The Grove

Shopping mall · 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States · United States

★ 4.6 on Google · 28,399 reviews · View on Google Maps

7 / 100

Manipulation score

Clean

Completed Aug 5, 2026 · 66 reviews flagged

How this score works

The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.

Burst: — an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
Low activity account: — the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
Duplicate text: — the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.

Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →

Case conclusion

What the numbers say

1,000 reviews examined

Google rating: 4.6★
Not-flagged average: 4.6★
Flagged: 7%
Coverage: 4%

“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Aug 5, 2026.

Review brief

What reviews not flagged by Revdict say

Reviewers report that The Grove is a popular, beautifully maintained open-air shopping center with a lively atmosphere and attractive holiday decorations. Visitors frequently highlight its connection to the Original Farmers Market and the variety of dining and retail choices available. However, many visitors note that navigating the area and parking can be stressful and costly.

+ Repeated strengths

Atmosphere and Decor

Reviewers frequently praise the scenic open-air layout, fountains, and festive seasonal decorations.

1 supporting review

4★ · 2025-12-24
A shopping center with a pleasant and fun atmosphere, pleasant to walk around even if not for shopping. The center is open air (therefore weather dependent) in a relaxed atmosphere and with a variety of restaurants and shops.

Farmers Market

The adjacent Original Farmers Market is highlighted as a major highlight offering diverse and delicious food options.

2 supporting reviews

4★ · 2025-12-24
A shopping center with a pleasant and fun atmosphere, pleasant to walk around even if not for shopping. The center is open air (therefore weather dependent) in a relaxed atmosphere and with a variety of restaurants and shops.

4★ · 2025-12-29
The best most crowded open air mall in the area. Lots of stores and interesting events, especially a Barnes & Noble and AMC. Very beautiful on Christmas season with the decorations and atmosphere, and currently (November-December 2025) has...

Entertainment and Walking Experience

Reviewers appreciate the pedestrian-friendly setup, movie theater, and free trolley rides.

2 supporting reviews

5★ · 2025-12-24
This mall is great. I came around Xmas and the vibes were emaculate .

5★ · 2026-01-03
Festive! Free ride on the tram

− Repeated complaints

Parking Costs and Hassles

Reviewers frequently complain about expensive parking fees, complicated validation rules, and traffic delays entering or leaving the structure.

3 supporting reviews

1★ · 2025-12-26
Google Maps showed this location as open, but when I arrived, everything was closed. I wasted time and gas driving here, and there wasn’t a single open restroom. Parking was a mess, and I kept circling for no reason. If there had been clear...

1★ · 2026-01-18
I actually love this place but I hate that you just charged me $15 to park even after I saw a movie and validated. 2 hours 5 minutes should not cost $15. I assume the AMC validation machine must have been broken, as it’s usually $5, but I d...

1★ · 2026-02-17
So poorly managed it was laughable. 90 minutes stuck in a parking garage looking for a space. And I don't mean driving around, I mean literally stoped and locked in traffic so you only can sit there and pray and laugh. People lined up for 3...

Crowds

The destination is frequently described as overly crowded, especially during weekends and holidays.

3 supporting reviews

4★ · 2025-12-24
A shopping center with a pleasant and fun atmosphere, pleasant to walk around even if not for shopping. The center is open air (therefore weather dependent) in a relaxed atmosphere and with a variety of restaurants and shops.

4★ · 2025-12-29
This is not my favourite but, here, i can choose what I need.

5★ · 2026-04-15
The Grove is a special place, love to go! However, be aware that it is generally crowded on the weekends!

Restrooms

Reviewers note that public restrooms can be difficult to locate, have long lines, or fail to meet cleanliness expectations.

3 supporting reviews

1★ · 2025-12-26
Google Maps showed this location as open, but when I arrived, everything was closed. I wasted time and gas driving here, and there wasn’t a single open restroom. Parking was a mess, and I kept circling for no reason. If there had been clear...

3★ · 2025-12-28
Getting there and parking were crazy. We spent 45 minutes driving around in the parking lot to find a spot. There is a long line for every bathroom. Once arrived, that holiday decoration was beautiful. I enjoyed the atmosphere. We entered a...

3★ · 2025-12-29
Beautiful place to visit but everything there is overpriced . A small scoop of ice cream was and is 7.50 cents. To expensive and if ur paying with a debit card they want to charge u a 3.99 % plus they ask you for a tip Wow ! And the parkin...

Good for

A leisurely stroll and people-watching
Combining shopping with visits to the Farmers Market
Enjoying holiday decorations and evening lighting

Avoid if

You are on a tight budget and want to avoid expensive parking fees
You dislike heavy crowds and long lines
You are looking for quick, hassle-free errand running

Review anatomy

Reviews per month

Dec ’25

Feb ’26

Apr ’26

Jun ’26

Aug ’26

Reviews per month, total and flagged
Month	Reviews	Flagged
Dec ’25	96	6
Jan ’26	137	10
Feb ’26	116	6
Mar ’26	113	12
Apr ’26	119	7
May ’26	115	7
Jun ’26	152	8
Jul ’26	126	8
Aug ’26	26	2

Rating distribution

5★

4★

3★

2★

1★

Evidence

low activity account 64 reviews flagged weight 0.8
generic account 2 reviews flagged weight 1

Flagged reviews

Showing the 10 most suspicious of 66 flagged reviews.

Yy Kk

448 reviews

★★★★★

2026-01-12

Very good place and impressive. Better shopping mall

Aliriza Karpuzcu

122 reviews · Local Guide

★★★★★

2026-05-23

An open-air shopping mall with high-quality shops and international cuisine. A must-see. No parking problems.

Hazem Albuluwi

1 review

★★★★★

2025-12-26

Aleksei Abramov

1 review

★★★★★

2025-12-29

Robert Keasler

2 reviews

★★★★★

2025-12-31

Cassidy Tao

2 reviews

★★★★★

2026-01-08

Kinu

1 review

★★★★★

2026-01-13

Matthew Tehrani

1 review

★★★★★

2026-01-19

Eno Park

2 reviews

★☆☆☆☆

2026-01-25

Avoid parking here! The validation system is a total cash grab. There is no grace period, so if you are even five minutes over the two-hour limit, you are hit with a $15 charge. Two hours isn't nearly enough time to wait and eat at The Cheesecake Factory. After being forced to pay this three times n...

Sarah Cunningham

1 review

★★★★★

2026-02-03

The Grove is one of those places that never gets old. Every visit feels like a mini escape — great energy, beautiful outdoor layout, and a perfect mix of shops and restaurants. I love how easy it is to spend an entire afternoon here, whether that’s shopping, grabbing coffee, or just people-watching....

Report generated Aug 5, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.

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