Photo by Marshall Astor-Food Pornographer via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr We can't get enough of talking about taco trucks, but we're not alone. The folks at Zocalo have an event next week focused on the wheeled purveyors of tortilla-wrapped tastiness and their perhaps precarious state of being in light of recent laws. C. Thi Nguyen, who called the new regulations "a cultural disaster," will be on hand at the Los Angeles......

We're not sure if this tamale is marketed as one that promotes self-actualization, or if that is just the state of being 护士黑鹰 from our LAist Featured Photos pool found themselves in after their meal. This bite came from the South Pasadena Farmer's Market, and is a: "Blue Corn, Roasted Banana Pepper and Provolone tamale with rice and beans." Tamales often inspire devotion (or frustration), and are often associate with cold-weather comfort food best......

Maybe it's the absence of any background in this photo that makes this vegan burrito from Flore Vegan on Sunset in Silver Lake look so dang sexy. Or, if you're so inclined, maybe it's the absolute lack of any animal product or by-product that is sexy. Maybe it's just lunch time and you forgot your brown bag at home and would rather eat your own arm than eat at Carl's Jr. Our LAist Featured......

Photo by hiddedevries via Flickr COMEDY It's the last week of the Los Angeles Comedy Festival in Hollywood. There are two shows tonight (one at 8:00 p.m., another at 9:30 p.m.) that include 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, Dry Hump and The Comedy Jesus Show. 8:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m. // McCadden Theatre // 1157 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles // $12/show CHEAP EATS Whether you're over the hill on the East or Westside, or even......

You're going to be thinking scrumptious cupcakes, but don't even try... you're too cool for that, right? That's Johnny Cupcake for ya. Coming soon to a Melrose Ave. storefront soon. Johnny Cupcakes LA shoppe SNEAK PEEK 1 from Johnny Cupcakes on Vimeo.......

May 1st was Taco Truck Night here in LA, and we've been talking tacos for quite some time now. This shot--named "Make Tacos, Not War"--from 护士黑鹰 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr captures the simple pleasure that is getting a taco from a street vendor, in this case in the shadow of Occidental College in Eagle Rock. Our photog explains: "Hot tacos, $1 each, in a driveway on Avenue 50 near York.......

LAist has had some well documented cases of searching for that elusive “hidden bakery-café” in Burbank, or that extra parking spot at the Porto’s on Hollywood Way and Magnolia. And my suggestion? It doesn’t provide a solution for either of those problems, but an excellent alternative in Cake Monkey. It’s a nondescript bakery (basically a kitchen and an office, they are looking for a retail spot) wedged between a locksmith and a flowershop on Burbank......

LAist Featured Photos pool contributor kristi.nicole shares with us a shot from a recent six course tasting menu meal at K-Zo in Culver City. Over on Yelp, K-Zo scores high with fans of high-end sushi, with one Yelper promising that if you hand yourself over to their Mr. Keizo for an omakase meal (where the sushi chef serves you what he wishes based on what's best on hand) "the master will take you on......

The first annual Cupcake Challenge on May 18th will put the lip-smacking in a foodie smackdown. In this event sponsored by CozmoDeck, Fiji Water, and K and L Wine Merchants, 13 of the best local cupcake bakeries--cupcakeries, if you will--are putting on their oven mitts and throwing down the best they have to offer in the hopes of determining whose cupcake is the tops in town. The event is open to the public, because you......

After a two-month investigation of animal abuse at a chicken farms in Central California that led to of of the biggest egg producers in the state being singled out for mistreatment, Trader Joes has discontinued carrying eggs from that vendor. "The Monrovia-based chain said it wants all its vendors to abide by industry practices for animal care," according to KNBC. Chicago-based animal rights group Mercy for Life had a member pose as an employee and......

A grand jury report released today (.pdf) said that Orange County patrons of food institutions are hardly notified of the conditions inside the restaurant. Unlike Los Angeles County where A-B-C grades are posted in the front window, Orange County restaurants only have to display placards saying they are either "in substantial compliance" with food-safety standards, or awaiting a re-inspection, according to the OC Register. The report says that the public is "almost universally unaware" of......

LAist absolutely loves the Redwood Bar & Grill, a pirate-themed hangout close to Disney Hall and the Civic Center downtown -- not only is it a lovely place to wander into on a cold and lonely winter night, but it serves our Editor's Choice for Best Mac N' Cheese in the city. I know, right! So you'll be thrilled to hear that the Redwood is now open for brunch! Beginning this weekend from 11am......

Photo from the Getty by Rick O! via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Students, faculty, staff, and parents associated with Lincoln Elementary school in Santa Monica are trying to come to grips today with the weekend arrest of Thomas Beltran, who taught ESL at the school. Beltran, 60, has been charged with molesting four young girls who were his students. An auto fire turned into a brush fire late this afternoon near......

Some of us at LAist were among the first to take a bite (and a sip or two!) at the new Father's Office II in the Helms Bakery building. LAist Featured Photos pool contributor ">pink_fish13 also couldn't resist, but opted for this tasty looking twist on a steak salad instead of one of the Office's legendary burgers. Thoughts on the dish: "It was spicy and delicious!" Father's Office II 3229 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles......

The Mexican/Spanish restaurant-lounge Senor Fred has cemented its reputation as a Ventura Blvd. hot spot for drinks, but it's also a nice lunch destination for those of you trawling the Sherman Oaks area. The place fulfills at least two requirements of a good Mexican restaurant: spicy salsa that tastes homemade (their version has a nice smoky flavor to it), and strong, simple margaritas. The food is far superior to Mexicali's questionable menu, but about......

Cracked Crab is my seafood fantasy come true. Many years ago my dad knew the owner of one of those really ghetto seafood places on the Redondo Pier. I'm talking newspaper-spread-out-over-the-wooden-table, sit-at-the-bench-with-a-bib and eat-while-fighting-off-the-seagulls kind of ghetto. And since dad knew the owner, the seafood came like a tsunami and I was spoiled beyond belief. Unfortunately that place closed down years ago and I've been at a loss for a hard core, bang-on-the-crab-with-a-mallet restaurant. But......

We can't all be vegans, right? Some of us still appreciate meat. That's why this shot of some tempting ribs by neonspecs from our LAist Featured Photos Pool makes the perfect bite for our Eye Nosh series. Our foodie photographer explains where this plate came from: oh man. so good. but the best part was the little salad on the side. At Chinois on Main as part of the DineLA Restaurant Week(s), we ordered......

Morro Bay is a beach town about 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles. On a recent trip I had the pleasure of dining in the area, and the result is this quick back to back weekend series. Come back tomorrow for even more seafood as we head down the coast to Pismo Beach. Today, though, we're sticking to the beautiful town of Morro Bay. Known as a fishing port and a tourist town, Morro bay......

No, this isn't Care Bear Puke, but that would be pretty cool (in a strange way). This is the peppermint ice cream cookie sandwich ($4.25) at Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store, attached to the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. People go nuts over Diddy Reese's cheap ice cream sandwiches ($1.50). And those snacks are definitely not to miss when in Westwood Village or hanging around UCLA's campus. However, and as cheesy as it is......

Tomorrow night, after the May Day rallies, is Taco Night, as declared by the organizers at SaveOurTacoTrucks.org, a petition and effort to raise awareness about an LA County law going in effect on May 15th that will harshen penalties placed on taco trucks who sit in the same spot for over an hour in unincorporated areas such as East LA. So who better to go explore taco truck food with than the two behind the......

Ben & Jerry's 30th Annual Free Cone Day is in full swing with 1 million cones expected to be given away today. But what's this? When we stopped by our local B&J's on Main Street in Santa Monica, there was hardly a line. We waited barely a minute in a quick-moving line of five people to get our free scoop of the new flavor, Seven Layer Bar. What helped, we think, is that there were......

The LA Times Festival of Books offered something for everyone this weekend. The many panels, author interviews and signing booths were exciting for bookish nerds like us. If you weren't into the bookish side of the book festival, however, there was plenty to whet your appetite. Literally. The food court was full of smoked meats and organic treats and live music could be enjoyed from many open plazas on the UCLA campus. There was even......

Photo of Next Door Tapas interior by Zach Behrens for LAist Next Door Tapas is a swanky and intimate little lounge in Studio City, perfect for a weekend or late evening bite -- just don't plan on being there before 6pm. Despite the 5pm opening that's advertised on most review websites, we showed up at 5:30 only to find half-dressed tables and an unready staff. The wine menu was quick to arrive once we......

LAist Featured Photos pool contributor pink_fish13 ordered up the Farmer's Market Salad from Milk. With all those tantalizing ice cream concoctions on their menu it's tough to remember that not only do they serve meals there, but they have fresh, light fare, like this salad which is dotted with a delicious kind of milk product: "yummy goat cheese!" says our photog. Milk 7290 Beverly Boulevard (323) 939-6455 LAist will be featuring more of these,......

Dong Il Jang is highly ranked on Yelp and is one of the oldest Korean restaurants in Los Angeles. It also happens to be one of the higher-end Korean places in K-town. It is a little pricier than the usual cheap Korean places I go to, but you see it reflected both in the atmosphere and the presentation of the food. I'm looking to get away from strictly Korean Barbecue and go for more variety......

Photo by nailmaker via LAist Featured Photos So maybe some of you kids have it easy when it comes to eating green: you're a vegetarian or vegan, you don't eat dairy, and you shop at your local farmer's market every week. You probably bike a lot and never talk on your cell phone while you're driving. Congratulations, you're our editor! But for the rest of us mortals, the recent explosion of articles and blog......

Last night Father's Office II in Culver City* Los Angeles finally opened to the thirsty and hungry, but mostly thirsty, masses. It was supposed to be a soft opening but word got out and the bar/restaurant filled up right quick. A line formed outside the front door but patrons who finally made it in said the wait wasn't too bad, just about 15 minutes.......

Hey, there, beer fans! The word is out on the street, Father's Office II in Culver City finally opens its doors tonight! You heard me. Rumors say 5pm. Our coverage of the preview party probably left you wanting more but starting tonight you get to see it for yourself, taste the gastropub fare goodness for yourself, choose from what looks to be a gazillion beers on tap and guzzle, I mean, savor, for yourself.......

"Why is this night different from all other nights?" you might ask. Well, it's the first night of Passover, and even folks who will be sitting down to a seder somewhere in the Southland tonight will also be asking the same thing, because it's one of four questions that are posed in the traditional pre-dinner ceremony. Passover is a hands-on Jewish holiday, where families and friends gather around the table to honor the Israelites' exodus......

Photo by _ROXANNE_ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr After heisting a rental car that was just about to be rented out, a woman led police on a wild three-county tour of SoCal which ended with her being put out by a spike strip. The chase began in Anaheim and ended near Camp Pendleton. A pot bust took place late last night in a gated community in El Monte, netting cops 1,000......