Food Trucks are trending in Los Angeles since 2008!
It all started with Roy Choi’s now-ubiquitous Kogi truck, with a queue of customers gathered around it for his Korean-Mexican-fusion tacos. This truck was followed by hoards of other food trucks vending everything from pizza to tacos, from hot dogs to grilled cheese, etc. Today, there is a hatful of excellent options-on-wheels throughout the city for grabbing a fulfilling quick bite or some delicious late-night snacks.
Listed below are some of the best food trucks of LA that are worth visiting. So without further ado, let’s start it, shall we?
Table of Contents
1. Kogi BBQ Food Trucks
Kogi BBQ is one of the most famous food trucks in Los Angeles. Also known by the names of ‘Kogi Beef Truck’ or ‘Kogi Korean BBQ Truck’, this truck was founded by Mark Manguera, Caroline Shin-Manguera, and Chef Roy Choi. The truck serves delicious Korean-Mexican cuisines all around the town. A huge number of customers gather around to get a taste of Kogi’s signature Spicy Pork Tacos, Kimchi Quesadillas, Short Rib Sliders, and other mouth-watering dishes. The best part of it all stands out to be the budget-friendly aspect of the menu!
The Must-Try Item of Kogi BBQ: ‘Kogi Kimchi Quesadilla’ which are grilled tortillas with melted jack and cheddar cheese, dressed with caramelized, buttered Kimchi topped with Salsa Roja and a sesame seed crush.
Where to find it: It can be found in locations such as West Los Angeles and Whittier.
2. LA-Donut
This is a new food truck and as the name suggests, it is famous for its donuts. Ice cream, donuts, and several other sweet treats make up the majority of the dishes in the menu. An onboard espresso machine offers vast coffee options to pair with your donut sundaes. LA-Donut is here to make your mornings sweeter!
Must-try items: Chocolate Donut Sundae, Pistachio ice cream, Reese’s cup crumbles, and a drizzle of caramel piled on the top of a glazed donut.
Where to find it: San Gabriel Valley.
3. Belly Bombz Food Trucks
Chef Albert Shim launched this food truck eight years ago in 2012 at the Long Beach Farmers Market. Belly Bombz mixes different Asian inspired flavours with chicken wings. Once you put their delicious fusion spicy classic wings in your mouth, you will not be able to forget the taste!
Must-try items: Bomb dust fries, Pork Belly Sliders, Miso Citrus Slaw, etc.
Where to find it: North Hollywood, Santa Monica, Granada Hills.
4. Ricky’s Fish Tacos
Ricky Pina is famous for selling Baja style fish tacos in the seaside town of Ensenada. This food truck is one of the best in town. People come from afar to try their authentic Ensenada style fish and shrimp tacos.
Must-try item: Baja fish fried with crisp-round-the-edges batter with a thick and creamy middle done up with classic crema, pico de gallo, and cabbage on a white corn tortilla.
Where to find it: 3201 Riverside Drive, Wednesday to Sunday afternoons.
5. The Prince of Venice
As the name suggests, this food truck was launched by the grandson of the last remaining king of Italy, Prince Emanuele Filiberto. He collaborated with Milan-born Chef Mirko Paderno to provide fresh and authentic Italian cuisine of royal flavor to the public.
All the dishes are made with high-quality ingredients, from the flour, olive oil, and truffles, which are directly imported from Italy to the organic products sourced from local Southern California farms. The result of all this is fresh pasta topped with luscious handmade sauces. The truck also offers delectable desserts such as their famous Panna Cotta and Tiramisu.
Must-try items: Almond-spiked Pesto Orecchiette, Truffle Maccheroni, Lemon Bucatini, etc.
Where to find it: Mostly on the Westside and sometimes in LACMA. Also, do check out their weekly schedules before going out.
6. The Lobos Truck
The Lobos truck offers delicious California-style comfort food and has handcrafted a big menu to satiate hunger cravings. Not only is it famous for its waffle fries topped with nacho ingredients and Diablo sauce but also for its monster burgers like the Big Lobo, with two Angus patties, Cheddar, Jack, bacon and a fried egg on a freshly baked brioche bun. Also, you will love every bite of the salted caramel bacon brownie they offer as a dessert.
Must-try item: ‘Heart Attack’ are waffle fries topped with special lechon roasted pork belly, spicy Diablo sauce, jalapeno ranch, and caramelized onions finished with sesame seeds and scallions.
Where to find it: Lobos can be only booked via private events.
7. Mariscos Jalisco
Gold-beloved ‘Mariscos Jalisco’ is a seafood truck that serves Mexican style cuisines. The truck is famous for its ceviche, seafood cocktails, oysters, and shrimp tacos.
Must-try item: ‘Poseidon tostada’- an agglomeration of glossy shrimp aguachile, citrus-heavy ceviche, and meaty chunks of octopus along with avocado and cucumber atop a crisped-up corn tortilla.
Where to find it: 3040E Olympic Blvd, every day at 9 am-6 pm.
8. Peaches’ Smokehouse & Southern Kitchen
Peaches Smokehouse & Southern Kitchen offers some quality down-home southern style cooking in Los Angeles. They use fresh quality ingredients in their food. Starting from pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken on sandwiches, to their country fried steak sandwich and smoked Portobello salad, everything is made from scratch.
Must-try item: ‘Southern Patty melt’, a fresh beef patty, serrano papers, and grilled onions are melted together with pimento cheese.
Where to find it: Downtown, Burbank and Beverly Hills.
9. Jogasaki Sushi Burrito Food Trucks
This food truck offers a beautiful fusion of Mexican and Japanese cuisine. They serve mouthwatering burritos stuffed with scrumptious sushi fixings. Their signature burrito creations include crisp cucumber, slices of fresh avocado, along with a combination of crab meat, spicy tuna or shrimp tempura wrapped in rice and sesame seed-speckled soy paper. Other than that, they also serve scrumptious spicy tuna nachos on a bed of Doritos with eel sauce.
Must-try items: Lobster Burrito, Jalapeno Bomb, Salmon Ceviche Taco, etc.
Where to find it: You need to check their weekly schedules before heading out.
10. Ridges Churro Bar
The Ridges Churro Bar was launched at the Orange Country Night Market in 2015 by high school sweethearts James and Nancy on a mission to refine LA desserts. Eight months after its launch it has graduated into a food trucks. The food truck offers warm crispy churros along with vanilla ice cream. Not only do they offer their popular item classic cinnamon sugar churro but also are known for inventing sugary ‘fairy dusts’ that give their churros a tasty twist, including salted caramel, fruity pebbles, Nutella nut, and strawberry cheesecake.
Must-try item: ‘Caramel Churro’ smothered in Ghiradelli caramel and topped with sugar dust and frosted flakes.
Where to find it: Whittier, Baldwin Park.
So, what are you waiting for? Go visit these trucks and indulge in the aroma of their delicious cuisines!