Los Angeles City Guide

19 Best Food Festivals in Los Angeles, CA in 2024

Published on October 14, 2024 | 0 Comments
Food festival in Los Angeles

Food festivals in Los Angeles bring the city’s diverse community together for magical celebrations featuring sublime entertainment, expert guidance and magnificent culinary artistry. Restaurants, vendors and chefs showcase their best dishes, offering a true taste of LA’s vibrant food scene.

Ready for the best part? These food fairs in Los Angeles take place throughout the year, spanning almost every month for your pleasure. To make sure you don’t miss a beat or a bite, we’ve rounded up the 19 best food festivals in Los Angeles that are worth adding to your calendar!

 Jump to Section

Book a Los Angeles Food Tour Now
Explore LA's famed eateries, hidden gems and acclaimed culinary culture with a top local guide.
Book Now

The 19 Best Food Events in Los Angeles, CA

1. Smorgasburg Los Angeles

One of the most popular food events in Los Angeles, Smorgasburg Los Angeles is a weekly market that takes place every Sunday. You’ll find dozens of LA’s best food vendors serving everything from street tacos and skewers to vegan ice cream and churros. 

This food festival in Los Angeles isn’t just about the food; it also features small businesses offering unique jewelry, vintage finds and all sorts of gems you won't find anywhere else. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend your Sunday, this is easily one of the best things to do with family in Los Angeles.

Festival Location: 777 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90021 

Month of Festival: Every Sunday

Aerial view of a hot dog from Smorgasburg Los Angeles
via Smorgasburg Los Angeles

2. Uncorked: LA Summer Wine Fest

As one of the largest wine and food events in Los Angeles, you can sip and savor over 100 varieties of wines and bubblies from across the globe, at LA Summer Wine Fest. Other elements that add to it being one of the best things to do in Los Angeles are local food trucks with a variety of cuisine combinations and enthralling party games.

Don't forget to strike a pose and snap a shot at the custom 360 photo booth while live DJ sets elevate the mood with catchy tunes at this food festival in Los Angeles.

Festival Location: 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Month of Festival: January

Two ladies standing behind a table with wine bottles on top, at Uncorked: LA Summer Wine Fest
via Uncorked Wine Festivals

3. DineLA Restaurant Week

A single-day food festival in Los Angeles won’t cut it for serious foodies. That’s why DineLA Restaurant Week, a 12 to 14-day extravaganza, is held not once, but twice a year — usually in the summer and winter. Hundreds of top-tier restaurants participate, offering special prix fixe menus for you to enjoy fine dining at a fraction of the usual price.

From the sweetest treats to scrumptious savory delights, new favorites will be discovered and old ones will be indulged in during this extended food festival in Los Angeles.

Festival Location: Multiple locations

Month of Festival: January and July 

Two plates with bao buns each filled with ice cream
via DineLA

4. Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival 

If you have a profound fondness of art and food, the Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival is the ideal event for you. This extravagant food festival in Los Angeles is held alongside Frieze Week, a celebration of contemporary art. Featuring over 90 world-class chefs serving up unique creations, you can also get a taste of headlining DJs, themed art rooms, live art installations and unlimited food and drink options at this food festival in Los Angeles.

Festival Location: 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Month of Festival: March

Close-up of a woman's hands pouring wine into a glass being held by someone else
via Canva

Best Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Master the art of gourmet cuisine with the help of world-class chefs.
Book Now

5. Montrose Craft Beer Fest

The City of Angels is renowned for its fervid independent breweries and skillful artisans in this field, with numbers in the community expanding every day. Luckily, the Montrose Craft Beer Fest gathers all these expert craft brewers in one spot for a day of refreshing sips and shared knowledge, enthusiastically poured out for all visitors to learn.

Aside from showcasing the city's best beer makers, this event doubles up as a food festival in Los Angeles that features a variety of food vendors, allowing local restaurants and chefs to present their best culinary creations. 

Festival Location: 2200 Honolulu Ave., Glendale, CA 91208

Month of Festival: April

Four people raising their beer cups in a toasting motion at a beer festival
via Canva

6. Vegan Street Fair

You don’t have to be a meat lover to appreciate the best Los Angeles food. As the most popular plant-based food fair in Los Angeles, Vegan Street Fair brings together top vegan-friendly restaurants, serving up the best bite-sized eats in one spot. With over 1,300 vendors featured since 2015, it’s easily one of the most beloved food fairs in Los Angeles.

Take the whole family along to this free-entry food festival in Los Angeles and find out how tasty and nutritious vegan food can be. Culinary connoisseurs who are wizards in the mesmerizing world of plant-based eats will be eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Festival Location: 11223 Chandler Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

Month of Festival: April

Close-up of a person's hand holding a vegan burger dripping in sauce
via Vegan Street Fair

7. Masters of Taste

If you’re craving a taste of luxury, you can’t miss out on the Masters of Taste food festival in Los Angeles. This community-focused event donates 100% of its ticket sales proceeds to Union Station Homeless Services. Each year, over 2,500 guests come together to savor some of LA’s finest cuisine, crafted by top culinary masters and beverage mixers, including the likes of Pez Coastal Kitchen, Ayara Thai and San Simeon Wines, amongst many others. 

Festival Location: 1011 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103

Month of Festival: April

People eating and chatting at Masters of Taste, a food festival in Los Angeles
via Masters of Taste

8. Pizza City Fest Los Angeles 

Pizza comes in all shapes and sizes, from New York’s thin crust to Detroit’s signature square slices. You can try them all at Pizza City Fest Los Angeles. This food festival in Los Angeles brings together dozens of local pizzerias and special guest chefs. Aside from countless cheesy, irresistible cuts available, as the largest pizza fest in the U.S., you can also expect demos, seminars and live music. 

Festival Location: 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015

Month of Festival: April

Close-up of a pizza slice being lifted from the rest of the pie
via Pizza City Fest

Best Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Master the art of gourmet cuisine with the help of world-class chefs.
Book Now

9. South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

For over a decade, the South Bay Beer & Wine Festival has been a local favorite, serving up delicious food, craft beers and a wide range of fine wines and spirits from nearly 100 vendors. What sets this food festival in Los Angeles apart is that all proceeds from ticket sales go directly back into the community.

While live music sets the scene for dancing enthusiasts to show off their moves at this food festival in Los Angeles, epicureans in the South Bay area will take sips and bites from the likes of Far Field Beer Company, The Brews Hall and many more.

Festival Location: 25851 Hawthorne Blvd., Rolling Hill Estates, CA 90274

Month of Festival: May

Musician with a guitar in the foreground and people dancing in the background
via South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

10. Fiesta Hermosa 

For over 50 years, Fiesta Hermosa has been the go-to Memorial Day weekend celebration in Hermosa Beach. This food festival in Los Angeles showcases some of the top restaurant food vendors, unique shopping booths, live music and a whole lineup of family-friendly activities.

With more than 100,000 people attending this food festival in Los Angeles, expect busy crowds eager to sample a variety of eats, amidst a host of interactive games, electrifying rides and other entertainment. 

Festival Location: 1 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Month of Festival: May

A woman standing in a food truck holding a platter of burgers
via Canva

11. Long Beach Seafood Festival

Seafood lovers can rejoice because this food festival in Los Angeles is renowned for serving the most delicious eats from California coastlines. Dive into delicious seafood recipes and delicacies from top local chefs across Orange County and Los Angeles, all showcased at the Long Beach Seafood Festival.

So, what's on the menu? From lobster rolls to oysters to shrimp tacos, there's no shortage of flavorful plates of food. Add in life-size games like giant Jenga and Connect Four, and it’s the perfect food festival in Los Angeles for the whole family.

Festival Location: 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

Month of Festival: May

Close-up shot of oysters, from the Long Beach Seafood Festival
via Long Beach Seafood Festival

12. BBQ Music Fest

Spread out over three days, BBQ Music Fest is a meat lover's extravaganza where everything from tender ribs and juicy brisket to perfectly charred sausages can be sampled. This food festival in Los Angeles also features a high-stakes cookout competition, where national BBQ teams go head-to-head with local grill masters to see who reigns supreme. 

Festival Location: 18100 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Month of Festival: August

Close up of ribs topped with sauce, from BBQ Music Fest, a food festival in Los Angeles
via BBQ Music Fest

Best Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Master the art of gourmet cuisine with the help of world-class chefs.
Book Now

13. Original Lobster Festival 

When it comes to fresh Maine lobster, no event does it better than the Original Lobster Festival. This food festival in Los Angeles is a celebration of steamed (not boiled) lobster — the best way to enjoy this seafood delicacy. What makes this food festival in Los Angeles even more special is the other activities and thrilling entertainment.

Enjoy dance lessons to the sounds of live DJs or sing your heart out in the karaoke lounge as the lead singer of a live band (you heard that right). If you're an adrenaline junkie, you'll be pleased to know that there are several exhilarating carnival rides at this food festival in Los Angeles.

Festival Location: 16400 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Month of Festival: September

A guy holding two plates with lobsters on them at the Original Lobster Festival
via Original Lobster Festival 

14. The Los Angeles Italian Festival 

Whether you're looking to go the more traditional route or delight in modern Italian-American cuisine, it's all waiting for you at The Los Angeles Italian Festival. If you think that delectable Tuscan and Venetian food is all this food festival in Los Angeles has to offer, though, think again.

Take a partner with you and dance the Tarantella, or enjoy live entertainment at this food festival in Los Angeles, ranging from brilliant Italian opera singers to Rat Pack-style crooners. Party the night away in true Italian style while taking your pick from inviting Italian bites.

Festival Location: 1651 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028

Month of Festival: October

Two ladies and one guy holding platters filled with packets of chips
via The Los Angeles Italian Festival

15. Taste of Soul Family Festival 

Every year, around 500,000 people gather along the famous Crenshaw Boulevard for the Taste of Soul Family Festival. This one-day food festival in Los Angeles is all about shining the light on the best soul food in the area, made by those who pour their hearts and souls into every serving.

With over 100 vendors offering classics like fried chicken, grits and hush puppies, this food festival in Los Angeles is a can’t-miss event. While the food may steal the show, entertainment offered by the likes of talented dancers, drummers and other performers provides stiff competition and fashions endless smiles.

Festival Location: 3800 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008

Month of Festival: October

Long shot of the Taste of Soul Family Festival
via Taste of Soul Family Festival

16. LA Chocolate Salon & Festival

Chocolate lovers and sweet tooth enthusiasts can savor some of the finest gourmet and premium varieties at the LA Chocolate Salon & Festival. This food festival in Los Angeles features chocolate tastings, demonstrations and talks, hosted by experts and celebrities, giving you a chance to learn what makes each bar so special. Featured chocolatiers include renowned names such as Letterpress Chocolate, Mignon Chocolate and Albert's Petite Sweets.

Festival Location: 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101

Month of Festival: October

Four chocolates on a small wooden platter, from the LA Chocolate Salon & Festival
via Chocolate Salon

Best Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Master the art of gourmet cuisine with the help of world-class chefs.
Book Now

17. Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival 

With so many amazing fine dining spots in Tinseltown and beyond, it can be hard to try them all. That's where the Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival comes in to save the day. The dreamy coastal setting plays host to Southern California's newest culinary festival, not to be overshadowed by the more established ones, though.

This two-day food festival in Los Angeles features an all-star lineup of over 25 chefs, more than 20 wineries and over 20 breweries and spirits experts, along with a host of live entertainment. What's not to love?

Festival Location: 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Month of Festival: October

Aerial view of a charcuterie board from Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival
via Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival

18. Japanese Food Expo

If you’re a fan of Asian cuisine, you can’t miss out on the Japanese Food Expo. Unlike most food festivals in Los Angeles, this one goes beyond tasting booths by offering unique activities and detailed insights by respected experts, to fully immerse oneself in the culture. This Japanese event in Los Angeles also features sake and beer tastings, where you can sip and savor some of the finest Japanese brews. 

Festival Location: 1755 Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028

Month of Festival: November

Shabu shabu, a type of Japanese food
via Canva

19. Sushi & Sake Festival 

Head to Downtown LA for the Sushi & Sake Festival, a food event that holds an equal amount of prominence as a cultural celebration. Unlimited servings of sashimi, nigiri and sushi rolls await you, amongst a host of other authentic Japanese dishes. This food festival in Los Angeles pairs these delicious bites with Japanese beverages such as shochu, beer and premium sake. Plus, there are interactive activities and artistic performances to look forward to. 

Festival Location: 120 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Month of Festival: November

Sushi and sake
via Canva

Discover the Best Food in Los Angeles

Deciding which food festivals in Los Angeles are suited to your preferences can often be a mystifying experience. However, when it comes to restaurants, food tours in Los Angeles make it easy to uncover the city’s best spots and hidden culinary gems. With an expert local guide, you’ll experience authentic flavors and even learn the stories behind each dish.

If you’re inspired to take those flavors home with you, try joining interactive cooking classes in Los Angeles. Top chefs will guide you through recreating your favorite festival dishes so you can master LA-inspired cuisine and impress your friends with restaurant-quality meals.

Three people taking a cooking class with an expert chef, booked through Cozymeal
via Cozymeal

Food festivals in Los Angeles are one of the city’s biggest highlights, equally so for visitors and locals. While there’s plenty to love about the City of Angels, it’s the incredible food scene that truly keeps people coming back. With a food festival in Los Angeles for every palate, featuring multiple styles of cuisine, there’s truly something for everyone. 

For even more ways to explore Los Angeles and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.