Two weeks ago, I had the luck of attending the LA Street Food Fest.
Why I say “I had the luck”?
Well, this event was barely on my radar even though it was running for its 6th consecutive year.
I entered to win tickets through Time Out Los Angeles and guess what? I won two VIP tickets!
It was kind of exciting since I am not used to winning things (hope I win a free trip someday).
The LA Street Food Fest was designed to fill a gap in the event’s scene by creating an event that was the first of its kind. In addition, organizers were interested in creating a platform to support independent small business owners and both established and budding restaurateurs.
Promotional tasting events often require vendors to donate their food and services, something that can be challenging, especially for new and less established vendors, and for that reason, every vendor is subsidized by the event organizers. And in the case of some of smaller independent vendors, their participation is entirely subsidized.
It is important to notice the event is curated. Not all vendors interested in attending make the cut.
Here is a recap of the event in photos.
Table of Contents
LA Food Fest -The Venue
The event took place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The food stalls were placed around the stadium (but within limits). The field was open for the event attendees.
LA Street Food Fest – Asian Food
Vendor Sample: Arroy Foods, Eat Buddha Bing, Bling Bling Dumpling, Fred Eric + Ramen 62, Hotato Potato, Hungry Belly Thai, Kai Kai Dumplings, Mumbai Kitchen, Nong LA, Poke 2 Go, Sweetfin Poke, The Pho Burger
LA Street Food Fest – European Food
Vendor Sample: Folliero’s Italian, Monsieur Madame, Aussie Pie Kitchen
LA Street Food Fest -American Food
Vendor Sample: Bachi Burgers, Cassell’s, Comfort LA, Faith & Flower, Crepe n’ Around, Fritzi Dog, Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese, Howlin’ Rays, Komodo, Newport Seafood, Pizza Co., Postcards CAS, The Lobos Truck, Tom’s Urban, Top Round
LA Street Food Fest – Latin Food
Vendor Sample: C-V-CHE , Ceviche Project, Casa Oaxaca, Chichen Itza, Chago Torta Ahogadas, Diablo Tacos, Dia de los Puercos, El Coraloense, La Guerrerense, La Monarca Bakery, Mariscos El Mazateno, Loteria Grill, Saritas Pupuseria, Tacos La Bomba, Taqueria El Severo, Yuca’s, Pinches Tacos
Ice Cream Social
Vendor Sample: Choctal, Dreamy Creations, Fluff Ice, Mc Connell’s, Peddler’s Ice Cream, Salt & Straw, Three Twins Ice Cream
Coffee & Donuts
Vendor Sample: Chupacabra Coffee, Colorado Donuts, Donut Friend, Frijolitos Latin Coffee Shop, Home Brewed Bar, Jake’s Artisan Coffee
LA Street Food Fest – Artisan Goods
Vendor Sample: Gypsy Eats, Hello Sweetie Pie, Indie Jams, Mama Musubi, Sugar Spun, La Sriracha Macha, Spread PB, Kneady Bakery
VIP Lounge
Corazon Y Miel was serving food and drinks at the VIP Lounge.
Techniques to Tackle an Event Like This
- For what I read, the event sells 5,000 tickets. I do not know about you but, to me, that is a lot. So, it may be wise to invest in VIP tickets (1,500 tickets are sold). With these tickets, you can enter two hours before the general public and have the right to enter the VIP Lounges.
- On the contrary, based on my experience, we waited one hour in line to get in even with VIP tickets (people were very upset about this). So, we didn’t experience the two additional hours.
- Some people are not necessarily into eating until they burst. They are interested in trying some specific establishments. If this is your interest, determine which vendors you want to stop by.
- Another technique is to focus on the places or food types you haven’t tried. Identify vendors by using the event guide.
- Now, if you want to try as much as possible, you cannot even eat the entire sample each vendor provides (no matter how small it is). Share half of the sample with your partner or group.
- Since the event can get very full, make a line, grab a sample, make another line, grab another sample, and continue like that until you fill the tray provided at the entrance. Ideally, your partner will be doing the same thing. Once the trays are full, enjoy your food (you can do the entire exercise again if you are still hungry).
- Take a backpack or bag to save for later packaged goods like water, juice, or candy.
- Vendors were arranged in a semi-circle. If you have VIP tickets walk towards the farthest end (towards the General Admission Entrance) and start eating there. Once it is time for the people from general admission to enter, walk towards the other end (towards the VIP Entrance) and try those vendors. People tend to walk to the closest vendors first. If you walk to the farthest end, there should be shorter lines.
- The Rose Bowl is open to event attendees.
- Kids are allowed at the festival.
- Arrive early. These events get really crowded.
- The most popular vendors may run out of food fast.
- In reality, you do not have to follow any rules or techniques. Just go and enjoy the event!
Would you attend an event like these?
Sally@Toddlers on Tour says
These street food festivals are great, but when you are travelling you just don’t know where they are. So thanks for the insider tip on wher to find some in LA.
Ruth says
Sally, summer is the prime time for food festivals around Los Angeles. During the season, you have a wide array of options. We have everything from an avocado to a bacon festival. We also have festivals celebrating salsa, tamales, ramen, strawberries, lobster and much more.
image-in-ing says
Nice… and informative… post and photos.
Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/07/variations.html
Ruth says
Great! Thanks for stopping by!
Photo Cache says
That’s a perfect day. I love food fests!
Ruth says
I love food fests too. But, maybe you have already noticed that base don my posts. Great to have you here!
Lyndall says
Hi Ruth – Fabulous photos – the food looks and sounds amazing. Great tips for attending a similar event too. I’m hungry now.
Ruth says
Yes, I always try to give tips at the end because these events can be a little bit overwhelming (even if you love food)
Rachel ¦¦ A Nesting Nomad says
That food looks incredible! Sounds like a great way to spend a day, if you ask me. Did you find any new favourite restaurants?
beatravelling says
Wow! Everything looks so delish! Have to plan my next LA adventure around this!!
#mondayescapes
Ruth says
That would be a cool LA adventure. If you cannot make it for this particular event, do not worry. We have tons of food festival in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Karren Haller says
What fun to experience all the foods from different cultures!
Would love to have you stop by and share on my wordless Wednesday
Hope you have a great week!
Karren
Ruth says
Of course I will stop and share your post! Thanks for stopping by.
Karen says
Wow, that looks like some spread. Thanks for sharing so many photos to see what was offered. That’s a shame about the hour wait cutting into your time, but was it all samples included with your ticket? That’s pretty nice. Congrats on winning the tickets.
Ruth says
Yes, everything was included in the ticket. The idea is that you do not have to pay extra for anything (at least, that is true in good festivals). Parking was also included in the ticket and sponsors give away all sort of things.
Bumble Bee Mum says
Thank you for linking up on Travel Tuesday. I cannot believe your luck! Winning a contest on Time Out Los Angeles? That’s amazing! Your photos and making me SO hungry…
Ruth says
I cannot believe my luck either. I was a little nervous because my e-ticket did not arrive until that morning. However, an event organizer assured me the tickets were going to arrive before the event.
RobRob@TravelLatte(.net) says
Oh my…I made the mistake of reading this before going to lunch. Now I’m starving and have a craving for all that great street food! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Ruth says
Ahhh…I guess this is not an ideal post to read when you are starving. I should put a disclaimer at the top.
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
Wow, what an event – I’m drooling just reading about it, and some great tips. #mondayescapes
Ruth says
Cathy, I hope you are not drooling over your keyword. That would be bad ;0) On a serious note, thanks for stopping by. Glad to see you enjoyed the post.
Nancie says
Hi Ruth. What a great event! Everything looks delicious. Congrats on winning a VIP ticket.
Ruth says
Thanks Nancie. I was surprised when I got the e-mail announcing I was a winner. That gives me hopes about winning other stuff in the future ;0)
Lydia C. Lee says
That food looks AMAZING but the waiting in line for an hour? I don’t think I’d do it…(our local bar had a big line last night, and I just looked at it and said ‘let’s go 2 doors up….’ I’m a little impatient! 😉
Ruth says
Lydia, I know. I heard people talking about asking back for the extra money they paid for VIP tickets. I am impatient too. In fact, I do not know how I conquered that wait. I guess when food is involved I am a little bit more patient.
budget jan says
Hmmm, seems like too many people for me, but if I won a ticket I would happily attend. An hour to get in seems extreme. The food on the other hand looks amazing. Congratulations. Winners are Grinners!
Ruth says
Jan, I tried to keep in perspective that I won the tickets. Even though some things didn’t go as expected, I enjoyed the events.
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says
Oh man I’m hungry now! Those photos are all just too good. I want to go to a food festival now. I didn’t know you were co-hosting TravelPhotoThursdays – excellent news!
Molly says
Wow all that food looks AMAZING!
Mollyxxx
Ruth says
Thanks Molly. It was a great festival!
Fairlie says
Mmmm-mmmm. I’m reading this before lunch…and those pics have made me very hungry! I laughed about the “Aussie Pie Kitchen” being in the European Food section!
Ruth says
How you would classify Australian food? Maybe it is just Australian and cannot be compared to other food.. I guess they classified it as European because it has certain roots in that continent.
Kathy Marris says
I’m salivating here! Isn’t Street Food the best? It is also becoming very popular here in Australia. Your photos really do the food justice.
Ruth says
Street food is the rage in here. There are even restaurants that try to recreate the atmosphere and dishes (some succeed in making something from the street gourmet).
Jen says
How delicious was that event? I wouldn’t even know where to begin with it.
We’ve done beer festivals like this – we buy Matt a VIP ticket & me a VIP DD ticket. In 5 hours he drinks a lot of beer 😉
Thank you joining us again this week for Photo Friday!
Ruth says
It would be fun to go to a food festival with you guys. I am sure it would be awesome.
Dina says
Well, I gotta admit…it’s hard to beat “coffee & donuts” for me, but I really would love to sample it all! So fun!
Ruth says
Maybe we should start our own Coffee and Donuts festival! Imagine!
Packing my Suitcase says
How awesome is this festival? Lucky you!!
Ohh my, so many delicious things to try 😀
Happy to have you on #MondayEscapes
Ruth says
Thanks for stopping by. Wish me more luck for other sweepstakes I am entering.
eileen g says
The food looks great! And I like the way the vendors look prepared for crowds. We’ve stopped going to Food Truck gatherings in NYC, because they are all specially in fresh food that is prepared to order and the lines are just absurd. For events like this you have to have food ready to go.
Ruth says
Eileen, I agree with you. I have been to events that I consider failure because the lines are insane. In other events, vendors do not want to give out a lot of food and they are slow deliberately. I say if you are not able to deal with crowds, then, maybe a fest like this is not the place to be.
Natasha says
The food looks amazing, I love the shots you got of the market, it looks like you had a lovely time! – Tasha
Ruth says
Yes, Tasha. You have no idea how I enjoyed the festival. it was great. Thanks for stopping by.
peregrinationgourmande says
Wow festival food! That’s a paradise for me!!! I’ve been at one in Canada in Edmonton but it was open and you had to buy the food at each venders if i remember correctly! I would like to try on all those good things!!
xx cathy
Ruth says
Yes, there are events where you have the option of buying several things. Sometimes, I like those events but I have noticed the price tag can get hefty after trying several places. That is why I prefer a set price.
Laia | colibrist says
So cool that there is food from all over the world! I think I would have a hard time deciding where to eat, everything looks so good and tasty 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Ruth says
It can be a little bit overwhelming. We decided to leave American and Latin food for the end (since we can eat that any day). I also try to limit the sweets (very difficult) and drinks.
Ruth says
Great blog and photos. Now I feel hungry!
Ruth says
I know! Looking at a bunch of food pictures would do something to your brain (hunger! hunger!). Thanks for stopping by.
Eat_Work_Travel says
Wow, we are drooling after seeing all of these pictures! How fun to have won tickets to what looks like an amazing event. We will have to plan a future trip to LA around this event.
Ruth says
Isn’t it great to win tickets to a food event? I felt in cloud 9 when I got the e-mail. Let me know if you make it to LA.
Anda says
Hi Ruth. First of all thank you for joining us for #TheWeeklyPostcard. I’m always looking forward to read your articles because they provide a ton of information I don’t know about my own state, California. And again, today you surprised me with an article about what goes on just outside my front door. I live only 10 minutes away from Pasadena and had no idea about this food festival. I know Los Angeles has something fun going on every week, but living here somehow takes away the aura of these events. They seem unimportant, especially when you are overwhelmed with work and responsibilities. It’s not easy to be a tourist in your own town.
Ruth says
Thanks for your kind words. I know sometimes it is not easy to get around Los Angeles because of traffic and other factors. Then, we the tons of people we have here, events can get really crowded. However, I love to live here (and the same goes for the entire state). We try to explore as much as possible. We work a lot, so, I think it is fair to go out an enjoy life!
Natalie says
What a great variety of food! I’d definitely attend a street food fest, will have to find out if there are any in our area. It gives you a chance to sample different types of food, especially those you may not otherwise get to try.
Ruth says
That is exactly what I love about festivals like this. The variety is great so it is an opportunity to try new flavors.
Natasha says
Just came back across to say thank you for the lovely comment!
Ruth says
Thanks Tasha. It is my pleasure to stop by your blog.
Allison (funfamily.vacations) says
Wow. This looks like an amazing time with fabulous food! From the pictures I think I would love the Latin food. Sharing with a friend who just moved to LA. Found you on #WeekendWanderlust
Ruth says
The Latin food of Los Angeles is great. So, good election. Hope your friend can enjoy a couple of events.
Carmen | Carmen's Luxury Travel says
What a great experience to go and try all types of food from all over the world. It seems by the number of people who attend that it’s a pretty popular event.
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
All that amazing food to try, wow, I’d be there in a heartbeat, though the crowds are off putting.
Thanks for joining in #wednesdaywanderlust
Ruth says
I understand your comment about the crowds but I thing that is one thing you have to deal with when living in Los Angeles. Believe me, I am not the most patient person but I take it as part of the experience.
RamblinLove (@RamblinLove) says
Oh man! You’re making me hungry!
Ruth says
Great! Maybe that was my intention ;0)
Anna says
oh those photos! they make me feel so hungry especially the desserts! I love your tips on how to tackle the event. I believe it’s better to spot some vendors beforehand so as not to miss them! Again I don’t know how I could possibly choose which stalls to visit!
Ruth says
I try not to fill up with desserts but it is really difficult. There were like 5 or 6 ice cream stalls and all of them where to die for. I even went for seconds in one occasion.
Connie Reed says
Oh, wow, it all looks so yummy. I like your suggestion of taking along a bag or backpack for packaged items. You could take Ziplock bags, too, for unpackaged but transportable samples.
Ruth says
Connie, this is necessary. If sponsors are giving away samples (packaged or bottled), you do not have to eat them there. Also, some sponsors give away goodies. You want a place to save those too.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
Yum, yum, yum. I love food trailers and sometimes seek out the ones near me. However, I’ve never been to any of the Food Trailer Fests in Austin because I hear the lines are ridiculously long. A VIP ticket may be the solution, so I’ll have to find out if the Austin fest offers them. I really like all the samples that you photographed, especially the donuts. That’s a great tip to bring a backpack.
Ruth says
Thanks for the comment Michelle. Food seems to drive people crazy. I am noticing food festivals tend to be a hit anywhere. It would be great to go to one in Austin. I expect the food to be to die for.
Linda Bibb says
I love street food so much. When in Israel I was horrified to overhead a tourist say he wouldn’t try any of it lest he get sick. Poor guy, he is really missing out on a great cultural opportunity. I think food is central to a visit.
Even locally it gives us a chance to try food we might not try otherwise. I’d love to attend a street food fest around here. I might find a new favorite!
Really appreciate the tip to bring a backpack. I’d probably not have thought of it but it always pays to come prepared.
Ruth says
Thanks for you comment Linda. I agree with what you say about street food. Missing the opportunity to try it in another country give me goosebumps. I tend to check out a lot of local markets when I visit a place. Or I just follow the crowds when I see them lining for a particular vendor in a corner.
Buckeroomama says
Oh my goodness! I’ve been watching Master Chef and now I see this smorgasbord of food photos… what’s a girl to do?! I love street food. Now I have to go out and get myself some!
Ruth says
I have been watching MasterChef too! Yes, get out an eat as much street food as possible.
Rhonda Albom says
Looks like a great festival. I love the idea of the stalls being on the outside with that huge picnic area in the center. Too bad you had to wait an hour to get in, seems a waste of the extra money for VIP (glad you didn’t pay it.)
Ruth says
Rhonda, I hate when there is not space to eat at the festivals. Basically, you have to eat while standing up. In here, you were able to relax while eating.
Bowral Hotels says
Looking at this photos makes me feel a kid again.