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Los Angeles writer, app-developer, and foodie Patrick Green is perhaps the city’s No. 1 fan of street food. After selflessly eating his way through every food truck and international neighborhood specialty he could get his hands on, here are his tops picks (in no particular order) for where to go to get a taste of LA’s scrumptious melting pot. Want to visit and take the tour yourself? You can book your LA hotel here.
1. Guisados
This Boyle Heights taco factory are best known for their homely-style slow-cooked meats, but for me it’s their made-to-order tortillas that put them above the rest. Fresh, warm, and chewy, they serve as the perfect landing pad for the savory Cochinita Pobil, spicy Tinga de Pollo and saucy Calabacitas. If you’re a newbie go with the six mini-taco sampler and wash it down with their trademark spiced horchata. The family business is growing as the fast as the line outside with locations in West Hollywood, Echo Park and Downtown LA.
2. Coolhaus
by: BrownGuacamole flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
You can find these architecturally-inspired, hand-crafted, gourmet ice cream sandwiches by following Twitter to track down their fleet of pimped-out trucks or at a trendy local market, but there’s something retro-cool about going to an ice cream shop. Plus, this funky brick-and-mortar has double the flavor(s), literally, stocked up on classics like the Salted Caramel or seasonal specialities like Bourbon Pecan Pie. Don’t sleep on the Affogatos (one scoop over hot coffee) and take home a pint for a Netflix and (real) chill night.
3. Zankou Chicken
by: Patrick Green – Courtesy: Gogobot
Immortalized in Beck’s “Debra,” this beloved Armenian food-chain has been an LA institution since 1983. Tender, spiced, spit-roasted meat cuts, trademark hummus and budget-conscious prices attract a kebab-cult following across the many family-owned locations, but it’s the addicting white garlic paste that separates the “big Z” from its many imitators. Order an extra packet and thank me later.
4. Grand Central Market
by: ricardodiaz11 flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
What’s old is new again, as Bon Appetite named Grand Central Market Best New Restaurant in 2014, thanks in part to an influx of artisan food makers. The nearly century old food emporium, located in historic Bunker Hill, has always reflected this multi-cultural city so it’s no surprise that downtown’s revitalization eventually made it to its core. You can still pick up fresh vegetables from Torres produce stand or slurp up Won Ton soup at the old-school China Cafe, while newcomers like Egg Slut, Sticky Rice and Horse Thief BBQ have brought new life to my favorite place to eat in LA.
5. Street Food Cinema
by: Alice Ly – Courtesy: Gogobot
These outdoor movie screenings are a modern-day re-imagining of the SoCal drive-ins of yesteryear. Taking advantage of LA’s unrivaled weather, the schedule kicks-off Memorial Day weekend and runs until fall with occasional holiday specials (weather permitting). Pack for a picnic, but don’t bring any food because there’s a wagon train of gourmet food trucks.
6. Ricky’s Fish Tacos
by: T.Tseng flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Everyone has their own secret street food spot and Ricky’s Fish Tacos is one of mine. You can find Ricky Pina’s authentic Baja-style tacos in a nondescript parking lot in Silverlake. The lunch lines wrapping around his shiny tin food truck (Wed-Sun) are worth the wait once you sink your teeth into the golden-brown, beer-battered fish, shrimp and lobster special tacos. Topped with shredded cabbage, peppered up pico de gallo and wrapped in a fresh tortilla, there’s nothing quite like it on this side of the border.
7. First Fridays (Abbot Kinney)
by: Patrick Green – Courtesy: Gogobot
First Friday’s are THE way to experience “the coolest block in America” (according to GQ), while getting a taste of the best food trucks in LA. Started in 2008, the outdoor block party goes down on the “First Friday” of every month. Boutique shops and art galleries stay open late, bars offer drink specials and food trucks, serving everything from Maine-shipped lobster rolls to Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches, line the street bumper-to-bumper. Locals, tourists and foodies shop, eat, drink and all end up at The Brig, a favorite watering hole that converts its parking lot into a four-wheeled food court and beer garden.
8. Kogi BBQ Truck
by: punctuated flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Famed fusion chef Roy Choi’s mash-up of Korean inspired, Mexican street food was mad genius, paving the way for the gourmet food truck revolution by capturing the multiculturalism of Los Angeles in one mouth-watering bite. Although he’s gone on to bigger things (A-Frame, Pot, Commissary), Choi built his Kogi BBQ brand on the streets, slinging kalbi tacos and kim chi quesadillas on curbsides from Eagle Rock to Venice. You can still track down his fleet of sticker-tagged trucks at regular spots, but your best bet is to find them on Twitter.
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Source: gogobot.com