Moveable Feasts: The Top 8 Food Trucks in Dallas
Whether you want a good old-fashioned grilled cheese, a Taco Tuesday treat, or a lobster roll fit for a five-star restaurant, you can satisfy your craving on the streets of Dallas. Food trucks exploded onto the scene a few years ago, and they’ve turned the city into a bona fide foodie destination – one where you can get just about anything on wheels.
In true Southern style, most of Dallas’ food trucks are mini-restaurants, with waitresses, ever-evolving menus, and tables and chairs so you can feast comfortably.
When lunchtime rolls around, join the line at one of the Lone Star State’s best food trucks. They’re worth the wait – we promise.
#1 Ruthie’s Rolling Café
If there’s one thing Ruthie knows, it’s that you can’t go wrong with the classics – in this case, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Made fresh-to-order, Ruthie’s toasties are filled with various meats, veggies, and cheeses.
Chow down on The Boss, a decadent mix of brisket, barbeque sauce, and cheddar cheese, or the Italian Hippy with chicken, mozzarella, grilled tomatoes and pesto.
With three trucks roaming the Dallas-Fort Worth area, your fix is never too far away.
Where: Most days at Klyde Warren Park, as well as private events, bars and football games. Check out the schedule here.
#2 Nammi
A foodie favourite, Nammi dishes up fresh Vietnamese fare, and banh mi is its specialty. Served in a crusty baguette, the generous sandwiches are stuffed with your meat of choice (or not), plus cucumber, jalapeno, pickled daikon, carrots and garlic mayo. The Honey Grilled Pork is a firm crowd favourite, and pairs well with a side of shrimp chips and the basil mint lemonade.
If you’re not in the mood for banh mi, go for the vermicelli rice noodle bowl, topped with lettuce, mint, bean sprouts and peanuts.
Where: Daily at the Dallas Farmers Market and Wednesday to Friday at Klyde Warren Park.
#3 Easy Slider
One of the reigning kings of the Dallas food-truck scene, Easy Slider has been serving up bite-sized bliss for years.
People still happily queue up for creative crowd pleaser the Sweet and Lowdown: Angus beef, bacon, goats cheese and strawberry jam in a brioche bun. It’s a full-bodied flavour sensation and the perfect blend of savoury and sweet, as is The Nutty Pig, made with beef, bacon, lettuce, Roma tomatoes, red onions and deliciously creamy peanut butter.
Meet you there!
Where: Weekly at Truck Yard, as well as various pop-up locations. See the schedule for more details.
#4 Cousins Maine Lobster
Are you a sucker for good seafood? Indulge in a lobster lunch courtesy of Cousins Maine. The truck is a staple on Dallas’ foodie scene thanks to its succulent, buttery lobster rolls, and its popularity has soared since its appearance on Shark Tank.
Get the Connecticut Roll, served warm with Maine lobster, butter and lemon, or the Lobster Quesadilla for something different. Either way, don’t leave without trying the tater tots smothered in lime sauce.
Where: Klyde Warren Park on weekends, and Casa Linda Farmers Market on Wednesdays. See the schedule for other locations.
#5 Jack’s Chowhound
Ask any local about the city’s most famous moveable feast, and chances are they’ll say Jack’s Chowhound. It’s been whipping up comfort food since the Dallas’ food truck boom’s early days.
The pulled pork grilled cheese is a highlight, oozing with tender, smoked pork shoulder, gouda cheese and barbecue sauce. The Veggie Burger is just as good, featuring grilled Portobello, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and spicy mayo.
Then there are the hand-cut fries. The only question is: Cajun spice or parmesan?
Where: Regularly at Truck Yard, and parked in front of businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Check out the calendar.
#6 Coco Shrimp
For a taste of summer, head to Coco Shrimp, a charming, family-run food truck that dishes up Polynesian delights. Its most popular plate is the Coconut Shrimp – prawns hand-battered in a sweet coconut marinade, and served with a little chilli, buttered rice, creamy ginger dressing and a crisp green salad.
For dessert, get the mochi, a type of thin, chewy dough filled with ice-cream. Go for mango flavour or chocolate espresso for an extra energy hit.
Where: Monday to Saturday at Westlake Ace Hardware.
#7 Ssahm BBQ
It’s taco time! Tuck in to the gourmet, Korean-style version at Ssahm BBQ. Decide between duck, tofu, or chicken, and then watch the team load your taco up with sesame soy vinaigrette, spicy mayo, cilantro, onion and other “fixin’s”.
If you’ve had one too many tacos, the rice bowl is a little more virtuous, but will still tingle your tastebuds. Then, do as the locals do and get Ssahm’s signature side: the kimchi fries with lashings of cheesy goodness and caramelised kimchi.
Where: Truck Yard on weekends, and various locations during the week.
#8 Coolhaus
When you find yourself in Dallas on a beyond-balmy summer’s day, treat yourself to a Coolhaus ice-cream sandwich. The truck posts its daily specials on Twitter, but the tried-and-tested Coffee Oreo, Dirty Mint Chip, and Fried Chicken and Waffles (this is Texas, after all) hit the spot every time.
It also serves soft, freshly-baked cookies in flavours like Red Velvet and Pumpkin Pecan. And if you have dietary requirements, never fear: Coolhaus has a slew of vegan and gluten-free options on offer.
Where: Daily at Dallas Farmers Market, and Thursday to Sunday at Klyde Warren Park.
[media_embed]https://youtu.be/LvaFlkmWx2E[/media_embed](Lead image: Coco Shrimp / Facebook)
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