Velarde’s Fruit

Best, delicious, and fresh fruit ever!!! The people that work there are very nice and friendly especially Daniella. She was very gracious and kind and answered all my questions about the different kinds of fruit selections. Prices are great as well. When I’m in the area this is the place to go to for fresh yummy fruit!!!

As you about to enter Olver St., you will find this cart. I was attracted to the jugos aka juices. I ordered a pina aka pineapple. It was cold and refreshing. I could tell it was fresh, due to the pulp. They also offer other flavors and plenty of fresh fruit. I wish they had a cart near me!

I grew up in Los Angeles and visited Olvera street frequently to shop, eat or attend many Baptisms. I recall eating the tropical fruits with chili powder but it was lost in the confines of my brain. I moved out of the area about 10 years ago and left those times behind me. My daughter and I took a trip down south back home and we stopped at Olvera Street; memories flooded into my brain: Taquitos from Cielito Lindos, shopping, eating Churros, Aguas Frescos and Velardes Fruit. My daughter was not into the whole «Chile Powder» on the fruit thing. Once she got started she ate the whole order of Jicama/​Mango/​Lime/​Pineapple & Watermelon. My daughter has not lived in a hispanic culture and I have spent most of my adult life experiencing and exploring. It was a great honor to treat her to Taquitos, Churros, Aguas Frescas (Watermelon) & Fruit w/​Chili. She has asked me since to drive down south so she can see, smell and experience Olvera Street and her new fruit obsession.
Thank you Velardes for making my daughters time at Olvera street a memorable one.

I have died and gone to heaven! You serve a whole fried plantain with sweet cream for $ 2!?! OMG simply awesome and delicious. They also have fruit galore and even corn with all the fixins but who can pay attention to all that, the smell of the fried plantains made my day! Another reason to love LA and Olvera st!

Stopped by Velarde’s Fruit stand on a scorching summer afternoon after a visit to the Chinese American Museum. I looovee aqua fresca and it’s really cheap compared to others I’ve had. Only $ 2.50! I had their watermelon fresca to accompany my lunch at the nearby La Luz del Dia. Great combo and a must-​try if you’re ever at Olvera St.

Best Horchata I’ve ever had
Very smooth and light tasting, good cinnamon flavor without being overpowering… great afternoon drink treat to eat with your carnitas taco’s from «La Luz del Dia» right across the way…
Bonus, on Sat/​Sun they have alot more flavors of their «Aqua Fresca» that they set in large glass jars outside with ice ect… only $ 2.50 for freshly made real fruit based drink, very flavorful. also on the weekend only they have a large, and i mean large, pot of corn simmering that they serve in a large (16oz. i belive) cup and squeeze a little mayo and parmesan cheese (if so desired) in addition to having bottles of lemon juice ans large shakers of chili powder behind where it purchased for your topping pleasure. As i did not try the corn last time, i can say that it smelled amazing and if i wasn’t so full from Cielto Lindo taco’s i would have totally ordered one.
As far as the Aqua Fresca’s go… i have tried the melon (cantalope flavored), Pina (pineapple), Horchatta, and next time i’m going for the watermelon. they also had tamarind and a couple other flavors that i can’t recall at the moment. oh, the drinks also have little chopped up bits of whatever its made from acutally floating inside, i’m guessing the fruit is blended up before being made into the drink, totally awsome.
going back here today, but i felt it deserves a Unilocal…
Little website info i thought was interesting as well…
Opened on July 17, 1972 on the world famous «Historic Olvera Street.»
Since then, Velarde’s Fruit has been recognized and officially recorded as being the very first fruit stand in Los Angeles to introduce putting lemon, salt, and chile (estilo Mexico) on fruit.