À la carte: Food trucks for Vancouver foodies
When food trucks hit the streets of Vancouver, lunchtime dining was met with no less than a revolution. Affordable and fast street food was no longer just the realm of hotdogs – and these trucks had serious foodie cred. Best to follow them all on Twitter for their current locations. [Photo: gourmet grilled cheese at Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck]
Via Tevere Neapolitan Express (Food Truck)
1190 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 4G5With lineups around the block to snag a table at their Victoria Drive restaurant, you can bet the food at this Neapolitan-style pizzeria is something to write home about. Luckily they have a food truck, too, so your wait, while still a reality, won’t be nearly as long and will end in instant satisfaction. At the truck, which you can find in Railtown, on Burrard and Pender and occasionally outside Brassneck or 33 Acres, they’re serving up saltimbocca, a wood-fired sandwich.
Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck
701 Robson St, Vancouver, BCSometimes all you want for lunch is that childhood staple: ooey-gooey cheese oozing from between butter-slathered, perfectly golden fried bread. A little dunk in tomato soup or ketchup and all your comfort food needs are taken care of. That was the aim of “Mom” who started her food truck after years in the catering industry. Here, simply choose your bread, choose your cheese, choose your add-ins and minutes later you’re on the VAG steps enjoying a crispy, melting, grilled cheese sandwich. Delicious simplicity.
Tacofino (Food Truck)
Vancouver, BC V6B 3P7The little food truck that could, Tacofino is turning into a right empire. From its humble surfer roots in Tofino to its hopping downtown Vancouver and Victoria trucks to now its full-on restaurant in Hastings-Sunrise, the folks behind this taco stand clearly knew there was a hot market for California-style fish tacos. But we’re talking food trucks here, so head down to Burrard and Dunsmuir (most days) for a couple of those fish tacos. Or try the chicken karaage taco or burrito.
Vij's Railway Express
1441 Clark Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3K9Forego the two-hour waits in Vij’s back cocktail lounge and opt for a daytime dose of perfect Indian street food. Sinfully creamy butter chicken naan done schnitzel style, fresh and abundant chickpea salad, cod in mango sour cream curry — all the delicious and innovative food you expect from the five-star restaurant, served from the window of their blue and orange truck. Wash it down with steaming chai or refreshing blueberry lassi. One of the few trucks to hang out on 4th Ave.
Le Tigre
Vancouver, BC V6B 3P7You know you’re at Le Tigre when your high-energy, verging-on-hyper host peers at you through Hello Kitty glasses. The fun team behind this Asian fusion truck, whose leader, Chef Clement Chan had a stint on Top Chef Canada, is serving up addictive items like, ahem, crack salad with deep-fried Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and cracked chilies and their famous Fricken Chicken — fried boneless chicken sprinkled with Thai chilies, cilantro, mint and basil with a side of spicy mayo. Very decent prices, too.
Mr. Shawarma (Food Truck)
Robson and Hornby, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1A1Be patient at this yellow truck, most often at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza. The mother-son team has their routine down and there is no messing with it. She kindly takes your order, encouraging extras like pickled turnip, hot sauce, drinks and extra napkins, while he patiently and thoroughly makes your kebab, shawarma or falafel, crafting each wrap with care and love. But you’ve got an hour for lunch, and this is prime people-watching territory. The result is some of the best on-the-go Lebanese.
Pig on the Street
700 Howe St, New Westminster, BC V3L 1B1Pig on the Street and their bright pink Westfalia van are serving up delicious pork sandwiches at farmer’s markets and the VAG. Bacon and sausage find their way into every sandwich they make with their signature flatbread (except the No Piggy, a haloumi cheese vegetarian option) as well as savoury fillings like blue cheese, sage and apple stuffing, arugula pesto and cider chutney. Can’t find the van? Head to Brassneck or Bomber Brewing for their addictive twisty breads available at the bar.
Yolk's
1298 Hastings St E, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S6There are some restaurants, like Vij’s and Via Tevere, that have jumped into the food cart game. And there are others whose food trucks have been so successful, full restaurants are the next logical step. Such was the case with Yolk’s, the breakfast truck at Stadium-Chinatown station, serving poached egg sandwiches customized for you. With one egg or two, on hashbrowns, English muffin or gluten-free bun, hollandaise or cheddar, with bacon, ham or mushroom. Breakfast on the run has never been so delicious — or healthy.
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