The star-studded neighborhoods dotting the city, the year-round virtually ideal weather, and the best street foods in Los Angeles are all well-known features of the city.
Everybody may find something they enjoy in Los Angeles, from traditional Mexican tacos to Korean BBQ.
The street food scene in Los Angeles continues to represent the cultural diversity that calls its borders home, showcasing cuisines from Thailand to Korea and Japan, as well as from Mexico to Guatemala.
Street foods in Los Angeles cater to the working class and people looking for reasonably priced cuisine with various flavors.
As you travel throughout the city, you’ll start to notice that Los Angeles’ eateries are just as unique as its residents.
When you visit Los Angeles, our guide will show you all the street food you must try, from well-known favorites to unique surprises!
1. Tuna Taco
Tuna tacos are starting our list of street foods in Los Angeles. These tacos are commonly filled with prawns.
However, white fish like pollock and tilapia can also be used.
Enjoy the zesty flavor of fresh fish in a warm corn tortilla with a side of tomato salsa and a squeeze of lime juice, whether you like your fish grilled or fried.
2. Burger
A list of all the street foods in Los Angeles globe cannot be complete without including burgers.
We may thus assume that burgers will continue to have a prominent place on the list of street cuisine in Los Angeles.
Burgers continue to be one of the most well-liked foods on Los Angeles streets because of the thick layer of meat and vegetables inside the burger bun and the many sauces and cheeses that enhance the delectable explosion of flavors.
Savor the range of hamburgers served by street food vendors and food trucks, featuring sear-cooked patties composed of meat.
Two of the most well-liked burger varieties among street foods in Los Angeles enthusiasts are cheeseburgers and chilled burgers.
3. Elote
One of the greatest street foods in Los Angeles is elotes, or corn on the cob, prepared in the Mexican style.
Vendors of elote are common throughout the city, mainly stationed outside supermarkets or on street corners.
Typically, the corn is fried before being covered with cotija cheese, mayonnaise, and chili spice.
For those who prefer elote in a cup, there are also esquites and corn on the cob.
4. Fried Chicken
There are several excellent fried chicken restaurants in Los Angeles, and fried chicken is a popular comfort dish.
But Howlin’ Ray’s food truck, well-known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, has some of the greatest street foods in Los Angeles.
There are several heat settings for the juicy, spicy chicken, ranging from “mild” to “howlin.”
5. Pupusa
One of the famous street foods in Los Angeles is pupusas, a typical Salvadoran delicacy.
These hearty corn tortillas are filled with various ingredients, including cheese, beans, and meat, and they are typically served with curtido, a salad of pickled cabbage.
Pupuseria La Flor Blanca in South Central and Elena’s Famous Mexican Food in East LA are well-known pupusa locations in Los Angeles.
6. Rolled Lobster
It is no surprise that Los Angeles offers some of the best seafood options, given its proximity to the coast.
Visit Broad Street Oyster Co. for shrimp tacos and lobster rolls if you want quick and simple seafood.
Mariscos Jalisco, a Boyle Heights mainstay for over three decades and renowned for its crispy prawn tacos, is a fantastic choice.
7. Korean Barbecue
The nation’s love for Korean barbecue has skyrocketed in recent years, and LA is home to some of the top Korean BBQ restaurants.
However, you don’t need to eat at a restaurant to savor this delectable food.
Many street food vendors in Los Angeles offer Korean BBQs, such as the well-known Seoul Sausage truck that sells rice bowls and sausages prepared in the Korean way.
The Kogi BBQ truck, which we previously discussed and is well-known for its combination of Mexican and Korean flavors, is another fantastic choice.
8. Burrito
Locals love this dish, which is southwestern in flavor, for breakfast.
A typical morning burrito contains tortillas rolled around eggs, cheese, and potatoes.
However, if you stroll into any popular breakfast establishment in Los Angeles, you’ll find something more unique.
A couple of the creative twists this city’s eateries are putting on this recipe are chorizo and avocado.
However, some even include steak and pico de gallo in the mixture.
No matter how you enjoy your morning with these street foods in Los Angeles, there are excellent restaurants all across town that offer delicious food at reasonable costs.
9. Korean Taco
There are many different methods to re-create these street foods in Los Angeles.
A typical Mexican food made of a wheat or corn tortilla wrap topped with a tasty filling on the streets of Los Angeles.
Along with the classic tacos seasoned with salsa, beans, chipotle, guacamole, beef, and other Tijuana characteristics, the tacos at LA also feature the flavor of seafood thanks to the addition of shrimp, oysters, and ceviche to the fillings.
For a zesty twist, try Korean tacos, made by carefully combining red salsa with cilantro, lime, and onion ingredients within fried corn tortillas, along with caramelized Korean BBQ.
With their various flavors, tacos are still popular in Los Angeles and are aptly called the “king” of LA street cuisine.
So, if you want to savor a tasty and juicy salsa filling within freshly created tortilla wraps, visit any food trucks and street sellers selling tacos at their establishment.
10. Skewers Food
Los Angeles street food culture is still in its infancy; it has already successfully adopted the authentic culinary styles of nations like Mexico and the Philippines.
Skewed food is still a staple of Pinoy street food culture. LA’s boulevards serve mouthwatering renditions of skewered chicken feet, pig liver, intestines, gizzards, and quail eggs for the city’s street food enthusiasts.
The skewers coated in soy and garlic are roasted over coal grills and served with sauces seasoned with vinegar.
11. French Dip-style Sandwiches
Sandwich dipped in salsa is also included on our list of street foods in Los Angeles.
A unique, hard roll of bread stuffed with pickled veggies and carnitas, then dipped in hot salsa to serve, promises a zesty explosion of salsa flavor, pickled veggies, and a juicy experience with the meat.
Go there to sample these unusual street foods in Los Angeles.
12. Bagel
Bagels is ending our list of street foods in Los Angeles.
The classic baked bread is reimagined in Los Angeles’ street food markets with cream cheese, scrambled eggs, peppered bacon, jalapenos, and sliced tomatoes.
This unique recipe combines the yeast sweetness of bagels with different ingredients and a hot jalapeño pop for a creamy and cheesy taste.
Don’t forget to sample this LA-inspired version of authentic German bagels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Indulge in other noteworthy street foods in Los Angeles, such as churros, hot dogs, quesadillas, and ceviche.
Los Angeles offers a fusion of many culinary techniques and original cuisines.
Explore the city’s streets to find many other secret street foods in Los Angeles that deserve special attention. Enjoy!!