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From office building parking lots to suburban street corners, it’s safe to say that the food truck craze has officially swept the nation. Today, a new generation of foodies is ditching fancy 5-star restaurants for paper plates and plastic utensils – all in the name of an authentic street food experience.
But don’t be fooled – these aren’t the menial food trucks of yesteryear. Today’s new and ultramodern eateries on wheels offer gourmet selections that rival some of the best restaurants in the country.
If you’re looking for the best of the best in food truck cuisine, we’ve rounded up some of the top stops around the U.S. that will have you looking at street food in a whole new light.
Los Angeles
We start in the City of Angels, which many would call the birthplace of this new era of street food. Food trucks here are a dime a dozen, offering everything from Korean BBQ to sweet treats like gourmet cupcakes. But one particular truck currently cruising the streets of LA has continued to catch the attention of culinary experts and food bloggers everywhere.
Since first rolling out in 2008, Kogi BBQ went from “the little-Korean-taco-truck-that-could,” to an LA icon and perfect example that great food can be had on a tiny budget. On the menu here, you’ll find delicious selections like short rib, spicy pork and calamari tacos; burritos mixed up with hash browns, eggs and Korean chili-soy vinaigrette; and array of sliders and quesadillas.
With menu items starting at less than $3, it’s no wonder these guys made it on to the Yahoo’s list of “101 Best Food Trucks” and were mentioned earlier this year in Forbes’ “America’s Best Food Trucks” list.
Orange County
Heading over to the OC, you’ll find sun, surf, sand, and our next food truck pick – The Lime Truck. Winner of season two of Food Network’s popular show, The Great Food Truck Race, The Lime Truck is the food love child of the charismatic Orange County, CA-based trio Daniel Shemtob, Jason Quinn and Jesse Brockman, who you’ll often catch sporting their signature lime green headbands.
Perfectly fitting in with the OC vibe, this truck offers up, “local, organic and sustainably sourced fresh ingredients, paired with hip, inventive recipes.” Menu selections include ahi tuna nachos with pickled veggies and edamame hummus; bok choy served with Asian vinaigrette and peanuts; and crab ceviche served with homemade chips.
In addition to taking home a Great Food Truck Race win, The Lime Truck has received various accolades since its inception in 2010, including “Best New Restaurant 2010” by O.C. Weekly and mention in various “Top Food Truck” lists. With their yummy menu selections and impressive customer reviews, we’re confident the Lime boys will be celebrating success for years to come.
San Antonio
Best known for things like the Alamo, the NBA’s Spurs and a rich Mexican culture, it’s a little surprising that San Antonio would be home to our next food truck on the list. Rickshaw Stop, known for its delicious and authentic Pakistani fare, is owned and operated by Sameer and Meagan Siddiqui, along with Sameer’s mother Gety, his Aunt Bina and his Uncle Shabbir.
Dubbed, “San Antonio’s only Pakistani Food Truck,” Rickshaw offers unique menu selections like Pakistani kebabs made with beef or chicken; samoas filled with your choice of seasoned veggies, ground beef or ground chicken; spicy basmati rice with chunks of potatoes; as well as desserts like baklava and Pakistani rice pudding.
Since it’s a family-run spot, you can be sure you’ll always get the real deal here. Even Rickshaw’s simplest menu items are carefully created, with their meats marinating in a special Pakistani spice mix for 48 hours, then grilled to perfection on an open flame. What’s arguably the best part of Rickshaw’s? You’ll get an authentic culinary experience that will only set you back around $8-$12.
New York City
Oh, New York. What culinary journey would be complete without a visit to the concrete jungle? As most foodies would agree, NYC is home to some of the best restaurants – not just in the U.S., but in the world. Things aren’t much different when it comes to food truck experiences. New York City has some of the top dogs offering gourmet street food, and among these is Red Hook Lobster Pound.
Born at the kitchen table of husband and wife team Ralph Gorham and Susan Povich, Red Hook Lobster Pound prides itself offering fresh Maine lobster to the streets of Brooklyn. Drawing on her Maine roots and training at the French Culinary Institute, Susan came up with a mouth-watering menu that puts a spin on traditional Maine lobster rolls and chowders. You’ll also find selections like lobster mac & cheese, lobster nicoise salad and homemade coleslaw. For dessert? Delicious Whoopie pies with homemade buttercream filling.
Thanks to innovative menu, Red Hook Lobster Pound was an instant hit. Within one year, it expanded to include a picnic-style dining room and a second food truck that is now cruising the streets of Washington, DC.
Okay, we know. You can’t talk food without talking dessert. That’s why we chose NYC’s Big Gay Ice Cream Truck as the final pick on our food truck list. What started out as an experiment in the summer of 2009 for founders Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff, is now one of New York City’s most iconic food trucks – even leading to full-out ice cream shop located at 125 East 7th Street.
A far cry from your run-of-the-mill ice cream venues, Big Gay Ice Cream features a creative menu including unique toppings like olive oil, sea salt and ginger-curry, along with traditional favorites like praline pecans, Nutella and Dulce de Leche.
Since its inception, Big Gay Food Truck has been featured on Daily Candy, Zagat and Yahoo’s “101 Best Food Trucks” list. They also have a cookbook to be released in 2014.
Get on the Food Truck Bandwagon
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed foodie or simply appreciate the idea of inexpensive eats, food trucks combine the best of both sides of the culinary world. So the next time you’re out and about, look out for these gourmet eateries on wheels. You may be surprised by some of the unique and delicious finds you’ll discover!