LA's BBQ Trucks
Los Angeles barbecue pulls from two directions at once: Texas-style brisket and ribs smoked low over oak and hickory, and the Santa Maria tri-tip tradition that comes down the coast from the Central Coast on red oak.
Pick a verified Los Angeles BBQ truck for a company picnic, a wedding reception or a backyard party anywhere in Los Angeles County or north Orange County.
Los Angeles's Favorite Barbecue for Your Event
From brisket to tri-tip to galbi, this is what LA's BBQ trucks pull out of the smoker.
Texas-Style Brisket
Whole packer briskets smoked overnight over post oak, sliced to order with a peppery bark and a smoke ring, served on butcher paper with pickles, onions and white bread. The centerpiece of LA's craft barbecue trucks and the plate guests photograph.
Santa Maria-Style Tri-Tip
The Central Coast tradition: tri-tip seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic, grilled over red oak and sliced thin, served with pinquito beans, salsa and grilled bread. A California style that is lighter than smoked pork and perfect for a warm afternoon.
Ribs & Pulled Pork
St. Louis-cut spare ribs and baby backs with a sticky glaze, pulled pork piled on a bun with slaw, and burnt ends when the truck has them. The crowd favorites that anchor a picnic plate.
Korean BBQ & LA Fusion
Marinated galbi short ribs, bulgogi and spicy pork off the grill, served over rice or in tacos and bowls with kimchi and pickled daikon. Koreatown's barbecue tradition is as much a part of LA as brisket, and fusion trucks blend the two.
Smoked Chicken, Turkey & Sausage
Smoked half chickens, sliced turkey breast, house-made hot links and jalapeño-cheddar sausage. The lighter and faster options that round out a barbecue line and keep guests who skip red meat happy.
Sides & Vegetarian Plates
Mac and cheese, pinquito or baked beans, cornbread, collards, potato salad, elote and vinegar slaw, plus smoked jackfruit, grilled portobello or smoked tofu for vegetarians. Strong sides are how a barbecue truck feeds the whole room.
Why Event Planners Choose Food Trucks
The catering choice that delivers on taste and experience
Real Smoke, Not a Chafing Dish
LA's barbecue trucks run offset smokers and oak-fired grills, with meat that went on the night before. Sliced to order at the window, it stays moist and smoky in a way catering trays cannot match.
Built for Big, Hungry Crowds
Barbecue plates are hearty and portion easily, so a single truck serves a large picnic or a plant shift without the line stalling. Pre-sliced meat and composed plates move faster than almost any other full meal.
Two-County Coverage
Trucks across Los Angeles County and north Orange County carry their county's mobile food permit, and LA County trucks display a Public Health letter grade. Catered events sit on private property, with COI and gate paperwork handled by the truck.
Book It Yourself in Minutes
Browse verified BBQ trucks, pick one, place the order, and pay once the truck accepts. Trucks arrive self-contained with their own power, smoker and refrigeration.
Perfect for Any Los Angeles Occasion
From studio lots to backyard celebrations
Corporate Events & Employee Appreciation
A barbecue truck is the classic company picnic and all-hands lunch, from a Torrance manufacturing lot to a Burbank studio commissary parking area. Composed plates let a few hundred employees eat on schedule.
Weddings & Receptions
Brisket and tri-tip suit the relaxed ranch and garden weddings in Palos Verdes, Pasadena and the Hollywood Hills, and the backyard receptions of north Orange County. A barbecue truck replaces a plated dinner with something guests actually finish.
Birthday Parties & Private Celebrations
Graduation parties, milestone birthdays, retirement parties and family reunions across the Valley, the South Bay and north Orange County. A barbecue truck feeds a backyard crowd that comes in waves.
Community Events & Festivals
Church picnics, HOA summer barbecues, Little League closing days and apartment community events across Los Angeles County and north Orange County. A barbecue truck pairs naturally with a dessert or beverage truck.
College & University Events
Tailgates, alumni events and end-of-year celebrations at USC, UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton and LMU. Hearty plates and a vegetarian option cover a campus crowd.
Group Outings & Team Events
Sports leagues, car clubs, production wrap parties and volunteer appreciation days bring barbecue trucks to the end-of-season gathering. Nothing says celebration like a smoker in the lot.
What's Included with Your Catering
Full-service food truck catering across Los Angeles County and north Orange County
Best Times to Book in Los Angeles
Plan around the SoCal calendar for the best selection
Spring (March-May)
Picnic season opens and campus events ramp up. Graduation Saturdays in late May and June go first, so book those early; Nurses Week in May fills hospital campus dates.
Summer (June-August)
The heart of barbecue season: company picnics, summer Fridays and Fourth of July weekends compete for the same trucks. Weekday corporate lunches stay flexible, often week-of.
Late Summer & Fall (September-November)
LA's hottest weeks run August into October with Santa Ana wind days; smokers run regardless, so plan shade for the line. Fall tailgates and quarter-end appreciation events fill October weekends.
Winter (December-February)
Mild winters keep barbecue trucks working outdoors year-round. December holiday parties fill first; January and February weekdays have the best availability of the year.
Los Angeles Catering Experts
Los Angeles barbecue trucks work a region where Los Angeles County Public Health permits and letter-grades mobile food facilities while an event in north Orange County falls under that county's own permit program. Catered events sit on private property, and studio lots and campuses typically ask for a certificate of insurance and a scheduled gate or lot window, which the truck handles once you book.
Whether you're hosting at a Long Beach port-side facility, a Pasadena office campus, a Brea business park or a Pasadena garden, LA's barbecue trucks bring professional service and real smoke. See the <a href="/food-truck-catering/los-angeles-ca" class="text-purple-600 hover:text-purple-800 font-medium">Los Angeles food truck catering guide</a> for pricing by event type.
The South Bay & Long Beach
El Segundo and Torrance aerospace campuses, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, refineries and logistics yards along the 110 and 710.
Burbank, Glendale & the Valley
The Burbank, Glendale and Studio City media corridor, Van Nuys and Sun Valley industrial parks, Northridge and Woodland Hills.
San Gabriel Valley
Pasadena offices and Caltech, West Covina, Walnut and the industrial corridor through City of Industry.
North Orange County
Anaheim and Fullerton business parks, Brea, Buena Park and La Habra, where backyard and park venues host receptions.
Read the complete bbq food truck catering guide for national pricing, menu breakdowns, and event planning tips.
Common Questions About BBQ Food Truck Catering in Los Angeles
Everything you need to know before booking.