My birthday (which was yesterday) arrived early this year when I woke up on Friday morning to discover I had been added to the media list for the 2nd annual Los Angeles Street Food Festival! After bouncing off my walls in excitement, I collected and prepared myself (and my stomach) for a three-hour food tour. Come Saturday I was off to enjoy dozens of food vendors and gorge myself silly. Below is a fraction of what was available to attendees (and media freeloaders such as myself). Grades are my opinion only, and take into consideration I may just not be a fan of the dish overall rather than vendor-specific food.

Milk Tea Boba (A) – The Mighty Boba Truck


Buttermilk Popcorn Chicken (A+) – The Mighty Boba Truck

We’re off to a delicious start. Let’s keep up the momentum…


Vegetarian Samosa (A) – Naan Stop

Platters of Cheese – The Grilled Cheese Truck

Poutine with bacon & port gravy (A+++++++) – The Frysmith

Tocino Slider (A) grilled sweet pork belly, topped with cilantro, tomato, pickled mango slaw. Neri’s Curbside Cravings

Sisig (A+) – crispy pork belly with vinegar lime dressing, tossed fresh green onions, jalapenos + bell pepper & cilantro. Neri’s Curbside Cravings

Pork Tamale with hot sauce (C) – Tamales Elena

Banana leaf wrapped chicken & black mole tamale (D) – Guelaguetza

Brik (tuna and egg) (B+) – A Taste of Tunisia

The Perfect Storm Cocktail (A+) – Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

House-cured Pastrami sandwich with caramelized onions (A) – The Oinkster

Cherry, rose & Chocolate fermented soda (A-) – Cascal Natural Soda

Peruvian potato stew with chimichurri & tripe (B-) – Picca Peruvian Cantina

BBQ Beef Kalbi (Short Rib) (A) – Cham Korean Bistro

Venison on jicama tortilla (A) – Cacao Mexicatessen

Currywurst (C-) and Fries (B+) – Curry Wurst Los Angeles

Dominican Republic style Beef Empanada (B) – La Cocina

Wood Grilled Lamb with chimichurri sauce (A+) – Christian Page

Grilled peach, ricotta, La Quercia prosciutto, micro fine herbs (A+) – Christian Page

Baklava (A) – Gleeka

Meat wrapped Mac ‘n’ Cheese Ball (B) – Tiara Cafe

Quinoa Fritters (B+ w/out sauce, C- with) – Border Grill

Okonomiyaki (B) – Glowfish Truck

Salted Chocolate Gelato (A-) – Bulgarini Gelato

Horchata Ice Cream from Scoops (A) on top of Mayan Chocolate Inferno Cookies from Batch from Scratch (B)

Potato Chip & Skor Bar Cookies (C) w/ Orange Chocolate Cointreau ice cream (B) – CoolHaus

Argentinian Taco (A) – Maggies Meat and Bread

Pink Champagne Ball (A+) – Delicious Wishes

Pork Ramen (A+) – Ramen Jinya

Can you believe I ate all of that (and then some, because I didn’t quite so you everything)? I know, how am I still able to walk? I should hire some Oompa Loompas to roll my ass down the street.

The folks behind the LA Street Food Festival got smart this year and divvied up the eatin’ time into sessions. I think this was a brilliant move; I never waited more than a few minutes in line for a single item (the longest line being CoolHaus, and I am making an exception for them because it’s CoolHaus for goodness sake, you’d wait 20 minutes, too).

The festival was clean, well-organized, well mapped out and spaced out. My mom decided to tag along with her friend D- and they purchased tickets for session II (when I was going) so we carpooled. Alas, I was unable to test out the shuttle and give feedback. Next year! I like that corporate sponsorship wasn’t terribly overwhelming; they all kept to their own demonstration booths and allowed the people to come to them.
As I didn’t have quite the same experience as two paying general attendees, I asked my mother and her friend for feedback. They both enjoyed their time and thought it was money well spent. We also collectively enjoyed the homemade ice cream demonstration at the main stage.

Would I recommend Los Angeles Street Food Festival 2012? Absolutely! It’s an indulgence of your wallet and your stomach, but one I doubt you will regret.
BONUS: Proceeds from this years event will go to Downtown Women’s Center. How can you say no to giving back?

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