Featured Vendor: Viva La Estrella

In launching our Street Food Listings, we begin with a homage not to a current spot, but to a cherished memory. Viva LA Estrella, once a cornerstone of the vibrant Hispanic street food culture in Northeast LA’s Highland Park, represents more than just a place to enjoy a meal; it symbolizes the heart and soul of our community’s Latino heritage.

Highland Park has experienced one of the most rapid gentrifications in the country, transforming the fabric of the neighborhood and, unfortunately, making it increasingly difficult for local businesses like Viva LA Estrella to survive. Originally launching as a humble taco truck on Figueroa to a beloved brick-and-mortar on York Blvd, Viva LA Estrella has become another casualty of the soaring costs associated with this newfound desirability.

While the broader conversation on gentrification and its impacts is complex and beyond our current scope, our intention is simple: to honor and pay respects to one of our all-time favorite street food havens.

The good news for fans of Viva LA Estrella is that their legacy lives on. The Pasadena location continues to welcome patrons as well as a few others, and their food trucks still roam through the streets, serving up the flavors that have long captured our hearts.

Let’s remember Viva LA Estrella not just for the dishes that delighted our palates, but as a symbol of the enduring spirit of LA’s street food culture. LONG LIVE – VIVA LA ESTRELLA!