Here’s a little bit of inside intel: Los Angeles magazine HQ is 5900 Wilshire, AKA smack dab along the mid-city food truck corridor. Every day for the last several years, a dozen or so trucks pull up outside the building. We’ve tried all of their bowls and wraps and mash-up monstrosities and watched them closely. The result? We’ve gotten pretty good at smelling out which trucks are worthwhile, and which are going to be gone in two weeks when people realize that their sushi-stuffed cheesesteak is a no-go. The best ones have a clear concept, a tight menu, and a regular line. Here, we share with you what we’ve learned. Come, mobile cuisine enthusiasts, lend us your ear—and a napkin.
1. CVT
Hollywood Hills
Ice cream trucks are nothing new right? Wrong. So wrong. Soft serve heaven on wheels, this is.
2. The Lobos Truck
Los Feliz
Criss-cut fry nachos. That is all.
3. Free Range
Palms
These breakfasty fried chicken sandwiches are not just gorgeous and gooey—they’re also bonkers delicious.
4. Kogi
Palms
The O.G. fancy food truck is still one of the best in the biz.
5. NoMad
Korea Town
It’s Daniel Humm’s gourmet New York restaurant on wheels, sort of. Count on new, tasty stuff each week with rotating guest chef collaborations.
6. Guerilla Taco
Downtown
Wes Avila takes California ingredients (uni! sweet potato!) and throws them on tortillas in a way that qualifies as utter genius.
7. Mariscos Jalisco
Boyle Heights
These guys consistently bring back the top prize at food festivals for their incredible tacos, most notably dat crunchy shrimp.
8. Urban Oven
Redondo Beach
Is it safe to have a live wood fire on a moving vehicle? Probably not, but then THIS PIZZA.
9. Pico House
West Los Angeles
Whole grain bowls come topped with short rib, lamb, and all kinds of delicious pickly salads.
10. Alegria
Canoga Park
Reliably solid burgers and salads and sandwiches and stuff can be found on this curbside standby.
11. Prince of Venice
Cheviot Hills
But for reals, guys, there is an actual Venetian prince behind this truck. And he makes killer handmade pasta, among other things. It’s royally good.
12. Grilled Cheese Truck
Gardena
You have not lived until you’ve had the Cheesy Mac & Rib. So if you have always felt an empty hollow deep in your soul, we suggest you try to fill it with grilled cheese.
13. Jogasaki Sushi Burrito
Downtown
We have seen many a mash-up concept go awry. This is not one of them. Nothing could be wrong with what’s essentially a giant sushi roll wrapped in soy paper. Pricey, but worth it.
14. Yeastie Boys
Hollywood
L.A. is hard up for good bagels, which is why it makes sense for Yeastie Boys to try to cover the whole dang city on wheels.
15. Peaches’ Truck
Mid-Wilshire
There are a lot of L.A. barbecue trucks, but this one is our favorite, from the team behind DTLA’s Poppy & Rose.
16. Ricky’s Fish Tacos
Loz Feliz
We’ve been hitting this guy up since he was frying fish under an umbrella in Los Feliz. The digs may have changed, but the incredible, lightly-battered fish tacos are as good as ever.
17. Cousins Main Lobster
West Hollywood
Do we really need to sell you on lobster + buttery bun? It’s not the most frugal option out there, but hey, LOBSTER.
18. South Philly Experience
Venice
We get a cheesesteak ‘wit’ and bacon wiz fries. We suggest you do the same.
19. Tacos El Korita
Redondo Beach
Handmade tacos set this classic asada slinger apart from the rest of ’em.
20. Carnitas El Momo
Boyle Heights
It doesn’t get much better than the jiggly, wiggly, slow-roasted pork from the gang at El Momo.
21. Tacos Quetzalcoatl
East Los Angeles
Go for the lamb barbacoa, huaraches, and tacos with wilted wild greens.
22. Leo’s Tacos
Mid-City
Leo’s has the al pastor game on lock. The ever present line here is worth waiting in.
23. Taco Zone
Echo Park
Tacos Arizas or Taco Zone? It’s the Pepsi or Coke? question of the Eastside. We love both, but will give Taco Zone the edge here for its excellent buche.
24. Tacos La Fonda
North Hollywood
Handmade tortillas and top-notch cabeza (yes, it’s what you think) bring the hungry and adventurous to North Hollywood on the regs.
25. Tacos Los Guichos
Florence
Go for the Mexico City style carnitas here, only available on weekends.
