LA HEALTHFOOD
Earth Bar, 8365 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood +1 323 301 4980; 11640 San Vicente Blvd, Brentwood +1 310 826 3549
The ultimate one-stop health shop. Grab a juice from their extensive menu, choose from a wide range of supplements, buy your lunch for later, then top it all off with a vitamin injection from the in-store pharmacy. If you’re there around breakfast time, don’t miss the quinoa oatmeal.
Full O’ Life Grocery, 2515 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank +1 818 845 8343
The owner of this grocery is over 90 years old – and still comes into the store every day. A living testament to health and happiness! Employees are passionate about helping you find what you need, and will happily recommend natural remedies to treat your ailments. Raw probiotic drinks, a good selection of snack bars, and reasonably priced organic fruits and vegetables – everyone knows each other and the service is terrific.
Elite Health Foods, 10738 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City +1 310 559 9739
A biochemist and ex-marathon runner named Wayne (“the friendliest store owner I’ve ever met”) owns this health food market and will answer all of your questions and recommend affordable remedies and solutions to your needs. Genuinely concerned about customers health, Elite stocks medicinal herbs, vitamins, supplements and holistic self care items including shampoos, soaps, snacks, even cold cream soda.
Oh Happy Days Natural Food, 2283 N Lake Ave, Altadena +1 626 797 0383
Best vegan food in San Gabriel valley, with big portions, hot foods, decent prices and delicious food cooked with love. Try the “Really Yummy Yams”, which comes with steamed greens and lentil or split pea soup, and a side of salad for only $5.50. They sell books as well, and the owner, John, “a living Merlin” has been running the place for 20 years.
Nature Mart, 2080 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz +1 323 667 1677
Divided into two parts, the main grocery store contains the vitamin store, while next door lay the bulk bins and juice bar. For an adrenaline rush, try their Green Machine Smoothie, which combines kale, cucumber, celery, ginger, lemongrass, and apples. Bulk bins offer cleaning supplies to refill your bottles with, and store prices are comparable to Whole Foods.
Granny’s Pantry, 560 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena +1 626 796 8442
Buy your grains in bulk for cheap, as well as a rich variety of reasonably priced goods such as raw milk in a glass bottle. Good quality vitamins are on offer here, as well as a bounty of informatory knowledge to go with them. The people who work here are the “nice, welcoming, anything-goes kinds of hippies of yore.” We always need those.
One Life Natural Food, 3001 Main Street, Santa Monica/Venice +1 310 392 4501
Surrounded by a number of popular yoga studios, One Life is also in close proximity to the healing energy of the beach a few blocks away. The juice bar is in the back, pharmacy is upstairs. They stock many hard to find organic and raw foods.
VP Discount Health & Food Mart, 8001 Beverly Blvd, Mid-City +1 323 658 6506
VP is a great place to purchase hard to find vitamins, buy healthy bulk-bin snacks (and bulk TVP, which for vegans, can be hard to come across offline) plus a sandwich counter and juice bar. A down-to-earth store with a browsable atmosphere, VP also sells eco-friendly cleaning and pharmaceutical products.
Erewhon, 7660-B Beverly Blvd, Mid-City +1 323 937 0777
The name is in reference to the Samuel Butler novel of the same name, which is an anagram of ‘Nowhere.’ With a full salad bar, prepared food and deli case, large vitamin section, and bountiful produce, Erewhon can take you from nowhere to somewhere in the health department. Check out their amazing beverage, juice, kombucha and dairy section too, as well as the elixir bar. Friendly staff are always willing to assist.
Co-opportunity, 1525 Broadway, Santa Monica +1 310 451 8902
Co-Opportunity has been around for decades, focusing on an all-organic, non-GMO, whole-self, integrated approach to health. Great organic produce (many visit between farmer’s markets) as well as ready made vegan entrees, soups, and desserts. Decent wine selection too.
Simply Wholesome, 4508 W Slauson Ave +1 323 294 2144
Simply Wholesome is a joint Carribean-vibe restaurant slash health food store. The food is delicious (vegetarian tacos, sweet potatoes, salads, blackened tofu and organic jelly are some items on offer) and the selection is varied and affordable. Plenty of homeopathics, soaps, and necessities such as all natural shampoo, plus employees who are more than happy to educate customers on proper nutrition, exercise and holistic medicine.
Rainbow Acres Natural Foods, 13208 W Washington Blvd +1 310 306 8330
The grains and natural foods are what keep customers coming back here, as many of the items cannot be found in other ‘all natural’ stores, including red quinoa and dried papaya. Salad bar and hot menu items are great too, as well as the juice bar (mix and match whatever you like) and knowledgeable, patient staff. Prices are surprisingly reasonable, which makes Rainbow Acres “like Whole Foods cooler, unassuming sister.”
