Smorgasburg Los Angeles: Part 1

This fantastic food festival takes place every Sunday from 10am-4pm in Downtown Los Angeles. With so many incredible vendors, around half of them being entirely vegan, this festival appeals to people of all ages and food preferences. To accompany the food vendors, there are also a variety of goods being sold, from candles to clothing to handcrafted jewelry. If you have not been to Smorgasburg yet, it's time to ditch your Sunday brunch and head to Row DTLA!

Pictured above is the Pabellón Arepa from Sus Arepas. This delicious South American dish is filled with shredded beef, black beans, plantains, cheese, and "green sauce." I can honestly say this is one of the best bites of food I have ever had.

Each time I visit Smorgasburg, I aim to try different foods and drinks from the previous time, as well as foods originating from different cultures. This past Sunday, I got the arepa above, the Spicy Tuna Rice Ball from Mama Musubi, the Magic Matcha from Junbi, and a Ginger Pear Iced Tea from Happiness Capsule by The Base.

I know I said I try to get new foods each time I go to Smorgasburg, but Mama Musubi is so mind-blowingly delicious that I have to get a rice ball every time. The Spicy Tuna flavor is all I have tried, as I often find myself dreaming of tasting it again, but the vendor offers many types of rice balls, including Spam Musubi, which I plan to try the next chance I get.

To get my caffeine fix, I always love a good matcha drink. At Smorgasburg, however, matcha gets a lot more exciting than your average matcha latte. From Junbi, I ordered the Magic Matcha, which is a three-layered drink with a matcha base, then turmeric, and then beet on top. The layers are mixed with coconut and soy milk to create a creamy, sweet, and wonderfully satisfying refreshment. This is a must-try for any matcha lovers, and it makes for a super post-worthy photo.

Being the caffeine-addict that I am, I also made sure to try an interesting iced tea from Happiness Capsule - a fascinating vendor with nearly endless options. You first pick your flavor, ranging from Blackberry Ginger to Hibiscus Agave to Ginger Pear. From there, you pick your base: lemonade, iced tea, matcha, or seltzer. I got the Ginger Pear Iced Tea and was not disappointed. This drink was very refreshing and had just enough sweetness and spice to balance out the flavor. It was the perfect note to end on after stuffing my face all day.

With no cost to attend the festival, I would say the price of this foodie experience is entirely justifiable and totally worth it. You only pay for what you eat (or drink) and the food is absolutely out of this world - all of the drinks and dishes are so creative, unique, and flavor-packed. I highly recommend Smorgasburg to everyone in the LA area. I can guarantee you will want to go back next Sunday.