Hill St. Cafe Espresso

The Angel’s Flight funicular may be in semi-​permanent disrepair, but you can still be aloft on gossamer wings if you have a steaming cup of Mexican hot chocolate on a brisk morning. OK, that was a metaphor… but hey, it’s good and you can get one here in this little kiosk right at the entrance of the Grand Central Market.
It’s $ 2 for a double, and you can take it with you to stroll the market or duck the pigeon poop in the concrete street patio. But that’s not all as you can get sandwiches in the $ 4.25−4.75 range. The $ 4.50 Cuban is a tasty choice with roast turkey, black forest ham, Swiss cheese and pickle all hot pressed together between two slices of French bread.
But if you want to go healthy like the SoCals like to do, try the $ 4.25 Bradbury (named after the legendary building down the block), a vegetarian concoction with avocado, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato, red onion, cucumber, all on a wheat panini. There are also salads, baked goods, coffee and even boba drinks. But of course, come for the Mexican hot chocolate… mmmm.
FOOD — 4 stars… quite a lunch place for such an iddy-​biddy kiosk… and that Mexican hot chocolate… mmmm
AMBIANCE — 4 stars… the Grand Central Market makes a trip to Downtown LA worthwhile
SERVICE — 4 stars… fast and friendly
TOTAL — 4 stars… did I mention the Mexican hot chocolate?