The 10 Best Food Trucks in Los Angeles: A Local's Guide to LA's Iconic Street Food Scene
Discover the 10 best food trucks in Los Angeles, from legendary Leo's Tacos to gourmet Kogi BBQ. Your ultimate guide to LA's vibrant mobile food scene.
Los Angeles is the undisputed capital of food truck culture in America. From late-night taco runs to innovative fusion cuisine that launched entire culinary movements, LA's mobile food scene is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. The warm weather, car-centric culture, and incredible diversity of cuisines have made food trucks an essential part of the LA dining experience.
Whether you're craving authentic Mexican street tacos, Korean-Mexican fusion, fresh seafood, or artisan bagels, there's a truck waiting for you somewhere in this sprawling metropolis. Here are the 10 best food trucks that have earned their legendary status on LA's streets.
1. Leo's Tacos - The Al Pastor King
Location: Multiple locations, most famous at La Brea & Venice
Must-Try: Al Pastor Tacos
Price Range: $
No list of LA food trucks is complete without Leo's Tacos. The sight of their massive trompo (vertical spit) spinning with marinated pork, topped with a pineapple, has become iconic. The al pastor here is legitimately some of the best you'll find outside of Mexico City—perfectly seasoned meat with crispy edges, fresh cilantro, onion, and their signature green and red salsas.
Pro tip: Go late night (they're open until 3 AM on weekends) when the trompo is at peak performance and the lines move fast.
2. Kogi BBQ - The Truck That Started a Revolution
Location: Various (check Twitter for daily locations)
Must-Try: Short Rib Tacos, Kimchi Quesadilla
Price Range: $$
Chef Roy Choi's Kogi BBQ didn't just create a food truck—it launched a cultural phenomenon. In 2008, Kogi pioneered the use of social media to announce locations and essentially invented the modern gourmet food truck movement. Their Korean-Mexican fusion, featuring Korean BBQ meats in tacos and burritos with kimchi and spicy salsas, remains as innovative and delicious as ever.
The short rib taco with caramelized Korean BBQ, salsa roja, cilantro-onion-lime relish, and Napa Romaine slaw is still a must-order.
3. Mariscos Jalisco - The Shrimp Taco Legends
Location: East LA (Olympic & Gage)
Must-Try: Tacos Dorados de Camarón
Price Range: $
This unassuming truck in East LA serves what many consider the best shrimp tacos in the entire country. Their tacos dorados de camarón—crispy fried tacos filled with whole shrimp, topped with fresh shrimp ceviche, avocado, and a spicy salsa—are absolutely legendary.
Be prepared to wait in line, especially on weekends, but trust us: it's worth every minute. The combination of textures and flavors is unlike anything else.
4. El Chato - The Late-Night Institution
Location: Olympic & La Brea (late nights)
Must-Try: Carne Asada Tacos, Mulitas
Price Range: $
El Chato has been serving hungry Angelenos since 1976, making it one of the oldest and most beloved taco trucks in LA. Their carne asada is perfectly seasoned and grilled, and their mulitas (two tortillas with meat and cheese, grilled until crispy) are the ultimate late-night indulgence.
The truck typically sets up around 9 PM and stays open until 2-3 AM, making it a legendary post-bar destination. The no-frills setup and consistently excellent tacos keep generations of LA residents coming back.
5. Tacos Y Birria La Unica - Birria Excellence
Location: East LA / Boyle Heights area
Must-Try: Birria Tacos, Birria Ramen
Price Range: $
Before birria tacos took over Instagram and became a nationwide trend, trucks like La Unica were perfecting the craft. Their birria—slow-cooked beef in a rich, complex consommé—is served in tacos that are dipped in the cooking liquid and griddled until crispy.
Don't skip the consommé for dipping, and definitely try their birria ramen if you want to see how creative they can get with this traditional Jalisco specialty.
6. Okamoto Kitchen - Japanese Comfort Food on Wheels
Location: Various locations (check social media)
Must-Try: A5 Wagyu Sando, Japanese Curry Rice
Price Range: $$$
Okamoto Kitchen brings high-end Japanese comfort food to the streets. Their A5 Wagyu sandwich is an indulgent masterpiece—real Japanese A5 beef between perfectly toasted bread with house-made sauce. It's pricey for a food truck, but you're getting restaurant-quality wagyu.
Their Japanese curry and other items are equally impressive, bringing authentic Japanese flavors that you'd normally only find in sit-down restaurants.
7. Yeastie Boys Bagels - New York Quality, LA Style
Location: Various farmers markets and pop-ups
Must-Try: Everything Bagel with Lox, Pastrami Egg & Cheese
Price Range: $$
LA might not be known for bagels, but Yeastie Boys is changing that perception one perfectly chewy ring at a time. These are legit New York-style bagels—boiled, then baked, with that ideal crust-to-chew ratio that bagel purists demand.
Their sandwiches are piled high and made with quality ingredients. The pastrami egg and cheese on an everything bagel is a particular standout, proving that LA can do East Coast classics right.
8. Cousins Maine Lobster - New England Meets SoCal
Location: Various (check website for schedule)
Must-Try: Maine Lobster Roll, Lobster Tots
Price Range: $$$
What started as a Shark Tank success story has become a legitimate LA institution. Cousins Maine Lobster serves authentic Maine lobster rolls—your choice of Connecticut-style (warm with butter) or Maine-style (cold with mayo)—using lobster shipped directly from Maine.
Yes, it's seafood from a truck in a landlocked parking lot, but the quality is undeniable. Their lobster tots are also dangerously addictive.
9. Ricky's Fish Tacos - Ensenada-Style Perfection
Location: Silver Lake / Los Feliz area
Must-Try: Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos
Price Range: $
For Baja-style fish tacos, Ricky's is the gold standard. The beer-battered fish is fried to crispy perfection, placed in a corn tortilla, and topped with shredded cabbage, crema, and a variety of fresh salsas. It's simple, it's perfect, and it's exactly what fish tacos should be.
The truck has a cult following in the Silver Lake area, and for good reason—these tacos transport you straight to a beachside stand in Ensenada.
10. Guerrilla Tacos - From Truck to Empire
Location: Now primarily a restaurant in DTLA, but they still do pop-ups
Must-Try: Sweet Potato Taco, Seasonal Specials
Price Range: $$-$$$
Wes Avila's Guerrilla Tacos started as a food truck and became so successful it spawned a brick-and-mortar restaurant and a cookbook. While primarily a restaurant now, they still do occasional truck pop-ups that are worth tracking down.
Known for elevated, fine-dining-inspired tacos using high-quality seasonal ingredients, Guerrilla Tacos proved that food truck cuisine could be as sophisticated as any restaurant. Their sweet potato taco with almond chile and feta is legendary.
Conclusion
Los Angeles's food truck scene is a reflection of the city itself—diverse, innovative, and constantly evolving. From the traditional taco trucks that have fed working-class Angelenos for decades to the gourmet trucks that launched culinary careers, these mobile kitchens are an essential part of LA's food culture.
The best advice for exploring LA's food truck scene? Follow your nose, follow social media, and don't be afraid to wait in line—the best trucks always have one. Whether you're in East LA for authentic Mexican, Silver Lake for trendy fusion, or anywhere in between, there's a truck waiting to serve you something delicious.
And remember: in LA, some of the best meals of your life will come through a window on wheels.
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