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Brentwood Village Farmers Market
Category: Food Farmers Market Farmers Market [Edit]
741 Gretna Green WayLos Angeles, CA 90049
Neighborhood: Brentwood
- Hours:
Mon 6 am - 5 pm
Tue-Thu 6 am - 3:30 pm
Fri 6 am - 9:30 pm
Sun 9 am - 2:30 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for Brentwood Village Farmers Market
Review Highlights
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"...and we also are big fans of the Great Harvest Bread Company." In 3 reviews -
"I go here most Sunday's to grab fresh produce for the week." In 7 reviews -
"...find a parking spot on San Vicente, and the neighborhood is..." In 14 reviews
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Kat K.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
How did I not know about this sooner??
Anyone living in the westside, TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS. Actually, don't, because the farmer's market is crowded and popular as it is.
Excellent food options, awesome produce, friendly farmers, and lots of samples. SAMPLES. Also, the produce is so good that even if you do take samples, you don't just walk away...you walk away with an armful of bags.
This farmer's market stays open until later than most I've been to...starts dwindling down around the 1:30/2:00pm mark.
Parking is plentiful on the street since people are constantly coming and going. -
Review from Rosalyn K.
Los Angeles, CA
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
$40, gone. I was going to buy even more, but my wallet was wiped out, save for one dollar. Still, I had a great time, and ate more than I should have :) Hopefully I can finish this review before food coma hits me.
Noms:
1. $3 PUPUSAS! This was a first for me, so I have no idea how to judge. I'd imagined something pie-like, filled with cheese and chicken, or beans, or vegetables... well flaky it was not. The outside was kind of like soft tortilla, so kind of chewy. It wasn't too cheesy, but it was still hard for me to eat with a plastic fork. Oh, and not made fresh to order.I got the cheese + loroco (El Salvadorian edible flower), but the loroco was sparse :( damn. The curtido (cabbage slaw) was the best part actually haha. I wonder if they sell THAT by the bowl.
2. Macarons. I sampled orange, and the shell was soooo chewy... a little too chewy, but at least it didn't fall apart. I bought 3 for $5 (orange, lemon, rose). I walked around with these for about 2 hours, and when I opened the box the rose--well they were not a pretty sight. The orange and the lemon were just about to fall apart. So I suggest buying these last, or eating them immediately. Orange was the best of the 3 I tried.
3. Lemon curd with butter and sugar crepes. I realized I'm more of a Japanese than French crepe person. While the lemon curd was delicious (different from the usual strawberry/nutella), I'm just not into *chewy* crepes. Sweet ladies, but not for me. I'll save my $6 for Four Leaf Tea and Crepes!
4. Great Harvest Bread. I sampled half a slice of the herb multigrain. Good quality. I think I'll buy their bread next time (was low on cash).
5. 4 samples of Pita and Hummus from Alibaba: Spinach + Pea, Spicy Black Bean, Sundried Tomato, Tabouleh... hmm there was possibly a fifth! These guys are really generous, and I was happy to buy the Spicy Black Bean for $4 (any 3 for $10). I love their accents! Of all the hummus stands I saw, these guys had the most awesome accents.
6. Homemade baked goods at A Little Nosh. Very moist pumpkin apple cinnamon (what a large sample), dense chocolate chip cookie, and light zucchini bread loaf. The lady manning the stand was so sweet! She offered more samples for me like chocolate brittle and banana bread, but I was pretty sure I had enough sugar for the day. I bought the walnut zucchini bread ($6) for good service.
7. Green tea latte from Perkside (coffee/smoothie truck). I swore they were $3.25 on the board, but the guy asked for $3. Hehe :) They take their time to make your coffee.
8. Tapenade. This was fine quality! I was gonna buy maybe a jar and fresh pappardelle, until I saw the price of the pasta. Yikes, $12! I ran to save myself from more spending.
9. Vegetarian curry. Tasted homemade :) I screwed myself over from spending on the crepe and macarons. They had naan, too!
10. An array of apples, sweet grapefruit, asian pears, and strawberries.
11. Baby shiitake mushrooms for $5. I'll try them out tonight (gonna make with farro and arugula).
LESSONS LEARNED:
- Skip either breakfast or lunch. Could have either here without spending a dime (but leaving with heavy guilt for freeloading).
- Eat the macarons immediately, or get them elsewhere.
- Skip the crepes, and the pupusas if they're not made to order. Curtido was the thang tho!!
- Hit up the German guy with his shelves of pastries. Probably get this with the coffee from Perkside.
- Check out the fish lady.
- Check out the fresh OJ lady.
- Get the bright yellow grapefruit, even if they look like large lemons.
- Bring more money for tapenade and fresh pasta.
. . . . zzZzZzz . . . . . . -
Review from Shannon H.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012 3 Check-ins Here
By far the best Farmers Market in the West LA area. Located in Brentwood, every Sunday I am here with my fiancé for about 3 hours. Fresh fruits and veggies, amazing music, great clothing styles, and there's this one guy who hustles hard about his pita bread and organic sauces! Lol.
It's in a great area and this Farmers Market is cheaper than the one on the 3rd Street promenade. Celebrities flood this specific location on Sundays. Just last week I met Dustin Hoffman and the week before the legendary James Worthy from the Los Angeles Lakers.
A lot of amazing foods and drinks to sample. A great place to eat if you're in the mood for tamales or pupusas.
A great place to start a Sunday morning with the family. -
Review from Tiana T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/24/2012 4 Check-ins Here
My favorite farmers market in LA! I used to love going to 3rd st promenade but nooooot anymore! Parking can be a hassel but I found a secret place :)
This one guy "Brothers" has the best garlic spread ever! Its amazing! He loves to give out samples and TRUST ME just try it! I usually buy a dip and pita for $8 but for $2 more you can get any item you want thrown in. The caramel apples are great ($6) and I used to love the chicken tamales but I didn't see them last time. As far as fruit goes, I'm shallow. I pick the "prettiest" strawberries. The guys with the drink truck have an AMAZING Snickerdoodle blended drink. You will not be disappointed! -
Review from Steve L.
Santa Monica, CA
Updated - 2/5/2012
After trying a few others, this has actually become the standard for us. Not too crowded, plenty of vendors with produce to try before you buy. Most vendors are really friendly, and since it isn't too crowded they will spend plenty of time talking to you here. Parking along San Vicente is always the easiest if you're willing to walk a little bit. This is much easier to do then looping through all the residential streets on the other side of the market...
Be sure to swing by the Ha's Apple Farm booth! Hands down, we've always found the tastiest apples and pears here. Make sure to ask the guy to help you pick your fruit. He'll tell you which ones are the best of the day, and then pick the best ones out for you. :)Listed in: Farmer's Markets
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2010
Perfectly sized farmers market, which gives you plenty of choices amongst vendors. Initially it… Read more »
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Review from Jenn B.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2011 15 Check-ins Here
Even though I feel like the bougiest of the bougie every time I come here, I don't give a flying fish. I love this Farmer's Market and all the lululemon clad fake breasts that I see there. It's a mere 5 minute walk from my casa, offers equal amounts of fresh produce and artisan foods, and people generally keep their children on a leash.
Every Sunday I head over around 9 (the early bird gets the best avocado, as they say) to start my day off with an almond latte from the coffee truck guys. I fill up my canvas, eco-friendly (I must fit in with the bougie) bag with all I need for the week and can usually find everything minus bananas. If I am feeling particularly wealthy that day, I may hop over to the happy guy who sells vegan gluten free baked goods (his brownies will change your life) or the dude that sells the Afghani bread and dips (he gives out samples like the Duggars pump out babies, so at least go over to get a free breakfast).
While I loved my quaint Silver Lake Farmer's Market, moving to Brentwood has made me realize that it was just that- quaint. This one is easily 5 times the size, and size matters...when it comes to Farmer's Markets and otherwise.
PS- Parking blows. I feel sorry for everyone who has to park since I walk. But just be prepared to bang your head against the dashboard in frustration if you're driving here. -
Review from Olive J.
Los Angeles, CA
5/7/2012
This is a great place to spend a Sunday morning. I took the kids and had a coffee and pastry and they loved the little cupcakes in the pretty teacups. We went ahead and ordered a good amount for a birthday party and they were a hit there too. We passed on the bouncy house but were able to play on the school playground so they really had a good time. I enjoyed all the flowers and beautiful jewelry, and even tried on a few hats from the hat lady. This market had good fruit and veggies too, so it always brings us back for more.
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Review from Molly P.
Opelika, AL
3/15/2012
This is a great farmers market. Lots of options!
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Review from Rachel M.
8/24/2011
My boyfriend and I were driving down San Vicente Blvd on Sunday and spotted this farmers market. We quickly pulled over and parked on the street. I love farmers markets, but I especially love this one. It exceeded my expectations. Not only was there great reasonably priced produce, the size was just right, and everyone was very nice.
There were plenty of vendors to fulfill your farmer's market needs, which included flowers, produce, speciality foods, baked goods, and breakfast/lunch options. I love summer because of the seasonal produce. The bright and beautiful berries immediately caught my attention, and I bought three pints of very sweet strawberries for $5. There were many samples from sliced stone fruit to pickled veggies. There were even some vegan and gluten free baked goods, and the sampling was not stingy since they let me try everything.
I wish I didn't have breakfast prior to my arrival because I would have enjoyed the food options here. The selection was inspiring that I can't wait to return to buy fruit for a tart or some veggies for a refreshing summer salad.Listed in: Seasonal
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Review from Megan S.
Santa Monica, CA
9/19/2011
I LOVE this Sunday farmer's market. The prices are quite a bit lower than the Santa Monica one (although not as low as the tiny Westwood Farmer's Market on Wednesdays), and the selection is excellent. About half is pre-made food, bakery stalls, and jewelry/clothes sellers, and half is your standard fruit and veggie sellers. My favorite stalls, in no particular order
1. Pupusas Rita - very good, cheap and tasty (only $3 - get the pork and cheese)! The people who work here are friendly too.
2. Homeboy Industries - a great cause, and very good baguettes
3. The lady who sells oranges -- her Valencia oranges are *awesome* all winter long
4. The fish stall - what -- fish at a farmer's market? YES - try it! Very fresh fish at good prices
5. The vegetable stall at the end of the market closest to San Vicente - they have beautiful squash, beets, and lettuces, for great prices
6. The pluot/peach/nectarine stall across from #5 (the one with all the samples). Yes, they are a little pricey, but their stuff is top notch. And you can try everything before you buy.
Tips: cash only (obvs). Bring lots of your own reusable bags. If you can't find parking right on Montana, just go into the neighborhood a block or two and you'll find something. The "official" hours state that they close at 1 or 2, but I've seen it open later than that, especially in the summer. If you come late, a lot of vendors have "happy hour" as well, where everything is $1 a lb. However, always taste it first, because sometimes the happy hour fruit is crappy, and not worth it. -
Review from Melissa W.
Marina del Rey, CA
11/8/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I love this farmer's market! Easy parking either along San Vicente, or Montana.
We come here a lot to get grass-fed steak (Novy Ranch), and stock up on some fresh produce. I recently discovered this amazing olive oil/vinegar stand. Amazing.
Beautiful way to spend a Sunday morning. -
Review from winnie r.
Brentwood, CA
4/15/2012
That this is called a "Farmers Market" is an insult to the true, California Certified Farmer's Markets. One surely will not find dresses and tons of prepared food on Wed or Sat in Santa Monica. I swear that some of the produce looks as if it had been delivered by the same purveyors which sell to the local supermarkets..
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Review from Dave F.
7/24/2011
This is a cute farmer's market with a wide variety beyond the typical small city markets. Note, it doesn't compare to the Wednesday Santa Monica market, but it's way better than the Hollywood market. That being said, it's nice to have lots of items to choose from without the crowds of the Santa Monica market.
I didn't think the produce/fruit we purchased were priced competitive with the Santa Monica market, but they do run neck and neck with Gelson's. The vendors were really nice and there are free samples everywhere.
There's a huge selection of small places to eat near the Montana side. I started @ San Vicente and cruised down Gretna Green until I was really hungry. Only problem is we were carrying heavy amounts of fruit and so eating on the sidewalk wasn't an option.
My favorite spot was HomeBoy Industries had their salsas, moles, chips and breads available. We sampled several of the breads which are excellent! (I'm a sucker for HomeBoy Chips which can be bought @ Ralphs, so I was happy to see their other products.
I'll definitely go back as the tamales looked good and the scones I bought are excellent! -
Review from Sharon Y.
This is our new favorite farmers market - it has both great produce and great prepared foods options, and it's more laid back than either of the weekend Santa Monica farmers markets (Saturday on Arizona, mostly produce, or Sunday on Main, mostly a scene with prepared foods and crafts) - best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned.
There is a vendor here that sells Thomcord grapes that are so sweet even I can't stop eating them (and I'm normally not a fan of grapes). Another vendor with amazingly sweet pluots and nectarines. Dave's Gourmet Korean Food has a stall there, and I am so addicted to their tempeh (OK, I know it sounds odd and I really never liked tempeh before, but you have to try it - it is so good with just a hint of a kick). And there's a prepared foods stand that sells grilled chicken with rice that my husband loves. Not to mention the guy who sells cinnamon cashews - nom nom nom.
A few vendors do accept credit cards with a minimum charge. Street parking can be found on San Vicente or Bundy. -
Review from Jeanie L.
6/5/2011
I thought I would spend only 1 hour at this place and ended up staying for more than 2 hours! I was so impressed with the variety and abundance of food and items at this farmers' market. We parked off of Bundy and walked a couple of blocks down.
The farmer's market is laid out pretty simply, there's just this long aisle of food along both sides. The cherries were great this season and I always had to get my pack of strawberries at a farmer's market -- both amazing. The vegetables looked great as well and they quite a few deals on kale and asparagus.
I couldn't keep my taste buds away from Baba Foods Hummus. Their service is great and their hummus remains natural, flavorful and delicious. I could turn vegetarian off their food.
The pupusa's were awesomely good! $3.00 each but you can get a combination of pork and cheese, cheese and beans, etc. you get a side of pickled cabbage and some salsa. It was so good and I was full after eating just one.
At one end of the farmer's market there was also a bouncing house and slide where you can take your kids, and I even saw a local playground. Very nice place to take your whole family to :) -
Review from henry h.
1/26/2011
This has got to be my second favorite farmers market on the Westside. The first being the one on Wednesdays in Santa Monica.
Great family ambience filled with a nice selection of fruits and vegetables.
My favorite booth is Scarborough Farms. Hands down the best arugula in town. So good the restaurants have been buying them up the last several weeks and leaving us with the spicy mix, restaurant mix, sweet mix, etc.
Two negative things about this farmers market.
1 - The local runners that run through the market. They weave in and out of pedestrian traffic, strollers and kids while getting worked up that their run got interrupted and they are off their pace/zone. Shit runners, I'm a runner too but why would you do this to yourself? Save yourself the headache and run around the market, pick a different route or run earlier or later. Problem solved and it's safer for everybody!
2 - The people who are too lazy to look for a parking spot else where and insist on entering the main street to look for parking which has like 10 spots and a ton of pedestrian traffic. This is not smart and it's just a matter of time before an accident happens. I sure as hell hope one doesn't happen but the odds are stacked against them. *Fingers crossed for NO accidents* -
Review from Amy D.
Aliso Viejo, CA
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I got there around noon on Sunday, so my review may be a little off as this might have been the time when some vendors may have already packed up and left.
Didn't seem like it though as I did not see empty shops.
Anyways, lots of really fresh and yummy fruit stands. A lot of the same, actually. Oranges, apples, cherries, strawberries, etc in different combinations at different shops. A couple of nice flower shops with decent prices. Bakeries looked good but I thought the prices were high. I mean $5.50 a croissant and some strawberry thing?? I did get to sample some of the eateries. The Latin food one, I can't remember the name, had two Baja Fish Tacos and a drink for six bucks. This was truly a rip off, because the Baja fish were just fish sticks you can buy at the freezer section in the grocery store. What a scam. I also got the breakfast crepe with spinach, cheese and tomatoes. That was delish! Totally fresh! I don't know if I would ever drive the 60 miles to check this place out again, I rather just go to Henry's or something. -
Review from Eva H.
11/11/2010 3 photos
A great neighborhood farmer's market - I started coming here regularly for a good Sunday morning walk and groceries for the week.
I dunno if it's being in Brentwood, the veggies and fruits may not be the *greatest* deal, but at least you can tell yourself you are helping these local farmers.
- the flower stands have little pumpkin and pepper trees they have!
-Check out the crazy mushroom stand.
- Random coffee cart in the middle.
- Crepe place: yummy and the ladies who work there are nice, but they forgot avocado in my crepe last time.
- You can EASILY get full off of the hummus samples and fruits from the various stands - they are all *VERY* generous.
- great latin american/ thai/ asian lunch plates here!
- fresh squeezed OJ!!!
Even if I don't end up getting anything, I love the atmosphere and being out and about on a sunday afternoon- this is so much more fun than going to Ralphs on wilshire/ bundy.Listed in: Bumming in Brentwood
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Review from rose c.
Santa Monica, CA
9/25/2011
Nothing compares to Santa Monica farmers market, however, this one has good produce, reasonable prices. my only issue is way too many people yapping on cell phones.
BTW, for those who say they live in Brentwood, guess what, this Brentwood(90049) is not a city, it is Los Angeles and we know these people are not from around here. The real Brentwood is in northern CA, zip is 94513. -
Review from Joan S.
3/2/2009 3 photos
My first visit to this market was yesterday. Gotta admit I prefer the party atmosphere of the SaMo Ocean Park Sunday farmers' market, and I'm willing to fight the traffic & crowds to get there......but if it's strictly goods you're after, this Brentwood market will fill the need.
There is unlimited free parking on San Vicente but you might have to walk a bit. There are worse places to stroll than on the path along the golf course under the big trees, so that walk ain't a problem for me.
I was hit by the aroma of the market's fresh strawberries yesterday, a sign of spring. And I left the market with fragrant lilies that made me smile.
There is not only produce for sale here, there's also handmade goods like jewelry & clothing, and even framed art.
After the market I drove a short distance up the street to Starbucks for my iced tea fix, and window-shopped while I drank the tea. Three little words: Roberto Cavalli sneakers. Lord, give me strength.
And of course I saw a celeb on the streets of Brentwood Village but can't remember his damn name.
All in all, it was a beautiful day that didn't get away.......Listed in: Events & Festivals & More…, Farmers Markets
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Review from Amber B.
12/3/2008
I first found out about this farmer's market when I was browsing Petfinder looking for a dog to adopt and saw that Lhasa Happy Homes holds dog adoptions here every week! I wound up adopting my baby Alex here =)
Other things I like about this Farmer's Market:
- Moon Pillows (mochi truffles)
- Smoothie guy
- Hummus guy (I got 3 containers for $10)
- Pupusas ($3! and they have so many choices for fillings!)
Parking right there next to it sucks big time but you can pretty much always find a spot if you do a bit of hunting in the surrounding residential streets.Listed in: Westside Favorites
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Review from Neely M.
3/16/2008
My sister and I decided to have a day of adventure today. Seeing as everywhere fun in this city reminds me of my recently ex-boyfriend, we had a hell of a time finding somewhere to adventur-fy. We decided on garage sale-ing and Farmer's Markets.
When we hit Gretna Green and finally found a spot (parking was NOT easy), I was amazed. This was a beautiful farmer's market! My sister and I kept expecting to have a Loahn sighting - it was that kind of scene. Yes, there were lots of cute little pregnant women, and super trendy moms with their trendily-clothed 2 year olds, and a few over-surgeried ladies BUT the gorgeous fruits, veggies and prepared foods we had at the market were so worth it. We sampled til we were stuffed - crisp apples, juicy oranges of every variety, even hot indian food!
I did buy a mediocre empenada - I'll stick with the tamales next time.
If you have kids, there is a moon bounce and a little arts and crafts booth and they had puppies there for adoption - so cute! You can also go play on the playground of the elementary school located right behind the market. And, yes, I was the 31 year old woman climbing on the jungle gym. Hey, you are never too old to be king of the mountain. Warning - monkey bars are way easier when you weigh 45 pounds.
I will definitely be going back here when I need to replenish my tiny eggplant supply. -
Review from Andy K.
Philadelphia, PA
11/21/2010
Awesome farmer's market. I go here most Sunday's to grab fresh produce for the week. The fruits and veggies are usually pretty well priced and while the quality and prices may vary a little between vendors, you can always find something delicious and well-priced. Make sure you walk all the way down and compare prices and freshness before buying anything; the ones as you walk in may look enticing, but I find its often best to hold off.
With the amount of goodies they give out, you could easily sample something from each vendor and leave with a full tummy! Props to great harvest bread company, their cinnamon bread is off the charts when they have it. The mushroom guy is also a wealth of knowledge. It doesn't have as many prepared food or clothing vendors as santa monica, but really, if you need those you can visit the boutiques down the street, you're there for the grub! -
Review from O G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2008
My current favorite weekend farmer's market - bar none. Why? It's not crowded, parking is convenient, it's easy to navigate, just one row lined with stalls on both sides, and it's the cheapest one in town. And all the food courts and retail items are kept at the bottom half, so no crowd overflow and pedi-jams.
Excellent produce, only organic or pesticide free goods, with a good variety and many stands. A wonderful asian produce stand sells all goods for $1 a bunch, and these are big bunches, well over 1 pound. Hard to find any stands selling produce for over $2/pound, except maybe a couple of organic fruit stands. A very good value. There is also a fantastic fishmonger with seafood items far more interesting than anything Whole Foods sells at a good 40% cheaper.
And did I say not crowded? Thank goodness I discovered this market and can now avoid the insane zoo of the Santa Monica market with its terrible layout and jumble of produce, food courts and retail stands. And the parking is easy here as well, with plenty of side street sites off San Vincente.
They keep the elementary school playground open so that parents can entertain their kids while shopping; it's fun to squat down after the week's shopping at a kindergarden sized table while eating a delicious pupusa or sausage from a vendor.
There are also many vendors selling retail and specialty food items here, so a good place to stop by for gifts or your own gourmet kitchen stocks. I discovered http://www.moonpillows... here today and what a tasty surprise that was.
All in all, Brentwood Farmer's market has charmed my jaded attitude to these markets and I have rediscovered their value and my inner "green market" supporter again. (Not to mention the "celebrity quotient") -
Review from Meg C.
Los Angeles, CA
6/3/2007
I cannot believe my lazy ass never walked down the street to this fabulous farmers market until today! They have everything here and it's so cheap! Plus they have squash blossoms which I can never find! for only 2 bucks!
The prepared food is also delicious, from gyro's and pupusas to bacon wrapped hot dogs, kettle corn and agua fresca. Everyone is super generous with samples and it's just a great way to spend a Sunday morning. You will find Matt and I gorging ourselves on samples at the market every week now, come join the fun! -
Review from Matt L.
CA
6/25/2007
This farmer's market has a number of great things going for it. First, of course, as the name suggests, the area is overflowing with fresh produce. It is nearly enough to send one's brain into sensory overload; however, the plethora of free samples allow one to narrow one's selection, thereby avoiding some kind of brain malfunction.
But if you thought this farmer's market was just about produce, then you, my friend, are a ninny. For, not unlike the Transformers, there is more to this market than meets the eye.
Walk down towards the latter half of the market and you will find full on food booths, with such delicious options as crepes (both sweet and savory), pupusas, and even bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Be warned that the food stands here are fleeting, and what is present one week may be gone the next, but whatever your options, they will probably be delicious.
But it's not just about the food, oh no. It's also about the lively characters. People watching is a must here. Not only of the fellow patrons, but of the vendors as well. In particular, the guy who sells coffee is probably the nicest guy around; strike up a conversation with him and you will want to have him be the godfather of your baby. Watch out though, as he keeps an alligator head in the front of his car, and to date I am not sure of how he came upon this head. Also of note is the pupusa man, who not only claims his food acts as an aphrodisiac, but also seems to fancy himself a bit of a fortune teller.
The only thing to watch out for, this farmer's market being in the ritzy neighborhood that it is, is celebrities. But don't worry, you can spot them from miles away because of the throngs of paparazzi that surround them. I only mention this because celebrities can be a sly bunch. Don't think I didn't notice you cutting us in line, Marcia Cross. You've just made it onto my list. -
Review from Chelsee H.
Los Angeles, CA
3/16/2008
This is a sort of bougasie farmer's market... and I dig it. Who doesn't have a bit of fun rubbing elbows with the wealthy crowds of Brentwood while buying their produce?
The fruits and veggies on the walkway here are bright and beautiful. It's such a pleasant experience shopping outdoors like this, supporting local farmers and artisans and getting a tan at the same time. We bought carrots, celery, onions, strawberries, and some fresh spelt bread for under $12. Not too shabby.
The highlight of the market? The samples! If you're not stuffed by the end of your visit from all the ridiculous sampling you do, you just didn't venture up and down the path enough times. Walk up. Walk down. Sample, sample, sample. Repeat. IF you're still not satisfied, there's always the food booths preparing freshly grilled chicken or pupusas.
Also worth a mention are the many nice (albeit expensive!) jewelry stands here. I was tempted by many of the earrings and necklaces we passed, but had to say no; no worries for the artists though, for there were many customers dropping their bills left and right. I'd say they fare well in Brentwood. I did get lots of gift ideas, and I know right where to head when I feel like splurging on myself in the next few months.
All in all strolling here is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours on Sunday! While Jesse P is right, this is no SF Ferry Building farmer's market, it'll do just fine for me.
If you're ever in San Francisco for that particular market, it's totally worth a visit, btw; it's pretty mind-blowing. Even great LA people watching can't beat a Bay Bridge, San Francisco Bay & Coit Tower backdrop while you shop.
After I wrote my review, I read Jesse P.'s below. I see what she's saying, as I've NEVER been to a more amazing market than the one in SF at the Ferry Building. -
Review from Zack K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/9/2011
Farmers Markets are general cool.... but BrentHoods is especially, @ least 2 me cause its merely 90049.... but seriously, its honestly pretty chill; a good thought 2 do 4 a Lazy Sunday morning on the west-side of the west-side.... Pat over (& owner) of Perkside (mobile coffee/smoothie ect. spot) is a really funny & at heart, good guy with a big heart! Also with a plus of his is his eclectic taste in great music, which is always 4 sure playing while he's working/serving... he's products - mostly smoothies and anything with caffeine is the Shiz-nit (so 2 speak)!!... Now if only the traffic left away & local private banks stopped popping up in this "village"; we'd be impeccable.... Oh yeah, the "fish lady" & "German guy" with the 'pastries" are most def worth stopping @ & getting some stuff...
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Review from Kevin S.
Los Angeles, CA
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'll be coming back for sure. Yesterday I dropped by with my roommate and his girlfriend. It was 1:30 but they were already packing up early due to some school function. I had enough time to peruse quickly and sample fresh fruit, which by the way is probably the best part!
I got the loaf of bread from Great Harvest Bread. Soo good! Huge improvement over my generic grocery store bread.
I recommend! -
Review from Carolyn C.
Cupertino, CA
2/13/2009
I like this farmer's market! It is close to UCLA and bigger than the tiny farmer's market that they have/had (dunno if it still happens) in Westwood, with only like 5 stands...
This farmer's market is in a pleasant neighborhood, with plenty of street parking - you can park on the farmer's market side of San Vicente, along the trail/sidewalk. You can also park on one of the cross streets, so there should be no troubles there. (Yay!!)
There are always a lot of fruit samples here. The blood oranges are really good at the second (i think) stand to the left...they're the ones with the biggest sampling area. :) Also, boyfriend bought some plump asian pears at one of the stands here, which were very yummy too!
OMG and if you like hummus/pita, you must go to Mom's mediterranean food stand! I absolutely love the artichoke hummus...I tried it for the first time at a farmer's market in Riverside last summer, and I've been hooked! Their pita is also sooo yummy....toast it up and it's so chewy, not too soft, hot, and yummy. I like the wheat and white mix pita.
I also like the crepe guy here. I always get the nutella and strawberry crepe for $5, and it is a generous portion for a crepe...yum yum. The pupusas are also pretty good, but the red salsa is soooo spicy! My boyfriend says the hot dog/sausage stand is yummy too. However, I was not a big fan of the tamales.
If you're looking for groceries or just breakfast, this is a nice place to get out and walk around while you're at it. :) -
Review from Hannah M.
Updated - 6/16/2010
Oh no!! The crepe people are still there. Serving very gross crepes! I am mad at myself for not bringing my phone so I can take picts of them and remember their business name. Unsanitary crepe practices must stop!!
Besides that, nothing has changed. It's still a very good farmers market. There are still a lot of kids and a lot of illegal pets roaming around. I agree with the other reviews that it's just big enough but not too big. There are about 3 vendors for each type of item.
My favorite vendor sells small containers of dip type stuff. They have all sorts of spreads and dips. They also have my favorite thing, what I can only describe as a hummus like (but not hummus) base with masago (the small orange fish row on sushi rolls) mixed in. It's VERY VERY VERY good. You can ask the vendors if they sell "the fish one." That's what I call it and they will let you try it first.
The egg vendor claims to have organic, free range, cage free, grain fed eggs. I have no choice but to believe them and you can buy 18 eggs for $5!!! The eggs taste very good and I come every week for this. Did you know that "free range" means nothing in the US? http://en.wikipedia.or... The key to buying eggs is to look for "cage free" and "organic." There is also, no difference between brown and white eggs except the breed of the chicken who laid it.
There is also a pesto vendor who has SUPER expensive and fabulously yummy pesto. It's a great buy to impress some friends at a home made dinner. :) Well, that's what I did. HAHAHAHA!!Listed in: If you come to my hood…
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3/8/2010
I really enjoy this market. It always seems like parking is hard but I always get lucky and find a… Read more »
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Review from Tamar F.
11/1/2009
My second favorite Farmer's Market in the area (only behind Pico/Cloverfield in Santa Monica). The Farmer's market is among the bigger Sunday ones on the west side - much more variety than West LA and more produce available than Main Street Santa Monica. However, I wish that there was more in the way of fresh food (i.e. from the farm) and less inedibles/prepared food. If you enter at Montana/Gretna Green, you first have to walk through a slew of back massage/soap/scarf/crafts vendors to get to the the food. Then you go through the prepared food area, where you're tempted by kettle corn, hot chocolate, Mexican, Indian, and Thai food. Finally, there's the stuff from the farm.
The produce is more expensive than Pico/Cloverfield and West LA markets. I think that part of this is because there are more organic vendors, but it may just be because it's Brentwood. The prices also vary more wildly between various farms than at other markets. At one stand the grapes are $1.50/lb and two over they're $3.50/lb. I haven't quite figured that out. Nonetheless, there's a pretty decent produce selection - you should be able to buy anything you need that's in season.
And as much as I'll whine about there being too much stuff other than produce, I really like that there's a fish vendor (Tropical Seafood). Her ahi tuna is less than half the price of Santa Monica Seafood's, and really fresh. It reminds me of the Farmer's Market challenge on Season 2 of Top Chef when Elia made that awesome tuna sashimi-type plate. Mom's Hummus is also really great.
From what I understand, the flowers are also less expensive than at other farmer's markets. They have lots of flower stands that all look really nice, I just can't fathom spending money on flowers when I don't have company over much (or a suitable location to display them).
There's a lot of parking on the eastern side of Bundy and towards Gorham. The closer you get to the market itself, the more difficult it is to find parking.
Overall, good market and definitely the top pick for a Sunday spot. -
Review from Noel K.
3/14/2010 22 Check-ins Here
A Sunday morning ritual is to walk over to the Farmer's Market and pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables among other things.
It is great for kids, as there is a playground at the adjacent school for kids to play...and there are tons of them!
The fish lady has awesome fresh fish at reasonable prices, and we also are big fans of the Great Harvest Bread Company. Also the desserts from Bountiful Bakery are always amazing! -
Review from Jesse P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2008
If anyone gets a chance to go to the San Francisco Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building your standard of farmers markets will pretty much change for all time thereafter. Fresh produce coming from Sacramento to Salinas along with flower vendors that will give you deals on almost anything if you come more than a few weekends in a row. Also, you can grab breakfast from any of the amazing establishments that set up shop along the way. A+
Brentwood is neither as pretty or as resourceful as San Francisco's. I've heard good things about Santa Monica's farmers market and Westwood's is an improvement over this one, but in general Brenwood's FM is small and typically doesn't offer much. There were about 7 tables all selling fruit and the same veggies, all for different prices. I spent about 15 minutes trying to find a deal on the same bundle of carrots because they were all priced so differently yet the quantity and appearance in quality were identical! Flower vendor looks like he got the flowers out of a fridge from some low-end wholesaler downtown. Meh.
I will say that the Great Harvest Bread Company is awesome and I get their fresh honey-wholewheat EVERY time I stop by. The food vendors are set up but the few times I've checked them out they weren't cooking anything and were just kind of hanging out.
One word: Meh.
So, not bad, not great if you get a chance stop in but check out Westwood's. It's close by, bigger, and has more general appeal.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Elle C.
San Francisco, CA
9/19/2007
This market has greatly expanded; I was surprised by the number of stalls. Although, Santa Monica still has better selection; the location of this market is hard beat.
Produce prices are comparable to others, but you have to do the usual strolls to check out the prices. I did find a bag of rocket/argula greens for $3.00. It was super tender and spicy!
Things to avoid:
Certain things are pricier at this farmer's market than others. For example, Pupusas were $3.00!
Avoid the "fresh" fish place. I bought a very pricey piece of fish filet marketed in writing as "fresh" and it was not "fresh." It had preservatives (ammonia) and as a result, the fish tasted like pee (not that I've tasted pee) and I threw my $20 fish away. -
Review from Dareyn S.
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2010
The Brentwood Farmers' Market has become a Sunday morning ritual. It's def the best FM I've been to, with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, plenty of fresh flower vendors, a pretty solid selection of fresh made food, local craft and jewelry artisans, and a giant inflatable kiddie slide to boot!
First things first - there are a Peet's, Starbucks, and Coffee Bean all with a half mile down San Vicente from the FM, so its easy to stop in for some caffeine to get your morning (errr...early afternoon?) started.
Aside from the standard strawberry vendors (really solid selection of cheap - $4/three-pack - and deliciously ripe strawberries), citrus vendors, stonefruit vendors, and vegetable vendors, this FM also has a fungi vendor with a nice assortment that is great for frittatas and risottos, as well as a cacti/succulent vendor who sells multiple sizes of simple, yet elegantly arranged plants for both indoors and outdoors, in nice stoneware pots, many of which she makes herself. I've bought two from her as small gifts that have gone over quite well, esp. b/c they require infrequent watering. There are a couple fresh bread vendors, as well as hummus vendors too. The other craft/jewelry vendors make this a convenient place to grab quick gifts as well.
Love the samples from the fruit and food vendors - you could basically do breakfast here without spending a dime. The only downside is the prevalence of U$C sorority alumni - true story, was walking down the row of vendors when from behind I heard, "Oh my god, were you an Alpha Phi at SC too?!...When did you graduate?...Do you live in Brentwood?...What part?...Don't you just love it here?...Wait, what side of Wilshire are you on?" You gotta love that she called her out for living south of Wilshire.
Other than that, perfect lazy Sunday spot to replenish the fruit and veggie drawers for the week and pick up some solid empanadas for lunch. -
Review from Vikki M.
Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
2/15/2008
I really like the Brentwood farmers market and am only giving it a 4 because I am there every weekend and already getting sick of it! I go to volunteer at the dog adoptions they have here and I think we're pretty lucky that we get to do them here.
The food here is really good - mostly mexican, but I've never eaten a bad meal here. All the farmers here are super friendly (albeit a little too friendly sometime) and always give free samples. I usually get all my fresh fruit and veggies here for the week. It's great! -
Review from Chie T.
Fountain Valley, CA
4/16/2007
The farmer's market is located on an offshoot of Montana just West of Bundy. It happens every Sunday (although I'm not sure about the times) and it's really great for those who live in the area. Every week, there are the regulars, but you can find different fresh produce. There's a great honey vendor and fantastic olive oil and Mediterranean products guy who's really helpful and his olive oil is great!
There's plenty of flower and miscellaneous products. It's not as large scale as what you might find in Santa Monica or Venice, but the food always smells great and it's really easy to get to, park and wander around and enjoy the nice weekend weather to come. I agree with Sue, the heirloom tomatoes always look fantastic.
I also bought this beautiful wood carved bowl from a vendor there just this past weekend. I'd never seen her before but I also just discovered the farmer's market. They're absolutely gorgeous - carved from 1 piece of wood so each piece is unique and the sizes and shapes completely vary. * Also just a sidenote, there's always an AWESOME jewelry guy who also has a store on Main St (SM), who's there every week. His jewelry is gorgeous. Simple, elegant, and well priced for the materials and finish. He's really sweet and completely happy to discuss what might work for you and your needs/wants. And he takes credit cards.
By around 3 or so it's pretty cleared out so get there in the morning for the best products! -
Review from Alia D.
8/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
I thought Brentwood would be a lot smaller. I don't know why I just did. This thing goes on forever. There are about 50% produce, 30% craft and 20% fresh food vendors. There were a lot of double vendors which can be nice towards the end of the day. You can get more bargain deals. For instance. There was a fruit vendor who was selling all of their nectarines, peaches and plums for just $1 a pound! This, while other vendors were still charging their usual $3. Some of the vendors here do accept Visa and Mastercard. Unfortunately there was not a dedicated herb vendor. Maybe it was the day but I only saw one vendor selling avocados and all of the lettuce was kind of wilted and sad. There was a gentleman selling watermelons who was just screamin out "watermelons! I grow em so you don't have to!", which is cute for the first 45 seconds and after that it just gets a little annoying.
I didn't get to try the food but they do have pupusas, so on my cheat on Paleo diet day I will definitely come back and try them. Parking is fairly easy. I would also note that they probably need to up the enforcement on no animals. When your dog is in a bag, it doesn't cause invisibility, it's not legal. Gross. -
Review from N M.
Santa Monica, CA
6/9/2009
This market is amazing! Not only do the have an awesome selection of every kind of fruit and veggie you could ask for, but the prepared foods are great too! And there are so many samples of produce and cooked foods you will NEVER leave hungry.
If I had to make one recommendation I would say try the pepper and tomato stand on the north side closer to San Vicente is not to be missed. With out a doubt the have the greatest grape and cherry tomatoes and there is always new type of pepper. More then once they have given me a pepper to try or encouraged me to return next week for an exchange if I didn't like what I bought.
Like all farmer markets you can break the bank here, but if you take your time and look around you'll walk away with some amazing treats and some $$ still in your pocket. =]
