The food truck industry is a niche market capitalized by Greeks and Hispanics, as the first gourmet taco truck was founded in 1974 by Raul Martínez, Sr. in East Los Angeles. He operated a mobile lunch wagon out of a converted ice cream truck. Author Gustavo Arellano has credited Martinez as the inventor of the modern taco truck.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (DPH), the first large assemblage of Black food trucks took place at the Olympic Village in Exposition Park in 1984. There were 11 registered for permits with the DPH. Beverly Morris, a retired restaurant inspector, believes that was the first time she saw that many Black food trucks. The hottest thing on wheels this summer are mobile meals operated by African-American entrepreneurs.
Today, Black millennials and social media have facilitated the resurgence of the summer of 1984 with the Black food truck. The majority of them offer a culinary experience with cuisine our elders may have enjoyed, but now with a new-age twist.
Trap Kitchen
Trap Kitchen food trucks (Los Angeles and Portland Ore.) have gained national and international attention for their remarkable story and Instagram celebrity chef status. The business was founded by two former rival gang members (Crips and Blood), Roberto Arturo Smith and Malachi “Spankihanas” Jenkins. According to Jenkins, his interest in food started when he got hired as a personal chef for local pimps while living in Las Vegas.
“I started cooking for them after I dropped out of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts,” Jenkins said. “The pimps loved rich pasta dishes like shrimp and Chicken Alfredo.” Prior to having a food truck, Smith and Jenkins had an underground restaurant where food was prepared in Smith’s apartment located just south of Downtown Los Angeles, and local workers.
While both Jenkins and Smith were serving their downtown clients, another member of the Trap Kitchen team, Armani Fjaje, was busy catering celebrity events and serving her famous seafood tacos to nail salons and beauty shops prior to becoming a business partner. Fjaje, as well, is a former Blood active in empowering at-risk Black females involved in gangs.
Trap Kitchen has used its platform to speak to youth at juvenile detention centers, encouraging the youth to leave the gang life behind and start their own businesses. Trap Kitchen’s fried rice and seafood tacos have gained Instagram celebrity chef status with tens of thousands of followers and attracted a celebrity clientele.
Follow @trapkitchen_mani.blanco.
Happy Ice
Now summer staples like the ice cream truck have competition in the form of a shaved-ice dessert truck called Happy Ice. Customers attest that @happyice is the best social media handle to remedy hot summer weather and is slated to add a Hollywood storefront location to their distribution this month.
Happy Ice manager, Jajuan Johnson, has been an employee at the shaved ice shop for two years. He said his favorite part of working on a food truck is that “you get to cater to different types of people and events.”
His shift typically begins five hours before the start of an event. After he stocks supplies, fuels up both the truck and the generator, and loads the shaved ice into the van, he makes sure to arrive at the event at least one hour early.
“Being mobile is a great advertising piece,” Johnson noted. “People see the big, bright truck and, for some, curiosity ensues.” Johnson insists that it is more than a mobile restaurant. The creative decorations make his and many other food trucks rolling billboards for their brand. “Sometimes we run out before we arrive at our location,” Johnson explained.
The hard work is paying dividends. So far, Happy Ice has appeared on the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the clientele of “Happy Ice” includes online influencers and a host of celebrities. Follow @happyice
Billionaire Burger Boyz
Billionaire Burger Boyz has special fries for when you crave something fantastic. Imagine Cajun shrimp Alfredo piled atop golden French fries with a topping of grated cheese toggled between sweetness and serenity.
Also, the truck’s rather small interior footprint may provide a time-saver for staff when it comes to cleanup.
“The cleaning is at the end of the day,” said Princess Penn who works with Billionaire Burger Boyz. “The space is confined. I like the food truck life! It’s hot, fast, and easier.” They’re easy to find: @billionaireburgerboyz.
Chef Soulo is a food entrepreneur and the owner of the ”Billionaire Burger Boyz” storefront restaurant in Compton that complements his mobile meal machine that has been featured in “Food Truck Nation.” The address is 811 S. Long Beach Blvd. Catering is available.
There are vegan dishes as well as meat selections. Burgers, sliders, and wings are among the dishes. His “specialty fries” and other unexpected selections are available. @chef_soulo
Grilled Fraiche
An ultimate challenge for “mobile foodies” is Grilled Fraiche. They also operate a storefront restaurant in the Crenshaw District at 5800 West Blvd.,, the restaurant sends out the truck daily with a different menu.
Grilled Fraiche combines a sweet yet savory sauce to the salmon, in providing the diner with a surprise kick after the first bite. Curious about where that kick comes from, you take another bite. The seafood dishes are paired perfectly with grilled veggies or rice. They also prepare a Caribbean-inspired meat dish.
Follow @grilledFraiche
Taste Thyme
Chef Lee is busy with the details of making food both tasty and pretty to satisfy your visual palate before a morsel touches your tongue. In search of a mouthful of goodness? The food truck “Taste Thyme” does a juicy grilled salmon with thyme and butter soaked pieces straight from the grill. Follow @tastethymecatering to find out the next location.
All Flavor No Grease
Chef Keith Garrett, owner of All Flavor No Grease, began as a self-taught cook who used social media to build his following of customers who delighted in his tacos, burritos and quesadillas he sold from a driveway on 108th Street in South LA. Since then, the popularity of his food went viral, often resulting in traffic grid lock in his neighborhood. Garret eventually purchased a food truck and the rest is history.
All Flavor No Grease has been credited locally with serving the best in “Americanized-Mexican” cuisine, all thanks thanks to Garret’s experience as a “bonafide taquero.” First, Garrett seasons all meats to perfection in his own secret recipe mix. Next, once the chicken, steak, and shrimp are all cooked, he warms a large flour tortilla over the griddle, stuffing cheese into the mix to make it an inch thick. The dish is then sliced into six portions and dressed with the requisite sour cream, cilantro salsa, homemade pico de gallo and—in keeping with a Southern tradition—a helping of Louisiana hot sauce. Garrett also offers a signature original recipe lobster gumbo on the menu.
Track down All Flavor No Grease for exactly that: a whole lot of flavor with not a whole lot of grease, from a chef who’s bringing his best to the best coast.
Follow Black food trucks and chase your foodie desires! Depending on the day, you can find Happy Ice, Billionaire Burger Boyz, Bleu Kitchen, All Flavor; No Grease, and Trap Kitchen at 8700 S. Western Ave. in South LA.
William Covington contributed to this article.
