“ After stopping at La Mascota Bakery, we continued our food adventure to Galco's Old World Grocery or Galco's Soda Pop Stop in the Highland Park neighborhood. We tagged along because my brother-in-law's friend discovered his childhood candy bar favorite, CLARK candy bars, at Galco's, then got several old-time soda pop brands that we thought were no longer made or sold in the United States from this store. His mention of Galco's in-house Italian sandwich counter further piqued our curiosity and appetites. A Los Angeles attraction publication featured this grocery/soda pop store as one of the city's secret or hidden gems. It dates back about a century and was originally an Italian grocery store in downtown Los Angeles before moving to Highland Park in the 1950s. Galco's has an attached open parking lot fronting the store entrance. Upon entry, a female cashier at one of their checkout stands cheerfully welcomed us. We passed by their wide selection of old-time candy brands and then browsed the extensive hard-to-find sodas, small craft beers, meads, ciders, French wines, and sakes. Admittedly, we don't drink a lot of soda pop as we prefer drinking water or sparkling water to quench our thirst. However, I found several American soda pop flavors, such as root beer, sarsparilla, huckleberry, vanilla cream, and cherry that I couldn't resist putting into my shopping cart. As I browsed the store, I came across Japan's Ramune carbonated drinks and fruit-flavored Kimino sparkling water. My husband and I teased each other because we didn't intend to buy soda but bought over a dozen types. We've been sharing a bottle of different soda daily while hydrating with water in this cool and dry weather. This clean store has a nice friendly neighborhood vibe that we would happily return to whenever we're out for another adventure. ”

“ I have lived in Highland park for the last 5 years and I have driven by Galco's but never been. From a glance it's not very catching to the eye but I finally made a stop and let me tell you I was transported to the old days. They have all the nostalgic toys and candy. But what really blew my mind was the options of soda. Def worth the stop. My boyfriend and I went a little crazy with all the options and took a few back home including some holiday sodas they had available. It's a very self directed store but when you do need help the service is there and it's very helpful. The staff idea knows their sodas as they are able to provide you with recommendations. Will def be returning. ”

“ I have always wanted to come here. I was so happy we made the trip. We got to make our own sodas. I did a white peach vanilla soda. I loved the selection of the store. I have had a hard time finding Orangina the past few years but they had it. They also had Cheerwine. It is a cool place and if you haven't already you should check it out. ”

“ Amazing selection of regional American pops, sodas and fizzs from time gone by (Green River) and newly concocted favorites (Zia from New Mexico) as well as a curated selection of international imports. Root and ginger beers, colas, sarsaparillas and pepper elixirs abound, this place is for the soda pop curious or the connoisseur. Some of the more unusual selections include a spruce beer (yes it tastes like a Christmas tree), maltas from the West Indies and Julmast a Scandinavian Christmas soda. Check out the Italian sodas, they have several chinottos!!! In the candy and toy section retro delights abound. A great place to go for stocking stuffers. There is a beer section too with mostly European imports. Most flavors of Torres chips are available from the weird: caviar, sparkling wine and fried egg to the mundane: cheese, herbed and plain. Never been greeted with anything other than a friendly smile and a helping hand. ”

“ Looking for that hard to find that classic soda pop you had as a kid? This is a fun place to explore all kinds of sodas, beers, sakis, candy, vintage toys, and more. From root beers to fruity concoctions to weird combinations, you won't be disappointed. I found Pennsylvania Punch, which is close to Delaware Punch (which I loved as a kid). The inventory is impressive and affordable. You can also make your own sodas. In addition, they have some interesting wines. ”

“ Galco's Old World Grocery aka the Soda store have been around many years as a grocery store and know as the world famous Soda store. People have been coming around California and other state have come to Galco's to find old classic Soda you can't find in store. Once in a while my wife and I go to Galco's to buy vintage Soda that we love they hard to find or they stop making but coming to Galco's we find them. Galco's have a Deli called Galco's Blockbuster they make sandwiches they petty good we enjoy their pastrami sandwiches. We order the turkey Blockbuster they are really good we enjoy our drink we buy. Galco's is part of L.A. history and keeping tradition alive. ”

“ We love it here! Vintage and hard to find sodas (over 500 or more varieties), retro toys and candy, artisan beers/beverages from around the world! A DIY soda station! Beyond specializing in sodas, according to Pasadena Weekly, "Galco's also has one of the largest and most diverse selections of sake in Southern California". Wow! Galco's Soda Pop Shop is family owned and operated since 1897. This place is cool and a must visit for soda pop connoisseurs. ”

“ For someone who doesn't get to go here regularly because we live on the other side of the country, this is a 5 star treat. A trip down memory lane for some sodas I haven't seen in a long time plus intriguing sodas I have never seen before. Intriguing snacks too. Spent a good bit of time strolling up and down the aisles looking at all the choices. Prices are reasonable for the specialty they provide. Certainly cheaper than driving to the area of the country where the sodas are sold in grocery stores. Nothing fancy about the store look either outside or inside. Space between the aisles is roomy. The employees leave you to browse. Decent sized parking lot. ”

“ I'm so glad I got a chance to visit such a unique shop! It really is a piece of Americana here and has been featured by Huel Howser himself! Galco's is not only just a soda shop, but also sells various small trinkets and toys, unique imported and classic candies, and they have a deli in the back if you're hankering for a sandwich. There are some tables outside the last time I was there and from what I recall, they do close earlier in the evening. If you're a soda enjoyer, then this IS THE SHANGRILA FOR YOU! Not only do they have classic favorites that everyone loves, but there are so many interesting seasonal flavors, soda imported from different countries, and even a soda fountain in the back for you to concoct your own bubbly beverage! We visited in the cusp of the holiday season with Halloween already past, so there were some spooky soda flavors leftover, but there were also some warm, cozy classic "Christmas" flavors as well. The imported soda are from all over the world from Europe, Asia (if you buy something you can get at any other Asian market like Ramune, I'm not gonna lie, that's kinda an L), South America, and everywhere else. You can buy them by the bottle or by the entire box! If you're down to clown, there's a plethora of Faygo flavors I've never seen so well stocked anywhere else. A MUST is the DIY soda fountain in the back where you can create your own flavor with the syrups there and even customize up to how bubbly you want your drink to be. There's a multitude of syrup flavors to add varying from fruits (classics like orange and strawberry to more fancy flavors like guava and huckleberry), dessert flavors (key lime, salted caramel, toasted marshmallow), floral flavors (rose, lavender, elderflower), and other unique tastes too, like sangria. I was so afraid that what I made was going to taste terrible since I added a lot of flavors, but I didn't over do the syrup so it just tasted like a slightly nicer fruity-floral sparkling water. This was really fun, so I'd definitely do it again! We also got some of the cold cut sandwiches to go. Delicious and pretty sizeable too. I'll definitely go again! ”