The 17 Best Food Trucks in LA (2018 Edition)

Eating food is a part of life. But eating great food is culture. And since you can’t really take a bite out of the collection of lampposts at LACMA, we thought it was a good idea to introduce you to some culinary artists that will remind you why Los Angeles ranks among the best in food culture in the country.

Below is a tight list of LA’s best food trucks, so you can take your own tasty tour of the city – a tour that, in many cases, comes straight to you.

FYI, they are not in any ranking order, cause after doing this research these trucks have become our babies (and you can’t rank your children).

Let’s dig in!

1. Ragin’ Cajun

Sure, you can go to Louisiana, but why do that when the Bayou can come to you… that is, when it’s not too busy being featured on the Food Network, or winning awards at the Palm Springs Food Truck festival.

You gotta try:

  • Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy
  • Bisque
  • Hush Puppies

 

2. The South Philly Experience

With the billions of escape rooms in Los Angeles, you’ll never find one where you want to throw away the key… till now. The South Philly Experience brings a tasty piece of PA to CA that reminisces about a time before kale smoothies and avocado toast. If you’re longing for the glory days of delicious meat and cheese whiz, it’s time for a new experience!

You gotta try:

  • Meatlover Cheesesteak
  • Buffalo Cheesesteak
  • Cali Cheesesteak

3. Mariscos Jalisco

If you’re in Boyle Heights and see a line around the block, you’re probably looking towards Mariscos Jalisco. Serving up ceviche, seafood cocktails, oysters and shrimp tacos, Mariscos Jalisco is a proud, multi award-winning staple of Los Angeles.

You gotta try:

  • Shrimp tacos
  • Shrimp tacos
  • Anything else, and then a Shrimp Taco

4. The Grilled Cheese Truck – LA

The Original Grilled Cheese Truck started in 2009 with a simple mission: to take your love of gourmet grilled cheese and one-up it. Their unique creations have been featured on a variety of TV shows, but if that’s not enough, they’ll let you create your own concoction!

You gotta try:

  • Cheesy Mac Melt
  • Cheesy Mac & Rib
  • S’more Melt (you know you want to)

5. Cousins Maine Lobster

How many seafood trucks do you know of that have made a deal with a shark from Shark-Tank? Now you know one. Cousins is all the savory goodness of East Coast lobster with the convenience of, well, not booking a flight to the East Coast.

You gotta try:

  • Maine Lobster Roll
  • Connecticut Lobster Roll
  • Tater Tots

6. Me So Hungry

While the more traditional burgers and sliders are a fantastic addition to LA’s gourmet burger scene, Me So Hungry really shines when it comes to its more avant-garde creations – namely its famous Peanut Butter & Jelly Burger. Yeah, you read that right.

You gotta try:

  • PB&J Burger
  • Flyin’ Hawaiian Sliders
  • Cali Sliders

7. India Jones Chow

You smiled at that name didn’t you? Well get yourself another smile by sampling their savory curries and incredible Frankies (Indian fusion burritos)! With over 9 years of whipping up adventurous dishes, they’ve raided two cuisines to prove culinary innovation is hardly a lost art (see what we did there?).

You gotta try:

  • Chicken Taco Chaat
  • Lamb Frankie
  • Butter Chicken Curry

            

8. CoolHaus – LA

You choose your ice-cream, you choose your cookies. It’s an ice-cream sandwich so good, you might forget and eat the wrapper. And if you did, that’d be totally fine cause it’s also edible. Plus, they have some fantastic, unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else!

You gotta try:

  • Fruity Pebbles & Marshmallow
  • Horchata
  • Chicken & Waffles

  

9. The Lobos Truck LA

Excellent burgers, but c’mon, if you’ve heard of this truck you know… it’s all about those Wachos. The truck’s signature waffle fries are tasty by themselves but transform into decadence with a variety of sauces and hearty toppings.

You gotta try:

  • Heart Attack Wachos
  • OG Wachos
  • Waffle Fries

 

10. Lobsta Truck

With their lobster and bread sourced fresh from New England, there should really just be one question on your mind: do you want yours with mayo or butter? (there’s no wrong answer).

You gotta try:

  • Lobsta Roll
  • Crab Roll
  • Clam Chowder

11. Achara

Around town, Adam Angeles is known as one of the kindest food truck owners working. But it’s easy being nice when you’re serving some of LA’s most acclaimed Filipino BBQ and delectable, hard-to-find-in-a-food-truck Lumpia.

You gotta try:

  • Pork Belly Sisig Bowl
  • Pork Belly Sisig Fries
  • Chicken Ado-Bowl

12. Baby’s Badass Burgers

It’d be easy to write off Baby’s as another flashy LA gimmick. Until, that is, you actually try it. Bring whatever pre-judgements you like: when you have a half-pound of angus beef in your mouth, and gooey swiss cheese dripping down your chin, the only thing you’ll be saying is “Mmmm.” And maybe: “Whaar aar ta nappakn” (food in mouth translation: “Where are the napkins?”)

You gotta try:

  • Original Beauty
  • Cover Girl
  • She’s Smokin!

13. Kogi BBQ

Were you surprised? Of course you weren’t. The “Kogi Beef Truck” is the OG of the scene, and has been amassing crowd for years – serving LA’s best (and original) Korean-Mexican cuisine.

You gotta try:

  • Spicy Pork Tacos
  • Kimchi Quesadillas
  • Short Rib Sliders

14. The Beignet Truck

For those not familiar with the French Quarter of New Orleans, a beignet is a sweet little pastry that literally means “bump.” For those that are, you’re probably in line already, wondering if you’re going to dip yours in maple glaze or Nutella. When in doubt, why not both?

You gotta try:

  • Powdered Sugar Beignet
  • Cinnamon Sugar Beignet
  • Coffee & Chicory

15. El Chato Taco Truck

Rated Best Taco Truck by LA Weekly, El Chato doesn’t just offer mouth-watering delicious fare; it offers it at a very affordable price. The truck’s $1 tacos are great for any budget and perfect for parsing out your appetite. It’s like those select-a-size paper towels—but for getting full. Just arrive early; the line gets longer the later it gets.

You gotta try:

  • $1 Tacos (all of them)
  • Asada Burrito
  • Pollo Quesadilla

16. Ricky’s Fish Tacos

Ricky’s keeps things simple. What do they serve? Amazing fish tacos. No need for burritos, salads, or trendy fusion. They do authentic, Ensenada-style fish & shrimp tacos, and they do them RIGHT. In their hands, simplicity is an art.

You gotta try:

  • Fish Tacos
  • Fish Tacos
  • Burrito—just kidding, Fish Tacos

17. Jogasaki Sushi Burrito

Jogasaki has combined two of LA’s most constant desires into one perfect dish: the sushi burrito. If you take a selfie at their truck you may have captured the entire LA experience in one single photo.

You gotta try:

  • Jogasaki 4B
  • Salmon Ceviche Taco
  • Shrimp Fiesta