Juice & Wellness Food
"Health and wellness food is a lifestyle in LA, not a diet trend. Cold-pressed juice, açaí bowls, adaptogenic smoothies, and grain bowls dominate breakfast and lunch culture. Ingredients like spirulina, activated charcoal, and CBD are mainstream. Breakfast often looks like a $14 green smoothie rather than pastries. It's available on every corner, from Venice to Silver Lake to Beverly Hills."
Logistics
Expensive
Vibe
Healthy, trendy
Duration
Quick bite
Best For
Health-conscious
The Backstory
LA's health food culture dates to the 1970s hippie movement but exploded in the 2010s with Instagram and wellness influencers. The rise of juice bars, vegan restaurants, and 'superfood' culture became synonymous with LA lifestyle. Companies like Moon Juice and Erewhon (luxury supermarket) epitomize the scene.
Local Secret
"Açaí bowls are Instagram-friendly but high in sugar—treat them as dessert. Cold-pressed juice is expensive ($10-15) but genuinely fresh. Erewhon is the luxury wellness supermarket where smoothies cost $20—it's absurd but culturally iconic. Order the 'glow bowl' or 'green goddess smoothie' at any juice bar."