LA, DowntownWild Living Foods, some of the best bowls in LA

The setting :

Wild Living Foods is on the corner of 8th and Main Street. It is easily recognisable with its neon lettering and bright red arrow pointing to the entrance. The bold colours of the traditional Native American tiles on the bar and floor, plus the wall art, create a warm atmosphere. The vibrant mosaics and the thick wooden tables combine perfectly to make the light filled  space welcoming. Large windows, and its position on the corner of two busy streets, also let you enjoy the outside view while eating.

I always love an open kitchen – and this deli has two of them!

One bar is dedicated to salads and packed with fresh ingredients. The other is called the “remedy” bar where you can order juices, wellness shots and smoothies. Next to the remedy bar, is a wall entirely lined with steel fridges containing a rainbow selection of juices. The deli has plug sockets and wi-fi if you want to recharge or browse.

Downtown Los Angeles is for me one of the most under-rated areas of the city. It used to be dangerous and felt abandoned, but the neighbourhood is experiencing a new boom in investment and gentrification. It is now a busy hub of sky-scrapers (the rest of LA is completely flat!), warehouses, museums, cafés and new points of interest for foodies. My suggestion would be to also visit The Last Bookstore, an incredible bookstore and vinyl shop with cool installations. Then maybe, check out Grand Central Market, the Bradbury Building, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad museum.

What I ate

Wild Living Foods’ specialty is their bowls. The menu offers raw as well as warm salad bowls with fresh ingredients and the staff make them in front of you. The base for warm bowls is “Andean gold”, as they call it, but more modestly quinoa! I chose the Machu Picchu bowl with quinoa, romaine, carrots, beets, bell pepper, brazil nut cheese and a sesame sauce. I was surprised by the large size of the portion and it was very nourishing. The creamy dressing contrasted perfectly with the crunch of the vegetables.

I couldn’t walk by the dessert station without being tempted by their raw creations, dairy-free ice-creams or chocolates!

So, I ordered a slice of raw strawberry cheesecake with a berry swirl. It was smooth and delicious as expected!