The thing that surprised me about Los Angeles is how little malls matter. They're here, but they aren't as central to shopping as they are in suburban areas. I literally can't remember the last time I was in a mall (other than to go to the Sherman Oaks Arclight theater, and the Galleria is a very strange "mall" these days).

I find everything I need/want in stores that are either standalone or in small (10 storefronts or less) shopping centers.

Los Angeles is an odd city, one that operates in a much more urban way than it looks on the surface.