Simón

There’s something almost miraculous happening on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. Simón is a tiny mariscos truck—we’re talking about 16 square feet of kitchen space—run by a single chef who somehow produces seafood dishes that rival what you’d find at upscale restaurants. It’s the kind of LA food scene magic that makes you wonder how it’s even possible.

The chef behind Simón previously worked at Pitiona, a celebrated fine-dining restaurant in Oaxaca, and that pedigree shows in every dish. The menu draws inspiration from Oaxaca and the Chiapas coast, blending tropical fruits with chiles and fresh herbs in ways that feel both inventive and deeply rooted in tradition. The Baja-style fish taco alone is worth the trip—crispy beer-battered fish draped in smoky tomato sauce, finished with chipotle mayo and a tangle of salted cabbage. Then there’s the soft shell crab taco, a showstopper with its satisfying crunch, diced pineapple, and pickled onions cutting through the richness.

Don’t skip the salsa cabinet. While other trucks hand you room-temperature verde, Simón offers chilled salsas in mason jars with wooden spoons—carrot habanero that sneaks up on you, nutty-sweet pica piña, creamy guacachile, and jet-black salsa macha. These aren’t afterthoughts; they’re transformative additions that elevate everything you order.

Eating here captures something essentially Los Angeles: you’re sitting at a table on the sidewalk, cars rushing past, savoring octopus barbacoa topped with life-changing salsa. It’s casual, it’s affordable, and it’s absolutely worth impressing your out-of-town visitors with. Come for lunch, bring cash, and let this unassuming truck change how you think about street food.