The Grand Central Market and The Bike Shed Moto Co

Yesterday, I was at the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles. My friend had not been there before, but I had a bunch of times because I lived in DTLA for about 2 ½ years. It has an entrance off Broadway and one off Hill Street.

I like this place because it feels homey. The atmosphere is super casual and there are locals and tourists from everywhere. Some people are oblivious of the patrons around them them and may knock you over; some are more polite and excuse themselves. So, be prepared for anything. There are plenty of kiosks that offer all sorts of food from breakfast to ice cream, to Latin, Asian, Italian and American food. I have tried couple of the kiosks in the past and they were meh. My friend liked their woodfire pizza. It’s best to get something small and test out the food first.

When I lived in the area, I used to walk everywhere and never had to pay for parking. They have a parking lot off Hill street. I suggest you take it, because it’s cheaper than other lots. Just make sure you hangout for less than 90 minutes and pay your 5 bucks. Stay longer like us, and you’ll end up paying much more.

Across the street is Angels Flight Railway which takes up to Grand Avenue. Walk around on Grand Avenue and you will find the Walt Disney Concert Hall which has complimentary daily tours worth taking.

We left our car there and walked around for about an hour or so. Hill street is the Jewelry district. My mom loved jewelry and knew a couple jewelers here.

My friend was looking for a special Mediterranean place recommended by someone, and she couldn’t find it. We crossed Hill Street, and lo and behold we found it. Apparently, many people order takeouts from Z Falafel. They are supposed to have the best falafel. I bought a few and brought it home. I don’t know if they’re the best, but they are good. It’s a bit spicy. I ordered a vegetable side, and the owner was kind of stingy and stuck me with fried potatoes which I did not want. So, make sure you hang around and watch what he puts in your takeout. Also, ask for sauce or he will not give you any. This place is located between 7^th and 8^th on Hill, and worth checking out.

Someone had a photo of this place on Instagram and since I live in L.A I just had to check it out. I’ve been in this area many times, but have never paid much attention to the Bike Shed Moto Co. So, I pulled into their lot and noticed several riders with their cool motorcycles, donning their helmets.

We parked, went up a ramp, and walked into a roomful of motorcycles. My brother used to ride a motorcycle when he was younger, but my mom kept complaining about how dangerous they were. So, he sold it. My uncle in Iran had a vintage motorcycle with a side car. When I was little, he begged my mom to let him give me a short ride. I do not know how he got her to agree, but I had a lot of fun riding in it.

We went in through a hallway, and landed in their restaurant. The atmosphere reminded me of the older Hard Rock Café in London. Hard Rock Café has changed a lot since then. Our server told us that the Bike Shed Moto is owned by a husband and wife and the one in London was their first.

My friend had the beef sandwich, and I had a truffle veggie burger. It was okay. We both agreed to try something else the next time we go. The staff were friendly, and the service good.

We walked around. Inside, there is a barber shop, a tattoo parlor, and a retail store. Downstairs leads to a patio.

Many of the merchandise is high quality and worth the cost. I wanted to buy a top, but they only had it in 3X which was too big for me. They also have tops with race car events printed on the back.