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July 21st, 2011franken's, LA restaurants, vegan events
UPDATED 7/22: the person who makes the top donation to benji the dog will receive FREE FOOD FROM THE FRANKENSTAND FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. seriously! to donate, hit up the frankenstand site and scroll to the bottom.
free all you can eat buffet from the frankenstand! do i have your attention? sounds like a dream come true, right? well first we need to deal with the sobering reality that there’s a poor little dog named benji who needs help. he’s a member of the frankenstand family, and he needs surgery ASAP! just look at that face:
the frankenstand is the only all vegan mobile food vendor in los angeles, and they’ve been serving up insanely tasty sausages and homemade toppings around town for years…even before the food truck explosion! they set up at various charity events and work long hours. i feel like it’s our duty to help out benji. and not just that, everyone who makes a donation to benji’s surgery fund will be invited to a FREE ALL YOU CAN EAT VEGAN BUFFET. it’s time to get generous. here’s the official word on benji’s condition…
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June 24th, 2011doomie's, franken's, LA restaurants, mandoline grill, news, vegan events
if you don’t have your tickets yet for the LA vegan beer fest (which is TOMORROW!), i don’t know what you’re waiting for! unlimited beer, vegan food trucks, and local bands…drinkers and nondrinkers welcome!
yesterday we woke up super early to film a news segment for ktla with our partners nic adler from the roxy and tony and paige from tony’s darts away...along with vendors doomies, the frankenstand and mandoline grill….and bands the mowgli’s and the silent comedy. it was awesome. check out the pictures and 3 videos from the shoot below. huge thanks to allie mackay and the ktla crew for featuring us!
Tags: ktla, lavbf, the roxy -
December 10th, 2010franken's, LA restaurants, locali, vegan bakers, vegan events
we all know that doomie’s is opening up this weekend, but there are a couple other awesome vegan events that should be on your radar as well.
remember those insane donuts i raved about last year from the righteous fryers?!…
Tags: bake sale, donuts -
October 1st, 2010franken's, fresh fries, LA restaurants, mandoline grill, seabirds, yalla truck
there’s no doubt that there’s been a major los angeles food truck explosion, and from the beginning we’ve blogged tirelessly about all the vegan options available. it’s only fair that after all this time we present you with a list of our favorites. ladies and gentlemen, we give you what we believe to be the top 5 vegan-friendly food trucks in LA. if we are missing any or if you don’t agree with us, please leave a comment!
yalla is an entirely vegetarian food truck that has arguably the best falafel sandwiches in los angeles. they specialize in “falafel fusion,” which means their small, flavorful, freshly fried falafel balls are available in several sandwiches with non-traditional ingredients.
most of the stuff on the truck is vegan by default, and the stuff that isn’t can be easily modified. my favorite yalla sandwich is a secret menu item called the “firestarter,” which comes with falafel, red cabbage salad, pickled turnips, pepperoncinis, onion salad, pickled carrots, chili paste, and tahini. talk about delicious!
to be fair, seabirds isn’t actually in LA (the truck is based in orange county), but it’s all vegan and so epic that it demands a space on this list.
no matter what your dietary preference, seabirds has everything. from unhealthy treats like beer-battered avocado tacos and cupcakes to nutritious foods like vegetable bowls and raw items by request…all completely animal-free! making regular stops in the OC, seabirds is never more than 2 hours away, and often much less than that. rest assured, the food is ALWAYS worth the drive. i can personally vouch for the tacos, burritos, taquitos, hummus, and burgers.
technically the frakenstand is not a truck, but it’s a mobile twittering food service, so i think it counts. the entirely vegan food cart specializes in gourmet franks and has been in operation for years, way before twittering trucks were the hot new thang.
not only does franken’s pack amazing food (think succulent sausages with a buffet condiment section), but the cart oozes with charm and spookiness. everything from the owner’s outfit to the menu names are creepy-themed. you can catch the frankenstand at various special events announced via twitter, or you can hire it for your own party. either way, this modest sausage cart really began the vegan mobile food revolution in LA, so be sure to hit it up when ever you can.
the mandoline grill menu does contain meat, but its astoundingly good vegan items have earned the vietnamese food truck a space on this list.
mandoline has been serving up the meanest tofu banh mi in town since early 2010, and whether it’s nachos or fried spring rolls, they’ve always got a solid vegan option on their appetizer menu. you just gotta love that deep-fried vegan goodness.
i’m hooked on fresh fries! the entirely vegetarian french fry truck has plenty of vegan options, and after trying 3 different variations of their “fancy fries,” i am a fan for life.
french fries on their own may sound a bit boring or uninspired, but the fresh fries toppings make them a complete meal. for vegans they have options such as curry ketchup and bbq sauce, as well as heartier toppings including chili guacamole, minced garlic, and hummus.
that’s our list! did we leave anybody out? let us know.
Tags: food truck, top 5 -
June 19th, 2010franken's, LA restaurants
last night a large group of animal lovers gathered under the stars in coldwater canyon for a screening of bold native, the first fictional film about the ALF.
it was a fantastic evening for many reasons: friends, nature, entertainment, activism….but this is a vegan food blog, so of course i’m here to tell you mainly about how delicious dinner was, thanks to the frankenstand….
Tags: bold native, food cart, movies, the frankenstand -
October 28th, 2009franken's, LA restaurants
whatever you are doing on thursday night, you should drop it and head over to the little bar at 8pm for the LA vegan drinks halloween meetup. and since this is a spooky themed event, who better to provide the food than our favorite food cart ever, THE FRANKENSTAND!
it’s been a while since i first reviewed the frankenstand on this site, and since then the 100% plant-based hot dog cart has become a staple of the los angeles vegan scene. if you haven’t had a chance to try their gourmet steamed franks yet, than this is definitely your chance. just take a look at the vegan beauties they have to offer…
and there’s not just gonna be great food at the little bar on thursday, but also plenty of beer and LA vegans. unfortunately, the bar is for ages 21 and up only…but youngsters can come get their hot dog on in the street outside with the frankenstand.
here is the official meetup.com invite:
Get excited about the first Vegan Drinks HALLOWEEN PARTY!!!
Catering provided by the FRANKENSTAND. If you haven’t tried these delectable steamed Frighteningly Delicious Vegan Hot Dogs you have not lived! Read reviews here on Quarrygirl.com or visit The Frankenstand’s Myspace page.
This is a costume party! Costumes are not required, but the first 2 dozen attendees to come in costume will get a special vegan treat!
In addition, Little Bar is timing a Fat Tire (Vegan Friendly Beer Co) promotion for our party to promote the new Hoptober Holiday Brew. With each Hoptober you order you get to keep the promotional glass.
I know Thursday is a work night, but its a great chance to get the most out of your Halloween Costume this year and mix and mingle with the best vegan crowd on the planet!
There is no charge for the event, but we request you observe a one drink minimum (alcohol or non alcohol) out of appreciation for Little Bar for hosting us and consume as many FrankenStand Vegan Hot Dogs as possible along with me to support a rock’n Vegan Business who’s presence makes it a Vegan Halloween Party to remember.
so who is coming?! this sounds like a load of fun.
P.S. if you miss thursday night, you can also catch the frankenstand at cinefamily on october 31 starting at 8pm. for more frankenstand updates, check out their myspace and twitter.
Tags: beer, food cart, hot dogs, mid-city, the frankenstand, vegan drinks -
June 19th, 2009franken's, LA restaurants
stop eating animals…and start eating vegan sausages!
franken’s, the only vegan food cart in los angeles, will be out in full force this weekend selling vegan hot dogs on saturday at the apartment 3 vintage yard sale in hollywood. drop whatever you are doing and get out there between 1 and 6pm—there will be shopping, djs, beer and most importantly, 100% plant-based franks from the frankenstand! whooooooooosh! don’t miss it!
if you’ve never tried franken’s before, you are in for a real treat. we are big fans of the frankenstand here at quarrygirl.com, and we just can’t get enough of of their gourmet franks! show up hungry, that way you can try both the witch and the franken!
Tags: food cart, hollywood, hot dog -
April 18th, 2009franken's, LA restaurants
yo yo yo los angeles vegans, if you are in town tonight, be sure to hit up the frankenstand! the all-vegan hot dog cart is one of our favorite places to eat, and they will be out in full force this evening from 5:30pm for vegan drinks at the little bar!
Tags: alcohol, beer, food cart, hollywood, hot dog, sausage -
March 11th, 2009franken's, LA restaurants
when i first posted on franken’s, the one and only all-vegan hot dog stand in los angeles, i vowed that i would follow them around, show up at their gigs, and get food from them every time they set up shop. since then, the frankenstand has made two appearances in la, and we were there for both of them.
the food was delicious on both occasions…but before i get into all that, i wanna remind you that the frankenstand will be serving it up in echo park this friday, march 13th at pehrspace. don’t miss it!
for more updates on franken’s, definitely stalk them on myspace and twitter.
their latest appearance was a smashing success, and we were there at the front lines as they sold like a million hot dogs to hungry hipsters at the east hollywood art cycle event on february 28th. they set up shop outside la city college at heliotrope and melrose, right across from pure luck…it was a vegan’s dream come true!
we ordered the wolf and the franken, both 100% vegan tofurky sausages steamed to perfection. i don’t know how the frankenstand makes tofurky taste so good, but it’s seriously something i can’t replicate at home. of course we took advantage of the eat-all-you-want condiment tray and sauce selection.
this was my first time trying the wolf, the cheapest and definitely the spiciest of the sausages available at franken’s. for only 3 bucks it’s a really good deal, but it is considerably smaller than the other franks…so keep that in mind if you are very hungry. the chipotle pepper flavor was delicious, but i made it even tastier with tons of onions and even spicier with loads of hot sauce. i can’t tell you enough how much i love all the condiments and vegetables at the frankenstand.
my husband got the same thing he always orders, the franken. the hearty italian-style frank is absolutely mouth-watering, with little bits of sun dried tomato chopped up inside. this sausage seems to be most people’s favorite, although mine is the witch…a tofu beer-flavored frank that costs 4 bucks.
the artists and bikers seemed to love the frankenstand—there was a pretty healthy line when we got our franks, and we were there relatively early. for more coverage on franken’s at the east hollywood art cycle, check out sick of lettuce.
we also caught up with the frankenstand at the threat fest in canoga park on february 21st. the valley crust punk crowd couldn’t have been more different from the heliotrope hipsters…but they sure loved the hot dogs just as much. i saw people going back for second, and even third servings of franken’s! you can see some pix from that event in the franken’s photo gallery and on vegan-la.com.
so those are all the franken’s adventures i have for now. stay tuned, and be sure to check out the frankenstand this friday!
the frankenstand
Tags: east hollywood, echo park, hot dogs, sausage, the valley, tofurky
friday march 13th at 9pm
at pehrspace
325 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90026 -
February 3rd, 2009franken's, LA restaurants
even with all the awesome vegan food options in los angeles, i think it’s safe to say none of it is quite as fun or interesting as the stuff from franken’s, a 100% vegan spooky-themed hot dog stand that travels around the city feeding hungry people outside venues like the smell and pehrspace.
i started following franken’s on myspace, and i can’t tell you how stoked i was when i read their description of the franken stand:
We Heard Your Cries For Tasty Food At Those Late Night Shows! Franken’s Offers Gourmet Franks Fresh Off Our Franken-Stand! They Are 100% Plant-Based And Frightening Delicious! Dress Them With Your Choice Of Trimmings. We Carry Vegenaise, Hot Sauce, BBQ, Mustards, Ketchup, Kraut, Relish, Peppers, Onions, And More… Wash It All Down With A Selection From Our Wide-Variety Of Healthy & Savory Sodas!
in a city full of hipsters chasing taco trucks and rogue hot dog vendors, it’s nice to see a vegan stand has sprung up and thrown itself into the mix. i friended franken’s on myspace to track their location, and was so excited to see they were scheduled to set up in echo park right outside pehrspace for a dance party called hungry beat last sunday night. we hauled ass all the way from hollywood to the east side at 9pm just to get a taste of the delicious franks.
we arrived early (at least for this crowd, it was early!) at around 9:30pm and navigated our way down the dark glendale boulevard, looking for the franken stand. we heard some music bumping from the glen village shopping center, and wandered in to find a hidden oasis of veganism. the franken stand was set up proudly, affixed with flashing LED lights and colorful drawings of monsters. two very friendly people stood behind it, a man and a woman; the man neatly dressed in an old-school conductor hat and stripey shirt. they welcomed us to the stand and explained that everything was plant-based—no meat, no dairy, no eggs—and that we could choose our flavor of hot dog, then pile on as many toppings and sauces as we desired. on the counter there was an impeccably clean tray of chopped fresh vegetables, from pickles to jalapenos to onions, and a carousel of neatly labeled sauces, from mustard and ketchup to vegenaise and cilantro cream. i knew we’d found something really special.
we ordered two hot dogs, the witch and the franken (all the franks have fun, spooky names and descriptions), and piled them high with toppings and sauces from the cart. we found a nearby newspaper stand under a streetlamp on glendale boulevard and tore into our franks like hungry vultures. as you can see, one hot dog didn’t even survive without a bite long enough to be photographed.
the witch tofu dog with full sail ale was definitely my favorite. it had a distinct microw-brew taste and a really thick texture. piled high with fresh onions and slathered in hot sauce and cilantro cream, it was in-fucking-credible.
the franken was also awesome. it was thicker than the witch, and stuffed with tons of sun dried tomatoes, giving it a distinctively sweet taste. covered in hot sauce, mustard, onion, and fresh jalapeno…this sweet frank was suddenly transformed into being really spicy as well!
both dogs were flawless and scrumptious beyond belief. franken’s ain’t lying when they brag that they offer “gourmet franks”, it’s true! i don’t know where they get them from, but the franks were so tasty and well-crafted…plus, i can’t even stress how fine and fresh all the toppings were. the franken stand is doing it right—offering high-quality, cheap, vegan food to hungry late-night party-ers.
i am so impressed with franken’s in fact, i have decided to be a hot dog rat and chase the franken stand from venue to venue, eating it whenever i can. as of now, their next appearance will be in canoga park at the threat fest on february 20th. hopefully i will see you there, and be sure to follow franken’s on myspace for all their upcoming dates. as soon as you can, i highly suggest you make the drive out to eat franken’s, and come very hungry so you can try as many different franks as possible!
UPDATE! franken’s now has a twitter account! follow them for their location at twitter.com/TheFrankenStand! thanks to commenter foodeater for pointing this out.
Tags: echo park, food cart, franken's, franks, hot dogs -