How to Eat Like a King in LA Without Going Broke
By Local Foodie · Published on 2024-10-18
There is a strange obsession among tourists to eat at places like The Ivy or Nobu Malibu. Look, if you want to spend $200 to watch a C-list celebrity eat a salad, go ahead.
But if you want to taste the soul of Los Angeles, you need to lower your gaze. You need to look for the places with plastic chairs, cash-only signs, and lines of people who look like they just got off work.
Los Angeles food culture is not about white tablecloths. It is about Strip Mall Gold.
The Taco Truck Religion
You cannot come here and eat Taco Bell. It is actually illegal (okay, it’s not, but it should be). The best tacos are served from trucks parked in front of tire shops and car washes.
- The Al Pastor Test: Look for a truck with a giant spit of pork (the trompo) roasting on an open flame. If they are shaving the meat fresh and slicing a pineapple on top, get in line.
- The Cost: Tacos used to be $1. Now they are $2.50 or $3. It’s still the best deal in town. Bring cash. Most don’t take cards.
Korean Food in Strip Malls
Drive through Koreatown (K-Town). You will see ugly two-story concrete shopping centers. Inside those ugly buildings is the best food you will ever eat.
- Sundubu (Tofu Stew): Look for BCD Tofu House or smaller mom-and-pop spots. For $18, you get a bubbling pot of spicy soup, a grilled fish, rice, and six different side dishes (banchan). It feeds your soul.
- KBBQ: You don’t need the fancy $50 all-you-can-eat places. Some of the best spots look like cafeterias.
The “Danger Dog”
If you go to a concert or a Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena, when you walk out, you will smell something incredible. Bacon, onions, peppers. Vendors (usually illegal/unlicensed carts) grill hot dogs wrapped in bacon on makeshift baking sheets. We call them Danger Dogs or Street Dogs. Are they sanitary? Probably not. Are they delicious at 11 PM after three beers? Absolutely. Eat at your own risk, but it’s a rite of passage.
The In-N-Out Reality
Yes, you have to go. It’s the law. But here is the secret: The fries are bad. I said it. They taste like cardboard. Order a Double-Double, Animal Style. This adds grilled onions and extra sauce. And ask for your fries “Light Well”. It makes them slightly crispier and edible. Don’t expect a gourmet burger. Expect the best $5 burger you’ve ever had.
Eating in LA is an adventure. Don’t be afraid of the grit. The grittier the location, usually, the better the flavor.