Venice local now, for nearly 4 years and I've only been to first Friday twice. Both amazing experiences and now it's a ritual of my friends, neighbors, and family in the area. The last first Friday, I brought mama. We dropped but the food truck 8E8 and bought thai iced teas, spicy drunken noodles, Tofu pad see Ew, and red curry. I literally ate my portion of food for 3 days straight, and it was more delicious every time. How does that work? They ran out of mangos and sticky rice! Next time, hope they are back next month in January 2024. :) There were so many other food trucks, close to 25 lining abbot Kinney all the way to Venice Blvd. such a fun local experience, found my neighbors/friends we hung out and had a great dinner sitting on the side of the road lol. That's Venice for ya, we just wing it bc why not. read more

First Fridays - Best thai food ever, 8E8 - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This isn't a "useful" review. I got here just before the world changed. We hear about collective sacrifice during World War II and see movies where people are happy to go months out of their way to rescue Matt Damon from space, but reality involves violations of safety protocols, hateful and insane politics and letting cruise ship workers drift for months because apparently it's too dangerous to have the boat drop them off at 2AM. First Fridays is a reminder of a better era. The day of my February visit featured various typical and absurdly trivial dilemmas. Would I make it to the coast in time for sunset and would my phone battery die? And do I have the capacity to eat that delicious-looking fake meat from Original Herbivore after I just enjoyed real meat from Scroggins Smokehouse and various other things? Yeah, it seemed time to go back to the hotel after the amazing ribs, but the picture of the Reuben with faux pastrami was captivating. Little things I enjoyed about First Fridays: the palm trees at dusk are quite cinematic, and it seems more acceptable to talk to strangers here than in NYC, so I had a some Fieri-esque discussions here. It'll be a while before I take a plane again, but I'm thankful that First Fridays, its creative and hard-working vendors and its fusion-craving crowds built a classic California experience. read more

*** Abbott Kinney rocks every month. *** On the first Friday of every month, shops and galleries open their doors to drink/eat complimentary wine/h'orderves and show their merchandise/art. It gets crowded too, so arrive early (before 5pm) to score prkg. My fave shops to visit, and furniture stores (like Knibb Design) and galleries (like G2) open their doors for an open public soiree. There is live music at some shops, artists at others ... everyone mingles and parties. I even had a fun time @Trim, a hair salon! *** W. 3rd St should do this more often. *** read more

First Fridays - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Overwhelmed with this First Friday of the month food truck street thang. Boyfriend and I were just hanging around Venice beach until it was dinner time. Drove down Abbot and saw a bunch of trucks and a hell of people. We both had no idea what was going on but we stopped by anyways. Parking sucked at 6 because people were getting off work and also, it was dinner time. On abbot, there's a few restaurants that are opened for those who weren't interested in street trucks so don't worry if none of the trucks look good. As we got to one of the trucks, we asked some guy who was in line what's this trucks about? Every first Friday of the month, trucks come out. Made a lot of sense to us after. We tried the White Rabbit food truck which was Filipino taco truck. It wasn't too bad. 3 tacos for $4? Sauce was tasty though. Next month noted, check it out again when we are not full. Some trucks accept card but bring cash just in case! read more

First Fridays - Strips of food trucks - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here for the first time in October with my friends and totally loved it. Venice has created such a fun environment for people to enjoy their Friday night. Indulge in all kinds of food from some pretty cool food trucks. The vibe is friendly, people are happy as they enjoy their yummy food. I mean it's a win win. Oh and make sure you go before the sunset to snap some pretty cool photos! read more

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Every first Friday of the month, a bazillion people come to Abbott Kinney for shopping, sidewalk sales, art gallery browsing, and food trucks. We were here for the FOOD!! Tonight, bf, Ciara G. and I ate: Frysmith The Greasy Wiener The Buttermilk Truck Coolhaus Though they were there, we did NOT eat: Dogtown The Grilled Cheese Truck Baby's Badass Burgers Kogi Calbi Dosa Truck Gourmet Genie Fishlips Ta Boom Border Grill Dainty Cakes The Dim Sum Truck Party Qsadilla Green Truck Kassava Caribbean Cupcakes A Go Go Vizzi Flying Pig Truck a crepe truck - Crepes Bonaparte maybe There were more, but I don't remember which!!! We got here around 7:30-ish, and were lucky to see someone pulling out of a street space a block away from the madness. Important lessons learned for a happier next time: * Arriving at or before 6pm and leaving before 8pm gets you easy parking, the shortest lines, and the thinnest crowds * Arriving after 11-11:30pm gets you easy parking and some shorter lines, but you risk trucks running out of food, and the people that are still there are drunk and unsteady : ( Definitely good people watching, but be prepared to get elbowed within an inch of your life! read more

First Fridays - Waiting for food trucks in The Brig parking lot - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a cool event on Abbott Kinney with a ton of food trucks lining the streets, music blaring from the DJ, stores with their doors open and lots of people flooding the area. We walked up and down Abbott Kinney when we arrived to see which food trucks were there. Almost every type of cuisine was represented with trucks specializing in sushi to burgers to froyo, spam musubi, cupcakes, cheese steaks, gourmet waffles, rotisserie chicken, stuffed flat breads, potatoes, rice bowls, acai bowls. We tried Cousins Maine Lobster truck, Sweet Arleen's, Musubi Devil and Sweet E's. It's a food truck lover's paradise! Parking of course is difficult, but it's a great way to spend a Friday night with a small group of friends. read more

**ART GALLERIES, FOOD TRUCKS, AND VENICE FUN** I was delighted to experience a *First Friday* in Venice. Night Life, Restaurants, Shopping, Art, and Music unite on Abbott Kinney for a wonderful communal gathering of artists, foodies, and shoppers alike. We were fortunate to find immediate parking adjacent to the food trucks. Experienced: * Kogi (please see review) * Ice Cream Sandwiches * Hand-made Jewelry * Picture with Hunky Santa Too full to get a grilled sandwich, but next time. For more info: http://www.abbotkinney1stfridays.com/ HIGHLY RECOMMEND and will RETURN! read more

This is a great idea conceptually, but this place is not for me personally. It's really cool if you are a teenager who wants to go out or a local curious about food trucks and want to bop around. If you are a selective eater, this may not be your thing. It's very crowded and mostly very young ( but not entirely). The cute shops being open late is cool and I love the shop that has a fireplace and make your own s'mores. There are wine stops and galleries but for my part, I prefer to go when it is quieter. read more

It had been a few years since I had been to this part of Venice and WHOA has it changed! There are plenty of thriving businesses and it seems the hipsters have taken over. Hey I've got no problems with that considering where this area used to be. I'm typically not a big fan of crowds but with all of the food options at First Fridays I didn't mind being shoulder-to-shoulder with other food lovers. I wish there was a little more rhyme and reason to where which food trucks were where but at the same time the chaos is part of the charm of First Fridays. It was kind of like a scavenger hunt trying to find which particular truck was where. The walking wasn't too bad either since it also helps with digestion. More walking = better digestion = more food in your belly :) I don't think I'll be a EVERY First Friday guy but I can definitely see myself coming back later in the year. I'm sure the food truck options change from season to season. I love a variety of food options and being able to have a smorgasbord of food. Kogi + burgers + ice cream = My kind of dinner :) read more

Wow. This was my first time ever at First Friday in Venice, and it lived up to the hype. This is a foodie's dream. I couldn't even count how many food trucks were there, then you add all the cool local eateries as well, and you can see that the biggest problem is deciding what to try. Kogi, Border Grill, Dim Sum, Grilled Cheese, Louks, Vizzi, Baby's Bigass Burgers, Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches, India Jones, Flying Pig, Rue d' Paris, etc. If you've ever heard of a food truck, they were here. In fact, they can't all fit in the parking lot so half of them are parked down the street. People walk up and down Abbot Kinney street for hours just eating and eating. By midnight there were food comas happening everywhere! Plus, all the local restaurants, bars, and shops stay open late this night and have First Friday specials. The down side: it's so popular that every place is packed, and you'll wait up to an hour for most good places. You can find some food trucks with smaller lines, but there is a reason for that. The great places are usually worth the wait. Also, parking is brutal, so get there early and plan to just stay until late. read more

First Fridays - First Friday at the Brig - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Lots of options! Super cute and fun but take your time and definitely do a food game plan! I got a lobster roll ($17) which I thought was kinda small but yum and a steak Mac n cheese which was good but very rich and the meat was kinda weird read more

First Fridays - Steak Mac n cheese - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I made my first trip to First Fridays this month. My experience was okay. The event brought out a large crowd. There were lots of food truck vendors specializing in meat-based plates. There wasn't really a place to sit and eat. There were several porta potties that functioned as restrooms. At the end of the day, I think that I'd return to First Fridays if there were actually some vegan/vegetarian-friendly food truck vendors. read more

this is still a fun place to hang out. i still highly recommend it. but, damn... that freakin Grill Cheese truck line is mad nuts! and apparently, so are the people that wait in it, including us! the other trucks, dim sum, border grill etc etc, were more manageable. took about 45mins to get our grilled cheese. GRILLED CHEESE! and it cost $21 for 2 grilled cheese and tots. TOTS! hahaha... i'm not bitching, just had to get it off my chest. man... :) read more

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This is definitely something that everyone should check out!! The amount of options is a little crazy and intimidating, but almost everything is worth it! I tried the avocado and veggie bowl and the group d beef potato balls at the Crispy Cuban, and the smores sandwich at the Grilled Cheese truck. I would recommend trying appetizers at multiple place so you can try a wider variety of food items!! Otherwise you'll get full real fast. Also Abbot Kinney has so many restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops. So EVEN MORE options!!! It's also a good idea to Uber there or take the bus because parking can be really hard to find! read more

First Fridays - Crispy Cuban: avocado/veggie bowl and potato balls - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Finally made it out here on a Friday. This is a food truck lovers dream. The Friday I was here they had over 30 trucks with all kinds of different food. We got small things at three different trucks to try as many trucks as we could. I would def come here again and try different trucks. The only negative is that it gets mad crowded and some of the most popular trucks have crazy lines of 30 plus mins. All other trucks have a wait of anywhere from 2-20 mins. I also wish we could have open containers there and get our drink on. Especially with a few liquor stores in the area. read more

1st fridays on Abbot Kinney has food trucks, way too many of them. The original purpose of this event was to help out the community and attract visitors to this district but it tends to get too out of control and way too crowded. Parking is terrible, as a Venice resident I honestly don't know where these people leave their cars. One time I was followed all the way home by some people looking for parking in the residential area but luckily for me I have indoor parking, but some of my neighbors get frustrated because they have no parking after they arrive from work. Food trucks: Insanely long lines Food runs out Crowds, crowds, crowds I would rather eat at home before walking here through the masses. Local stores/galleries: Host special events Sales Live music, games Cool local art presenations However, some stores have decided to stop participating in this event due to the crowds that blocked their store access which in turn did not help them out at all. Would recommend it so you know what it's like but would not make it a regular thing. read more

First Fridays - Lamb Tacos - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Checked out First Fridays after a good workout, ready to grub on some awesome food. We arrived around 8:30 pm. Driving into Abbot took awhile and finding parking was tough, but I think we got lucky and found a spot faster than most people in one of the residential streets right off Abbot. It was fun checking out the menus of each food truck there. There were over 20 food trucks to choose from. If you don't like crowds, this definitely isn't for you. Majority of the crowd is also on the younger side, like young 20s. read more

Came here for the first time and loved (stressed out) about the huge variety of food trucks. It's crowded but it really feels like a college block party. Walking around just makes you want to try everything so it can be a bit overwhelming! Even if the food here is overpriced, I love the overall atmosphere. Feels good to be surrounded by a community of people that love good food! Try to take a couple friends so you can all share a bunch of different truck. Check out Belly Bombz Kitchen for some bomb fries and wings! read more

2014 YELP 365 CHALLENGE - 265/365 100 REVIEWS LEFT OF MY 365 CHALLENGE! WOOHOO! I have attended First Fridays and I cannot say that I am a fan. It's basically a food truck rally that occurs on the first Friday of every month. The location of this is FRICKING AWFUL. It's located on Abbott Kinney in Venice, which is already a really busy street to begin with, with tons of shops and restaurants. I came to this street on a separate occasion and my boyfriend spent an HOUR looking for parking! Throw in a bunch of food trucks into the mix, and you have First Fridays. They park all along the sides of the street. I need to look if there is a schedule of what food trucks will be appearing each month, because not knowing that food trucks will be there is the most annoying part. The sidewalks aren't very big, and with the lines forming in the middle of the sidewalk, it is sooo busy and crowded and frustrating trying to walk by each food truck to see what they offer. Both occasions I have just settled for some mediocre-looking truck because I didn't want to keep walking up and down the street looking for something remotely interesting, and/or wait in line for 60+ min at the most popular trucks. The first time I came here my friend and I were standing in line for over 30 min. When we were ALMOST AT THE FRONT of the line, the people there working told us that they RAN OUT OF FOOD. Um...wtf? It wasn't like it was super late in the evening. Probably 8pm. I was so pissed we waited in such a long line for nothing. We ended up eating at an actual restaurant on Abbott Kinney because standing in line for any of the food trucks was just going to be annoying. The second time I went I had Thai fusion food from Let's Thai, I believe. The lady taking orders was nice, but I felt like it took an unusually long time for me to get my food. There were only maybe 5 other people in front of me in line, and I must have waited 15-20 min for my food. I had assumed that since this is a food truck it would be very quick, but apparently not. And when I ended up getting my food (Thai chicken quesadillas), I hated them... Overall, I probably won't go back. Have not had a good experience during the two times I have gone. I would rather save myself the trouble/wait times by going to a normal restaurant. read more

Come at 6 or don't come at all! Parking is mayhem Walking is mayhem Food Truck lines in the Brig Lot were mayhem The food trucks were the only reason we braved it and attended one of these nights. Even though we drove around a couple of streets, we lucked out and scored parking one block away. I'm tellin ya if I ever come back, and that's a big IF, in by 6pm and out by 8pm or 9pm at the latest. Tips for some annoying peeps 1. Leave your dog at home. They are cute but really? They do not need to be here. (Pudding is the only dog exception allowed) 2. Leave your kids and gigantic strollers at home PERIOD! 3. If you are on crutches, keep your injured @$$ at home 4. If you are with a large group, keep your @sses to the side of the sidewalk please. Your large group chatting it up smack in the middle makes moving on these sidewalks worse than the 405 5. Try to remember basic etiquette when walking. It's just like stairs people...Up on Right, Down on Left 6. And when ordering at the trucks don't modify your $hit or ask tons of questions about the menu. It's a food truck for goodness sake and you probably had a good 20 minutes to stare at the menu while you were waiting to get to the window to order. Again, IF I return, in by 6pm out by 8pm read more

Generally good place to be. Lots of drunk people. Good amount of assholes. YOU WILL HEAR/EXPERIENCE RACISM FROM WHITE PEOPLE!! This is real. It is like a fly trap for white supremacy and racist remarks! You put a lot of ethnic food in this super gentrified strip of Venice and just let it take its course... It seems like a very simple formula for racism. White people will typically gawk at the ethnic food but also will simply call it "fusion" which to them means a torta or burrito or certain dish is new to them! It's pretty sad. Then you will Forsure hear people make remarks or laugh AT a lot of the Asian food trucks. I was standing at a sushi truck and some white dude said "Ching chong" and pointed at the truck as he laughed and walked by.... It was the dumbest ever. Anyway, please be aware that this is a very strange space. Excellent food and a wide selection, but white people have no idea what they are doing. Lol read more

Alright, here's the breakdown: traffic SUCKS parking SUCKS the crowds SUCK the lines SUCK HOWEVER, the sheer amount of food trucks parked along Abbott Kinney, and the trucks packed into the parking lot of the Brig alone will make you squeal with famished delight. Anything you could pretty much be craving, you will be able to find at one of the many trucks. We ate: The Grilled Cheese Truck- stood in line for almost an hour and a half, but their cheesey mac & pork sandwich was bomb Frysmith- the rojas fries. AMAZEBALLS. perfectly fried potatoes, spicy mustard of some sorts, delicious grilled skirt steak, some cheese, how can you go wrong?? Bool- tried one of their short rib tacos just to see what the hype was about, and it definitely surprised my man. Now, here's a little note to the people who come to this event: leave your damn dogs at home leave your gigantaur strollers at home don't bring your baby, it's obviously not a conducive environment We almost killed someone while standing in line for the grilled cheese- the lady in front of us brought her HUGE great dane, and then spazzed every time a dog of any size approached her beast. She actually claimed that her giantass of a dog was attacked by a small dog a few weeks ago, and so she "was afraid for her dog in this area." Ok, then question- why the hell would you bring your dog if you're SO concerned?? Let me tell you, hearing that story over and over again got old REALLY FAST. The parking lot of the Brig is crowded enough with all the trucks and the people, there is no place for dogs there. Btw, we came around 7pm and it was nearly impossible finding parking, so I suggest you come way earlier, find the shortest food truck line and get a snack there to munch on while you stand in one of the longer lines. That is our plan of attack for next time. read more

First Friday's on Abbot Kinney!! The first Friday of every month Abbot Kinney comes alive! Many of the businesses stay open later. Come hungry because there's nothing but food trucks here! Food trucks lined up and down the street and all gathered together in a lot at the South end of A.K. These aren't your average "roach coach" food trucks, either. These trucks are serving up some real gourmet food! One of the trucks (I forgot to take down the name, shame on me) was featured in Los Angeles Magazine for its famous Bahn Mi. It does get overwhelmingly crowded. There's always that person or group who just stops abruptly when they see something but doesn't move over and makes you awkwardly maneuver around them, causing a backup. Yeah, they're there, so be patient. There's more to do than eat, but don't expect to be entertained, necessarily. This isn't an even that has "things to do." It's a good way to try some new great foods, see some art and get to know local shops in a festive atmosphere. I was too full to try any of the food trucks because I just came from dinner (shame on me x2), but I did try a bite of a Strawberry Crêpe from Crepes Bonaparte and it was Aaaaamaaaazing!! read more

The only plus side is that there are DOZENS of food trucks at this thing. The downsides are: * The complete lack of parking. * The entitled assholes on foot pausing to do god knows what in the middle of every street intersection, sidewalk, and thoroughfare. * Swarms of L.A.'s elitist tweeny/teeny bopper population. * An absolute crap selections of nearby bars to have a drink with your friends after you get some dinner. * And the overall New Orleans during Mardi Gras style din. In summary: I'd love some grub from the Kogi truck as much as the next guy but I'd rather run 10 miles, fight rabid wolves, and kayak across an alligator filled lagoon to get to them then return to First Fridays. read more

The GOOD: Dozens of LA's best food trucks show up at this event, come ready to eat! I like the crowd that shows up to First Friday which makes for great people watching. It seems to be a mix of Venice art folk, LA hipsters, hardcore foodies, and everything in between. It's also pretty easy to talk to people by asking about what they are eating or as you are standing in line together. The BAD: On warm summer nights this place gets packed and the lines for some trucks get ridiculous. Parking can sometimes be difficult to find. If you want to try a lot of different food trucks it can add up quickly and get expensive. My tips for a successful First Friday experience: Carpool and get there early (7 or 8 at the latest). I usually find street parking on Venice Blvd which puts you right on the South end of all the action. In the past I have thrown a couple of bicycles in my truck and rode those to Abbott Kinney from our parking spot and that works out really well too. If you are on a mission to eat, split up and wait in a couple different lines simultaneously to be more efficient. Since the selection and access to bars on Abbott Kinney can be very limited on First Fridays, my ideal situation is to be done with First Friday by 8 or 9, then bounce and go to a bar somewhere else like Culver City to finish the night. read more

A fun way to get your night started on a friday by the beach. There are food trucks galore and all the little shops and galleries along the way are open. Downside is obviously that it gets packed; we got an early start but by 9 it was pretty packed. My friend lives nearby so I'll probably be back but it's not necessarily something I would go out of my way to attend. read more

First Fridays is a great outdoor event that happens on Abbot Kinney in Venice every first Friday of the month, all year long! It's a great place to head to at sunset, enjoy a happy hour cocktail close by and then hit up the tens of food trucks that line up along the street and take over surrounding parking lots nearby. Here's a list of the trucks that attend (that I can recall just listing them off the top of my head): The Lobster Truck Gogi Truck (Korean Burritos) Cool Haus (Ice Cream Sandwich Truck) Thai Boom Philly Cheesesteaks Baby's Bad Ass Burgers Nitrous Ice Cream And the list goes on! I had the Lobster Truck. OMG best lobster roll in Los Angeles. Great portion, fresh lobster, perfectly golden brown roll that's been buttered on both sides! They had the longest line, I think I waited 40 minutes for my roll but it was worth the wait!! SO DELISH. It's a must try! read more

Local art galleries, food trucks, hippies playing guitar and the smell of....is that.... Weed??? Yup. I love that there's something here for everyone in Venice! And if Friday night just isn't Friday without alcohol, well, the Brig is just next door. Think of a very mini-version of Downtown LA's Art Walk. Except that people bring their dogs. And 2 week old babies. The lot next to the Brig and surrounding streets housed 10+ food trucks to serve what seemed like hundreds of people last Friday night. And given the fact that it was so cold that my saliva almost froze, I can just imagine how many more people, more dogs and more strollers will appear as the weather gets warmer. Parking lots line the alley off Electric Ave (just behind Abbott Kinney) and street parking is an option if you're lucky, which I was.... despite the 52-point turn I had to finagle to shoehorn my way into the spot. Between sampling food truck offerings, getting hotboxed and admiring (or trying to make sense of) featured artwork, I'd say it's a pretty cool way to spend a Friday night in Venice if you get there early. Otherwise, lines for trucks will be out of control and finding parking will be impossible. read more

1st time going to First Friday last night! I knew it would be a huge food truck gathering, but it was also my first time going to Abbot Kinney in Venice, so it was both overwhelming and exciting to see all the people walking around amidst the art galleries, liquor stores, bars, and small hipster looking shops. It was really a lot of fun to walk around and enjoy the beautiful weather/good food with friends. Parking: We came around 7:30pm, and it took us several loops around the neighborhoods before finding a spot. However, we like to follow the saying, "there's always someone leaving", and we eventually found (free) parking not too far away! Food Trucks: Unfortunately, I had not eaten a snack before we left, so I was really hungry by the time we parked and walked over. We passed some of the food trucks right on the streets, but we kept walking until we reached an area where multiple food trucks were parked in a circle. There were so many to look at! However, I was hungry and in the mood for tacos, so I found the first truck I liked, Vchos Truck, and went with it. As someone who normally gets anxious about making the right choice though, I can see how it would have been stressful trying to pick the "right" truck haha. Vchos is run by a couple from El Salvador, and I ordered their shrimp and mashed potato tacos (3) for $8.50. There was no tax, but there was a 50 cent surcharge on credit card for under $15, and I luckily brought cash with me (and my own water bottle). The tacos were good! Not the best I've ever had, but the shells were nice and crispy, and the red dipping sauce was not spicy at all. The shrimp was a little dry by itself but were an interesting combination with the mashed potatoes and in the taco shell. I was just about full after my meal. My bf got currywurst, which he said was fantastic and fried octopus balls. I tried a bite of the octopus balls, and they were crispy and covered in a very sweet sauce. Two of my friends went to the Grilled Cheese Truck and got the mac n cheese, caramelized onions, and rib meat, which they were raving about. My other friend got waffle fries with truffle oil, which he liked as well. Tables: There was a limited number of tables available in the middle of the food truck circle. Since I got my food first, I was able to find a spot for just myself to sit. As my other friends got their food one by one, I gradually took over the table, and all 5 of us were able to sit with each other. Besides the tables, people were sitting on the sidewalk, doorsteps of buildings- basically anywhere. People: There were a TON of people out and about; not just college students, but families (some with small children in strollers), and people walking their dogs too. Here's a list of the food trucks I remember seeing throughout the night: Kogi, Komodo, Baby's Badass Burgers, Pudding, Tokyo Doggie Style, Maine Lobster (huge line), Me So Hungry, Fry Fry Truck, to name a few. Tips: Come early to find parking, eat a snack beforehand, use the restroom before hand (since some businesses said their restrooms were explicitly for customers only), bring cash, and bring your own water/soda to save a couple bucks. read more

First Fridays - Vchos Food Truck - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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YAY for a fun eventful food filled friday night ! if you've never gone GO. but parking sucks. but the people are lovely and friendly! went to June 2012 first friday. got there at around 8 pm, it wasn't too lively. waited about 10 minutes for the lobsta truck. okay lobsta truck is some overrated business. 17$ (ordered the lobsta roll with extra lobsta and butter) for a sandwich with lobster, butter and bread. the sandwich was the size of my small hand. but it was worth trying. had an errand to run so we left. 10 pm: came back and ohmygod abbot kinney was alive! * tried their SweetEs truck! I HAVE TOOO big of a sweet tooth. push pop cakes were soo creative and not to mention rich and good! * tried the shavey ice truck. okay 3$ for ice and syrup.. not a fan. * walked into multiple art galleries and there were random musician groups playing in them. soo chill. all in all, enjoyed the night. TONS of food trucks. TONS of music. saw some jewelry venders (way overpriced. my part experienced earring making hands could've made what they made. a simple sterling silver heart necklace on a sterling silver chain was 50$.) DEF going again! read more

After a handful of shortlived and largely unenjoyable attempts at First Fridays, I think I've figured out how to do it right. See where all those people are? Don't go there. These trucks are everywhere. If you haven't eaten at some of the great AK restaurants, give those a shot instead. The lines are shockingly short... shorter often than normal nights. Here are some bomb places that serve food you might seek out on a truck: * Abbott's Pizza * GTA * Pork Belly's * Zinque * Local 1205 And what if you bought a bottle of wine from the liquor store across the street (or brought your own) and brown bagged it in an alley somewhere (I've heard there's a good one next to GTA...) with your meal? Hypothetically speaking, of course. Get all the atmosphere of FF without the crowds and lines. Then use all that saved time to get into The Otherroom or The Brig early enough to avoid the swarm. read more

2 Stars for now. Maybe if we went out earlier in the day it could be an even better experience. At 9:00, the nightclubs, lounges and bars were so packed with groups of "hipsters" lining the street smoking everything legal & illegal. I was with my husband and 10 year old daughter. We had a good time, it was nice being on the street walking in the cool night air, the atmosphere was alive and electric. But it was too adult and too crowded for the little one. Also the LAPD were at every block and they were not friendly at all, a bunch of "Armholes" to be frank, which was a turn off to the festivities. We went to 1st Friday to hit up a gallery that was auctioning off Photography to benefit the victims of the disaster in Japan called Photo: Japan. It was a nice turn out and we enjoyed viewing all of the beautiful photography. We enjoyed all the food trucks, people watching and store browsing. It was something different. I will definitely go again but in the afternoon to by pass the adults only vibe and get a different perspective. (Hopefully) :) read more

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Here's the summary - good bad and ugly: Hard to find parking (go to a residential neighborhood and circle around until you find one) Crowded (dodging people on the sidewalk) Some art galleries (but not many in terms of both quantity and quality) Some cool stores (depends on your taste and budget) Lots of food trucks (long lines however) Meh. Not amazing, but if you're bored, I guess it's ok to try once. I doubt you'd be doing this all the time. There are probably better options on a Friday night. read more

WARNING: If you're not into crowds, this is NOT the place to spend your Friday night. First Fridays on Abbot Kinney can be a little overwhelming if you don't know what to expect, but definitely worth checking out. Here's the break down: -Carpool and get there early. -Don't pay for parking. You can typically find street parking on Venice or the residential streets. You may just have to walk a few blocks. -Go with a few friends, max. The crowds get a little too crazy to roll deep. -Most vendors have a square or some card reading device, but cash is always safe and convenient (especially when you run into Girl Scouts selling cookies!) -Get a few different food items and share - that way you can sample 2-4 trucks instead of just one. -Some shops are open later, which is fun for browsing. -Bars get packed, but is a good option if you don't want to relocate. -There tends to be a lot of people promo-ing stuff - soda, energy drinks, etc. so you can sometimes get free swag. -My all-time favorite truck there - Cousins Maine Lobster Truck! I will not split that with friends. It's so good I get one all to myself! read more

first fridays in venice! i am not too big on chasing after food trucks and waiting in long lines to find out they ran out, and really wanted to go to the LA Street Food Fest last year but after finding out that it was insane, i was turned off. one of my friends has been trying to get me to go to first fridays for a while and i finally went in december. parking is a bitch. basically there is none. you have to drive around aimlessly in the residential area and try to find one. you might as well park super far and just walk. at least you'll have a nice walk to walk off what you stuffed your face with. anyway, there were probably more than 10 food trucks packed in the small parking lot of the Brig and small lines in front of each one. there were a lot of people but it wasnt bad at all. i think we got there around 7:30PM. of course as it got later, there were more people and the lines got longer. i liked it though. i got to try the Grilled Cheese Truck, Border Grill, Dim Sum Truck, and Vizzi Truck. Kogi , Frysmith and CoolHaus was also there along with a few others that i havent really heard of, and not that many people were in front of. i really liked that some of the trucks accepted credit card though (with a $1 fee). i liked that it was more low key here, but im sure soon enough there will be more and more people coming out. but who knows though with the community cracking down on food trucks and parking... is there still gonna be a first friday in february? read more

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Apparently, I have been living under a rock, because this April was my first "first friday" experience. A Neat Idea, really. I think it got more instense because of all of these food trucks that line Abbot Kinney. The parking was out-of-control. My FH had to park about a half mile away. So, he dropped me off to get in line for Cool Haus. I believe there were at least 7 trucks that were parked in the Brig's Parking lot. Overally, to see the streets lined with people and Abbot Kinney Buzzing with life was a neat thing to see. A must return. read more

This place a bit too crowded and a little unorganized! It's extremely hard to get around because there's just way too many people who attend. It's ridiculous. Since so many people attend, I don't understand why Venice doesn't close down Abbot Kinney for a few hours that night. It would relieve so much of the traffic congestion and people can walk on the streets instead of the tiny sidewalks. Besides the horrendous traffic, the food trucks are the main thing about First Fridays. I didn't really eat anything from the trucks because I was full, but what I can say is that there was an abundance of food trucks with foods from around the world. We wanted to go to a bar after walking around, but we ended up leaving Venice because the three bars on Abbott Kinney were extremely packed. It looked as if it would be a challenge to get a drink and lounge around. This place would be more fun and less stressful if they closed down Abbot Kinney and allowed people to walk on the streets. It would make more sense and until they do that, I don't think I will return. read more

Came out for the First Friday in February and wasn't disappointed. There are many food trucks to choose from, spread out. you can walk along and do some window shopping and people watch. I was excited because i got to try Cousins Maine Lobster. It is crowded and dog friendly, but i wouldn't suggest trying to get a stroller through the crowds.. saw a few people attempting this and felt bad for them. Nice way to experience night life in Venice Beach. read more

Glad to have finally gotten to try First Fridays in Venice. Read the reviews about how parking was a pain so I got there around 5:30PM and found parking pretty easy off Electric. Met up with some friends at the Brig for a drink and then headed off to the food trucks. There were a ton fo them already parked in the lot. I will say this about First Fridays, while smaller, the food trucks are a little better than Art Walk. Case in point - Kogi BBQ and the Grilled Cheese Truck! Both lines were ridiculous and although I've never tried the grilled cheese, I had a craving for Kogi and I knew it was worth the wait. After we got our food, we started walking down Abbot Kinney. We came across a cute little boutique and had almost left, but the worker informed us that they were doing henna for free in the back. We went and was also pleasantly surprised to see that they had a fire with smore ingredients laid out for patrons. So while we waited in line for our free henna, we ate delicious smores! We continued to walk down the streets and went into a couple of shops. Not all businesses participated, which is why I say its smaller than Art Walk. However, with our free henna and free smores, I was pretty satisfied with First Fridays and am glad that I got to experience it. Since Art Walk is closer, I'll probably just stick with that. read more