sad news, my friends. the old quarrygirl favorite, yalla truck, is no longer vegetarian. now, along with their delicious (and harmless) falafel, they are serving up full on bird flesh.

this is especially gutting, because we LOVED the fact that they were a meatless business…

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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 truck

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!

seabirds truck

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.

the frankenstand

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.

mandoline grill

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.

fresh fries

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.

i’m becoming obsessed with yalla truck. i was already convinced that the all vegetarian food truck made some of the best falafel sandwiches in town…and then they had to go and blow me away with the incredible firestarter, a “secret” menu item.

firestarter: falafel, red cabbage salad, pickled turnips, pepperonchini, onion salad, pickled carrots. dressed with shaata (chili paste and tahini) $4

now the firestarter isn’t completely secret, after all it is listed on yalla’s facebook page, but you won’t find it on the normal menu outside the truck. ask for it anyways though, and you won’t be sorry. the firestarter is the best sandwich i’ve eaten in ages, and even though i loved the andale at yalla, this spicy little pita has it beat.

it’s filled to the brim with tiny freshly-fried falafel balls, red cabbage salad, pickled turnips, pepperonchinis, onion salad, and pickled carrots…all tossed in an incredibly hot blend of chili paste and tahini. YEOW! this thing did start a fire in my mouth, and i am hooked! you can’t tell from the picture, but the sandwich was so full that ingredients were spilling out all over the place. i’m talking loads of crispy falafel and all kinds of marinated flavorful vegetables. plus it was SPICY. ahhhh i wish i had another one right now!

yalla truck!

if you like falafel, and you haven’t tried yalla truck yet, you need to hunt them down ASAP! follow them on twitter for their schedule and make it a point to hit them up. you will be sure to get one of the best falafel sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. make it the firestarter!

yalla is a new vegetarian food truck that has been roaming the streets of los angeles for a few months, and after trying their food yesterday, I AM SMITTEN. they specialize in “falafel fusion,” basically traditional falafel sandwiches with non-traditional ingredients. there’s no meat on the truck, and most of their ingredients are vegan…just be sure to specify when you order, and avoid the dairy sauces and feta cheese.

the ándale (southwestern) made vegan: falafel balls, green cabbage salad, corn, black beans, black olives, onion salad, tomato/cucumber salad, Pickled carrots. dressed w/ tahini sauce. $5

i went with the ándale, a southwestern-style sandwich made with falafel balls, green cabbage salad, black beans, corn, black olives, tomato cucumber salad, onion salad, and pickled carrots. this sandwich normally comes with a creamy chipotle sauce, but the dudes at yalla were happy to swap that out for tahini to make it vegan. this sandwich was nothing short of fantastic! the falafels were of the little fried variety, not the big fluffy kind, and they packed tons of flavor. the toppings were absolutely excellent—as you can see from the picture above, yalla does not skimp on ingredients. my sandwich was absolutely overflowing with fresh vegetables, beans, salads, and rich tahini sauce. i had to eat it with a fork! SO GOOD.

i honestly cannot WAIT to return to yalla and try out even more of their stuff. they have a menu posted on their facebook page that’s even bigger than the one posted outside the truck. i don’t know about you, but i’m dying to eat the “firestarter”—falafel, red cabbage salad, pickled turnips, pepperonchini, onion salad, and pickled carrots.

follow yalla on twitter for their whereabouts, and hit them up for some falafel as soon as you can. i was highly impressed with their food, and i think you will be too. and remember, specify that you want it made VEGAN.