] and the atmosphere in general is louder, more festive, more alive. That being said parking can be tight in the adjacent parking structure. Just zoom to the top levels... Sun May 07 12:59:21 -0700 2006 452877 0 weebie