Vernon-Main - Los Angeles, CA Area Guide

The Vernon-Main area is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, built just south of the original settlement dubbed "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles" -- the City of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels. Over the decades, the community has been home to a variety of artists, musicians, and notable figures.

Vernon-Main is home to Maya Angelou Community High School and private institutes such as the Opportunities Unlimited Charter High School. Residents are minutes away from community events, world-class entertainment, and sports at the LA Memorial Sports Arena, as well as the museums and venues of Exposition Park.

Residents of this community work, play, and shop across the whole city and close to home. Within Vernon-Main you'll find several charming hole-in-the wall eateries for scrumptious food and late night fun.

Listen to DJs spinning the latest Latin tunes while you sip cocktails or dance at the El Dorado Night Club. The attached restaurant provides great food for an affordable price.

Farther south you can grab a beer and catch the game at the Zacatecas Bar. With a frequently-updated website, make sure to check it out for upcoming events at this modern dive bar including everything from pay-per-view fights to karaoke nights.

After a night on the town, enjoy a late-night meal at Tacos El Gavilan. Locals frequently bring up this mini-chain when you ask about the best authentic Mexican food in L.A., and with a 24 hour drive-through and counter service until 3:00 a.m., there's never an excuse not to go. Get wholesome tacos asada, pollo, and el pastor, or if you're feeling adventurous go for the lengua, the buche, or the cabeza.

For a sit-down meal that you won't forget, hop over to Birrieria Lalo's. Locals head here for the birria that gives the restaurant its name -- a spicy goat stew that Lalo's serves with homemade tortillas, fresh lemon, oregano, and chilis on the side. If goat's not your thing, you can also find everything from traditional tortas and burritos to their special quail on the menu.

L.A. Metro heavily serves the Vernon-Main neighborhood, located as it is along several of the busiest streets in Los Angeles. Hop on the DASH bus which runs along Figueroa to the breathtaking Central Library and to Los Angeles transit hub Union Station. From there, you can get almost anywhere -- not just in L.A., but throughout California and beyond.

And since it's L.A., many residents choose to use their own cars to get around. A key stretch of the 110 Harbor Freeway -- between where it intersects with the 10 to the north and the 105 to the south -- runs right along the western edge of Vernon-Main. Whether you take public transportation or have your own car, you'll be doing plenty of walking along the wide and well-lit sidewalks.

A phone call or a click on your favorite internet app will get you quick taxi service, both traditional and from new services such as Uber and Lyft.

If you're looking to find a little nature even in the middle of Los Angeles, Vernon-Main hosts two family parks. South Park is typically packed on the weekends, especially during summer when kids come for the pool. Year round you can join a game on the sports fields, let the kids loose on the playground, and enjoy your lunch at the picnic areas.

Further south is the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park, a reclaimed empty lot converted to a wildlife and plant habitat. Take a stroll along the path that encircles the low pond and observe the local birds and reptiles as they make their way through the native California plants that border the dirt walkway, the boardwalk, and the observation platform.

Angelenos know Vernon-Main and the greater South Los Angeles area as an affordable, economical option for families and singles seeking centrally-located housing. A one-bedroom apartment in Vernon-Main will run you around $900 a month.

To get around on L.A. Metro, an unlimited day pass starts at $7. Gas in the area runs a little higher than the city and the national price, since Vernon-Main is so close to the warehouse district and the trucks that load and unload there. But food will cost you less -- expect to pay $1.50 or so for a taco and $4 or $5 for a beer.

As a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood, quaint mom-and-pop shops line Vernon-Main's streets. Get fresh bread and pan dulce prepared daily at Jenny Bakery or grab a morning breakfast pastry and coffee at Apple Donut. If you're looking for a gift or a home project, pick up fruit trees or flowers for your yard at Avalon Nursery & Ceramic, or head down to Bamboo Bow Kites for crafting supplies to keep the kids busy on a rainy day.

In addition to chain grocery stores, including a Food 4 Less and Big Saver Foods, the Vernon-Main area hosts several mini-marts and convenience stores. El Bajio Markets offers great prices on everything from fruit to energy drinks. You can find Hispanic specialty products as well as meats, produce, and more at the Family Farm Market. Or choose from the tasty prepared meats and foods at 51st Street Produce, such as carne asada and homemade tamales.