The Los Angeles
Street Food Guide

01

Tacos al Pastor off the Trompo

Mexico City & Puebla (Lebanese-Mexican heritage)

Vertical trompo spit-roast with charred pineapple

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 02

Birria de Res & Crispy Quesatacos

Jalisco (Guadalajara & Los Altos)

Slow-braised beef folded with melting quesillo

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 03

Ricas Carnitas Michoacanas

Michoacán (Quiroga & Santa Clara del Cobre)

Pork confit in pure lard, sold by taco or pound

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 04

Cemitas Poblanas, Molotes & Tacos Placeros

Puebla (Valle de Puebla tradition)

Sesame pan de cemita with quesillo and pápalo

Hand-Pressed Masa Antojitos Explore → 05

Tlacoyos, Huaraches & Memelas

Central Mexico (Puebla, Hidalgo & Valle de México)

Blue & yellow corn masa griddled on flat comales

Hand-Pressed Masa Antojitos Explore → 06

Enchiladas de Mole, Tamales & Tacos Dorados

Central & Southern Mexico (Puebla & Oaxaca home cooking)

Dried chile and cacao mole over steamed tamales

Home-Style Antojitos & Comida Casera Explore → 07

Mexican Sushi & Pacific Fusion Rolls

Sinaloa (Culiacán & Mazatlán fusion)

Maki rolls with asada, cream cheese and shrimp, fried

Pacific Fusion & Mexican Sushi Explore → 08

Fresh Street Pastas Tossed to Order

Los Angeles street innovation & Italian-American comfort

Made-to-order pasta tossed over roaring flame pans

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 09

Fresh-Fried Artisan Churros

Mexico City fairgrounds & colonial confectionery

Choux dough pressed into bubbling oil, cinnamon sugar

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 10

Warm Gorditas de Nata & Pan de Feria

Tlaxcala & central Mexican fairground bakeries

Milk-nata dough griddled and filled warm

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 11

Vitrolero Aguas Frescas

Michoacán & Jalisco vitrolero traditions

Whole fruit steeped with cane sugar over block ice

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 12

Hand-Churned Nieves de Garrafa

Jalisco, Michoacán & Oaxaca wooden-tub sorbetry

Steel cylinder spun in an oak tub packed with rock salt

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 13

Korean BBQ Street Food & Mozzarella Dogs

Los Angeles Korean-American street innovation

Crispy fries loaded with sweet-savory bulgogi beef

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 14

Artisanal Repostería, Jericallas & Tiramisu

Guadalajara (Jalisco) & European pastry heritage

Chilled dessert cups: toasted jericalla, tiramisu & carlota

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 15

Fresas con Crema & Sweet Crepes

Central Mexico (Irapuato strawberry heritage)

Strawberries layered with Mexican crema and Nutella

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 16

Papas Fritas Callejeras

Central Mexican street cart & plaza botana heritage

Wafer-thin potatoes fried on site with lime and salsa

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 17

Gummies Enchilados & Chamoy Candy

Jalisco & modern Mexican confectionery culture

Artisan gummies coated in sticky chamoy and Tajín chile

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 18

Tacos de Suadero

Beef rose meat confited gently in fat, crisped on a comal, and chopped.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 19

Tacos de Cabeza

El Bajío region

Whole beef head steamed for hours until tender, shredded, and served in tortillas.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 20

Tacos de Tripa

Cleaned beef intestines boiled tender, then crisped in rendered fat on a comal.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 21

Tacos de Lengua

Whole beef tongue braised tender with aromatics, peeled, diced, and griddled.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 22

Tacos de Cecina

Salt-cured, sun-aired thin beef sheets quickly seared over hot coals or comal.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 23

Gorditas de Asada

Thick masa cakes griddled on comal, split open, and stuffed with grilled steak.

Hand-Pressed Masa Antojitos Explore → 24

Burritos de Asada

Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

Charred beef wrapped snugly with beans inside a warm, thin wheat flour tortilla.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 25

Quesadillas de Comal

Hand-pressed oval masa griddled on comal, folded around savory fillings, and melted.

Hand-Pressed Masa Antojitos Explore → 26

Tortas de Asada

Crusty roll split, layered with charred steak, avocado, and condiments, then toasted.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 27

Carnitas por Libra

Michoacán, Mexico

Whole-hog cuts simmered slowly in lard inside copper pots, sold by weight.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 28

Chicharrón de Puerco

Cleaned pork skin salted, sun-aired, blanched in lard, and puffed in hot fat.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 29

Empanadas

Masa or dough folded over savory fillings, crimped, and deep-fried until crisp.

Hand-Pressed Masa Antojitos Explore → 30

Plátanos Fritos

Sliced ripe plantains fried in hot oil until caramelized, tender, and golden.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 31

Birria Ramen

Mexico City

Springy ramen noodles steeped in spiced beef birria consommé with shredded meat.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 32

Torta de Birria

Crusty roll packed with shredded stewed beef and dipped in savory birria broth.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 33

Papas de Birria

Crispy french fries smothered in shredded beef birria, melted cheese, and consommé.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 34

Nachos de Birria

Crispy corn tortilla chips baked with cheese, shredded birria, and fresh garnishes.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 35

Pizza de Birria

Pizza crust baked with cheese and shredded beef birria, served with consommé.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 36

Mulita de Birria

Shredded birria and cheese sandwiched between two comal-toasted tortillas, grilled until melted.

Hand-Pressed Masa Antojitos Explore → 37

Teriyaki Bowl

Japan and Pacific Northwest, Edo-era technique

Grilled glazed chicken or beef served over steamed rice with sweet soy sauce.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 38

Yakisoba

Tokyo, Japan

Steamed wheat noodles stir-fried with vegetables and sliced pork in savory sauce.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 39

BBQ Ribs

United States

Pork spareribs slow-smoked over hardwood coals until tender, glazed with sauce.

Street Tacos & Charred Meats Explore → 40

Dragon Roll

Japanese American fusion sushi tradition

Inside-out sushi roll packed with tempura shrimp and shingled with avocado slices.

Sushi Rolls & Japanese-American Explore → 41

Rainbow Roll

Japanese American fusion uramaki tradition

Inside-out sushi roll packed with crab and draped in multicolored sashimi.

Sushi Rolls & Japanese-American Explore → 42

Tiger Roll

Inside-out sushi roll wrapped with crab, avocado, and butterflied shrimp on top.

Sushi Rolls & Japanese-American Explore → 43

Korean BBQ Fries

Crispy French fries smothered with marinated grilled bulgogi beef, kimchi, and melted cheese.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 44

Korean Mozzarella Dog

South Korea

Skewered mozzarella cheese wrapped in yeasted batter, dredged in panko, and fried.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 45

Mandu

Korea

Wheat dumplings filled with minced pork, tofu, and kimchi, pan-fried or steamed.

Pacific Fusion & Street Grills Explore → 46

Fettuccine Alfredo

Rome, Italy

Tender fettuccine ribbons tossed with rich butter, cream, and grated Parmesan cheese.

Pasta & Italian-American Explore → 47

Spaghetti Marinera

Spaghetti tossed with sautéed shrimp, calamari, and shellfish in garlic tomato broth.

Pasta & Italian-American Explore → 48

Fettuccine Pesto

Genoa, Liguria

Tender fettuccine tossed in raw crushed basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan emulsion.

Pasta & Italian-American Explore → 49

Penne in Pink Sauce

Ridged penne pasta tossed in a creamy emulsion of simmered tomatoes and heavy cream.

Pasta & Italian-American Explore → 50

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Al dente spaghetti ladled with hearty slow-simmered beef, aromatics, and rich tomato sauce.

Pasta & Italian-American Explore → 51

Garlic Bread

United States

Crusty Italian bread spread with whipped garlic butter and herbs, toasted golden.

Pasta & Italian-American Explore → 52

Panna Cotta

Sweetened dairy cream warmed with vanilla, set with gelatin, and served chilled.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 53

Tiramisu

Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Ladyfingers dipped in espresso layered with whipped mascarpone cream and cocoa.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 54

Crème Brûlée

Rich egg yolk custard baked, chilled, and torched with caramelized sugar.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 55

Carlota de Limón

María cookies layered with condensed milk, evaporated milk, and fresh lime juice.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 56

Cannoli

Sicily, Italy

Blistered fried pastry tubes filled with sweet sheep ricotta and candied fruit.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 57

Jericalla

Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Spiced milk and egg custard baked until the top develops charred spots.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 58

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, Banana and Watermelon

Fresh strawberries, chilled bananas, and watermelon dipped in warm chocolate and sprinkled.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 59

Churro Chorreado

Freshly fried churros rolled in cinnamon-sugar and drizzled generously with sweet sauces.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 60

Churros Rellenos

Wide fried churros hollowed and injected with sweet cajeta, chocolate, or cream.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 61

Sweet Crepes

France

Thin wheat batter spun across a circular griddle, filled, and folded into triangles.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 62

Mini Pancakes

Sweet batter cooked in dimpled griddles, flipped quickly, and piled with sweet toppings.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 63

Waffles with Fruit and Toppings

Leavened batter baked in patterned irons until crisp, piled with fruits and drizzles.

Street Bakery & Postres Explore → 64

Eskimos en Bolsita

Whole milk whipped with crushed ice and chocolate or coffee, served in bags.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 65

Turrón de Guadalajara

Boiled sugar syrup pulled on hooks until chewy, colored vibrant pink, and sliced.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 66

Dubai-Style Chocolate Strawberry

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Fresh strawberries layered with pistachio-tahini kataifi crunch and dipped in chocolate.

Street Snacks & Botanas Callejeras Explore → 67

Horchata

Mexico and Valencia, Spain

Soaked rice is pulverized with cinnamon, mixed with water, milk, and sugar.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 68

Ube Horchata

Rice milk infused with purple yam paste, cinnamon, sweetened milk, and vanilla.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 69

Agua de Jamaica

Mexico and West Africa

Dried hibiscus sabdariffa calyces are steeped in hot water, strained, and sweetened.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 70

Agua de Sandía

Fresh watermelon flesh is blended with water, strained lightly, and sweetened.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 71

Limonada de Pepino y Chía

Fresh cucumber juice and lime are blended with water, sugar, and soaked chia.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 72

Limonada de Fresa

Fresh strawberry puree is stirred into tart lime juice, water, and cane sugar.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 73

Fresa con Plátano

Fresh strawberries and banana are blended with chilled milk, sugar, and vanilla.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 74

Mango con Piña

Fresh ripe mango and pineapple pulp are blended with water and sugar.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 75

Agua de Maracuyá

Passion fruit pulp and seeds are blended with water, strained, and sweetened.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 76

Agua de Pitaya

Vibrant red dragon fruit pulp is pureed with water, lime, and sugar.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 77

Nieve de Mamey

Mesoamerica and Mexico

Ripe mamey sapote pulp is churned with water, sugar, and shaved ice.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 78

Nieve de Guanábana

Mexico and tropical America

Soursop pulp is churned with water, sugar, and ice in a garrafa.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 79

Nieve de Chicle

Bubblegum-flavored sweet milk or water base is churned frozen in a garrafa.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 80

Nieve de Nuez

Finely ground pecans are churned with sweetened milk or water in a garrafa.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 81

Nieve de Tamarindo

Strained tamarind pulp is churned with water, sugar, and ice in a garrafa.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 82

Mangoneada

Mango sorbet is layered with chamoy sauce, chili powder, and tamarind straws.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore → 83

Yogurt con Trigo

Chilled tart yogurt is layered with honey-toasted puffed wheat berries and fruit.

Cold Drinks & Helados Explore →