Inflation takes it toll on struggling food trucks in LA County

Añadido: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]A new look tonight at how skyrocketing food and energy prices are having a brutal impact on local businesses. Now, we wondered how food truck owners are coping, so we went to a food truck Friday event in Granada Hills to find out. And CBS LA's Brittany Harmon is live in Granada Hills, and Brittany, you spoke to some food truck owners about how they're eating a lot of the cost themselves.

[00:00:24]That's right, Pat. There's a lot of happy customers walking around, but business owners, not so much. They tell me food and fuel costs are impacting their bottom line, but even with the financial strain, they tell me the customer still comes first.

[00:00:38]It's a little tough, but um it's very rewarding. At Smash Daddy's Burgers, the reward is in the reaction. Order for Jeremy. I love when people come back to me and tell me, you know, it's the best burger they've ever had. Uh it really, you know, touches my heart.

[00:00:52]>> truck's top seller is the American Wagyu beef burger, but that premium menu comes at a cost. Owner Sean Herrera says the price of Wagyu beef is up about 20%. Add in gas, and it's squeezing his bottom line.

[00:01:05]>> It's just the reality of the economy nowadays. Um it just seems to keep on going up.

[00:01:10]>> Every Friday night, the Granada Hills Grub Fest is lined with food trucks, and for this business, every mile matters.

[00:01:17]>> This is a school bus. It's a diesel.

[00:01:19]It's a 6 miles per gallon. It's like you from A to B, at least you spend like a $100 of gas.

[00:01:27]Pizza on a bus runs on diesel to serve up exotic pizzas like Wagyu steak and lamb chop. Owner Andy Crocken says high ingredient costs are just one more thing on his plate.

[00:01:37]>> It is just draining your pocket.

[00:01:39]Customers are feeling it, too. And I have the vehicle that takes um premium gas only, and I'm not driving it very often now. Tomorrow Wynn is a regular at the food truck festival, but says some prices are getting harder to swallow.

[00:01:53]Something needs to be done about these prices. Some food truck owners believe the only option is to eat the cost so the customers don't have to.

[00:02:01]>> You don't want to raise the food cost because they're not going to buy it.

[00:02:04]>> You get through that little hurdle and then you see the light on the end of the tunnel and then it's just you're like glad I did that.

[00:02:13]And food truck owners tell me they're also dealing with pricier insurance and also higher costs for things like to-go boxes and containers. So for now, it's all about survival. Live in Granada Hills, Brittany Harman, CBS LA.