To Live and Eat in L.A. – A Vegan Food Photo Blog

Papa George’s Hy Mart Deli has been a North Hollywood staple of tastiness next to the giant golf shop on Lankershim for over 20 years. Due to skyrocketing rent and a landlord that has apparently been a dick to them for the past two decades, the little family run shop has moved into a new location. Locals need not fret though as the move was into a more spacious spot just across the street. Now they’re right on the other (west) side of Lankershim, directly behind the H. Salt Fish & Chips shop.

A true mom & pop operation, Hy Mart offers a wide variety of Mediterranean style sandwiches and wraps. It’s not an all vegetarian place so expect to witness people chowing down on stuff like roast beef, turkey and gyros, however what makes Hy Mart stand out for the rest of us are their delicious vegetarian and easily veganizable specialties.

Their yummy falafel is made fresh daily and they even make their stuffed grape leaves from scratch (my latest addiction). They’ve got a number of different vegetarian wraps and platters, and most of these are set to come with labni yogurt or feta cheese, but if you are so inclined you can ask them to leave those off and what you’re left with are some pretty fantastic vegan options.

I always get the same thing but the “Shahkloot Special” is so far from boring that the repetition never gets old. Lavash bread wrapped around tabouleh, olives, cucumber, mint, basil, avocado, hummus, falafel, tomato, pickles, tahina, lettuce and pepperchinis (no feta, no onions, extra spicy is the way I order it). It’s always huge and always delicious.

Hy Mart is one of my favorite places in the valley to get a satisfying and cheap lunch. The family who runs this deli is super cool, so I’m happy to see they’ve pulled off their migration into a nicer, more spacious shop and I wish them much success in their new location.

Hy Mart (look for the “Sandwiches” sign)
4795 Vineland Ave #C
North Hollywood, CA 91602
(818) 506-7264

It’s a crying shame that I’ve lived so close to Papa George’s Hy Mart Deli all this time without realizing that they offer some of the best sandwiches and wraps in town, until now.

Hys Mart is a small family run Mediterranean Deli. The mom, pop and son who run this place are super cool and have been in business for over 30 years. They make all kinds salads, deli style sandwiches and middle eastern specialties like gyro’s and falafel. Where they shine in my humble opinion is in their vegetarian specials. There’s at least 10 different vegetarian plates to choose from. Some of them come with feta cheese and/or labni yogurt, but they can make your order dairy free by request.

My favorite is the “Shahkloot Special”. It’s a large lavash wrap stuffed with tabouleh, olives, cucumber, mint, basil, avocado, hummus, falafel, tomato, pickles, tahina, lettuce and pepperchinis. The standard version minus my editing would also include feta cheese and onions. The owner told me that Shahkloot means basically throwing in everything that’s in the kitchen. It’s so good, and so big and makes for the perfect lunch… or dinner. I even picked a few up the other day to take on a picnic. My mom loved the chicken wrap she had as well, so consider this another place where you can eat comfortably with mixed company.