Good Summer Street Food - Vans, Carts, etc.

A friend of mine and I are planning on doing an exploration into Chicago's street food this summer. I've read threads about vans and carts in different places, but none of them are very recent. As I know this cottage industry can be somewhat transient, I'd love some recommendations from people who have eaten good (or bad) Chicago street food lately. Understanding that much of this is Mexican/Central American, we are open to just about any ethnic varieties of food and drinks. Thanks for any advice.

Jbambuti

In a recent thread about elotes, I briefly touched on both the Humboldt area vans as well as the Maxwell Street Market, two excellent street-food options.

Throughout many Latino-dominated neighborhoods such as Rogers Park, Albany Park, Pilsen, and Little Village, you'll find a variety of items sold from coolers like tamales, elotes, and fresh fruit cocktails.

But, in my humble opinion, where warm food from coolers and vans are pretty good, cooked food from stalls at the Maxwell Street Market are simply great.

Best,
Michael

Welcome to 2007-- an update from May 31, 2007 not recent enough.

Actually, as stated, the Maroon Vans of Marianao are going strong. Maxwell St., still there. Humbolt Park trucks, same as ever. Various tamaleros (e.g., Milwaukee and Division, am only) check. Park vendors by soccer fields and the beach remain, elotes, frutas enchiladas y chicharones, roger. They do tend to roam, however.

Please do report back.

Sorry. Missed the elotes thread. Thanks for the info.

Jbambuti

For another take entirely, if you can wait until the Bud Billiken parade, Washington Park is filled to bursting with entrepeneurs who have all manner of foodstuffs, mostly barbecued.

One never really knows when the next best opportunity arises to sample "street food" in Chicago. Elotes, paletas, hot dogs, whatever. Last Friday after work I toured the more than 100 Earth globes on display in and near the Museum Campus along the lakefront.



When I reached the top of some steps in front of the Field Museum there was a hot dog cart/stand off to one side, and I sampled the fare: an excellent/classic Chicago-style hot dog:



The stand is leased/operated by a Latin couple who assemble the hot dogs like they might assemble great-tasting tacos - as if they've been doing it all of their lives.

Steamed poppy-seed bun, Vienna dog, mustard, green relish, sport peppers and just the right amount of celery salt. It melted in my mouth.

For all of the times I've been disappointed by street food, this experience reminded me that there are many excellent offerings out there on the street, and they stare you in the face when you least expect them.

Bill,

I used to work at the Shedd and would run over to that hot dog stand at least once a week during the summers. One thing I DO miss about those days!