Where to Pick Up the Best Picnic Boxes in Los Angeles

On the website for his eponymous restaurants, James Beard Award-winning chef Kevin Bludso says, "Our recipes have been passed down from generation to generation and there ain't no better feeling than sharing them with y'all."

Picnickers can get their smoked meat fix with the epic Party Tray, which serves 15: 1.5 lb Brisket, 1.5 lb Pulled Pork, 1.5 Whole Chicken, 1.5 Rack Pork Ribs, 1 lb Rib Tips and 4 Texas Red Hots; plus Pickles, Cornbread and BBQ Sauce. Served with quarts: Mac n' Cheese, Baked Beans, Collard Greens, Potato Salad and Coleslaw.

A pre-concert picnic at the landmark Hollywood Bowl is as much a part of the concert experience as the show itself. Picnic areas are located throughout the grounds that surround the Bowl - some picnic areas open as early as four hours before the concert. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Large groups (30+) may reserve selected areas through the Hollywood Bowl Group Sales Office: 323.850.2050.

You can pre-order a Picnic Box for pick up until 4pm the day before a concert. When you arrive at the Bowl, your picnic box will be waiting for you to enjoy in one of the Bowl’s picnic areas or at your seats. Options include The All-American with fried chicken tenders, The Burton Way (herb-crusted salmon) and The Hollywood Vegan with roasted broccolini, mezze trio and grilled summer veggies.

Founded by twin sisters Sarah and Boo Simms, Lady & Larder is renowned as a pioneer in the grazing board style - their DIY Cheese & Charcuterie Board was named to the 2019 edition of Oprah's Favorite Things holiday gift guide.

The beautifully presented Mini Boxes include Charcuterie, Cheese + Dried Fruit and the Farmers Market Crudités + Hummus - a selection of farmers market vegetables plus hummus topped with a za'atar blend and olive oil.

Boards can serve groups from 3-4 people (Date Night) to lavish Large Boards for 20-30. Available in 3- or 4-tier, the Bloomy Rind Cheesecake is perfect for outdoor celebrations of birthdays, weddings, baby showers and more.

This sustainable, eco-friendly, farm-to-table chain has locations from Downtown LA to the Valley and offers a reasonably-priced, healthy, and no-fuss way to picnic. Catering options include packages for five and more to share, ranging from family-sized salads and sides to individual sandwich and salad boxed lunches (complete with chips and a cookie). But if you’re looking for a smaller picnic for two to four, simply place your online order for sandwiches, entree salads, deli sides, drinks, and cookies with a preferred pickup time. When you arrive, grab your order from the “Online Order” shelf - there's no waiting in line, you’re all set and ready to go.

While this authentic Sichuan-style restaurant from James Beard Award nominated Chef Tony Xu does not offer a picnic basket per se, their Mian Cold Combo (Spicy Black Fungus, Chengdu Beef Jerky, Sweet & Sour Seaweed, Spicy Radish) plus an order of Sichuan Cold Noodles to-go might be one of the best picnics you've ever had. Their menu has a selection of dumpling options (6 pieces for $9-10), any of which would pair well with this DIY picnic combo. Order ahead and pick up an improvised picnic that is tongue-numbing and distinctly delicious.

This neighborhood shop in Eagle Rock specializes in artisan cheese, charcuterie, and other food products from small and independent producers. Picnic Boxes ($50) serve two and include two pieces of cheese, one artisan salami (sliced), olives, cornichons, seasonal fresh fruit or grapes, Marcona almonds, and a half-baguette. The selection is the cheesemonger’s choice - however, requests will be considered with a possible supplemental fee depending on the cost per pound.

Mini Picnic Boxes must be bought in a series of at least 8 for $22. Each Mini Box feeds one person, featuring two pieces of cheese, one artisan salami (sliced), olives, cornichons, dried apricots, grapes, Marcona almonds, mini jam jar, and one mini Rustic Bakery Cracker pack.

This Franklin Village gourmet market and counter-order café is centrally located between the Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, Greek Theatre and Cinespia at Hollywood Forever. Picnic Baskets are named after Bowl seats and range from the $70 Super Seat (two sandwiches, one half- salad, two bags of chips, cookie, two bottles of water) to the Pool Circle ($150), which includes three sandwiches, three half-salads, a cheese & charcuterie plate, three bags of chips, three cookies, two bottles of sparkling wine and two shatterproof wine glasses.

Orders must be placed by 1pm the day of pick-up. Big plus: Receive a 10 percent discount on your package when you reuse the basket.

Chef Jihee Kim opened her banchan specialty shop, Perilla, in July 2023. Located in the Victor Heights neighborhood between Chinatown and Echo Park, Perilla showcases banchan - typically served as side dishes in Korean cuisine - as the heart of the meal.

Highlights of the rotating banchan takeout selection include: Gimbap (cucumber, avocado, egg, pickled radish, carrots, garlic chives and sweet soy shiitakes, wrapped in seaweed and rice; served with Korean hot mustard), Collard Green Kimchi, Meiji Tofu and Fermented Cabbage with Perilla Leaf. LA Times food critic Bill Addison described the Rolled Egg as "a visual stunner" - thin layers of sweet rolled egg and savory seaweed. Can't decide? Try the Banchan & Rice Combo, a daily selection of four banchan served with a side of seasoned rice.

Kim also features dosirak - similar to Japanese bento (see Guzzu Bento-ya above), with a choice of doenjang marinated black cod or chicken on top of rice, a daily selection of four banchan and egg. Keep adding to your picnic with even more options like the veg-friendly Mushroom Dupbap (galbi-marinated and braised maitake mushrooms) and Avocado Rice seasoned with mentaiko (pollock roe) sauce and trout roe.

Located in Pasadena, this European deli, market and cafe is a tried and true classic with picnic boxes that offer complete dinners for one person, including salad, side and dessert. Entrees include Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Skewers, Italian Beef Tenderloin, Pasta Primavera and Grilled Salmon. Entree sandwiches include Artisan Salami, Snake River Farms Roast Beef, Roasted Turkey and Porta Via Italian Sub. Add antipasti for four people such as mixed olives, caprese skewers, and an international cheese or salumi platter. Boxes must be ordered 48 hours in advance.

Co-founders Jing Gao and Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth opened their Sichuan-inspired market, Suá Superette, in November 2023. Located in Larchmont Village, the grab-and-go concept features a sleek interior by LA-based OWIU Design - a curved marble top counter symbolizes the legendary four rivers of Sichuan, while a concrete planter evokes an "island" that invites guests to take a seat on its circular wooden bench. Per Suá's website, the to-go items feature "organic, local produce and the highest quality, sustainable proteins like non-GMO chicken, grass-fed beef, premium Atlantic salmon with no antibiotics or hormones, and locally made Meiji tofu."

Mains include the veg-friendly Cold Sesame Noodles (soba noodles, napa & purple cabbage, carrots, cucumber, sesame sunbutter dressing) and Suá Chicken & Rice with ginger scallion sauce, tamari soy sauce, chili crisp and organic jade rice. Plates include proteins like Cumin Grass-Fed Beef or Vegan Mapo Tofu with organic jade rice and a rotating selection of veggie sides including mala spiced Japanese yams, green beans with shiitake bacon, and stir-fried eggplant.

SUGARFISH by Sushi Nozawa is a perennial favorite with locations across Los Angeles. For a Nozawa-style picnic, order one of their "Trust Me" meals to go - all are packed in a box with color photos and instructions about how to properly eat and sauce (or not sauce) the sushi. Each box is filled with organic edamame, tuna sashimi, albacore sushi, salmon sushi, yellowtail sushi, toro cut roll, and crab cut roll. The amount served differs with the box size. A la carte options are also available for those interested in a sushi feast.

This Sherman Oaks café, bakery, and marketplace offers reasonably priced picnic boxes that include ficelle sandwiches with a choice of salads, and a cookie (including the signature Caramel Fleur de Sel); or full entrees, including fried, baked, and grilled chicken; and Asian panko-crusted wild salmon filet. All come complete with sides and a dessert. Add a platter of cheese or crudité, or guacamole with homemade lime tortilla chips to make it a party. All boxes include utensils, napkin, salt and pepper. 48-hour notice is required with a two-person minimum.