Food Trucks in Chicago?

Hi there,

I'm a Philly native who's going to be in Chicago for the summer. I'm sure you've heard of Philly's famous cheesesteak and hoagie trucks, but I read that food trucks were illegalized in Chicago in the early 90's. Does this still hold true? Are there no food trucks in your city?

Thanks for any info!

Most of the ones that I see roaming the grounds of construction sites or courthouses like 26th and California hold goods bought from various restaurants and then resold colder, greasier and ickier.

I see some food trucks occasionally lined up near taxi hangouts, serving ethic food to hometown cabbies. Most recently I saw this near Milenium Park, however this site is now condo construction, surprisingly.

Well, this is a topic that used to be quite popular here and on another board, but it has not come up in a while. But short answer, yes we do have food trucks though the City makes it tough on vendors. Luckily some of the trucks have excellent fare. Jamaican and West African trucks selling jerk chicken, curry goat and other very solid plates often park in front of Prentice Hospital in Streeterville during lunchtime. Others park in front of Bughouse Square, by the Newberry Library, also at lunch.

A great old post describes a particularly noteworthy meal at an African lunch truck, which I hope someone will link.

The somewhat loved South Side corned beef institution, supposedly started in a liquor store on 107th St., A&P Deli has a truck that is at times parked on the Franklin side of the Merchandise Mart.

Unlike in California and Arizona, taco trucks are not so common here. That's fine since we have possibly the best range of taquerias in the US. There are a few. Burrito Buggy has a couple of trucks that make their way around the Loop at lunch and also hang out in front of Prentice. Not bad. Another nice sounding truck has been mentioned recently, though I can't remember the name or spot right now.

Of course, we also have the noteworthy "gypsy" vans that sell very esoteric Mexican foods on the weekends. The maroon and periwinkle vans that hang out near Cafe Marianao are the prime example. Worth seeking out, I think. Beyond that, the city allows a thriving streetcorner elote (Mexican corn on the cob), tamales, and champurrado business here. The tamal ladies are on the streetcorners with their coolers at breakfast time. A good one is at Ashland, Division and Milwaukee by the pizza hut. Another is on North Clark in Rogers Park in front of a McDonalds. Places such as Pilsen have numerous street vendors at all times.

But possibly the best food from a truck is sold from the impressive restaurants on wheels in the Puerto Rican neighborhood of Humboldt Park. From lunch on in the park near North and California trucks such as La Esquina de Sabor serve up very good lechon, morcillas, mofongo, and lots more. Cool off with a nieve de coco or paleta from a push-cart vendor.

And check out Maxwell street on Sunday for real street food, mostly Mexican.

PS, I should mention that some pizza places have trucks selling slices, pasta, etc. I am not a fan.

JeffB wrote:Of course, we also have the noteworthy "gypsy" vans that sell very esoteric Mexican foods on the weekends. The maroon and periwinkle vans that hang out near Cafe Marianao are the prime example. Worth seeking out, I think. Beyond that, the city allows a thriving streetcorner elote (Mexican corn on the cob), tamales, and champurrado business here. The tamal ladies are on the streetcorners with their coolers at breakfast time. A good one is at Ashland, Division and Milwaukee by the pizza hut. Another is on North Clark in Rogers Park in front of a McDonalds. Places such as Pilsen have numerous street vendors at all times.

Anyone have any recent experience with these places. Do they still exist?

JeffB wrote:Burrito Buggy has a couple of trucks that make their way around the Loop at lunch and also hang out in front of Prentice. Not bad. Another nice sounding truck has been mentioned recently, though I can't remember the name or spot right now.

That would be La Cabanita, which hangs out at the southeast corner of Canal and Monroe. They are eager to please and do a pretty good steak burrito (with or without beans), good chicken tacos, so-so tamales and better than good enough tortas (although the bread suffers from being wrapped up and kept on the truck for a couple of hours). They will take orders if you call in advance, including a chiles rellenos burrito that was heaven in a tortilla. Suzy (sdritz) and I have made a few joint trips and have been basically pleased with what we find; although it can't possibly compare to the Burrito Buggy dine-in/carry-out location that used to be located on Clinton, just south of Monroe in the ugly grey bunker; that was amazingly good, but didn't last very long.

JeffB wrote:
A great old post describes a particularly noteworthy meal at an African lunch truck, which I hope someone will link.

I do believe this is the great old post of which you speak CoolerbytheLake's "I give you a little penis for free"

I have been to the vans next to the Max Gerber lot by Marianao within the past two months. Any time I go to Marianao on the weekend, I hit the vans. It's not much of an investement for the usual payoff. As good and as popular as ever. I had the tacos de cesta and the picadas.

I just had lunch from the three J's barbecue van on superior, near northwestern memorial. It's a west indian place (homebase is on the 1700 E. block of 75th). Most folks were ordering Jerk, but I wasn't in the mood for chicken today and instead went with the oxtails.

They were surprisingly good, tender, rich flavored sauce in which carrots and a few butterbeans had also been simmered. Served with a rice and beans, a little plastic container of hot sauce which at first seems mild, vinegary and flavorful, but whose heat catches up to you (especially if you dump the whole container on your rice), a slice of bread and a vess cola for $6. you could do a lot worse in the neighborhood.

The guy said they are there until about 1:30 most weekdays

I have also had the oxtails from the Three J's truck at NMH. That sauce is sneaky-hot indeed. Great rice and beans, but I felt the meat on the oxtails was very fatty and meager--even for oxtails. Reading the previous sentence back reminds me of the classic joke: the food here is terrible...and the portions are so small!

FYI, the Nigerian truck on Clark just north of Chicago Avenue is still reliably there every time I've gone back--same nice guy, same offerings. And yes, the pot of bull penises is still there as well. True to my earlier prediction, I've never tried it since.

More on the Humboldt Park La Esquina de Sabor here

CoolerbytheLake wrote:IGreat rice and beans, but I felt the meat on the oxtails was very fatty and meager--even for oxtails.

Cooler,

either I got very lucky yesterday, or you have been luckier than I every time you've had oxtails. I got about 6 bones, each with at least 3 or 4 good bites on it. It was a little fatty, but they were oxtails after all. Anyway for the area and the price I was pretty happy. Have you tried any of their other stuff?

Zim,

The jerk fish is usually pretty good, but it runs out fast. It's been so long since they've had it that my memory is beginning to dim a little. My current crave item at the Prentice convoy continues to be the jerk chicken burrito from the Burrito Buggy...buggy, but it's usually pretty scarce. To paraphrase Ferris, if they're there and have the jerk chicken burrito available, I highly recommend picking one up.

I wish these trucks were a little more reliable, but I suppose that's part of the appeal--the thrill of the unexpected. Still, nothing sinks my heart faster than rounding the corner at Superior and seeing the Fontano's truck...and little else. Have you tried anything from Fontano's? It seems fairly unremarkable, but it'd be great to have a backup plan in place for when I take the time to schlep down. I'd kill for something like the Trini-Paki Boys cart in Midtown...

Thanks for the great info - the stomach is a'rumblin'.

So what's the deal with the city making it hard for the trucks to operate? It is illegal to operate a parked truck downtown?

Also, are these Mexican trucks unreliable because the owners just don't feel like operating them certain days/times, or are they being harrassed by food inspectors, or what?

As far as La Cabanita is concerned, they were not allowed to operate after 9/11 and decided to reopen their downtown operation a couple of months ago. It may be that they were moved because of their proximity to the Mercantile Exchange and Sears Tower. I find myself going there a couple of times a week lately, and the food is relatively cheap and good. A chicken torta for $4.00 is more than enough to hold me until I get home for dinner, and I love the fact that I can call in a special order and have it waiting for me the next day at lunchtime.

Suzy

although it can't possibly compare to the Burrito Buggy dine-in/carry-out location that used to be located on Clinton, just south of Monroe in the ugly grey bunker; that was amazingly good, but didn't last very long.[/quote]

I believe that the Burrito Buggy does still exist operating out of a store front in the Insurance Exchange Bldg right next to the Van Buren El stop. It's still amazing.

So I made it to Humboldt Park for some lechon, pasteles, and a sweet, elliptical fried thing that tasted like sweet corn meal and custard on the inside. Anyone know what that's called? It was amazing.

How does one get to the African lunch truck - TBS, I think it's called - that I hear so much about? I'm usually coming from the Jackson stop on the Blue Line...

tasneemp wrote:How does one get to the African lunch truck - TBS, I think it's called - that I hear so much about? I'm usually coming from the Jackson stop on the Blue Line...

Richard, the driver for TBS, establishes two different "campsites" each day. In the mornings, and until around noon, he can be found on the west side of Dearborn, just south of Walton. He then moves over to Clark, where he parks about a block north of Chicago Ave., on the west side of the street.

The closest rail stops are the Chicago Ave. stations of the Red and Brown lines. The Red is at State, and the Brown is at Franklin. If you intend to meet him in the morning, the Division/Clark rail stop for the Red line is also close by.

Regards,
E.M.

I had the oxtails from Three Js today and I have to say, while I have been disappointed in the past, these were tender, meaty tails. The rice and peas were delicious as well with a little added heat from the jerk sauce. Overall a satisfying lunch for $6 w/ drink.

TBS African restaurant has a "now open" sign in the window of their new restaurant on Lawrence Avenue.

2541 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago IL 60625
773-561-3407

Humboldt Park baby...

~GS