Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

Get An Early Taste Of The U.S.'s Only Guatemalan Hot Dog Truck This Weekend

el_shuko_truck.jpg
El Chuchon with Spanish chorizo from the El Shuko Truck (via Instagram)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.


A Guatemalan hot dog truck is heading to L.A. soon and you can get an early taste of its unique flavors this weekend. The El Shuko Truck has been circling the streets of Las Vegas for sometime, and they'll be making the permanent move to L.A. at some point in the new year, reports L.A. Magazine. According to writer Bill Esparza—who is well versed in such things—the truck is the only one of its kind in the U.S. And while they've been doing some recon in L.A. with occasional visits over the past year, this Saturday and Sunday will be your last chance to sample the truck's offerings until their move.

The truck specializes in Guatemalan hot dogs, known as shucos, which offer distinctive Central American twists on a classic dog like the signature el chapin, which features a beef frank, guacamol (avocado spread), mayo, boiled cabbage, mustard and ketchup. Or you can swap the beef dog for a spicy Guatemalan longaniza sausage or pork adobo. There's also a delicious-sounding cherote dog, which includes Argentinian-style and Guatemalan chimichurri. The dogs are served on a toasted bun or you can opt for mixtas, which offer the same ingredients only wrapped in a corn tortilla—or as Esparza calls it "a hot dog taco."


Besides the shucos and mixtas, the truck also dishes up traditional Guatemalan street food, which includes beet and ground meat tostadas known as enchiladas, small corn husk tamales known as chuchitos, bean tostadas with guacamol, and many other delicious-looking treats, including specials like ceviche:


The El Shuko Truck will be parked at 1025 E. 54th St., South Park, (702) 927-7625, this Saturday, December 12 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, December 13 from noon to 8 p.m.

And here's a look at their colorful truck so you'll know it when you see it:

Sponsored message

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today