Food Truck Schedules in the South Loop

So I have seen a few food trucks at various locations in South Loop, but whenever I return to those locations at a later date to actually buy some food, the trucks aren't there. I assume these trucks might have scheduled stops at different downtown locations, get shooed away by traffic cops, and also might run out of food, so they may not always be consistent. It just seems like I always see them right after I've eaten lunch. And of course I forget to write down a name and phone number, so I can actually call them and ask.

The one that interests me the most is the jerk chicken truck. If anyone has any insight, please share. Thanks.

If you're talking about Three J's jerk truck, good lord are they good. However, they can be notoriously difficult to track down. The one that I know for sure is up on the Northwestern campus on Superior Ave. He's there from about 10:30 to 12. As for where they are in the Loop, I've seen them on south La Salle at about 12, and I've consistently seen them outside of City Hall (on the La Salle side) at about 1 or 1:15.

Does anyone know what the deal is with Three J's as a brick and mortar place? Do they have an actual restaurant at the address they list on the truck?

I too have seen a jerk truck at Washington and LaSalle around the corner from my workplace around noon-time...

I wonder if simply calling Three Js might get you an answer. They probably know where their trucks are headed on a given day.

Suzy

I thought the Three J's truck used to be on Wacker - I saw them twice last fall (near Wacker & Lake and then at Wacker & Monroe) - AFTER I already ate lunch elsewhere! I have yet to try them.

I've seen both the 3Js and Maxine's trucks at or near the corner of Franklin and Jackson regularily.

They used to be at Monroe and Wacker all the time, but I don't see them as much anymore.

It's not the south loop, but I've recently become a regular at the Bolat truck, which parks every day between about 11 and 12 just east of Columbus drive on the road between the AMC movie theater and the Sheraton hotel. Delicious, filling, and reasonable. Beats what I had been doing (walking over to Fox and Obel)

what does the bolat truck serve?

The Bolat truck serves yellow rice, sweet plantains, and an African stew with a choice of meat or tilapia

Again, I saw the Three J's truck when I didn't need lunch. He was sitting outside my office, so I decided to ask him about his location, etc. He is typically still at LaSalle and Washington. He gave me his cell phone number on a menu, which I will try to figure out how to post it on this thread.

Kennyz wrote:It's not the south loop, but I've recently become a regular at the Bolat truck, which parks every day between about 11 and 12 just east of Columbus drive on the road between the AMC movie theater and the Sheraton hotel. Delicious, filling, and reasonable. Beats what I had been doing (walking over to Fox and Obel)

Anybody know if this truck is still servicing this area? I recently started a new job over here, and would love to be able to grab some Bolat since the area is kind of a lunch-chow dead zone.

Oculi wrote:

Kennyz wrote:It's not the south loop, but I've recently become a regular at the Bolat truck, which parks every day between about 11 and 12 just east of Columbus drive on the road between the AMC movie theater and the Sheraton hotel. Delicious, filling, and reasonable. Beats what I had been doing (walking over to Fox and Obel)

Anybody know if this truck is still servicing this area? I recently started a new job over here, and would love to be able to grab some Bolat since the area is kind of a lunch-chow dead zone.

still there - every day.

Kennyz wrote:It's not the south loop, but I've recently become a regular at the Bolat truck, which parks every day between about 11 and 12 just east of Columbus drive on the road between the AMC movie theater and the Sheraton hotel. Delicious, filling, and reasonable. Beats what I had been doing (walking over to Fox and Obel)

Looked on Google Maps StreetView and what did I see?



Can't wait to try this...

when you do, may I suggest the Aya Mase and a side of plantains.

The Bolat truck has a new name:


Same crowd as always (African cab drivers lined up at the Sheraton: 99%; Kennyz: 1%):


Same tasty fried fish with boiled egg and complex tomato sauce:

For the past month or so, I've been eating Three J's food every Friday for lunch...the truck makes housecalls anywhere in the loop, which is handy.

They do have a brick-and-mortar location (1713 E 75th St, (773) 667-1360)...I saw a few (very positive) Yelp reviews where folks said they have gone, or go regularly.

I, on the other hand, prefer the lazy path to tasty Jamaican food: I call the Three J's lunch truck driver (Joe), he asks me where my office is, and he says "I'll be there in 5 minutes"...and quite literally, he's there in 5 minutes without fail.

So far I've had jerk chicken (twice with cabbage and rice & beans, once with mac & cheese, greens, and yams) and oxtail (with rice & beans). The first two times, the jerk chicken (breast & wing quarter) was excellent...subtle rub, nice hint of char, tender chicken. The third time, the meat was on the dry side, and had lots of little bits of bones scattered through it...very different than the tender, well-butchered chicken I got the first two times. Still tasty, just not quite as enjoyable.

The oxtail were very good...tender, well cooked, just a bit of chew to the meat. However, I found the gravy to be a bit on the greasy side. The sides have all been consistently very good. Despite the varying number of sides, you always end up with the same amount of food...the meals are just prepackaged with different variations of side dishes (stupid Chicago and its pre-packaged-food-only street vending laws). Each meal comes with a little shot-glass-sized cup of house-made jerk sauce, which is delicious but mouth-searing...if they bottled it, I would most definitely add it to our hot sauce rotation. A slice of hard dough bread is also included, and helps take the edge off the jerk sauce.

The last couple times, I washed it all down with an ice-cold D & G kola champagne "sof drink". This week I'm going to see which other sodas he has on hand...maybe some Ting or ginger beer, if he has either.

The past few times he's come by, he's also had jerk catfish, curry chicken, meatloaf, bbq chicken (grilled leg quarter slathered in sauce), "bbq jerk" chicken (jerk-rubbed leg quarter slathered in sauce), beef stew, pepper steak, and rib tips (I'll ask how these are cooked...I wonder if they have an aquarium going at the restaurant). He also sells larger portions of sides individually.

Meals (meat + sides + a slice of bread) cost $8, and drinks cost $2. I figure it's best not to publicize Joe's cellphone number on the internet, but I will happily share it with anyone who works/lives in the loop and is craving some Jamaican for lunch - drop me a line by PM and I'll send it your way!

I've seen the Three J's truck in the Loop many times but have been leery of eating food from a truck. Now that I know they're selling oxtail, I'm definitely gonna give it a try. Love me some oxtail.

Kennyz wrote:The Bolat truck has a new name:

I happened to be over at the newish Lakeshore East Park and walked up the stairs to Harbor Dr (north of the river and east of Columbus Dr) where the truck used to park. The truck was nowhere to be seen but the taxis still remained. Asked a few drivers and they sent me over to this new location.

I gave the meat pies a try (highly recommended by a cabbie standing by)...





At a buck and a half each I bought two. Very good although a little dry. A touch of spice and the perfect 'walking' food.

I usually see the 3 J's food truck after I've already eaten lunch and am headed back to the office, so today I did a little searching and found there's a number you can call and the driver will come to wherever you are, provided it's in the loop (I assume). So I called the number, gave my location, and 10 minutes later I had a hefty container of jerk chicken with red beans & rice and braised cabbage for $8. As Khaopaat mentioned upthread, there is a nice variety of offerings like goat, oxtails, bbq chicken, sides of mac 'n cheese, yams, and a tempting tips & links combo that almost swayed me from my initial plan to go with the classic jerk chicken.

Jerk Chicken with Red Beans & Rice and Braised Cabbage


Jerk Chicken Close Up


Chicken was well spiced and the provided hot sauce really brought the heat, which I believe can be attributed to habaneros. That being said, the hacked up pieces of breast meat did suffer some from the obvious consequences of being held in a warming compartment, as the meat was on the dry side and the skin was flabby. All in all though, good and satisfying chicken. The sides were both tasty and plentiful and slice of Jamaican bread that came with the meal provided a nice respite from the heat of the hot sauce.

In the end, I really enjoyed the food and look forward to trying some of the other offerings. If you work in the loop, you owe it to yourself to give 3 J's a call and throw a little trip to Jamaica into your lunch mix.

i love this thread. Do you think the Jamaican food truck would come to UIC -- Harrison and Morgan -- if I called?

trotsky wrote:i love this thread. Do you think the Jamaican food truck would come to UIC -- Harrison and Morgan -- if I called?

Seems a bit outside of the loop, but I honestly have no idea what their delivery parameters are. Never hurts to call and ask.

pigOut wrote:...I did a little searching and found there's a number you can call and the driver will come to wherever you are, ... If you work in the loop, you owe it to yourself to give 3 J's a call ...

Sounds like a good idea. Is there a reason you're keeping the number to yourself?

Kennyz wrote:

pigOut wrote:...I did a little searching and found there's a number you can call and the driver will come to wherever you are, ... If you work in the loop, you owe it to yourself to give 3 J's a call ...

Sounds like a good idea. Is there a reason you're keeping the number to yourself?

Behold the power of Google:

3 J's Restaurant
1713 E 75th St
Chicago, IL 60649
(773) 661-1360

=R=

Kennyz wrote:

pigOut wrote:...I did a little searching and found there's a number you can call and the driver will come to wherever you are, ... If you work in the loop, you owe it to yourself to give 3 J's a call ...

Sounds like a good idea. Is there a reason you're keeping the number to yourself?

Yea, I don't want other people delaying my jerk chicken delivery!

Khaopaat wrote:I figure it's best not to publicize Joe's cellphone number on the internet, but I will happily share it with anyone who works/lives in the loop and is craving some Jamaican for lunch - drop me a line by PM and I'll send it your way!

I share the above sentiments. Just don't feel it's very kosher to publicize someone's cell phone number on the internet, even though I'm sure they wouldn't mind any increase in business. I believe the number Ronnie posted is the number to their brick and mortar restaurant, but if you PM me I'd be happy to give you the number I called, or you can just skim through the reviews on that infamous website called Yelp and find the number there, which is how I found it.

pigOut wrote:I believe the number Ronnie posted is the number to their brick and mortar restaurant . . .

It is. That's why I posted the address, too. I've heard from a few people that while it's not a direct conduit, it can definitely lead to the desired result.

=R=

I also hear from an Ultimate Insider that you can give a secret handshake to the security guard inside a certain large office tower in the loop, and he will then discreetly hand you a green, gold and black colored phone shaped like a chicken drumstick, which provides a direct line to the 3 J's driver. Also of note, if you can find the number for my friend Bobby, you can request the day's special which is always spectacular.

Oh yeah? Well, the jerk chicken store called....

cilantro wrote:Oh yeah? Well, the jerk chicken store called....

...and they want their jerk back?

In my efforts to try all the various food trucks that make it down to Hyde Park on the lunch circuit, I waltzed over to the hospitals to find the Curry Cruiser. However, upon seeing the Three J's truck, I immediately changed my mind. Since they advertise BBQ as well, I was hoping the jerk would have that kiss of wood as well. Indeed, it does, and it is good.

I had legs and thighs in mine, and they retained their moisture fairly well. The rice and beans and cabbage were fine, but ancillary. But the chicken was solid. I have never had real, honest, all-spice smoked jerk, and I imagine this only comes close to that, but it was close enough to leave me smiling. The thin sauce was loaded with finely minced chili peppers, with their sweet, fruity notes up front and the heat following up, warm but not overwhelming. For 8 bucks, this was a more spiritually and physically fulfilling meal than I've found at many other trucks. I may have to make a trip to their brick & mortar location.

Also, the guy said they're at the hospital every day, in the little nook in front of the post office, by the book store. This was around 11:45 this morning.

mtgl wrote:In my efforts to try all the various food trucks that make it down to Hyde Park on the lunch circuit, I waltzed over to the hospitals to find the Curry Cruiser. However, upon seeing the Three J's truck, I immediately changed my mind. Since they advertise BBQ as well, I was hoping the jerk would have that kiss of wood as well. Indeed, it does, and it is good.

I had legs and thighs in mine, and they retained their moisture fairly well. The rice and beans and cabbage were fine, but ancillary. But the chicken was solid. I have never had real, honest, all-spice smoked jerk, and I imagine this only comes close to that, but it was close enough to leave me smiling. The thin sauce was loaded with finely minced chili peppers, with their sweet, fruity notes up front and the heat following up, warm but not overwhelming. For 8 bucks, this was a more spiritually and physically fulfilling meal than I've found at many other trucks. I may have to make a trip to their brick & mortar location.

Also, the guy said they're at the hospital every day, in the little nook in front of the post office, by the book store. This was around 11:45 this morning.

I haven't had Three J's since I changed jobs almost 2 years ago, but man, your post made me crave it.

The guy who used to drive their truck back then (not sure it's still the same guy now) gave me his cell #, and said he'd show up anywhere in the "downtown area" if called. I called him over to Canal & Monroe once a week for a while. I wonder if he'd be willing to come to West Loop....