Food trucks are the latest craze here in Los Angeles. I’ve been trying to get myself out there and get to as many as possible. This was my first experience and I have since visited many other food trucks, some recorded here and some for The Place: Los Angeles (see sidebar). (edited 5-14-11)
First up is the Grilled Cheese Truck, which showed up for the Sweet Streets 2 opening reception outside of gallery nucleus in Alhambra, a city roughly 10 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles. Being relatively close to me, plus I was already set to go to the event, I finally had the opportunity to really make a foodie adventure out of the evening.
Firstly, the line was insane; but that is to be expected with popular food truck fare on a weekend evening and admittedly, it was my own stubborn food obsessed brain that kept my friend and I in that line. I will not hold the line against the Grilled Cheese Truck except to say that it should meet the high expectation that a line only rivaled by a Disneyland ride can muster. Sadly, this ain’t Space Mountain.
When it was finally our turn, I stepped up and ordered exactly as so:
“One mac and cheese melt, one brie melt and one dessert melt. And a soda, please.”
Though the area was crowded it was not so loud that the employee could not hear me. I used my credit card and the receipt that required my signature did not itemize my order.
When our order was finally up about ten or so minutes later, I took our food over to our coveted planter makeshift seats and handed my friend her order. I ordered the brie melt for my friend, a devout vegetarian. The brie melt which is automatically without meat. The brie melt that you have to ask for turkey and be charged for it. The brie melt that they put meat on and charged me for it.
While I am sure they are good people and would have refunded me and made the correction, we were too tired from having waited in a 90 minute line to disrupt and bother the good people who were still waiting. We would have held up that line by at least another 10 minutes, and it would have been unfair to punish them for another person’s mistake. Instead, I took the meat out of the portion that had the least of it and gave it to my friend, plus half of my mac and cheese melt.
I tasted the other half of the brie melt with the meat on – and promptly took the meat off. The turkey was positively revolting; I don’t know what brand they use or how long it had been out. It was, to say the very least, not good. Sans meat, the brie melt was OK but I could hardly taste the pear and honey it boasts.
The brie melt with the turkey $6.75 | $7.75 with meat
The mac and cheese melt was a vast improvement, and even my friend who isn’t particularly fond of macaroni and cheese, complimented it and said it was her favorite out of the three. Mine, too.
mac and cheese melt | $5.50
The dessert melt, (Nutella, bananas and marshmallow fluff) while a promising idea, was mediocre in execution, being thin and dry. We couldn’t even finish it.
dessert melt | $6.00
Overall, it was a disappointing, overpriced experience and one that I do not care to repeat. Given that I can make all of these easily (and confidentially more sufficiently) at home, I will be saving my money and moving on to another food truck cuisine.
A Word
Now, I understand that the Grilled Cheese Truck is an icon for Los Angeles food trucks and maintains its overwhelming popularity through a dedicated fanbase. Do not fear that this review reflects on the individuals who run the Grilled Cheese Truck (because it does not) and please do not assume I am going to stand outside the Grilled Cheese Truck, megaphone in hand, and shout out defamatory slander.
My experience is unique to me, just as yours is to you.
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Two gripes and one comment:
#1) You wrote, “My goal as a foodie and food journalist to try out and report back on as many food trucks as I can. However, I’m somewhat of a hermit and don’t feel the need to really chase them down. So it’ll be slow going.” SERIOUSLY? In order to report back on as many food trucks as you can, are they expected to appear magically right in front of you? You might want to try lying about how lazy you are.
#2) “It was my own stubborn foodie that kept my friend and I in line” Again, SERIOUSLY? I’m not even a foodie and I would happily wait in line for great food.
#3) It’s commendable that you tried all different types of their food but why wouldn’t you order their signature dish- The Fully Loaded Cheesy Mac & Rib- macaroni and cheese with sharp cheddar, bbq pork, and caramelized onions?
Comment: I’m glad that you won’t be returning to get back into line. I’ll save you the time and say that all of the food trucks are disappointing and expensive, esp. the Kogi BBQ truck, The Dim Sum truck, Frysmith, and the Lake Street Creamery Truck.
Aw. Listen, I knew my review was going to get some flack (I’ve gotten a couple of remarks elsewhere) but I don’t want you to leave me blog angry and upset so let me address your gripes as best as I can.
1) No, of course I don’t feel that way. This was my first food truck experience and at the time I was so disenchanted with them that I did not feel the need to chase down any more. Things have greatly changed and I have gone to food trucks multiple times (even filming a video blog about it for a publication I contribute to). I’ve since edited the opening statement to not sound so lazy blogger-ish.
2) Yes, SERIOUSLY! With exclamation points! (just kidding. Laugh. Please.) It wasn’t just the food truck that brought me to this event. This was an art show and I was seeing people I only get to see a couple of times a year. I would never, ever again stand in line for ninety minutes for food and I was a fool to do so here. It was my choice to stay in that line, though, and I’m the dork for sticking it out.
3) I’m obligated to try a variety and that is what I did. I ordered the regular mac and cheese specifically so my friend, a vegetarian, could split it with me. Maybe I didn’t clarify that enough in my review? (serious inquiry. no sarcasm intended) Thank goodness I did too because of the meat ending up in her sandwich.
I tried something out and it wasn’t a good experience. My opinion is but a small, not-so-hot droplet in an otherwise vastly popular well of positivity.
By the way – I don’t know if you were being sarcastic about the trucks you listed (because I honestly cannot read sarcasm, even if someone beat me on the head with the sarcasm stick) but I’ve actually yet to try Kogi, Dim Sum and Lake Street Creamery. I have tried Frysmith and…it wasn’t disappointing, just overwhelming (I had to try out a lot of food trucks that Melrose Night)