Gourmet food trucks add cultural flavor and a variety of cuisine to the streets of Los Angeles. The gourmet food truck craze began with chef Roy Choi’s truck Kogi in 2008, where he fused Mexican tacos with Korean BBQ and utilized social media to update the masses on the truck’s location. Other trucks followed quickly, with the most successful ones combining quality food with unique branding and a strong social media presence.

A far cry from the “roach coaches,” as the traditional taco trucks serving construction sites were called, the gourmet trucks feature restaurant-quality food, colorful decorations, and attract people from all socioeconomic levels. The industry can be a lucrative one, with the Grilled Cheese truck company recently valued at $100 million, and some trucks are able to pull in thousands of dollars in sales in a single night at truck gatherings like First Fridays in Venice. What started as a trend with one truck is now an integral part of the food culture in Los Angeles.

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Food trucks gather outside of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art every day for lunch, sometimes staying into the evening, serving to both the museum’s visitors as well as the employees from adjacent corporate offices. Food truck gathering spots such as this one are also popular destinations for tourists. Los Angeles, CA.

Owner and chef Chris Topperwien works the grill in the No. 1 Currywurst Truck, which features handmade bratwurst on rolls topped with German curry ketchup. Los Angeles, CA.

Snapping photos and sharing via social media are as much a part of street food culture as the food itself. Los Angeles, CA.

Like street food purveyors around the globe, LA’s food truckers offer fast, filling meals to hungry diners. Dishes often mash up diverse cuisines and flavors to create new classics. Los Angeles, CA.

Halloween partiers enjoy freshly made meals from food trucks at public radio KCRW’s annual masquerade ball. The fundraiser features several bands and is held on the grounds of the LA Park Plaza hotel. Special events guarantee customers – and cash – for area food truck businesses. Los Angeles, CA.

Food trucks attract all segments of society in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA.

Down-home dishes meet high-end, locally sourced ingredients in the Chili Philosopher’s food. A strong brand identity and an aggressive social media strategy are essential to differentiate trucks in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Los Angeles, CA.

Many events with large gatherings of food trucks are scheduled regularly, with the most famous one taking place on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice on the first Friday of every month. First Fridays is now a regulated event, with trucks required to purchase permits to participate. On the first Friday of December, holiday decorations brighten picnic tables for diners to enjoy with their food. Los Angeles, CA.

Bars without kitchens have forged symbiotic partnerships with food trucks, coordinating with the trucks to have one outside the bar on a regular basis to feed the bar’s patrons, along with any passersby. Los Angeles, CA.

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