Discover Downtown Inglewood
Downtown Inglewood is located at the heart of SoCal’s City of Champions – a moniker the city has long donned due to its rich connection to LA’s beloved sports teams. Inglewood is the birthplace of Foster’s Freeze, home to the legendary Forum of the Lakers "Showtime" era; the iconic Hollywood Park, and the stunning SoFi Stadium.
With no shortage of entertainment in the area, Inglewood is also home to great local eateries and coffee shops. Since its inception in 1908, Market Street has been the central shopping district and cultural hub for all things Inglewood.
Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen - Manchester
Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen is a Downtown Inglewood staple and an LA treasure! It’s the sister restaurant to Dulan’s on Crenshaw, started by the late Adolf Dulan, the self-proclaimed “King of Soul Food.” You’re sure to see a line outside with people waiting for their orders, and after your first bite, you’ll understand why it’s worth the wait. You’ll find all the staple mains like smothered chicken, pork chops, fried fish, and classic soul food sides like black-eyed peas, cornbread dressing and collard greens. The menu doesn’t stop at all the entrees - you'll want to save room for soul food desserts like sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. The portions are hefty, and the food is always hot and tasty.
Emma’s Snack Shop
Emma’s Snack Shop is more than just a corner store. It’s a no-frills snack shop that provides more than just snacks. You can stop in for a few grab-and-go items like fresh popcorn or chips and a soda, but they also have a sandwich counter where you can order hot or cold sandwiches, coffee, smoothies, and more. They are great for a quick breakfast sandwich when you need something filling before work, and best of all, everything from the family-run business is always served with a smile. Even more, the delicious comfort food still has comforting prices, so Emma’s is also an excellent budget-friendly stop.
Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen
The flagship location for Hilltop Coffee & Kitchen is in Downtown Inglewood on La Brea Avenue just before you hit the main Market Street strip. The second of their multiple locations continues to shine with their delectable offerings of coffees, teas, and carefully curated food and pastries. Consider trying the Banging Breakfast Sandwich paired with the Lavender Latte for breakfast. It’s sure to not disappoint.
Jamz Creamery
If you’re looking for a sweet treat while strolling around Market Street, head to Jamz Creamery. They’ve been serving up homemade ice cream since 2001. The music-themed ice cream shop has 28 flavors you can get in a cup or cone, and their signature dessert is THE JAZZ. The Jazz will quickly become your newest guilty pleasure; it’s essentially an ice cream sandwich, but the ice cream is sandwiched between two soft, delicious, and homemade cake rounds, then topped off with a drizzle topping of your choice and whipped cream. There are over 100 flavor combinations you can make, so you’ll have to stop in again and again to figure out which is your favorite! For those looking for a treat with a little less guilt, they also offer refreshing Acai bowls with fresh fruit and granola toppings.
Little Belize
Little Belize is tucked away on Nutwood Avenue, one of the side streets off Market, but if you love Caribbean food, Little Belize is not to be missed! The restaurant is owned by sisters who wanted to bring authentic Belizean food to their community. Little Belize offers traditional Belizean cuisine such as panades, salbutes and garnaches, and entrees like the classic Stew Chicken served with Rice & Beans, Potato Salad, and plantains. One of their most popular dishes is the Stew Oxtail; the oxtail is soft and tender, always falling right off the bone. There’s a live band every Sunday so you can enjoy a meal and a show!
Martin’s Cocina y Cantina
Martin’s Cocina y Cantina is the newest upscale Mexican dining restaurant to grace Downtown Inglewood. The family-owned restaurant started from humble beginnings with its first restaurant, the beloved Fiesta Martin, a long-time Inglewood go-to for authentic Mexican food. Since its opening in 2021, Martin’s Cocina has become a hot spot for locals with beautiful chic interiors, a full bar with delicious cocktails, and excellent service. They offer traditional dishes like fajitas and enchiladas and a full sushi menu. It’s a great place to pre-game before heading to a show or sporting event at one of the local arenas.
The Nile Bar
The Nile Bar is one of the newest additions to Market Street. It’s a bar and lounge where you can get great food, live sports, and often DJs and Karaoke. Happy Hour is Monday – Saturday from 3pm to 7pm, but they have different themed nights every day of the week. The menu boasts selections that aren’t the typical bar food you would expect, like shrimp sliders and salmon bites. Stop by on Tuesdays for the Taco Tuesdays specials and guest DJs.
Rusty Pot Café
Rusty Pot Café is a nice brunch spot in Downtown Inglewood. The menu has traditional breakfast selections with a Southern twist, like four-wing chicken & waffle, farm fresh omelets & grits, and lunch selections like catfish po’boys and burgers. It’s one of the few sit-down breakfast/brunch spots on the Market strip, so you may expect a short wait for a table. Once you fall in love with the food, you can also have it for your next event, as they also offer catering.
Sip & Sonder
Sip & Sonder is a cozy coffee shop right in the center of Market Street. The black woman-owned shop opened in 2017 and quickly became an entrepreneurial and creative hub. Sip & Sonder offers artisanal coffee, teas, pastries, and other baked goods. They also offer unique steeped coffee sachets you can purchase to take home and brew like a cup of tea, eliminating the fuss of coffee machines and pods. Any day of the week, the shop is alive with creatives who’ve made it their home away from home and local meeting spot. You’ll also want to check their events calendar, as they have beautifully curated events, from Open Mics to Coffee tastings.
Stuff I Eat
Stuff I Eat is one of Inglewood’s longest running and first fully vegan restaurants and has been a treasure in Downtown Inglewood for years. Founded in 2008 by Chef Babette Lewis and her husband Ron Lewis, Chef Babette’s idea came from a lifestyle change when Ron exposed her to her first vegan meal in 1990. Since then, her commitment to exposing her community to healthy lifestyle choices has turned even the most skeptical anti-vegan into a repeat visitor. The menu has an array of delicious vegan meals, some with a Tex-Mex flair and others with a Caribbean and soul food twist. While everything on the menu is worth trying, some fan favorites are the Nut Burger, Soul Food sampler, and Kilimanjaro Quesadilla. There’s a kids’ menu for your little vegan in training, and don’t forget to top the meal off with a refreshing beet lemonade!
The Wood Urban Kitchen
The Wood Urban Kitchen is the newest BBQ spot on Market Street. The Black-owned restaurant and lounge has delicious BBQ favorites daily and boasts slow-cooked 13-hour brisket so good you’ll slap ya mama! With a full menu of down-home barbeque from chicken, ribs, rib tips, and links, plus notoriously loved sides like greens, mac-n-cheese, baked beans, potato salad, and more - you’ll have a hard time resisting ordering everything on the menu. Stop in for the food, stay for the fun! In true sports bar fashion, there is always a game on one of the big screens, and they have a full bar and a lovely outdoor patio, which also makes it great for an alfresco lunch or dinner date.