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ALJ Taco Truck
Categories: Restaurants Food Stands Restaurants Mexican Food Stands, Mexican [Edit]
Wilshire Blvd & S Vermont AveLos Angeles, CA 90010
Neighborhood: Koreatown
(213) 393-1170
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy, Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for ALJ Taco Truck
Review Highlights
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"Their al pastor is soooooo amazing." In 9 reviews -
"I tried the empanadas and they were delishhhh." In 9 reviews -
"I've also tried their torta cubana, which is awesome as..." In 2 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Julian D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/5/2012
Fish burrito is off the hoooook ! Cheap prices for tons of food AND open til 3-4 AM !!
not to mention their salsa bar/pickled onions and habenero is the shizzzz.
If you ride the underground and come out at Wilshire/Vermont this is a MUST stop. I eat here several times a week and get the same thing every time, and it never disappoints. -
Review from Deee G.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2012
3.5 stars!
Awesome asada burrrrrito! But the guy at the cashier turned me down twice every time I ask for a fresh grilled jalapeno. Why?! But El Flammin taco truck at 3rd and Vermont wouldn't mind to give a fresh grilled jalapeno. -
Review from Jack K.
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow, this place has a exquisite burrito. The Al Pastor had crispy texture on the outside, and they load it up with the meat. Its bigger than El Taurino's, slightly smaller than El Flaming Taco's but its really really really good. Too bad, finding parking for this truck is a hassle. Definitely less of a line in comparison to El Flaming Taco though.
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Review from Kris M.
Los Angeles, CA
8/10/2011
The first time I went to this truck it was 3:30am and it had been a long night in Little Tokyo full of Galvetrons (a shot for alcohol champions), karaoke and drunken hijinks. Let me tell you--being able to nom on tacos at the wee hours of the morning is one of the things I love the most about LA. Yes, I realize how ridiculous that makes me sound, but native Angelenos don't understand how good they have it. When I lived in Denver, we got out of the clubs at 2am and were welcomed by people lugging coolers with bean burritos on the street. Taco trucks are like a gift to a recent transfer like me.
I got my standard pastor tacos and wasn't disappointed. They were delicious! The condiments (green & red salsa, onions, cilantro & radishes) were fresh, and they even offered an avocado sauce for those that couldn't take any heat whatsoever. I was hooked.
My husband & I came back to the truck a few weeks later while shopping in K-Town and decided to try the empanadas here as well... wow, super cheesy and salty. The dough was cooked very well, but we struggled to get through the filling. The meat was still pretty tasty, however... didn't think it was overly salty like some of the other reviews on this site.
There are too many taco trucks for me to remain faithful to any one just yet, but at least I know that this one is decent and dependable if I'm too lazy to check others out. -
Review from Sarah L.
Los Angeles, CA
8/15/2011
bomb dot com food for sure! Definitely a happening place after a night of drinking. The truck is there every evening until late at night. My pit stops usually occur on the weekends after a night out.
My favorites on their menu are the gringa, quesadilla, and the nachos. Soooooo soooooo goooooood! Definitely a must and should try this place at least once. It will be life changing :) -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
12/6/2010
OMG. This isn't even just a gem, this is a straight up 20-karat yellow diamond.
It was 2:30am and honestly, I had just eaten one of those dirty street hot dogs that sit outside each club and wasn't dying to consume more fatty foods.
But every bite I took out of every item I tried (gordita, empanadas, enchiladas, nachos) just blew my mind again and again.
I have never eaten an empanada that was the size of half a plate. And I was expecting just plain ground up meat but it was little chunks of meat with great flavor and spiciness. Both the red sauce and the green sauce for enchiladas were also amazing. Nachos amazing. Gordita was amazing to some, and to me it was good. They also have an extensive condiments area with onion, cilantro, hot sauces, and guac.
If I'm in the area again, this will be a #1 stop. Plus, not many taco trucks have seating and TV's so even better.
Aside from the food, another highlight was watching a drunk Mexican guy speaking Korean.Listed in: Food on the Go
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Review from Bear R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/18/2011
I am never going to come here again.
I thought the last time I ate here was an exception, but something's definitely wrong with this kitchen and staff...
THEY NEEDA LAY OFF THE SALT.
Holy shit, the meats aren't flavorful; they're salty! Carne asada chunks are like brown pebbles of salt.
The salsa over the enchiladas was straight red salt liquid.
GROSS. I am angry!
Do yourself a favor and go to 5th and Vermont to El Flamin' Taco... -
Review from Allegra C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/15/2011
I have been born and raised in Los Angeles but on the North East side... Atwater, Silverlake, Eagle Rock... but now I moved to Koreatown so I get to explore everyday. Being partially Hispanic I found it confusing that the names were in English, but I guess this is to help the white and asian people in the area. Even though I do not know Spanish, I am used to any of the good Hispanic food places to have menus in Spanish or the sort.
They were friendly and it was not too overpriced like some of the Hispanic food in the area catering to white people (i.e. Machos Tacos up the street). They had both types of coke the regular can soda and the good quality Mexican bottle one.
I only got the tacos because I was sick and did not want to deal with much food. They came plain and when I got home I forgot to get my share of radishes and salsas from their selection. It was clean and they offer television and chairs... although I do not know why but there seemed to be a lot of barf stains on the sidewalk in the radius of the truck... Honestly the food is delicious and I really think that they are from drunken bar or club goers from hitting up the truck at the end of the night. -
Review from Anna K.
9/8/2011
tacos are LA's 2am drunk food
al pastor, carne asada, cabeza, suadero
tacos, sopes, burritos
can't really go wrong with anything
table spread with great toppings
avocado sauce, green sauce, red sauce.
i would've given them 5 stars
until that ill-fated mulita was consumed.
besides the first bite, it was really bland :T -
Review from Helen O.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2011
Forget about the tacos , get an alhambre, comes with choice of meat and melted cheese with all the other goodies, plus all the sauce and salsa on the side or, the way I like it I smother everything on top, oh and you get 4 hand made tortillas so you can actually make your own tacos and the portion is quite generous, please do enjoy .
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Review from Vickie C.
10/14/2010
This is as authentic as any taco truck can get. Parked on Wilshire by Vermont, you can't miss this truck with all its LED lights. They even set up some tables and chairs on the sidewalk for you to enjoy their delicious food!
I ordered the MULITA with AL PASTOR (you can see the pork spinning through the window of the truck). They use "string cheese" in this and the taste of the cheese was a lot sharper than the usual cheese used in Mexican restaurants. And it was served with avocado inside. Delicious!! Everything is made fresh, so its piping hot and delicious! It came with a side of rice and beans. The rice was delicious!
I went with Susan P. and tried a bite of her EMPANADAS (which she got with the beef). It was super DELICIOUS! So warm and fluffy on the inside, with the cheese oozing out. You must get this!!
They have a table with all sorts of condiments, such as chopped oninos and several types of hot sauce (all freshly made).
The price is cheap for the tastiness of amount of food you get! I'm craving more food from this truck!! Just can't stop thinking about it!
Parking: This is the only down side. There are only two spots in front of the truck on Wilshire. You need to go down the side streets off Wilshire to find parking. -
Review from Lilly N.
Sherman Oaks, CA
8/18/2010
They have hand-made tortillas!!! how awesome is that...It's a taco truck! El pastor was really good, the carne asada was awesome and then I had something like a quesadilla filled with avacado and cheese that was F*'ing amazing!
the hot sauces are home made and they are super clean.
I had four different tacos and a soda all for under $10 bucks...good food is good food, no matter if it comes from a three michillin star restaurant or a taco truck parked on wilsher. You can taste the care, love and pride that goes into this food, and would recommend it to anyone in search for good tacos... -
Review from Kevin T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/5/2011
Might be as good as it gets. I was blown away. You cant not like this spot...for any reason.
After my second visit I realized why I might have enjoyed this spot so much...SOOOOOO SALTY! Still a fan but da-damn, come on, chill with the salt a bit.
From 5 stars down to 3. Sorry. -
Review from Susan P.
10/11/2010 2 Check-ins Here
ZOMFG!!!!! I had this three nights ago, and I'm still craving it!!
You know that taco truck on the the south east corner of Wilshire and Vermont? Yeah, the one with the LED sign in English, Korean, and Spanish. It's the home of the freshest, Fluffiest, YES FLUFFIEST hand made corn tortillas ever!
For $4.50 for three tacos and an agua fresca Monday-Thursday, this truck offers a treat that cannot be beat!
Also on the menu are quesadillas, super burritos, empanadas, alambre, gorditas, etc. The menu list is crazy and everything is good.
Their al pastor can be see on the rotating spit/grill. Can there be anything better than starring and salivating at giant hunk of meat? Me thinks not!
They also offer a fresh salsa bar. The roja has a kick to it if you like spicy. I'm never a fan of the verde but it's pretty good here! The brown one is really good too! I'm not a huge fan of cilantro, and their onion is heavily mixed with cilantro. However, these tacos were just so good I just scarfed it all down without picking out the cilantro!
Added plus: they have tables and chairs so you can sit and eat while watching their flat screens!
Prepare to street park! There really aren't lots nearby, but there are street parking spots within a 2 block radius. -
Review from Tiffany W.
Los Angeles, CA
10/11/2010
All you need to know: best taco truck I've had thus far in LA. But only 4 stars for now because I still have many more places to try.
They have $1.25 tacos and sell much more than just tacos. They sell gorditas (man, the only gorditas I've seen before this truck were the ones at Taco Bell...), nachos, and much much more. I can only speak on behalf of their delicious tacos. Their al pastor is soooooo amazing. The meat is slightly burnt and crunchy on the outside, juicy and soft on the inside. They have kickass sauces that you can add on your own. The green sauce is good and the red sauce gives an awesome kick to your tacos so if you love spicy, make sure you add it! On top of all this goodness, their tortillas are freshly handmade and OH SO SOFT. I didn't know tortillas could taste like that. Be careful! Because the tortillas are freshly made, they are PIPING HOT! So don't burn yourself! But I don't blame you if you do... I am too impatient to wait for the delicious tacos to cool down :)
PS: They have a row of tables and chairs by the truck so you can sit there and eat! -
Review from Roy C.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2009 2 Check-ins Here
The best taco truck I've ever had. No doubt.
The specific taco truck I go to is on the corner of Wilshire and Vermont in Koreatown. On Wilshire facing east. Bright LED lights scroll across the back of the taco truck -- you can't miss it.
It has the BEST... I'll repeat... the BEST empanadas on the face of the earth. Perfect amount of crisp, filled with your choice of meat (I always go with carne asada), and 2 huge empanadas for only $5. They make them fresh on the spot and I swear it's the best drunk food ever. EVER. Even better than El Taurino.
I've also tried their torta cubana, which is awesome as well. Great flavor, fresh ingredients, and CHEAP.
I was so blown away by this taco truck that I had a 20 minute period where I was thinking of ways where I can jump into the truck and drive it home. Hours later and I'm still trying to think of a master plan where I will distract the workers for a second so that I can steal the truck away. One of these days, I swear. -
Review from Peter P.
I tried the empanadas and they were delishhhh! You get 2 empanadas with your choice of meat and a small side of salad for $5.00. The filling is just meat and cheese so it's not like Argentinian or Spanish style empanadas which usually consist of a blend of both meat and veggies. They were still good though. Upon ordering, they prepare the empanadas from scratch and fry them right in front of you in the window. I got 1 al pastor and 1 carne asada, but I liked the al pastor more. A large horchata costed an additional $1.50.
Important Note: The truck parked here was a different truck than last time. The name written on it said "El Tauro Tacos" rather than "ALJ Catering". I asked the guy in the window if it was the same truck that was normally there and he told me that it while it was a different truck, it was still the same owner. It's unclear if this is a permanent change, but at least the menu is still the same.Listed in: Mexi-Can!, Fast & Furious Food Trucks
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/30/2010
The best taco truck in Koreatown! Although I live just a few blocks away, I've neglected the ALJ… Read more »
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Review from Arnold W.
This place is sure pretty awesome. My friends who have been and recommended this place were right of what to order: enchiladas, empanadas, and nachos. I had the nachos. It was quite good, I like the "fake" nacho cheese, and that's what they have. The meat is fresh. It come pretty presentable and lots. I really enjoyed the enchiladas, because it's fresh-made tortillas, right amount of spice and cheesy. Very nice. I didn't try any empanadas.
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Review from Jason M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/30/2010 1 photo
People tend to get a little loose with the stars when rating taco trucks. For whatever reason.
This is a legit 5 star taco truck.
What takes them over the edge is the handmade tortillas, sopes, huaraches ect... If it's made with masa it's made fresh on the spot.
The meats are chunky, hearty and full of flavor. There's an Al Pastor spit and a condiment bar with three salsas and pickled purple onions with habenero and the usual suspects of condiments to accompany your taco fix. -
Review from Joseph W.
Arcadia, CA
5/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome... not your typical truck!
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Review from Ewa M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2010
well, well, well, there is nothing better than a personal taco truck in front of my house. yeah, it's true! for many years, there has been different taco/burrito stands around here, but this one somehow someway keeps sticking around and grows its fan base on daily basis. Just check out the diverse crowd hanging out outside the truck:) You never know who you can meet and make friends with.
A.L.J. is on Wilshire and Vermont, near Shatto Place, right in front Wilshire and Vermont business/condo building. They have steak, pork, chicken, breaded chicken, tongue, head, sausage to go with tostada, quesadilla, burrito, huarache, torta, sope and taco. The regular fixings are onion, cilantro, red and green salsas, and radishes. It's cheap and tasty, ask for grilled onion and grilled jalapenos - killer:)
I take all my friends for tacos after partying and they all absolutely love it. That's kinda of a privilege of living next to mobile taco truck. And it does not hurt it's delicious!!! -
Review from Chi N.
3/2/2010
man i wish i had more appetite by the time 2am came around...
so the empanada carne asada is made to order... they fold it up in front of u, add cheese, and into the deep fryer it goes... presented next to a bed of salad and salsa... and then the tasty oily goodness begins to soak up all that alcohol you had for the night! oh and its only 4 bucks for 2 HUGE empanadas... i wish i knew that as i wouldn't have ordered the other two things... in terms of if it was the best empanada... i would still say my heart goes out to caracas arepas for making empanadas outta arepas!!! in terms of filling however this place wins hands down!
also ordered 2 tacos (one came with a humongous whole jalapeno inside)
- one buche - not fried which i like and also pretty dang good
- one cabeza - wow this one was super tender!
also got to sample the al pastor which omg was so full of moist and flavor even as it stood like a gyro in behind the glass window... -
Review from Jun W.
Alhambra, CA
Great tacos. The tortillas are hand-made...there's a distinct softness and tenderness to each bite. The meats are seasoned and cooked well. Best pastor meat I've had outside of Mexico. The tacos are full size, not the half size you get at some places. Parking can be a bit difficult since the truck is on the side of the street, as oppose to a parking lot. $1.25 for each taco.
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Review from Caroline K.
Buena Park, CA
2/25/2010 3 photos
There's just so many taco trucks in LA now that it's hard to differentiate one from another. This one is definitely easy to spot as it's located right across from the Coffee Bean - I'm not sure how they manage to get this spot every single night. They open at 7 until past 2. I only tried the Gringa, which reminded me of a pizza (my friend argued it was more like a quesadilla since it had a fried, thick tortilla on top and on the bottom) - it had pineapple, ham, cheese, etc. and tasted somewhat sweet. It was surprisingly good and cost about $5. Haven't tried anything else yet from here, but I will!
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Review from Douglas C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/7/2010
what the others said, it's good. i went there with my gf tonight and it was pretty damn good. we got the torta cubana & empanada w/ al pastor. the Torta Cubana was freakin awesome. The al pastor empanada was good too but i think we were too full from the torta to really enjoy it. Plus we ate before and we weren't really that hungry, which shows how good this place is.
BUT while we were on our way home and in the elevator, we kept taking little nibbles of the empanada and that thing tasted really good. my gf said the texture of the crust was like that of a churro. i think that was supposed to be a compliment. anyways no need to say anymore right now, we're DEFINITELY goin back to try everything else. cheers
oh and it's located near the corner of vermont & wilshire, across from the vermont metro station (the new apartment complex).
