Cheap Fast Eats heads to North Hollywood for tasty food around $10

There was a feeling in the air, almost like a siren song from afar, signaling somewhere between the giant Minion statue that towers over Universal Studios theme park and the Sepulveda Basin. North Hollywood was calling our name.

Dynamic immigrant communities against the backdrop of remnants of old Hollywood studios culture, the boho NoHo arts district, all juxtaposed with a specific Valley charm.

From loaded street tacos to Lebanese wraps, we found a variety of eateries offering wallet-friendly prices. It's time to dig in.

This is Cheap Fast Eats North Hollywood.

Mofongos

Along a section of Lankershim Boulevard, among the vintage furniture stores and hair salons, is a small slice of Boricua culture.

Mofongos is a cozy cafe, its walls decorated with autographed headshots of notable Puerto Rican movie stars like Luis Guzmán and the obligatory photo of Roberto Clemente. Nyorican salsa superstars Hector Lavoe and Willie Colón play on an endless loop.

It feels like a first stop for homesick Puerto Ricans trying to make it in showbiz. Even my server tells me he’s an actor and writer who’s been in L.A. for three months.

Mofongo, mashed green plantains and fried pork skin, with alcapurrias, fried yucca fritters filled with seasoned ground beef.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Mofongos, a one stop shop for quality Puerto Rican food on Lankershim Boulevard

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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I started with an order of alcapurrias ($11.99), a torpedo-shaped fritter made from fried yucca flour that’s filled with seasoned ground beef. The crispy outside has a slightly sweet, starchy flavor from the yucca; the ground beef is mixed with an adobo spice combo, highlighted by crackly bits from the outer batter.

It comes with housemade pique, a vinegar-based hot sauce known more for its tangy and fruity flavors than for its spice level, which goes well with the fried batter.

I also tried the cafe’s namesake dish, mofongo ($11.99), made from green plantains boiled and crushed with garlic, salt, and fried pork rinds. It’s a traditional Puerto Rican dish, with roots that go back to the indigenous Taíno and West African populations. It's served with a small bowl of broth or caldo, which you can pour over the mofongo or dip forkfuls into. Each bite is filled with savory flavors that are both comforting and satisfying.

Skaf’s Grill

Skaf's Grill, which has been serving comfy Lebanese food for the past few decades

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Inside an overstuffed strip mall on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in the bordering neighborhood of Valley Glen, Skaf’s Grill has been serving its cozy version of Lebanese cuisine for the past 40 years. Now with locations in Glendale and Highland Park, it offers kebabs and shawarmas in a dining room decorated with faded posters of Lebanon’s World Heritage sites and illuminated by the glow of a flat-screen TV playing local news in the background.

Try the kafta pita wrap ($10) (also spelled kofta in other cultures), a ground beef mixture infused with herbs like mint and parsley, then formed into sausage-like shapes and grilled. It’s served inside a freshly baked pita with a generous spread of hummus, a thick slice of juicy tomato, and a few half-moons of white onion for a hint of acidity.

The falafel and kafta pita wraps from Skaf's Grill.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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An order of an a la carte lamb skewer along with a plate of pickled vegetables.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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For a vegetarian option, sample the falafel wrap ($8.50), which comes with two large falafel balls, infused with cumin, coriander, cardamom, and cayenne pepper, that are perfectly moist, savory, and earthy. Both wraps demonstrate how to make something simple and delicious without being overly fancy.

If you're still hungry and have another $10 to spend, select one of the many à la carte kebabs, such as shrimp, chicken, or lamb. I chose the lamb, which was beautifully charred, tender, and juicy in all the right spots. Each skewer was enough to share if you’re dining with a friend.

Tacos El Yakis Estilo Sonora

Tacos El Yakis Estilo Sonora, a street stand, offers Sonoran-style tacos, served in the Northern states of Mexico and the Southwestern part of the U.S., which have gained popularity with the rise of places like Sonoratown. They’re made with a flour tortilla instead of corn and meats grilled over an open flame using mesquite charcoal, like beef, chicken, chorizo, and cabeza, all with a robust smoky flavor.

Freshly made Sonoran-style tacos for just $5.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Tacos Perrón and estilo Yaki.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Start with the tacos perrón ($5), which feature a thick slice of queso chihuahua placed inside the tortilla, grilled face down on the flat top, along with a generous helping of pinto beans and a whole grilled jalapeño for maximum freshness and heat. My meat of choice that night was al pastor, sliced ultra-thin, mixed with chunks of pineapple cut from atop the trompo.

Be warned, though, because once you start adding various salsas and garnishes, like cilantro mixed with red onion and their rich, velvety guacamole salsa, you’ve got a taco of serious proportions that eerily echoes the SNL “Taco Town” sketch.

You should also try their taco estilo Yaki ($5), with your choice of meat. I opted for the beautifully smoky carne asada, along with an Anaheim chile stuffed with melty cheese, grilled and placed into a flour tortilla.

It’s pretty much a given that you won’t go hungry, especially considering the price point and the amount of food you're given at El Yakis, and that’s a good thing.

Muchá! Comida Chapina

I’m on a quest to try as much Guatemalan cuisine as possible, with dishes that honor Indigenous food traditions dating back to the Mayans. So I was delighted when I came across Muchá! Comida Chapina, located inside a small shopping center across the street from a Home Depot with a tiny parking lot.

Starting with the antojitos, or “small bites”, I had the garnachas ($12), small tortillas topped with ground beef, sprinkled with cotija cheese, and served with a slightly spicy tomato salsa and pickled cabbage known as curtido. The freshness of the curtido brine and the salty bits of cheese played well with the fried masa, making for a fulfilling bite.

Don't let the modest facade fool you — memorable food lies within

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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The interior of Muchá! Comida Chapina

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Guatemala is also known for its plentiful street food options. Try the shuco chapin ($10.99), essentially a hot dog sandwich. Let me explain: chopped-up bits of grilled hot dog are placed in a toasted bolillo bun with a whole bunch of condiments, including yellow mustard, ketchup, mayo, guacamole, grilled onions, and more curtido.

The galaxy of flavors and textures might feel a tad overwhelming at first, but before you know it, you’ll have scarfed it down. It’s like the Guatemalan response to the bacon-wrapped L.A. street dog, packed with a similar level of multicultural maximalism.

Gharsi Xorovac

The Gharsi shawarma filled with grilled pork, fresh tomato, parsley, and a light garlic mayo dressing.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Located on a small street off Sherman Way, you’ll find Gharsi Xorovac — a humble-looking Armenian takeaway spot. Look for a storefront with a bunch of burly dudes wearing track suits, speaking Armenian, and smoking cigarettes outside, and you’ll know you’re in the right place.

It specializes in a variety of shawarma wraps and plates, but what caught our eye was their signature menu item, the Gharsi shawarma ($12).

Check out Gharsi Xorovac for some delicious shawarma wraps and sandwiches.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Made with an ultra-soft French roll, bits of grilled pork, fresh tomato, and parsley, and a light garlic mayo dressing, it's described as an Armenian torta because of its visual similarity to the Mexican sandwich. Unlike the torta, however, the sandwich itself is remarkably light in its construction, with only a few simple ingredients.