Los Angeles is filled with award-winning and fancy fine-dining restaurants, but in this sprawling city some of the best eateries have teamed up inside vibrant food halls, where they serve some of L.A.’s most exciting and innovative dishes.

So for those looking to eat well at places that offer several options under one roof, and don’t mind doing so at a counter or communal tables, here is a list of food halls with excellent options.

Citizen Public Market

If you want a rooftop view while dining on dishes that can range from noodles to fried chicken to classic pizza, plus poke bowls and even fancy mixed drinks, consider this hall. It was created in a revamped beaux-arts-slash-art deco building that dates to the 1920s. With its brick walls, hardwood and checkered-tile mixed floors, it feels like a cool loft space but with some of the best kitchens around.

Eats: One of the most popular countertop spots is Bang Bang Noodles, which started as a street food concept making hand-pulled noodles that are so thick they look like a belt — a delicious, filling belt that requires some expertise with chopsticks to dig out under from the toppings, like pork, chiles and vegetables. Order the Szechuan garlic noodles, then walk up the stairs and get a drink at Bar Bohemien — we recommend the mezcal-based Nomadic Sour — then stumble up one more flight of stairs and eat your noodles on the rooftop patio.

9355 Culver Blvd., Culver City; citizenpublicmarket.com

Grand Central Market

If Los Angeles has a culinary soul, it lives inside Grand Central Market. The food hall is on the ground floor of the 1917 Homer Laughlin Building, so it has a historic feel that adds to the experience of walking shoulder-to-shoulder amid the crowds who frequent it daily.

Eats: The options here reflect the city, with Mexican and Salvadoran restaurants, seafood spots, sushi, sandwich and barbecue vendors, trendy new places like Egg Slut and gems like China Cafe, a 22-seat counter spot that has been there since 1959. Another old-school spot that has been there for years and is a can’t miss for anyone who loves Mexican food is Villa Morelina. It serves authentic, Michoacan-style carnitas, and you’ll know you’re at the right place because the cooks often pile it into taco samplers they hand out. The surtido taco, which mixes carnitas from all parts of the pig, gives you crisp, juicy, salty, chewy flavors and textures all in one bite.

317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles; grandcentralmarket.com

Mercado La Paloma

This is a bustling lunch and dinner spot for the downtown L.A. crowd so parking can be a bit difficult, but it’s worth it because once inside, diners will find some of the best food in the city. The food hall is in what was once an garment factory.

Eats: Taqueria Vista Hermosa serves some of the best al pastor tacos in Los Angeles. The hall is also home to the Food Network-recognized Chichen Itza, which serves Yucatan dishes and is known for its cochinita pibil, pork cooked in banana leaves. But the star among the all-stars at the moment is the Michelin-rated Holbox. Yes, there is a Michelin star-rated restaurant at this food hall. It’s run by chef Gilbert Cetina, who previously cooked alongside his father at Chichen Itza. Not surprisingly, lines can go out the door here, but it’s worth it for Yucatan dishes like live urchin and scallop ceviche; the taco de pulpo en su tinta, which is a braised and fried Gulf of Mexico octopus in calamari ink sofrito; and the langosta al carbon, a local spiny lobster fresh from the tank with cilantro rice, black beans and house-made tortillas.

3655 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles; mercadolapaloma.com

The Original Farmer’s Market

Local farmers started selling vegetables here back in the 1930s and now it’s home to a vibrant collection of restaurants serving food from all over the world, including Asian, South American, French, Greek and American dishes.

Eats: Some of the best comfort food here comes from a Cajun spot, The Gumbo Pot. Diners not only can have classic and filling options like fried chicken and catfish, but they’ll feel like adventurous grubbers with dishes like gator gumbo — yes, made with real alligator tail — and frog legs.

6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles; farmersmarketla.com

Spring Arcade Building

Years ago, the ground floor of the building housed discount electronic, clothing and toy shops. Today it’s home to a roster of restaurants serving Asian, barbecue and more.

Eats: The best place is the insanely popular Guisados, which serves braised and stewed meats in tacos with house-made, thick tortillas. There are a lot of options here, so save some time and order the sampler plate. It comes with steak picado, bistek roja, tinga, mole, chicharron and cochinita pibil tacos. It’s basically a jaunt through culinary heaven on a plate. And for dessert, loosen your belt and go next door to Uli’s Gelato. This is where the company makes the gelato that can be purchased at various grocery stores. And while you can’t order from a counter, a gelato vending machine offers cold treats like the fresh mint stracciatella. It’s made with real mint leaves, not extracts, so technically it probably counts as a salad.

541 S. Spring St., Los Angeles; thespringarcade.com