Competition | February 2011 | By Daniel P. Smith
America’s Top 20 Food Trucks
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The day of the roach coach is dead.
With their innovative flair, pop culture allure, and culinary exploits, food trucks have become one of the restaurant industry’s most en vogue, recession-thumping trends.
Arriving as much from consumer interest as practical economic considerations, the street food fervor spurred a rush of inventive food trucks. Some truck leaders boast lofty culinary credentials; others pair an entrepreneurial spirit with homemade sass. Some source local ingredients and share a socially conscious message; others carry dynamic exterior designs and even some shock value. Most maintain an active social media presence, often alerting customers by way of Twitter or Facebook, while all have garnered attention for their unusual and unexpected addition to America’s foodservice landscape.
Blanketing urban environments on the coasts, led by New York City and Washington, D.C., on the right and Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle on the left, food trucks are increasingly roaming the nation’s streets. QSR went in search of America’s top 20 food trucks and found a scene thriving in spirit and surging in momentum.
First Team All-American
Skillet
Hometown: Seattle
Serving: Modern American cuisine
www.skilletstreetfood.com
Operating a full commercial kitchen inside a 1968 Airstream Safari, Skillet serves 200–300 guests daily, concentrating its efforts in high-density office areas.
The revolving menu keeps Skillet’s offerings fresh and patrons enthusiastic. Popular plates include a coriander-braised duck, cous cous, mint, pickled cucumbers, and baby beets dish for $13 and, for a budget-friendly $8, maple-braised pork belly, cornmeal waffle, fried egg, and braising jus.
“I was tired of the brick-and-mortar style of serving and wanted to create an environment where great food was served in an environment you would normally not get it,” Skillet’s executive chef Joshua Henderson says.
Next: Skillet Diner coming in 2011, as well as nationwide distribution of the operation’s famed bacon jam.
Chef Shack
Hometown: Minneapolis
Serving: Seasonal fare from local family farms
www.chefshack.org
Globetrotting, accomplished chefs Carrie Summer and Lisa Carlson created Chef Shack in 2006 to bring street food flair to the Twin Cities—at least from May to October. With two trucks and a trailer, Chef Shack operates at farmers’ markets, a setting that plays to the truck’s local, organic menu.
Chef Shack’s “Bold, Memorable Food” slogan is characterized by two customer favorites: tomato/watermelon gazpacho and organic Indian-spiced mini-donuts, which often spur hour-long lines. Other noteworthy dishes include beef tongue tacos and the pulled pork nachos.
Next: Potential opening of a Chef Shack in the Southeast during winters.
Food Shark
Hometown: Marfa, Texas
Serving: Mediterranean
www.foodsharkmarfa.com
Spotted between a bookstore and railroad tracks, Food Shark’s nondescript location doesn’t stop upward of 200 patrons from finding the celebrated lunch truck Tuesday through Friday and the occasional Saturday.
Now in its fifth year, Food Shark began with the purchase of a 1974 Ford truck, Adam Bork’s desire for a new career, and Krista Steinhauer’s catering experience.
“The rest is history,” Bork says.
Although diners flock to try the falafel with romaine lettuce and homemade hummus, Food Shark’s most ingenious marketing step might have been the conversion of an old school bus into a dining car, a one-of-a-kind creation that limits Mother Nature’s wrath.
Next: Food Shark Museum of Electronic Wonders and Late Night Grilled Cheese Parlour, which features Bork’s near 20-year collection of televisions and electronic devices alongside homemade grilled cheese sandwiches.
Coolhaus
Hometown: Austin, Texas, & Los Angeles
Serving: Ice cream sandwiches
www.eatcoolhaus.com
Embracing the nostalgia of the Good Humor Man and cofounder Natasha Case’s architecture roots, Coolhaus has been serving its made-to-order ice cream sandwiches in an edible, customizable wrapper since April 2009.
With three trucks in its fleet, Coolhaus announces its location via Twitter and Facebook. Dedicated fans wait up to two hours for the unusual dessert experience that features such flavors as Dirty Mint (fresh mint leaves, brown sugar, and molasses), Brown Butter Candied Bacon, Pistachio Black Truffle, and Red Wine Reduction.
Next: Expanding to New York City/Brooklyn and the Hamptons with an eye on other metro areas; launching a prepackaged line in a box resembling the Coolhaus truck.
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Comments
*choke*
Portland is the food truck/cart capital of the free world. All 20 of your choices could have come from here!
How is Kogi BBQ not on here?
How is Kogi BBQ not on here?
WTF?!?!
Where is Grill 'Em All?????? Hands down the best food truck in the country!
Grill em all
I would have liked to see them on here too... Their food looked sooo good!
Lots of choices
There are hundreds of great gourmet food trucks. QSR limited themselves to 20, I'm sure they are aware that there are many more great choices!
http://www.foodtrucktalk.com
Forgot the Best
Not sure why In-N-Out didn't make your list. Not only do they have the best Burgers in the country - but they practially invented the idea of a real restaurant operating a CLEAN and high QUALITY Food truck!!
Love for the Munchie Machine
Congrats to the Munchie Machine! I love this truck.
Forgot the NW Best
Where's the BV Nomad on this list??
An Island Legend is Missing!
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck on Oahu is LEGENDARY and has developed a passionate cult following. One of it's unique features is the fact that guests are invited to graffiti their names and any message they may have on the side of the truck. This tradition goes back for years. Giovanni's definitely deserves a mention on this list!!
Don't forget the southeast U.S.
Big ups to Dim Sum-a-gogo, holding the 305 hard with killa Asian fare.
Miami, FL is on the food truck map! Believe it!
Where is grill em all....and
Where is grill em all....and nom nom is a joke their food is not even worth it.
you can get a better Banh Mi
you can get a better Banh Mi in Alhambra, CA that is 100x better than Nom Nom
Los Angeles food truck fail!
Your Los Angeles picks are a joke... Nom Nom really? Do you even know who won the great food truck race? GrillEmAllTruck!!! all the way. Sorry Nom Nom but you serve an overpriced Banh mi that doesn't compare to the 2.50 one I can get at Banh mi & Che Cali.
But really how can grill em all not be on this list.
I frequent all these food trucks and hands down your los Angeles choices should have included kogi BBQ and the great grill em all! Btw did I mention grill em all!!!!!
Los Angeles food truck fail!
Your Los Angeles picks are a joke... Nom Nom really? Do you even know who won the great food truck race? GrillEmAllTruck!!! all the way. Sorry Nom Nom but you serve an overpriced Banh mi that doesn't compare to the 2.50 one I can get at Banh mi & Che Cali.
But really how can grill em all not be on this list.
I frequent all these food trucks and hands down your los Angeles choices should have included kogi BBQ and the great grill em all! Btw did I mention grill em all!!!!!
Where's Bacon Mania and Komodos?
Two of the BEST are missing from the OC/LA regional picks. Nom Nom is overpriced and gross half the time (un-reliable!)
Go Fojols!
LOVE you guys! and I cannot WAIT for the ethiopian truck - lamb tibs!
Congrats to OC's CREPES BONAPARTE
I'm happy to see the Crepes Bonaparte got kudos here. Great people, fair priced food, and yummy anytime!
Where are the Hawaii entries
The judges sure didn't come to Hawaii. The Kahuku Shrimp trucks; Gee a Deli, and nearly every beach park has a truck worthy of entry.
Represent Chicago?
Where are the Chicago food trucks? Gaztro-Wagon and the new Southern Mac truck are just a few of the great ones rolling around the windy city!
huh
those aren't real food trucks!
Chicago Food Trucks are just getting started
Not real food trucks? How do you figure?
They are trucks... with food on them.
Shout out to MeatyBalls Mobile , who wasn't listed either.
Considering you can't even cook on your foodtruck in Chicago, I'd say these guys should get EXTRA CREDIT for selling high quality edibles on a FoodTruck.
Hopefully, the newly elected mayor will be changing the food truck laws for the better.
Chicago Food Trucks are just getting started
Not real food trucks? How do you figure?
They are trucks... with food on them.
Shout out to MeatyBalls Mobile , who wasn't listed either.
Considering you can't even cook on your foodtruck in Chicago, I'd say these guys should get EXTRA CREDIT for selling high quality edibles on a FoodTruck.
Hopefully, the newly elected mayor will be changing the food truck laws for the better.
Denver, Fool!
The Justice League of Street Food may have to serve you a big helping of pain.
What about Florida. You
What about Florida. You Forgot about the Nosh Truck
What about Florida. You
What about Florida. You Forgot about the Nosh Truck
What about Florida. You
What about Florida. You Forgot about the Nosh Truck
Opinions are like...
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I disagree with much of this list. I'm pretty sure QSR left off or misranked many of the trucks simply to generate buzz and drive traffic to this website.
In any event, food concepts come and go. Food trucks will soon go away. Many are in it to make money and love the crowds that follow their trucks. Once the customers finally tire of the long wait times and profits decline, the food truck entrepeneurs will move on to the next fad.
I already feel the buzz in L.A. that the first-adopters have moved on to new concepts. It was fun while it lasted.
How was the judging done?
Some of the trucks listed are definitely worthy. Others to me are fully second rate to what is available. I mean Lake Street Creamery and Chunk-n-Chip are far superior to Coolhaus in LA. Lake Street makes their own ice cream right on the truck. Chunk-n-Chip makes their own cookies and serve them warm.
And many valid points in the comments. With the ridiculous number of food trucks out there I don't think you can make this list without having a popular vote. You left off Chef Ludo too!
All lists are subjective
Name the five best quarterbacks of all time. The ten greatest composers. The five best presidents. Etc. All lists are subjective. What does "best" mean? While I might not personally agree with some selections and want to see some of my own personal favorites get their just due, I look thru the comments and think this story did exactly what it was supposed to. It got people talking. People are tossing out trucks I've never heard of, but will be sure to look for in my travels. And it also highlighted the momentum of trucks in the restaurant industry, which is pretty interesting. We'll all wonder how X, Y, or Z were left off, but lists always open up debate. Frankly, I like the diversity of this list (hello, there is a food truck culture outside of NYC and LA), the fact that there are so many different concepts and food types represented, and how it seems that the entirety of the experience was valued (consider Food Shark's dining car--don't know if that makes it better than others, but certainly something unique and a value added).
Check this out
Check these guys out:
www.sporkbend.com
like in garden grove, ca. or
like in garden grove, ca. or when people follow a postal truck delivering packages and then steal them from dootstop? or home invasion robberies at christmas? this is happening all the time in so. calif, which makes this the garbage pit of humanity in america? which includes a greedy, inept governor?
uh oh!
I think a lot is just marketing! but be warned, HUGE CORPORATIONS like ARAMARK and SYDEXO are jumping in the Food truck game. They hate small great trucks taking away from their profit margins, they control tons of corporate and university clientele for food service. i bet they'll have a say in stricter parking regulation too, be careful with your votes.
Grace Williams
Do you really feel that Syria spying on dissidents?
What about little old Reno?
The Gourmelt food truck (the BEST grilled cheese sandwiches!) in Reno serves the best versions of grilled cheese sandwiches that I have ever had!
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