The Best L.A. Food Trucks By Chef Jen [46 more lists]

Everyone in Los Angeles knows the best eats come from a truck not a restaurant and the best L.A. food trucks prove that. Open night and day, these popular food trucks travel from location to location across Southern California serving up a selection of food on the go. From the Kogi BBQ truck that started the food truck craze to others that specialize in ethnic food or sweets, it's easy to find good eats sure to please nearly everyone.

While L.A. food trucks often simply show up at scheduled locations, many food truck enthusiasts enjoy the hunt of tracking down their favorite truck in the city. Luckily for these foodies, the food trucks use the Internet and social media to communicate their locations and specials. (If you can't make it out to one of these trucks, doesn't mean you can't experience Epic Meal Time.)

In addition to posting their menus, schedules and planned locations on their official websites, many food trucks will inform their fans of other news, such as specials, using their Twitter and Facebook accounts. As if that was not enough, there are a bunch of secondary websites strictly devoted to tracking Los Angeles food trucks.

There's an estimated 200 food trucks roaming the streets of Los Angeles in total, but some are certainly better than others. Help us decide which Los Angeles food truck rules the road by voting for your favorites below.

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Grilled Cheese Truck

Few things are better than grilled cheese and the Grilled Cheese Truck takes the comfort food to the next level. Prices range from $3 for a simple American grilled cheese sandwich to around $8 for specialized melts. Don't forget sides and desserts with options like a sweet Nutella melt and of course tomato soup for dipping.

Website
Twitter: @grlldcheesetruk
2

Up 67

Down 18

Kogi BBQ

As the father of the food truck revolution in Los Angeles, the Kogi BBQ trucks serve Korean Mexican tacos, burritos, sliders and beverages. Tacos, with the choice of short ribs, spicy pork, chicken or tofu, run around $2 each while burritos and Kogi favorites are $5. Combo plates with a selection of items and a drink can be had for $7-10.

Website
Twitter: @KogiBBQ
3

Up 29

Down 6

Yalla

The Yalla truck takes falafel to the extreme with offerings of falafel sandwiches with ingredients from Italian, Thai, Greek, Southwest and Mediterranean cuisines. For about $5, diners can enjoy these stuffed sandwiches, all of which are 100% vegetarian and many even vegan.

Website
Twitter: @YallaTruck
4

Up 43

Down 13

Great Balls On Tires

Great Balls in Tires sounds like a funny name, but it really describes exactly what the L.A. food truck offers, gourmet meatballs. The menu includes meatballs flavored with spices form various ethnic cuisines all with toppings and a sauce on either a toasted brioche roll, rice or noodles. Seasonal and specialty balls are also available and range from $3 to around $6.

Website
Twitter: @greatballsot
5

Up 37

Down 11

Coolhaus

Far from your ordinary ice cream truck, Coolhaus takes ice cream sandwiches a step ahead. Visitors select from one of about a dozen varieties of cookies and one of about 30 flavors of gourmet ice cream to create a customized sweet treat. Ice cream sandwiches are around $5 each, but also include an edible wrapper made from potato.

Website
Twitter: @COOLHAUS
6

Up 53

Down 19

Lardon

Named after the French word for a cube of pork fat, the Lardon Truck specializes in gourmet dishes featuring artisanal bacon. Specialties include brioche french toast sandwich with crumbled bacon and bacon bourbon maple syrup, chicken wings covered in bacon hot sauce, topped with hot sauce covered bacon and bacon blue cheese dipping sauce and the signature BLT. And for dessert? Brownies with bacon nutella spread.

Website
Twitter: @GetYourLardon
7

Up 40

Down 13

Grill 'Em All

Though they are perhaps best known for appearing on and winning "The Great Food Truck Race" reality show, the boys at Grill 'Em All hold their own on the streets with burgers and grilled sandwiches. Come hungry as their offerings are filling to say the least including their $10 Behemoth which uses grilled cheese sandwiches as buns to surround cheddar cheese, bacon, grilled onions, pickles, a signature BBQ sauce and of course a burger.

Website
Twitter: @GrillEmAllTruck
8

Up 47

Down 18

LudoTruck

The LudoTruck (also known as "LudoBites") is the mobile home of renowned French chef Ludovic Lefebvre, perhaps best known for his appearance on the first season of the Bravo series "Top Chef Masters." The truck features Chef Ludo's famous fried chicken, as well as fries. A variety of gourmet sauces are also available, as are lavender honey biscuits, and freshly chopped slaw.

Website
Twitter: @LudoTruck
9

Up 29

Down 10

Buttermilk Truck

As the name suggests, the Buttermilk Truck uses buttermilk in nearly all of their menu items which range from $3 to $7. The Buttermilk Truck serves primarily breakfast foods and sweets such as pancake bites, buttermilk breakfast sandwiches, donuts and breakfast sliders. Late night diners get the special treat though including their fresh fried chicken with homemade cinnamon waffles.

Website
Twitter: @ButtermilkTruck
10

Up 40

Down 17

Vizzi Truck

Described as a coastal infused cuisine, the Vizzi Truck cooks up high-end dishes such as white truffle popcorn, venison burgers, wagyu beef sliders and a one-of-a-kind foie gras peanut butter and jelly. Compared to other Los Angeles food trucks, you'll pay a bit more, around $10 for many items, but the quality ingredients make up for it in the end.

Website
Twitter: @VizziTruck
11

Up 31

Down 12

Frysmith

While so many other food trucks specialize in burgers and sandwiches, Frysmith provides the perfect accompaniment, loaded french fries. Easily enough for a meal alone, the fries are topped with premium ingredients like beer and chocolate chili, shawarma-marinated steak or Kurobuta pork belly, among others. Many of their fry dishes, which sell for around $7-10, can also be ordered with sweet potatoes if desired.

Website
Twitter: @Frysmith
12

Up 28

Down 12

Border Grill

As an extension of their chain of restaurants, the Border Grill truck makes Mexican food portable with choices like tacos, quesadillas and cones. Each can be filled with your choice of ingredients including lime and garlic marinated grilled steak, seasonal fish, chicken or veggies. For something different, try their cumin fries for just $3.

Website
Twitter: @BorderGrill
13

Up 17

Down 5

Me So Hungry Truck

Putting big international flavors into even bigger burgers, the Me So Hungry Truck does not mess around. Menu items are divided into types of monsters, with the big monsters gourmet burgers, little monsters sides like popcorn shrimp and sweet potato fries and sweet monsters like fried bananas and blueberry bites.

Website
Twitter: @MeSoHungryTruck
14

Up 29

Down 13

Lobsta Truck

The specialty of the house (well, truck) is the Lobsta Roll, featuring fresh lobster meat on a toasted split-top roll with mayo or butter. (A similar sandwich with crab is also available, as is clam chowder.) For dessert, there's ice cream sandwiches and whoopie pies, in case the lobsta rolls themselves don't have you feeling nostalgic enough. It's a bit pricy for food truck food, sure, but this is LOBSTER we're talking about!

Website
Twitter: @Lobstatruck
15

Up 20

Down 8

Sweets Truck

The Sweets Truck lives up to their slogan of "taking sweets to the streets" with a mobile cafe and bakeshop. Signature menu items include cookies, cakes, brownies and other desserts, each of which can be ordered alongside freshly brewed espresso drinks or flavored lemonades. Prices range based on the item with most $5 or less.

Website
Twitter: @TheSweetsTruck
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Up 19

Down 8

Mandoline Grill

Offering similar food to the Nom Nom Truck, the Mandoline Grill truck serves Vietnamese food. Along with their grilled pork, hawaiian BBQ chicken and grilled beef Banh Mi, Bun and tacos, the Mandoline Grill also features vegan-friendly options and some killer Vietnamese nachos. Single items are between $5 and $7 each while combos are around $10.

Website
Twitter: @MandolineGrill
17

Up 31

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Nom Nom Truck

Using only the best local ingredients, the Nom Nom Truck has perfected the Banh Mi, which for those out of the loop is a Vietnamese sandwich with honey glazed pork, marinated carrots, cucumber and fresh cilantro on a crispy baguette. Add in a Vietnamese taco and a beverage and your meal is nom-worthy. Sandwiches start at $5, tacos are around $2.50 and combos are available for around $8 each.

Website
Twitter: @NomNomTruck
18

Up 14

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The Gastrobus

Using an actual school bus, the Gastrobus serves up snacks and sandwiches using fresh ingredients from around the city. The bus can often be found in front of the Los Feliz Farmer's Market on Sundays for brunch where they make sweet potato fries, root beer floats and other goodies ranging from about $2 to about $6.

Website
Twitter: @Gastrobus
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Up 17

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Macho Nacho Truck

Bringing the southwest flare of Texas to Southern California, the Macho Nacho Truck specializes in nachos and burritos, both of which are available for around $7 each. Featuring beef, BBQ pork, chile verde and a number of other toppings, diners can enjoy a heaping portion of nachos made with homemade chips.

Twitter: @MachoNachoTruck
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Up 13

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Let's Be Frank

Hot dogs are the specialty of this venerable San Francisco outfit which operates numerous trucks and carts in LA. These aren't just any wieners, but 100% grass-fed dogs seasoned with organic spices. Options include beef franks, pork sausages and spicy Italian sausages (made with family-farmed pork) and pasture-raised turkey dogs. The Let's Be Frank trucks can regularly be found outside the Helms Bakery complex in Culver City, and the Silverlake Wine Shop in Silverlake. The company also sells the franks and sausages on their website.

Website
Twitter: @LetsBeFrank
21

Up 5

Down 0

India Jones Chow Truck

The India Jones Chow Truck takes gourmet Indian cuisine to the streets. Their signature dish, the Frankie, features a roti roll-up with choice of meat, a cilantro tamarind chutney and chopped onion. Paratha, samosa, mango baby back ribs and a variety of curries, served over rice, are also available.

Website
Twitter: @IndiaJonesCT
22

Up 9

Down 4

Get Shaved

The provocatively titled "Get Shaved" truck features Hawaiian shaved ice in tons of flavors, including Pineapple, Guava, Lychee, Hawaiian Punch, Banana, Orange Creamsicle and the Charlie Sheen-inspired "Tiger Blood" variety. Other options include adding ice cream, azuki beans or mochi balls on top, not to mention Pico de Gallo Powder, Sour Spray or Marshmallow. (Psst...the site also boasts a "secret menu" of flavor combinations suggested by fans.)

Website
Twitter: @GetShaved
23

Up 12

Down 8

Crepe'n Around

Described as a "crepe-lover's paradise," the Crepe'n Around truck specializes in the sweet and thin pastries known as crepes. While traditionally filled with sweet ingredients like fruit, chocolate and whipped cream, Crepe'n Around also fills their crepes with savory ingredients like chicken. If that was not enough, they serve some fantastic garlic fries to complete a meal.

Website
Twitter: @CrepenAround
24

Up 8

Down 4

Greenz on Wheelz

As a change from the greasy burgers, the Greenz on Wheelz truck specializes in salads, wraps and melts. Salads include their BBW chicken, Italian, steak, greek, Chinese chicken, tuna and more, with each around $8 or less. If you must have the grease, fresh potato wedges and chips are also available on the side.

Website
Twitter: @greenzonwheelz
25

Up 13

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Baby's Badass Burgers

Don't let the pink truck and pin-up girls fool you, the Baby's Badass Burgers truck is no sissy when it comes to burgers. Available in baby and half-pound maneater sizes from $5 to $15 each, the burgers come topped with everything from the standard fixins to black truffles. Fries, both potato and sweet potato, and beverages are also available.

Website
Twitter: @BabysBBs
26

Up 8

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Worldfare Bustaurant

It may look like one, but don't call this a food truck as the World Fare is the first "BUSturant" in the United States. Using a double-decker bus, the bottom level prepares entrees like short rib, chicken, garden and BBQ "bunny" sandwiches while the top level is open for guests to enjoy their food.

Website
Twitter: @worldfare
27

Up 3

Down 0

Crepes Bonaparte

Featured on the Food Network series "The Great Food Truck Race" and on the Cooking Channel, Crepes Bonaparte serves exactly what the name suggests, French-style crepes. Breaking out of the standard sweet crepes, Crepes Bonaparte serves up breakfast crepes, with fillings like bacon, eggs and cheese, savory crepes, with fillings like chicken, spinach, tomato and pesto, dessert crepes, with fillings like Nutella, fruit and whipped cream, and their traditional crepes, with simple fillings such as cinnamon and sugar.

Website
Twitter: @CrepesBonaparte
28

Up 5

Down 3

Ta Bom!

Portuguese for "it's good," Ta Bom! is the only food truck in Los Angeles, California, to offer authentic Brazilian food. In addition to tacos and burritos with Brazilian-spiced meats and ingredients, Ta Bom! offers pastel, a crispy fried pastry filled with cheese, meats and even fruits. All items, including burgers and dogs, can be had for under $10.

Website
Twitter: @Ta_Bom
29

Up 7

Down 6

Meet n' Potatoes

An unconventional take on the sandwich truck, Meet n' Potatoes offers pastrami, turkey, roast beef and chicken sandwiches with tomatoes, cole slaw and, yes, french fries stuffed inside them. (Burgers, kielbasa and grilled cheese are also available.) Smaller sandwiches will run you $5 while the larger size is $8.

Website
Twitter: @MeetNPotatoes
30

Up 9

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Bollywood Bites Truck

Led by experienced chef Sanjay Patel, Bollywood Bites specializes in authentic Indian food including masala, saag paneer, chana, buryani and more. Often found in Santa Monica, Patel makes the cuisine portable by putting it in a sandwich or salad to take on the go.

Website
Twitter: @bollywoodbite
31

Up 3

Down 1

Phamish

Providing "Vietnamese home cooking on the go," Phamish has an extensive menu of Vietnamese goodies. Steak, beef, pork, chicken and tofu varieties are available in Banh Mi sandwiches, Goi Cuon spring rolls, Pho noodle soups and Bun rice vermicelli dishes, all between $6 and $8.

Website
Twitter: @eatphamish
32

Up 3

Down 1

The Mighty Boba Truck

Serving much more than their "Mighty Concoctions" of made-to-order Boba Tea beverages, The Mighty Boba Truck fuses Taiwanese and American cuisines. "Mighty Meals" include a "Hero" such as pork chops, popcorn chicken or Taiwanese sausage, plus a "Sidekick" like curry spud balls, sweet butter toast or sweet potato fries and a "Concoction" combining tea with flavors of milk, honey and passion fruit.

Website
Twitter: @mightyboba
33

Up 3

Down 1

Dumpling Station

Wrapping a variety of ingredients into dumpling and steaming them to perfection, the Dumpling Station offers up "Chinese mouth-watering cuisine." Dumplings are handmade using fresh ingredients like pork and baby leek, chicken and veggies, kimichi pork, kimichi beef and veggies. Sides such as jalapeno wontons and garlic wasabi fries are also available.

Website
Twitter: @DumplingStation
34

Up 5

Down 5

Vesuvio LA

Billed as the first and best Italian food truck in Los Angeles, Vesuvio gives a taste of Italy in Southern California. Menu items include arancini (rice balls), the pasta of the day and a selection of sandwiches with all meals under $10.

Website
Twitter: @VesuvioLA
35

Up 5

Down 5

BACON MANia Truck

Clearly the only way to make food trucks better is to make one devoted to bacon and the BACON MANia Truck does just that. Each of their starters, entrees and sweets include bacon such as their bacon balls, bacon cheese crisps, bacon sandwiches, bacon-caramel popcorn and bacon brownies.

Website
Twitter: @BACONMANia
36

Up 2

Down 0

Shrimp Pimp

Catering to "Shrimpsters" on the streets of Los Angeles, the Shrimp Pimp truck specializes in, wait for it, shrimp! Specialty dishes like the shrimp po boy, Victoria sandwich and Guinness-battered fried shrimp are available for around $8 as are small bites like shrimp ceviche in lettuce wraps, drunken shrimp tacos and shrimp bruschetta ranging from $3 to $6.

Website
Twitter: @ShrimpPimpTruck
37

Up 2

Down 0

Global Soul

Putting an international twist on new American comfort food, the Global Soul Truck serves up soulful and spicy dishes using quality ingredients and worldly flavors. Their specialty, which sells for around $10, is the shrimp toasty. This entree includes jumbo shrimp in a coconut curry sauce over toasted sweet bread. Finish the meal with a signature watermelon jasmine iced tea with fresh mint.

Website
Twitter: @globalsoultruck
38

Up 2

Down 0

The Greasy Wiener

Bringing the East Coast tradition of wieners to Southern California, The Greasy Wiener makes standard hot dog carts jealous for miles around. Their wieners are available in regular or spicy and can be topped with numerous goodies such as grilled onions, bacon, pickles and one of many cheeses. Generously topped curly fries are also available with themed toppings like nachos and buffalo bleus.

Website
Twitter: @TheGreasyWiener
39

Up 3

Down 2

Calbi

Offering a fusion of Korean flavors with the street-food style of Mexican entrees Calbi provides "a new generation of tacos." Pick the type of dish, then decide between Korean beef short ribs, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu to create custom tacos, burritos, quesadillas and rice bowls.

Website
Twitter: @CalbiBBQ
40

Up 3

Down 3

Wao! Truck

Challenging other ethnic food trucks in Los Angeles, the Wao! Truck, formerly known as the Tao Truck, serves up Vietnamese food to the masses. Start your meal with hot or cold rolls, add in some rice or noodles and finish with one of their signature dishes. By the piece components are as little as $2, but add a few together and you're meal is around $10.

Website
Twitter: @WaoTruck
41

Up 2

Down 2

Lomo Arigato

Combining Peruvian and Japanese flavors, Lomo Arigato is the brainchild of West L.A. native Eric Nakata. The food truck features saltado, which includes choice of meat stir fried with vegetables and french fries or pasta with sauce. The portions are generous, the french fries are crispy and the green sauce will have you saying 'thank you very much.'

Website
Twitter: @lomoarigato
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Up 2

Down 2

Komodo

With two trucks serving "dangerously good food," Komodo specializes in a modern California-Asian fusion cuisine. Entrees have the taste of that in sit-down restaurants but in the portable form of tacos, for $3, and burritos, for $8. Fillings range from the Komodo 2.0 with seared sirloin, jalapeno aioli and southwest corn salad to fish and grapes, veggie soy tempeh, shrimp, chicken and pork. Plenty of sides are also available for around $5 such as their truffle fries and crab cakes.

Website
Twitter: @komodogood
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Up 1

Down 0

Dosa Truck

Serving "South Indian street food with a California twist," the Dosa Truck cooks exactly what the name suggests, dosas. For around $7, dosas feature the flavors of curried potatoes, sweet potato masala, spinach and cheese or caramelized onions, mushrooms and cheese. Daily specials, appetizers and beverages are also available.

Website
Twitter: @DOSAtruck
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Up 1

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Bera’s Custom Cheese Steaks

Using the same traditional methods that made cheese steaks must-eats in Philadelphia, Bera’s Custom Cheese Steaks brings the guilty pleasures to the Los Angeles area. Their traditional Philly cheese steaks can be ordered in full of half sizes in numerous varieties such as the Thai chicken steak, bacon cheese steak, California BLT steak and even a vegetarian "steak." Custom orders are also allowed with choice of meat, cheese, toppings and sauces to suit any palate.

Website
Twitter: @BeraCheeseSteak
45

Up 1

Down 0

Patty Wagon

Exclusively using grass-fed beef the Patty Wagon prides itself on serving mini hamburgers that are sustainable, lower in fat and "deeeelicious!" In addition to their daily specials, the Patty Wagon burgers range in toppings from the simple to the exotic with the likes of melted gruyere and onions on the "La Vie En Rose" to the "I Get a Kick Out of You" with roasted jalapenos, pancetta and provolone. Sides are also sustainable, using organic potatoes for crunchy fries.

Website
Twitter: @PattyWagonLA