La Cense Beef Burger Truck
Photo: courtesy of the truck
With food trucks indisputably "in" right now, it can be a real chore keeping au courant with which truck is which (and where). So to help you out we've whipped up this handy guide to the biggies in the New York food truck scene:
Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
Locations vary | www.biggayicecreamtruck.com | twitter.com/biggayicecream
Flamboyant frozen treats with a big scoop of humor are what to expect from this out-and-proud vehicle sporting a cheerful rainbow-cone logo; its soft-serve flavors are conventional (vanilla and chocolate) but accessorized with outré toppings, from wasabi-pea dust to cayenne pepper.
Bistro Truck
Fifth Avenue between 16th & 17th Sts. | bistrotruck.com | twitter.com/BistroTruck
This Mediterranean-influenced mobile unit plies the Union Square area with the likes of lamb cigars, chicken brochettes and vegetable tagines that pay homage to the owner’s Moroccan roots; however, as its name suggests, there are also plenty of bistro-ish offerings including burgers, steak sandwiches and Belgian-style frites.
Country Boys (aka Martinez) Taco Truck
Saturday and Sunday, Red Hook ball fields (Corner of Clinton & Bay Sts., Red Hook, Brooklyn) and Saturday, Brooklyn Flea (176 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn)
This taco truck has gained a faithful following for its homey ‘huaraches’, thick, griddle-cooked corn tortillas covered with beans, meat, lettuce, guacamole and salsa, which take their name from the Mexican-style sandal that their oblong shape suggests; traditional tacos and quesadillas are also popular orders.
Cupcake Stop
Locations vary | www.cupcakestop.com | twitter.com/CupcakeStop
NYC’s first mobile cupcake shop has lines as long as any brick-and-mortar bakery for its flavors ranging from the traditional (red velvet) to the trendy (psychedelic tie-dye); it’s perfect for impromptu celebrations, and offers mini sizes and gluten-free options as well.
El Peluche
10th Avenue & 204th St., Manhattan
To Argentines, chimichurri is a garlicky condiment, but to Dominicans it’s a hearty hamburger laced with ketchup, mayo, shredded cabbage, tomato and onion, and this truck has the recipe down pat; open till the wee hours, it’s also the place for sating late-night fritura cravings.
Endless Summer Tacos
Corner of N. Sixth & Bedford, Williamsburg, Brooklyn | www.endlesssummertacos.com
In true truck tradition, this transient taqueria keeps it simple, offering just tacos and burritos, stuffed with meat, fish or seitan; in line with its authentic-Mexican inspiration, everything is sparingly garnished with cilantro, lime, cotija cheese and a touch of crema fresca.
Eurotrash Truck
N. Third & Berry Sts., Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Leave it to Williamsburg hipsters to enter the gourmet food truck fray with this irreverently named entry; it’s owned by a Swedish-born performer, so it’s no wonder that meatballs are the highlight, but there are also snacks such as bangers ’n’ mash, fish ’n’ chips and a dubiously named ‘French’ corn dog to round out the Euro-style offerings.
La Cense Beef Burger
Locations vary | www.lacensebeef.com/la-cense-beef-truck | twitter.com/LCBBurgerTruck
The Montana meat purveyor La Cense has found a prime outlet for its grass-fed ground beef in this burger truck roving the streets of Midtown; the company claims that its patties are more healthful than standard burgers, and the fact that its recipe came from Daisy May’s Adam Perry Lang surely doesn’t hurt.
NYC Cravings
Locations vary | www.nyccravings.com | twitter.com/nyccravings
If you can’t get to Chinatown, there’s always this truck dispensing Taiwanese specialties such as fried chicken or fried tianbula (fish cake) over rice, both served with ‘secret’ pork sauce, a sweet-sour-salty combo of minced meat and cabbage; dumplings also are on offer, and the display of Asian sauces begs for mix-and-match experimentation.
Pappa Perrone
Locations vary | www.papaperrone.com
This truck has some balls: specifically arancini, created from the owner’s grandmother’s recipe, offered in meat, cheese and vegetable variations; pizzas, baked ziti and eggplant parm should sate those looking for a more substantial Italian meal, while the 'grease-truck special' sandwich – piled with chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks and fries and smothered in marinara – is a tailgater’s heaven on a bun.
Picknick Smoked
Corner of Wall & Water Sts., Manhattan | www.mypicnick.com
‘Good for you barbecue’ is the slogan of this smokin’ truck and its sustainable sister kiosk in Battery Park, the brainchild of chefs Will Goldfarb and Kevin Pomplun; everything on its small menu – Kobe brisket, pulled Heritage pork, smoked chicken, potato salad, slaw, pickled veggies – is either locally sourced or Fair Trade.
Pizza Moto
Saturday, Brooklyn Flea (176 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn) | www.pizzamotobklyn.com
Pizzas are made on the fly in this sturdy, portable wood-fired brick oven also known to occasionally turn out s’mores; the chef/owner/oven-builder, an alum of Brooklyn favorite Franny’s, produces his gourmet pies – margherita, pepperoni, artichoke – in just minutes for hungry browsers at the Brooklyn Flea.
Rickshaw Dumpling Truck
Locations vary | rickshawdumplings.com | twitter.com/rickshawtruck
This cheerful red truck takes its cues from the classic Chinese dim sum palace, where patrons order bites from roving carts; not confined to the dining room, this offshoot of Anita Lo’s Flatiron eatery sports slogans like ‘Who’s Your Edamame’ and dispenses dumplings in renditions including Thai basil, pork and chive, vegetarian edamame and, yes, chocolate soup.
Schnitzel & Things
Locations vary | www.schnitzelandthings.com | twitter.com/schnitzeltruck
Maria von Trapp would have approved of this truck dispensing schnitzel in three varieties – chicken, pork and cod – served with a wedge of lemon and Austrian potato salad; true, noodles are absent here, but additional ‘things’ offered include bratwurst, sauerkraut, fries and Tahitian vanilla panna cotta.
Street Sweets
Locations vary | www.streetsweetsny.com | twitter.com/StreetSweets
Create-your-own croissants are the thing at this biodiesel-powered mobile bakery, which allows customers to choose from a dozen fillings – from marshmallow cream to peanut butter – for their flaky pastries; cookies, cupcakes, muffins, scones and other oven-fresh treats can be accompanied by Fair Trade coffee drinks.
Treats Truck
Locations vary | www.treatstruck.com | twitter.com/thetreatstruck
Sweets hit the streets in this truck twosome – the big silver bakery on wheels is known as Sugar, and Dot is its little white sibling – chock-full of cookies, brownies and other baked goods; wash down specialties like the pecan butterscotch bar with organic milk, soy milk, juice, tea, coffee or soda.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck
Locations vary | www.vanleeuwenicecream.com | twitter.com/VLAIC
It’s easy to spot these sunshine-yellow refitted former postal vans dispensing rich artisanal ice cream made from hormone- and antibiotic-free milk and cream and served on organic cones or in biodegradable cups; its flavors like Mexican Coke and red currant go way beyond chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.
Wafels & Dinges
Locations vary | www.wafelsanddinges.com | twitter.com/waffletruck
This truck specializes in ‘good things Belgian’ – specifically, three varieties of waffles (light and crispy, soft and chewy, mini) and the ‘dinges’ that are piled on top, including anything from strawberries to Nutella or Speculoos, a spread made out of gingery shortbread cookies; bibs are available for messier mavens.