Any decent food trucks downtown?

Hi,
I am working on a project in the near-west loop (near the train stations). I know nothing about eating downtown (except that it can be pricey). There are a few interesting looking food trucks in the area, but the fact that they basically just sell warmed up pre-cooked food, doesn't seem too appetizing. None of them seem very busy either, which makes me suspicious. There is an African one that looks like it might be good (there have been Nigerian food trucks since long before it was "legal"), but who wants to eat stews in August? There is a BBQ one that looks so-so, but I am loathe to spend $10 on a mediocre pulled pork sandwich. Anyhow, the place at which I am working orders out lunch for its employees. They always have plenty of leftovers to share with us lowly contractors, so I can get re-heated food for free. Are there any of these trucks that are worth trying, or should I just save my $$$ and carry-out from a real restaurant on my way home? Thanks.

d4v3 wrote:Hi,
I am working on a project in the near-west loop (near the train stations). I know nothing about eating downtown (except that it can be pricey). There are a few interesting looking food trucks in the area, but the fact that they basically just sell warmed up pre-cooked food, doesn't seem too appetizing. None of them seem very busy either, which makes me suspicious. There is an African one that looks like it might be good (there have been Nigerian food trucks since long before it was "legal"), but who wants to eat stews in August? There is a BBQ one that looks so-so, but I am loathe to spend $10 on a mediocre pulled pork sandwich. Anyhow, the place at which I am working orders out lunch for its employees. They always have plenty of leftovers to share with us lowly contractors, so I can get re-heated food for free. Are there any of these trucks that are worth trying, or should I just save my $$$ and carry-out from a real restaurant on my way home? Thanks.

If you're near the train stations then you're also near the French Market which is a couple dozen food trucks rolled into one. There are options galore at reasonable price points. Not that there's anything wrong with leftovers.

As for actual trucks, my favorites are the 5411 Empanada truck and Tamale Spaceship. One thing to note about food trucks is that they typically run a circuit and have set dates for different locations. It's a nice way to get variety, but if you're looking for a particular truck it may be across the Loop or across the City from you on a given day.

I really liked the Cuban pork sandwich from Wagyu Wagon when I had it. Not sure where they typically set up.

spinynorman99 wrote:If you're near the train stations then you're also near the French Market which is a couple dozen food trucks rolled into one. There are options galore at reasonable price points. Not that there's anything wrong with leftovers.

Thanks for reminding me about the French Market. I knew there was a place that I wanted to check out but forgot about. I wish the "Taste" of Chicago had a vendor list more like that place. Until I started this job, I got to the loop very rarely. Now that I am there every day, I can't remember the places I wanted to check out. When I am through with the project, it will probably be a long time before I get back down there, so I should take advantage of it. It is very cool that the place where I am working has lunch catered every day, but they buy things like Potbelly or Jimmy Johns. Edible, but not inspirational, though there was some pretty good Middle-Eastern food the other day. Unfortunately, I didn't ask from where it was ordered.

Food trucks stay away from my 'hood, so I figure that it is a good way to check out some restaurants from other parts of town. Hey, how about Food Busses, that are like little lunch counters on wheels? They could be warm in the winter and cool in the summer, pick you up in front of your job for lunch and drop you back off 25 minutes later. In the morning, they would travel towards the loop and serve breakfast. In the evening, they could serve beer, wine, sausage and cheese and take you back home. Of course, you would have to use non-breakable plates and non-spillable cups.

As to Gorack's suggestion, just the cultural confusion of a Cuban Pork sandwich being sold from a truck named for Japanese Beef makes it worth seeking out, and it sounds much better than the sad looking "pulled pork" sandwiches I saw the other day. Speaking of sad looking sandwiches, there was a guy dressed in a giant submarine sandwich costume giving out Subway coupons in front of Jimmy John's yesterday, but that sandwich looked sad because the kid inside had to wear a huge quilted costume on a 90 degree day. The costume, complete with polyester tomatoes and lettuce, was wearing a green Subway vest that was 3 sizes too small. Unlike Subway's sandwiches, the costume actually looked home-made, then again, this is the company that gave us Jared. It reminded me somewhat of the demented Hannibal Lecter looking Shoju bottle that stalked H-Mart's grand opening. It was probably the brainstorm of some goofy franchise owner, and it was probably his kid inside (Gee Dad, do I have to wear the sandwich suit again?), then again maybe it was Jared (haven't seen him lately). It might even be worth getting Subway catered, if the 7 foot long half-sandwich/half-man creature delivered it. Unfortunately, my cell phone wasn't charged, so no pictures.

Near the train station is the Tamale Spaceship (Thursdays @ Clinton/Lake and Tuesdays Monroe/Wacker) - the duck tamales are outstanding. A shortish walk to Saigon Sisters on Lake (also in French Mkt) or Blackwood BBQ are definitely worth the stroll. My favorite Thai is Siam Rice on Wells and Sushi Sai on Randolph/Wacker has a $20 all-u-can-eat after 2:00 - nice price for quality fish.

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Near the train station is the Tamale Spaceship (Thursdays @ Clinton/Lake and Tuesdays Monroe/Wacker) - the duck tamales are outstanding. A shortish walk to Saigon Sisters on Lake (also in French Mkt) or Blackwood BBQ are definitely worth the stroll. My favorite Thai is Siam Rice on Wells and Sushi Sai on Randolph/Wacker has a $20 all-u-can-eat after 2:00 - nice price for quality fish.

If you're considering Blackwood and Siam Rice as being in the area near the train stations, then you can also include BaLe and Cafecito (and Pierogi Heaven and Naf Naf).

There are a few websites that you can check to see where the trucks are.

http://www.chicagofoodtruckfinder.com/
http://www.foodtruckcorner.com/
http://www.foodtrucksmap.com/chicago/

There are a few places that the Trucks tend to go to on a regular basis. Some of the popular ones are near AON center at Columbus and Randolph, in front of the NBC building at Cityfront Plaza, at 600 W. Chicago (by the groupon office). They also show up near UofC pretty, UIC and Rush pretty often.

The maps are not always completely current, another good way to check them is to check twitter, as most of them post on twitter where they will be.

Which BBQ? The Husky Hog BBQ is very very very solid Carolina-style BBQ. Better than any other BBQ I've had in Chicago.

I work over near Ogilvie, and sadly there is little food truck action in the area any more. Gaztro Wagon gone, Meatyballs gone. Brown Bag Lunch Truck gone. None of the new ones hit the area.

As others mentioned, French Market is best option in the area -- Saigon Sisters, Lillie's BBQ, Fumare pastrami, Pastoral, Little Goat, Da Lobsta just opened this week, the Indian place and Korean place are OK, the burgers at the Frietkotten place are decent,

mgmcewen wrote:Which BBQ? The Husky Hog BBQ is very very very solid Carolina-style BBQ. Better than any other BBQ I've had in Chicago.

It wasn't this one. But the building I am working in is sponsoring this truck sometime this week or next. I saw an announcement on the elevator. I will check it out.

I needed something to supplement my lunch today. Using the handy site mentioned above, http://www.chicagofoodtruckfinder.com/), I saw that 5411 Empanadas was nearby at Madison and Wacker. Fortunately, I walked past the Salsa Truck, which I had somehow missed on the map (parked on Wacker between Adams and Monroe). I asked the friendly staff which taco they would recommend and the carnitas was the winner since they don't regularly carry it. It was excellent. I'll seek out the Salsa Truck again.

The map isn't always comprehensive. Some trucks don't show-up as much as others. Another good way is to check twitter, as a bunch will post where they are/will be. I find some of the trucks to be excellent, and the people running them to be great. One of my favorites is the Fat Shallot truck. They are making their stuff fresh on the truck, not elsewhere and holding it in a cooler/warmer.

thetrob-

I've not yet ventured into the Twitter-sphere, so I'll have to continue to rely on possibly incomplete websites. Tracking good eats might the only reason I'd join Twitter.