•The concentration and yield of VFAs were highest at pH 6.0.•A more efficient and economical temperature for VFAs production is 35°C.•An OLR of 11g/Ld is suitable for VFAs production.•Ammonia nitrogen was released during the anaerobic acidification. The effects of pH, temperature, and organic loading rate (OLR) on the acidogenesis of food waste have been determined. The present study investigated their effects on soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), volatile solids (VS), and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+–N). Both the concentration and yield of VFAs were highest at pH 6.0, acetate and butyrate accounted for 77% of total VFAs. VFAs concentration and the VFA/SCOD ratio were highest, and VS levels were lowest, at 45°C, but the differences compared to the values at 35°C were slight. The concentrations of VFAs, SCOD, and NH4+–N increased as OLR increased, whereas the yield of VFAs decreased from 0.504 at 5g/Ld to 0.306 at 16g/Ld. Acetate and butyrate accounted for 60% of total VFAs. The percentage of acetate and valerate increased as OLR increased, whereas a high OLR produced a lower percentage of propionate and butyrate.