What’s in a Food Truck?
It’s no secret that food trucks have been taking America by storm. With clever names, unique eats and convenient street-side service, there’s no question to the appeal of these wonders on wheels! Competition is fierce as more people join in on the food truck bandwagon, so being memorable is the name of the game. Here are the top picks for our favorites.
Best Name:
Grillenium Falcon – Behold, the greatest pun in the food truck world we have come across yet! Head over to Fayetteville, Arkansas to feast your eyes on the king of grilled cheese-themed food trucks. Even the menu joins in on the fun with a cleverly named sandwich called the “Cheebacca”. Who knew grilled cheese could be so epic!? Come check out this ‘bucket o’ bolts. We promise you won’t be thinking, “I’ve got a very bad feeling about this”.
Hit n’ Run – Once found in Houston, and bordering on inappropriate, this Winnebago certainly drew some attention in its day. With a slogan to match its mayhem, “Killer Street Food”, a playful spirit and teenage sense of humor ran rampant even down to the menu. The “Killer Burger” and the “Drunken Squealer” were certainly favorites from the list. Although this truck is no longer with us, it will remain a historical part of the glorious overboard rhetoric that makes food trucks great.
Best Design:
Roving Mammoth Burrito – Back in 2011, it was North America’s first snow-mobile/food truck combo. When you’re starving after a long day of skiing, what could be more convenient then finding a tasty, tortilla-filled truck at the bottom of the lift? Designed by a 40-year Mammoth Mountain ops vet, this snow-tracked food truck dared to go where none had gone before. Check out their Twitter feed to find which run locations you can track them down at, then grab your skis or snowboard and shred on over!
Taco-Mergency – Yes, we are breaking ALL the rules today. But honestly, would this truck NOT be hilarious to see cruising the streets of San Francisco. Actually, it does! But, only if you watch the movie “The Five-Year Engagement”. This prop created quite a buzz in the social media world when it first made its appearance back in 2012. Which has us thinking, “Could they really do it?” The answer is probably no, but we can dream! This is also a perfect example that the bounds of Food Truck ideas are nearly limitless.
Most Unique Cuisine:
The Dump Truck – Having your kitchen on wheels can make for some trying times in the food truck world, but some chefs have made their menus work for on-the-go fare. The Dump Truck in Portland, Oregon has added some real Asian flare to the mix. This truck truly has it all! The clever name, the memorable design and color and more importantly, a delicious menu. These dumplings alone are pretty unusual, but add options like the bacon cheeseburger dumpling and you’ve really got some extraordinary comfort food cuisine. This choice even made it onto Eat Street on the Cooking Channel back in July, 2013.
Shrimp Pimp – A little fusion, a little flare and an exotic twist. This truck can been seen all over Los Angeles, California serving up plates such as Drunken Shrimp Tacos, Shrimp Bruschetta, Shrimp and Chips, Po Boys, and even Greek Shrimp Sandwiches. We think even Bubba would be impressed with all the types of shrimp this truck has to offer. And, as the truck’s motto says, “Shrimpin’ ain’t easy, but it sho is fun!” We’re going to have to agree! This truck isn’t skimping on any details for what it takes to be an unconventional competitor.
So, we recommend as you make your travels around the US, be sure to make a pit-stop at these fine automo-“meal” establishments! Their routes can be found on Yelp, Twitter, or even their personal homepages. When it comes to picking the right food truck for you and yours we suggest you consider what will be the most memorable experience. Don’t forget to take pictures!