Meaty Balls Mobile

After riding my bike up to the Tribune tower yesterday in search of the Foss food truck, only to find I had missed it by a matter of minutes, today I was able to track it down much closer to my workplace at Wells and Monroe. It's a pretty unassuming vehicle and easy to miss, just a pick up truck with a heating rack in the bed and small sign on the side. They were out of my first choice, the Not Yo Daddy's Balls, which is bulls testicles witha ragout sauce, so myself and a coworker went with the Head Into Balls (fried head cheese) and the Crabby Balls (curry sauce and mango chutney). Both sandwiches were good, the Head Into Balls was a little on the greasy side, but I still wolfed my half down. The mango chutney on the Crabby Balls was excellent. Sorry for the lack of pictures, I was so hungry I forgot to snap some with my phone.

Overall, much more interesting than a typical loop lunch. I thought the sandwiches were a little on the pricey side given their size, but still a good value for the range of flavor. Hopefully the city will pass the ordinance soon, I'm sure these would be even better made fresh on the spot. We chatted briefly with Phillip about the response so far, he was very approachable and friendly. Definitely worth checking out if it's parked in your area, but be sure to go early to get the best selection.

Here's the link to his website with the menu:
http://www.phillipfoss.net/

Track the location via Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/fossfoodtrucks

Friday a group from the office went and got a variety of the MeatyBalls products. We felt that they were very good - far above your average sandwich. Some were better than others, so here was the general spread:

Thai'd Balls: Amazing - absolute raves for everyone who tasted it, which was most of us.

MeatyBalls: Very good. everyone was happy with it.

Crabby Balls: Very good. The two who got that were very happy.

Vegeta-Balls: Only one person tasted this but was not happy, only eating half her sandwich before tossing it. I wasn't able to get a taste before it went in the trash, but it did look pretty goopy. She felt it was a cheesy mess. On the other hand, she absolutely ADORED her chips, and was the only one who got them.

We got there a few minutes after 11:30 and immediately a line formed behind us. Apparently they were sold out a few minutes after noon.

Two notes:
I was very disappointed that they did not have the Cola-Bourbon BBQ sandwich, and a colleague wanted the Jewish Penicillin Balls but were disappointed to find that they were only available as a special order, and not normally on the truck. The MeatyBalls guy said he needs to fix that on the web site since it is not clear.

That being said, everyone enjoyed the experience and said they would go back for the Thai'd Balls anytime and were kind of sad more of us didn't try the chips. As for me, I am still jonesing for that BBQ Cola Bourbon Ball Sandwich. Next time!

I actually had lunch off of the truck on Friday as well, I think I was there a little before you, around 11:20 or so. While I wanted the BBQ, I ended up with the Meatyballs instead. Pretty good sandwich, much better than alot of the other offerings around the Loop. The chips were also tasty, and the Chocolate Salty balls are a must have every time.

I'll definitely make an effort to hit up the truck for lunch when it is in my neck of the Loop for lunch.

SSDD

Meatyballs mobile finally landed near my office downtown yesterday, so I took the opportunity to check it out. I got the namesake meatyballs sandwich, some of the truffle chips, and the chocolate salty balls. I have to say that all were really good. The meatyballs sandwich is, I believe, four meatballs on a baguette with mushrooms, a cheese-ish sauce (didn't feel super cheesy to me), and truffle oil. It was a pre-made sandwich, but the bread held up pretty well and didn't feel overly soggy. The chocolate salty balls are cookie dough (I think) covered in chocolate with a light dusting of sea salt. They were also quite good. Although after a fairly rich sandwich, I could only eat one and shared the rest with my officemates who were also duly impressed.

I thought the prices were reasonable for what you get. The sandwich and chips came to $10. The chocolate balls were another $3. Unless you are going to a fast food place, that is about what lunch costs in the Loop, and the food you typically get isn't as good. If you go to places in the Loop that are comparable, like Pastoral or some of the places in the Macy's 7th floor food court, you'll get good food, but will pay as much or more. Looking forward to trying some of the other sandwiches on the menu.

I have tried them all, and my favorites are the Thai, BBQ and the Brandade ones... The chocolate salty balls are very well received at work, but I think the portion size is too large for just one person. I really like the truffle chips too, but then I am a sucker for anything with truffles...

have we decided if this place is a homage to SNL/Alec Baldwin or South Park/Chef yet?

Oddly enough, Foss says he has only heard of the SNL sketch through customers - never seen it himself.

In any case, If the speed with which I inhaled my sandwich today is any indication of my feelings toward it… I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Had the Thai’d Balls, as have many others it seems. Turkey meatballs with Thai red curry sauce and sautéed peppers. Found the balls a bit large for the bread, but the sauce was complex enough and had just a hint of a kick to it. Peppers were a good size and well distributed, so as not to be simply an afterthought. The bread – soft. Doesn’t have too much taste, but is a good neutral vehicle for getting the main attraction action your mouth.

For $7, not a bad deal. You certainly can’t get anything similar in the loop. I’d order it again, and look forward to trying other offerings as well.

mailsf wrote:Oddly enough, Foss says he has only heard of the SNL sketch through customers - never seen it himself.

For what it's worth, it was the 3rd guy there who had never heard of the SNL skit.
Thanks for the feedback!

dudefella wrote:have we decided if this place is a homage to SNL/Alec Baldwin or South Park/Chef yet?

Neither and both.

P Foss stopped by our neighborhood bar the other day, everyone got something different...we had all been day drinking and were just haphazardly passing sandwiches around - all of which were really good.

The only things that needed improvement were strictly due to the fact that the city won't let him prepare these things on the spot. As soon as he can put them together to order - the fresh preparation will make these sandwiches an absolutely phenomenal and convenient meal while out and about.

PFoss i wish you the best i hope things work out, we need more of this type of thing in Chicago.

Just picked up a sandwich from Phillip Foss' Meatyballs mobile a few minutes ago, it's parked on the NW corner of Monroe and Dearborn.

Heating up the Boo Ya Balls - Brandade, crab, Marseilles veggies, Rouille

Will let you know how it taste in a minute.

He threw in a bag of chips as well.

petite_gourmande, those are my favorite! I am hoping I see him tomorrow!

CrazyC wrote:petite_gourmande, those are my favorite! I am hoping I see him tomorrow!

CC- You're right. It's quite delicious.

Had a bite of it before retoasting the bread, and it was too chewy especially in contrast to the brandade balls. But after a quick toast in the toaster oven, the bread offers a light crisp crust, perfect foil for the gooey goodness of the brandade and rouille.

What a nice break from the mundane.

Wonders if he twits about his location on a daily basis.

Must've just missed you, petite_gourmande. Gotta say, my lunch today was a real treat.

Having been under the weather, this was a solid first meal back on real food. I had the BBQ sandwich, with plenty of well-seasoned, smoky pulled pork. As is discussed above, it's too bad that Foss can't make these fresh to order, but with this particular sandwich, and early in the lunch hour, I liked what happened to the bread. Sure, it was slightly soggy, but it still had plenty of chew and held the meat without a problem. I would happily eat this sandwich again and hope that Foss returns to the neighborhood soon.

When I first started eating the chips (Thanks Phillip!), they were truffly-good, but slightly cold from being outside. I'm going to put them aside both to see if they get better after warming up a bit and because I'm so darn full from the sandwich.

Ronna

REB wrote:...As is discussed above, it's too bad that Foss can't make these fresh to order, but with this particular sandwich, and early in the lunch hour, I liked what happened to the bread....

I'm with you on the bread. These sandwiches are so large that I prefer the soft, squishiness that the bread turns to after it's been steaming in foil for a couple of hours. They're too unwieldy to eat with fresh, crisp bread. I've had quite a few of these "torpedoes," as Foss likes to call them - some in his first hour on the road, and some in his second hour. I like the way the taste in the second hour better.

Boo-Ya is definitely my favorite for its robust seasoning and big seafood flavor. I like the texture of the balls in all of the others, but have found them a bit underseasoned for my tastes, especially so with the Game Balls. Overall though, I'm a fan despite being sick of the sophomoric twitter jokes that get reposted everywhere. And I'm about as sophomoric as anyone.

Oh - and the soups contain what are to me the platonic ideal of a matzoh ball.

petite_gourmande wrote:Wonders if he twits about his location on a daily basis.

He does, and it is "tweets" you twit! :p

@FossFoodTrucks

SSDD

headcase wrote:

petite_gourmande wrote:Wonders if he twits about his location on a daily basis.

He does, and it is "tweets" you twit! :p

@FossFoodTrucks

SSDD

Tweet, twit...
tomato, toh mah to...
potato, poh tah toe...

btw, it's a big P, not small p on your razzing face...not that size matters!

I just wish him well in his food truck crusade. Street food is sorely missing in Chicago.

REB wrote:Must've just missed you, petite_gourmande. Gotta say, my lunch today was a real treat.

...I would happily eat this sandwich again and hope that Foss returns to the neighborhood soon.

When I first started eating the chips (Thanks Phillip!), they were truffly-good, but slightly cold from being outside. I'm going to put them aside both to see if they get better after warming up a bit and because I'm so darn full from the sandwich.

Ronna

Sorry I missed you, always fun to break with fellow LTHers. Would love to have his truck as a regular lunch option. Perhaps the parking rate hike will open up more parking spots for him in the loop, especially at that corner.

I am with you on the chips. They are much better now that the chips are at room temperature. Finally taste the subtle truffle, nice crunch with just the right thickness for body, not overly salted even for a salt fiend, and not greasy either. Over 3 hours in the paper bag, and not a spot of grease has soaked through from the chips.

Meaty Balls....made me smile!

petite_gourmande wrote:I am with you on the chips. They are much better now that the chips are at room temperature. Finally taste the subtle truffle, nice crunch with just the right thickness for body, not overly salted even for a salt fiend, and not greasy either. Over 3 hours in the paper bag, and not a spot of grease has soaked through from the chips.

Yes, the chips are better now. Funny you should call the truffle taste "subtle." I think it's quite prominent, and detected it while the chips were cold as much as I do now. In fact, I would prefer a slightly lighter hand with the truffle. Perhaps I received an extra truffly bag!

Ronna

REB wrote:

petite_gourmande wrote:I am with you on the chips. They are much better now that the chips are at room temperature. Finally taste the subtle truffle, nice crunch with just the right thickness for body, not overly salted even for a salt fiend, and not greasy either. Over 3 hours in the paper bag, and not a spot of grease has soaked through from the chips.

Yes, the chips are better now. Funny you should call the truffle taste "subtle." I think it's quite prominent, and detected it while the chips were cold as much as I do now. In fact, I would prefer a slightly lighter hand with the truffle. Perhaps I received an extra truffly bag!

Ronna

The one time I had them they were seriously truffly. I couldn't make it through the bag, which is fine because then I had more room for chocolate salty balls.

razbry wrote:Meaty Balls....made me smile!

Reminds me of Schweddy Balls, my favorite holiday treat of all times:

jesteinf wrote:

REB wrote:Yes, the chips are better now. Funny you should call the truffle taste "subtle." I think it's quite prominent, and detected it while the chips were cold as much as I do now. In fact, I would prefer a slightly lighter hand with the truffle. Perhaps I received an extra truffly bag!

Ronna

The one time I had them they were seriously truffly. I couldn't make it through the bag, which is fine because then I had more room for chocolate salty balls.

Hmmm....tasting them again, and not finding them to be that prominent, just nicely fragranced and enough to linger on the palate. Not overkill nor lacking.

Hope I'm not that de-sensitized to truffles, of all things.

Nice clip form Satuday Night Live petite_gourmande....Schweddy Balls!

Had the "Thai'd Balls" today, which is/are three meatballs with a sauce of mild red curry. Very mild and sweetly coconutty. $7. I look forward to trying some of the other options. The bull's balls are special order only now.

Schweddy Balls are here!

Lamb, chicken, zucchini, carrot, potato, turmeric, paprika... and enough spice to make u shwedd!

Picked one up this morning. My favorite so far. The lamb is subtle but enough to add another flavor profile. Not as scheweddy enough for my tastebuds, but a nice zing. Given that it is early enough, the bread kept it's integrity and not soaked through at all.

petite_gourmande wrote:Schweddy Balls are here!

Lamb, chicken, zucchini, carrot, potato, turmeric, paprika... and enough spice to make u shwedd!

Picked one up this morning. My favorite so far. The lamb is subtle but enough to add another flavor profile. Not as scheweddy enough for my tastebuds, but a nice zing. Given that it is early enough, the bread kept it's integrity and not soaked through at all.

Agreed. It's a great sandwich. Crave-worthy, definitely. I was contemplating whether there's a sandwich in the vicinity that I've enjoyed more, and there isn't. This one's a winner.

Ronna

REB wrote:

petite_gourmande wrote:Schweddy Balls are here!

Lamb, chicken, zucchini, carrot, potato, turmeric, paprika... and enough spice to make u shwedd!

Picked one up this morning. My favorite so far. The lamb is subtle but enough to add another flavor profile. Not as scheweddy enough for my tastebuds, but a nice zing. Given that it is early enough, the bread kept it's integrity and not soaked through at all.

Agreed. It's a great sandwich. Crave-worthy, definitely. I was contemplating whether there's a sandwich in the vicinity that I've enjoyed more, and there isn't. This one's a winner.

Ronna

Also tried one today, and completely agree that it was a winner. Although I did not find it very spicy, it was delicious. Also, I am hopeful that the Meaty Balls Mobile will continue to have a regular presence at Dearborn and Monroe from 11-1. It has been stationed there all week, and it seems like there is now a second truck working other locations.

I've been wanting to check out the balls truck for the past couple weeks and finally made it over to Dearborn and Monroe today. Why I decided to wait for a super-cold day to go is beyond me. Planned to order the Shweddy Balls, thought about the Honey & Mustard Glazed Salmon Balls, but ended up opting for the Thai'd Balls as the promised flavor combo of coconut milk and chili sauce called to me most.





I thought the sandwich was pretty good but suffered in some areas. The bread wasn't soggy and had a nice chew, and the overall flavors were pleasing. However, as the picture above shows, the turkey balls had zero crust/sear and had a very mushy texture which is probably attributable to them sitting and steaming for a decent period of time. Also, while I enjoyed the sweetness of the coconut milk in the generous slathering of sauce, it was by far the dominating flavor as little to no chili flavor came through.

I also got an order of the truffle chips, and I thought they were very good. Not too thin, not too chick with a good crisp and crunch, they had an aroma and taste redolent of truffle with some bites really bringing the truffle flavor full on.

Overall, despite the texture and balance of flavor issues, I was satisfied with my meal and will be back to try some of the other intriguing ball offerings.

I have a question for those who frequent the Meatyballs Mobile - is the Dearborn & Monroe truck usually there beginning at 11am?