The latest from Twitter: @Peace_Coffee plays cupid with “Caffeinate Your Cutie,” @triplerockmpls is serving @surlybrewing Mild at $3.50 a pint, @bittercube celebrates the long-anticipated opening of Eat Street Social, and @Masu_NE will feature a suggestive little Valentine’s Day roll through Tuesday.
The Heavy Table began its inquiry into the state of street food in the Twin Cities in April 2009. In April 2011, the Council concluded their mobile food trial and voted to expand the project’s scope, both geographically and quantitatively.
The floodgates have opened, and lucky downtowners (in both Minneapolis and St. Paul) can meander around their neighborhoods to sample grass-fed hot dogs, sambusas, curries, and more.
We will continue to update as vendors and locations change. Several of these trucks also accept credit cards. However, it is always a good idea to check with them ahead of time.
128 Mobile Café
@128cafe
Usually found in downtown St. Paul
651.645.4128
The mobile truck offers some of 128 Cafe’s regular items (a third of a rack of the restaurant’s well-known ribs, with chips and choice of slaw or pasta salad, goes for $11), but also offers new lunchtime salads and sandwiches, including a fresh fish sandwich each week.
Barrio Taco Truck
@barrio_truck
Marquette Ave btwn 6th and 7th Sts
612.333.9953
Seasonal offerings and standbys from the haute Mexican restaurant of the same name. Their lunch special ($10) includes two tacos, chips, guacamole, and salsa. Also toting a wide selection of Jarritos.
Border/Frontera Tacos
Usually found on University Ave. in St. Paul
651.366.0675
Its offerings are typical Mexican fast foods: tacos, burritos, tamales, and quesadillas, with a choice of meat included. In the case of their tacos ($2.13-2.40), the meat was clearly the star of the show, and it was full of crunchy bits and excellent flavor. Border’s tamales ($2) come with either pork or chicken, and are also quite tasty.
Brothers Deli
Nicollet Mall and 8th St
612.341.8007
For a traditional and satisfying lunch / dinner / tea time, pick up a hot pastrami sandwich ($5.39) and house-made potato chips ($1).
Cave Cafe
@TheCaveCafe
Usually found in St Paul
612.600.6567
Though Teddy Negash’s truck totes “Afro-Italian fusion” as its specialty, it seems to skew more toward Ethiopian food with some nods to American classics, such as burgers ($5.50) and Philly cheesesteaks ($6.50). We tried their chicken curry ($9), a decent mix of veggies and really tender chicken served over rice. Hands down, the best part of the dish was the herbed flatbread, which is also the medium for the truck’s wraps.
Chef Shack
@chefshack1
Usually found in St Paul and farmer’s markets
507.358.4220
The farm-to-truck juggernauts feature a rotating New American menu including green curry, burgers, frittatas, and tacos. The Indian-spiced mini donuts ($5) are killer, as are the soft-shell crab sandwiches (get them this season for $10).
Cook-n-Wheels
@CooknWheels
Usually found in Minneapolis
763.566.3512
Fresh out of North Minneapolis, Cook-n-Wheels offers wieners (Chicago- and New York-style), made-to-order deli sandwiches, sliders ($5 for 2), and salads. They tend to frequent NoMi and Midtown.
Cruzn Cafe
@CruznCafe
Nicollet Mall and 4th St
612.746.5064
Mostly coffee drinks, but pulled pork, chicken sandwiches, and breakfast Tex-Mex on the way. The truck is affiliated with Darby O’Ragen’s, a downtown pub; we’re not sure how the link will manifest in the truck’s offerings, but it should be interesting.
Cupcake on the Go
@cupcakeonthego
Nicollet Mall and 10th St
A mobile version of the shop on University. Cupcake flavors (from $2-$3) vary based on what they are selling in the store — today they had ten flavors, as well as a few other goods (croissants, scones, cookies), frosting shots for 50 cents, and coffee ($2) from True Stone Coffee Roasters in St Paul. They are hoping to get a St Paul license soon. Large or special orders that are called in to the shop can also be picked up at the truck the next day.
Dandelion Kitchen
@dandelionktchn
IDS plaza on Nicollet Mall
612.836.7636
The Midtown Farmers Market regulars bring their local-foods act to DT Minneapolis, where they offer a range of satisfying and creative sandwiches for $6.50 each (two vegetarian, two omnivorous). Their famous house-made sodas are also available for $2. All of their offerings are consistently well-executed, and the wait, always brief. Check out their ever-changing menu.
Fork in the Road
@forknroadtruck
Usually found in St. Paul
612.718.9632
Classic American lunch entrees, with salads, subs, and brats headlining. Their fresh pineapple snow cones ($2) and strawberry lemonade ($2) are refreshing enough to make you forget about global warming for a hot minute. Where Fork really shines is in their house-made sandwich and salad dressings: the poppyseed vinaigrette and avocado-garlic mayo are standouts.
Gastrotruck
@gastrotruck
Usually found in St. Paul
763.607.6055
Helmed by Chef Stephen Trojahn (formerly of Cosmos and Bradstreet Crafthouse in Minneapolis), the self-described gastropub on wheels promises simple, sustainable fare at a reasonable price: So far, none of their menu items has exceeded $6. Well-thought-out sliders and smoked chicken dishes abound! They also serve breakfast on occasion.
Get Sauced
@ChefDrivenCo
Marquette Ave btwn 7th and 8th Sts
612.239.6994
Get Sauced features tacos ($7, in Asian or Mexican styles), barbeque meat sandwiches, and a revolving cast of other menu items. On a recent visit, we sampled a lobster roll (above, upper left; $10) with Mexican-influenced flavors, and a cob-free take on elote, or Mexican grilled corn (above, lower left; $4). A small quibble: the cooks’ bedside manner could use a little work, but we understand how cooks can be sometimes.
Hola Arepa
@holaarepa
Marquette Ave and 5th St
612.217.0635
Hola specializes in arepas, which are cornmeal patties cooked on a griddle, split, and filled. They use local, free-range meat from Kadejan Farms and Fischer Farms. Their fillings vary, but so far have included pulled chicken, pork, chicken / avocado salad, and black bean and queso fresco. These are all $5-6. They also offer the following sides: chips and salsa ($2), guacamole ($1), and pickled cabbage slaw ($1).
Little Red Wagon
Nicollet Mall and 6th St
This 30-year old Mall institution serves snacks like kettle corn and slushies. More snack- than lunch-oriented, but they’re open during the Holidazzle.
Magic Bus Cafe
@magicbushotdogs
Usually found in St Paul
612.722.6278
The bus serves primarily hot dogs and sides, offering both Boar’s Head all-beef frankfurters with natural casings and Jumbo Smart Dogs made with soy. In keeping with the theme, the menu features such dishes as the Grateful Dog (with psychedelic curry relish, $4.75) and the Give Beets a Chance dog (with garlic beet sauerkraut, $5). The frankfurters are everything we love in a dog: juicy, salty, and sporting a nice pop when you bite into the casing.
Meritage
@meritage_stpaul
410 St. Peter St
651.222.5670
Meritage’s street food offshoot didn’t fall far from the tree: The stand is right outside of the restaurant. They only sell two types of crepes ($4) on any given day, but the flavors are wildly varied and total knockouts. Flavors are announced on their Twitter feed.
Messy Giuseppe
@MessyGTruck
Usually found in St Paul
612.237.5721
Messy G’s is the mobile offshoot of Cafe Zia in Roseville, serving up the mothership’s signature take on the Sloppy Joe in locations around St. Paul. The truck’s offerings include the Messy Giuseppe (above, left), hot Italian beef (above, right), a hoagie, and their Ultimate Grilled Cheese (all $6). All said, their Messy Giuseppe definitely tastes worthy of a spin-off truck, with great seasoning and an utterly addictive, buttery bun.
Natedogs
@Nate_Dogs
Hennepin Ave and 4th St
Locations in DT St Paul
With free-range wieners from Pastures A Plenty Farm, amazing homemade sauerkraut, and FIVE varieties of mustard, Nate Beck’s hot dogs and brats ($3 a pop) are a far cry from the dirty water dogs of street foodists’ nightmares. Stay tuned for his Twins game special ($5 for two dogs).
Origins Coffee & Tea
@OriginsCart
Nicollet Mall & 5th St
Joseph Struyk’s cart is an island of good cheer and craft drink slinging. The menu is simple — just drinks — though that encompasses a wide selection. He uses beans from Dogwood Coffee, cocoa from Valrhona, and local milk to make some of the best coffee drinks in the metro, without the fanatical attitude that tends to alienate people at other coffee shops. Minneapolis is lucky to have Struyk out on the pavement, and we highly encourage you to stop by.
Potter’s Pasties
@PottersPasties
Rice Park on Wednesdays / Mears Park on Thursdays
Potter’s peddles traditional English pasties, which are buttery empanada-like pastries usually filled with meat and vegetables. Fillings range from chicken, pork, and beef to egg and “Thai Veg,” all for $6 a piece. They also serve candy straight from the UK, frozen grapes, Heinz beans, a dessert pasty called Banoffee Pie ($3), tea, Vietnamese coffee, and some killer ginger mint limeade for $1.50
Saucy Burt’s
@SaucyBurts
Nicollet Ave and 5th St, Minneapolis
Specializing in gourmet Italian-American meatball subs, Saucy Burt’s takes the ordinary meatball grinder to new levels by using a silky smooth blend of beef, pork, and veal for its meatballs and using specially made bread for its buns. At $7 a piece, the subs are upscale, but the quality supports the price. (Click here for our full profile.)
She Royal Coffee Company
@sheroyalcoco
Downtown Minneapolis
612.812.1816
Though She Royal’s takes on American classics — such as the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and the 1000 Hills hamburger — are definite crowd-pleasers, it’s the cart’s vegetarian platter ($7) that really shines. Roasted beets, stewed lentils, and other simple-yet-bold components are served with a side of injera bread for dipping. Look out for their killer sambusas, too!
Simply Steve’s
@Simplysteves
Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul
One of the only trucks open for breakfast, with burritos (small for $7) and egg sandwiches ($3-$4). Their lunch offerings are pretty much “X in a bun,” but the selection is fairly creative and very affordable. A $5 grass-fed burger is a definite rarity in this town.
Smack Shack
@Smack_Shack
Marquette and 7th St
What in the world is a Smack Shack? It’s not a heroin shooting gallery, but nice try. The latest venture from Josh Thoma bangs out solid lobster rolls (4 oz of lobster for $12; 8 oz for $18), po’boys ($8.50-$9), and other crustacean-themed fare.
Sonny’s Ice Cream (On Hiatus)
@cremacafempls
Nicollet Mall and 8th St
612.824.3868
The Sonny’s Ice Cream cart’s offerings are pricey, but refreshing ($4 for a single scoop, $7 for double, and so on). Check out their rotating list of gourmet flavors, such as cherry zinfandel sorbet and sweet corn ice cream.
Turkey to Go
@turkeytogo
Nicollet Mall & 8th St / 6th St
Lagoon Ave and Girard Ave S
Turkey To Go, an offshoot of a popular State Fair stall, may look modest, but their signature sandwiches ($5.50) are fantastic enough to resuscitate the reputation of an often-mishandled meat. Served without any condiments or vegetables, the simple combination of a specially baked bun, turkey, and its jus knocks it out of the park.
Twisted Sister House of Hunger
@houseofhunger
Downtown Minneapolis
With an eye on the late night crowd, culinary first-timer Wesley Kaake totes deep-fried hotdogs, smoked meat sliders ($5-$7), cut-to-order french fries ($2), and locally made cheesecakes on a stick ($3). The truck tends to hang out around Sex World from 8pm – 12am twice a week, and serves lunch downtown on weekdays.
Untamed Cart
@Untamed_cart
10th St and Nicollet Mall
The spot serves up two to three sandwiches a day at $7 each (including chips) til about 1:30 on weekdays. Sandwiches are big and meat-centered, such as the peppery Porketta, served on New French Bakery ciabatta bread with arugula, homemade pickled onions and horseradish mayo. The cart offers water, soda, and accepts Visa and Mastercard. A nighttime menu is in the hopeful works.
Vellee Deli
@velleedeli
Marquette Ave and 5th St
Various locations in St Paul
The street food equivalent of Chino Latino (unaffiliated) offers inventive spins on a tired genre: Mexican-Asian fusion. What will it be: a bulgogi burrito? Fish tacos? A veggie quesadilla? Finally, Los Angeles’ Asian taco revolution has reached the Mississippi! They’ve been selling out like crazy every day since they opened; we definitely think that Vellee is poised to become the Cities’ next street food titan.
The Waffle Van
Usually found in St Paul
651.433.5801
The Waffle Van is the Bikery du Nord’s venture into mobile fooding, filling in the Belgian waffle-shaped hole in the Twin Cities’ urban soul. Manned by an honest-to-god Belgian, the Van offers only waffles and coffee from the mothership in St Croix.
World Street Kitchen
@eatwsk1
4th St and Nicollet Mall
612.840.2522
The latest project from Saffron owners Sameh and Saed Wadi, this truck offers an affordable blend of Middle Eastern standbys and global fusion food. An ever-changing “seasonally inspired salad” ($4.50) is consistently good, as is the kofta meatball sandwich ($5.50), which features the bright zing of pickled peppers and cilantro. If you’ve got a taste for sugar, though, try the salted caramel ice cream sandwich ($4.50) –- worth every penny, it offers all the best qualities of your favorite childhood treat with a more complex, grown-up flavor.
YumMi
@YumMiTruck
11th St & Nicollet Mall
YumMi, run by culinary grad Hoa Nguyen and ex-corporate guy James Schanen, covers the classic Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich. They sell four variations with adorable monikers: the Korean-style beef Moo Mi ($8), sweet braised pork belly / shoulder Oink Mi ($7.50), five-spice chicken Peck Mi ($7), and lemongrass-soy marinated tofu Bean Mi ($6.50). They shy away from tradition, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on how much you love jalapenos and pate.
//
Compiled by Soleil Ho, with additional reporting by Hannah Rogal, Emily Schnobrich, Aaron Landry and James Norton
Photos by Hannah Rogal, Emily Schnobrich, Aaron Fenster, Becca Dilley, Katie Cannon and Soleil Ho
Coding and editing by Ian Davis, Aaron Landry and Emily Nystrom
Last updated: October 21, 2011
Tags: 128 mobile cafe, Brothers Deli, chef shack, Cruzn Cafe, food carts, food truck, Fork in the Road, Gastrotruck, Get Sauced, Hola Arepa, little red wagon, Magic Bus Cafe, Meritage, Messy Giuseppe's, mobile food, Natedogs, Origins, she royal coffee co, Simply Steve's, Smack Shack, Sonny’s Ice Cream, The Cave Cafe, turkey to go, Vellee Deli, Yummi
Thanks for the round-up! I went to She Royal last week and agree the vegetarian platter is fantastic Don’t miss the hot sauce- it is so lush and delicious.
I have an issue with one comment: “…served with a side of injera bread for dipping.” DIPPING? Okay, maybe us midwesterners aren’t that sophisticated but, fries are dipped, not injera.
This round up illustrates the problems with the reformed legislation… Where are the Latino or african or Hmong carts?
Chris–The article doesn’t mention She Royal is Ethiopian.
@morchella
You’re right! But alas, I am a chronic dipper of all things.
@Chris sanger
To be fair, She Royal is owned by an Ethiopian-American woman, and Cruzn Cafe is run by a Latino man. But you’ve hit the nail on the head re: how the city’s legislation has dictated the character of street food here. Why don’t you try urging the restaurant owners that you know to start up their own mobile food operations? I’m sure you’d make a great cheerleader.
Having a blast trying these places (I’m in DT Mpls.). Anyone know how long into the winter these places plan to stay?
Where’s Foxy Falafel? http://twitter.com/FoxyFalafel
Well- in Ethiopia, injera is dipped into the various dishes in lieu of using a fork or a spoon…although there might be a better word than ‘dipped’ but I can’t come up with it.
And Foxy Falafel, along with Dandelion Kitchen and others, didn’t make it into this listing because this list is limited to vendors who actually have a street location as opposed to ones who are, so far at least, in farmer’s markets/catering only. I think it would be better to put them all together since farmer’s markets are, after all, on the street …as opposed to brick and mortar.
Dandelion Kitchen I know has a truck and is planning to be on the street sometime in the near future. Not sure about Foxy.
I love this trend, reminds me of Philadelphia where I last lived prior to moving here.
It would be nice to see the hours of operation on here too. Thanks for the list!
I’m eating the Veggie Sampler from She Royal right now–YUM. Using a fork to shovel food onto a hunk of injera :)
@Chris: How is the ethnicity of the vendors the fault of the legislation?
…and this is why The Heavy Table is my favorite online food magazine in the Twin Cities. You guys rock!
Having recently left Minnesota for Portland, OR I’m sorry to be missing this growth. However, if you find yourself out here you must check out the amazing food cart scene. Wishing MN the best and hope one day you have so many that the directory will be a big as Portland’s: http://www.foodcartsportland.com/
Also check out the Lobster truck
If the vendors aren’t wanted in the downtown area, somebody, please, send them near the capital, IRS building and the hospital in St. Paul. We’re starving for some great lunchtime alternatives!
[...] surveys local street food (check out our Street Food directory here), tasting notes on Brainerd Lakes Beer First Pull IPA, an investigation of wheat berry risotto, a [...]
[...] the number of mobile food operations and farmer’s market food vendors has exploded (see our Street Food Directory for evidence), and the foodie public and media have rushed to embrace them all. However, despite [...]
Please add:
Dandelion Kitchen (Minneapolis, Nicollet between 7th and 8th, near IDS Center)
World Street Kitchen by Sameh Wadi( Saffron) – Minneapolis, Nic & 5th.
[...] talks up Stabby’s, DeRusha tries a couple upscale food trucks (check out even more in our street food directory), Rocktoberfest is Oct. 9 at Grumpy’s NE, and a unique graphic design / beer collaboration is [...]
[...] Ho and the Heavy Table team rolled out the Minneapolis-St. Paul street food truck directory — see also her review of the Border Taco [...]
[...] many of Minneapolis-St. Paul’s street food vendors packed up for the winter, either going on vacation or relocating indoors, the ladies of the Fork in [...]
[...] they delved into the evolving urban street food scene with their internationally inspired cart, World Street Kitchen. They wrapped up their second year of Spice Trail, a line of handcrafted, gourmet spices. He made [...]
Nice round up! You should add Simply Steve’s, he hangs out in St. Paul with some seriously gut-warming tater-tot hotdish. And Gastrotruck in St. Paul too, S. Trojahn’s gig (sliders, good veggie black bean cakes).
Steph,
For sure! I’ve just got to drum up the fortitude to bike over :)
The owners of Meritage’ are pigs. They had the balls to speak last winter against updating the City of St. Paul’s sidewalk cafe regulations so that they finally come in compliance with Federal American’s with Disability Act (ADA) standards. Their reasoning: If they had to provide the minimum 48 inches to allow our disabled neighbors to get by their cafe they might loose a few tables. These are our sidewalks not your yours Meritage’! I’ll never eat there again.
Sammy – what you write is simply untrue. We spoke out to the city because their tree grates were not ADA compliant, which made it impossible for us to be and adhere to the site plan the city approved for us.
FYI: the tree grates have been replaced and we are more than in compliance with ADA offering 60+ inches of walkway space because we thought it was more comfortable for walkers-by, including persons with disabilities.
Please be informed before you criticize. We don’t usually respond to these matters (and most review sites don’t let restaurants reply), but your accusations are about our character – and, that calls for response.
Sammy got TOLD.
Cheers to Meritage for a classy response/correction. We’ll be back soon.
@Chris and @Soeil Ho, I would also like to hear why the legislation doesnt allow for more ethnic food carts to be in operation? Is there a back story somewhere that we could take a look at? Because obviously, I think every Twin Citian would like to see MORE delicious homemade tacos, tamales, curries, bahn mi and samosas on the streets for lunch than LESS. Am I right?
@Allison,
I don’t believe that there is anything in the legislation that specifically prohibits “ethnic” food carts. If anything, the costs of running and licensing a truck (rather than a cart or a farmers’ market stand) probably hinder most people in general from taking on the project. When you get right down to it, it’s a matter of money.
The good news is that Ngon Bistro is working on their mobile food operation, so your banh mi dreams may come to fruition this summer.
[...] fascinating is their lunch mobile business. If you live in Minneapolis, you’re well aware of the excitement over mobile food carts this past year. It is all the rage. This is not, however, a new phenomenon. Street food and mobile [...]
I’ve seen a couple more in downtown Minneapolis now… Hola Arepa (@holaarepa on twitter) and Vellee Deli (@velleedeli) are both on Marquette this afternoon between 7th & 5th.
Also new today, Cupcake goes mobile as @cupcakeonthego — with cupcakes and frosting shooters.
[...] than the last restaurant in the chain closes up, Dara extolls food truck Vellee Deli (check out our food truck directory here), MPLS.TV debuts Street Stories and the first installment includes Lyndale Ave., frozen dinners [...]
Thank you! Thnak you! Thank you! sami here from she royal just so you all know we will be out in minneapolis for the 1st time this year on july 5th look us up on twitter for location. Thanks for all your kind coments about our food hope to keep you as happy.
I wrote about a food truck that has been stopping a few places in Nomi (north Mpls) – it’s covered here on johnnynorthside.com
Cook ‘n Wheels
http://adventuresofjohnnynorth.....-nomi.html
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