Home » Special Features » The World’s Best » Best Local Food Specialties Los Angeles
New York? Pizza. San Francisco? Dungeness crab. Mexico City? Tacos. Los Angeles? Food trucks. What better way to explore the world’s coolest cities than through the foods they are best known for? Here are Night+Day’s hotlists for the destination dishes (and one beverage) that define our favorite places.
The Scene: One glance at the tricked-out mail truck with the chrome rims, pink sunroof, and bumping sound system should tell you this isn’t your childhood’s ice cream truck. The Draw: The cool as ice (cream) concept is architecturally inspired “sammies.” Although you can choose your own pairings, these ice cream sandwiches also come in signature combos named after iconic architects (there’s the Frank Behry—strawberry ice cream pressed between two sugar cookies) or in off-the-wall flavors (brown butter with candied bacon). One of these sammies will set you back only $3.50. Hot Tip: Their collaboration with Case Mate and local fashion line, “Blood is the New Black,” has resulted in the Summer Fling Truck, a mobile, pop-up clothing, accessory, and ice cream store on wheels.
The Scene: Chef-about-town Dave Danhi had an epiphany while visiting the 7th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational—a grilled cheese truck. A year later his idea became a reality as his truck’s entry was the recipient of “The People’s Choice Award” at the 2010 competition. The Draw: Grilled cheese is the very definition of American comfort food. It’s simple, tasty, and efficiently mass-produced. The gourmet versions—mac ‘n’ cheese with short rib; roasted butternut squash & Gruyère; a desert version of roasted banana puree, Nutella, and marshmallow—are as Lap-Band-worthy and decadently delicious as they sound. All sandwiches are under $7, and sides include tomato soup (of course!) and tater tots. Hot Tip: The Grilled Cheese Truck has a rabid following = huge lines. Thankfully, it’s now expanded to two trucks. Still, your best bet is to come out for its long-time Wednesday night residency at Meltdown Comics on Sunset from 7–10pm.
The Scene: Famed chef Roy Choi paved the way for the gourmet food truck craze with a Korean-inspired mash-up of Mexican street food. The Draw: The idea was ingenious. The execution was—and still is—flawless. Favorites include signature short rib tacos, Kimchi quesadillas, and spicy pork or tofu burrito. If it sounds delicious, that’s because it is, especially late at night after drinks. Like starving zombies armed with GPS, Kogi’s cult following tracks its whereabouts via Twitter. Hot Tip: The lines outside lunch spots and hipster bars can be longer than at the DMV, so try Choi’s first brick-and-mortar spot, Chego. The strip mall spot is understated, but just as hip, garnering a seal of approval from Pulitzer Prize-winning, LA food critic Jonathan Gold.
