No longer is it trendy to have your food served within the confined walls of a restaurant. The rise of food trucks across Melbourne has seen them not only serve fast food, but deliver prime wagyu beef, gourmet pizza or prosciutto to name a few options. Since one of the first food trucks was introduced in 2009, an array of trucks have rolled onto suburbs and city streets, situating themselves as customers line up outside their windows.
Taco Truck
One of Melbourne’s best food trucks is Taco Truck, a Raph Rashid creation. Serving up unique, inventive tacos, Taco Truck regularly situates itself in East Brunswick, Northcote and Abbotsford. Choose from their soft shell tacos or tortilla chips. As a young girl once said, “Porque no los dos?”.
Visit: http://tacotruck.com.au
Mr Burger
Called “Melbourne’s Best New Food Truck” by The Age during its introduction in 2012, Mr Burger delivers on its name. It has become famous for its limited but delicious options, including Mr Meat, Mr Hot and Mr Veg. Cheese and bacon fries top off the experience. There are also unique milkshakes. Regular spots are Yarraville Gardens, Federation Square, Edinburgh Gardens, Queen Victoria Market and other CBD locations.
Visit: http://mrburger.com.au
Beatbox Kitchen
You can’t look past one of the original trendsetters of food trucks when discussing the best in Melbourne. Rashid’s venture has been going strong since 2009. Pick up a Raph or Shroom Burger at your next festival, or around Melbourne’s inner Northern suburbs. Rashid searched the USA, studying what makes an ideal burger, and brought back a mixture of New York and Los Angeles, with 100 per cent Australian beef.
Visit: Beatbox Kitchen Facebook
Gumbo Kitchen
Michael Cotter, Patricia Stanton and Elvin Ho bring the traditional tastes of New Orleans to Melbourne. Gumbo Kitchen offers spicy food with some soul-blaring, traditional brass band jazz. With a rotating menu, Gumbo Kitchen makes your experience different each time, hitting all your senses in the right spot. It serves up southern-style Louisiana gumbo stews, and the classic po’ boys: fluffy bread rolls stuffed with seafood and meat. It is regularly located at the Moonlight Cinemas at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Daily Facebook posts give last-minute locations.
Visit: http://gumbokitchen.com.au
Yogurddiction
When the heat just gets too much to handle, and you are looking for a healthier alternative to cool down, look towards frozen yoghurt. No longer are people listening for the sound of ice-cream trucks ringing down their streets. Yogurddiction food truck serves up natural, non-fat frozen yoghurt with a huge variety of toppings. Flavours include peach mango, wild berry, green tea and pistachio, raspberry pomegranate and the ever popular New York cheesecake.
Visit: http://www.yogurddiction.com.au
The Brûlée Cart
This is some people’s definition of ‘heaven on wheels.’ Run by brothers Bart and Jack White, it offers a sweet taste to cap off truck feasting, including flavours such as chocCointreau, salted caramel, and lavender and honey. Prepared the night before, the brûlée is whipped up, refrigerated, and served across festivals and farmers’ markets around Melbourne.
Visit: The Brûlée Cart Facebook
Dos Diablos
For food just as Mexican as its name, don’t look past Dos Diablos Mobile Cantina. Originally a CFA canteen truck, it now responds to the calls of hungry customers. Standing out as a one-of-a-kind red vintage fire truck, Dos Diablos serves up mouth-watering Mexican street food. This truck customises to everyone’s needs, with vegan and gluten-free options available. Locations are constantly changing daily.
Visit: http://www.dosdiablos.com.au
Soul Kitchen Wood-fired Pizza Truck
Founder Michael Ibrahim and partner Paul McCormack have engineered a moving vehicle with a wood-fired oven that operates at more than 400 degrees installed at the back. From midday in front of The Arts Centre, you can see the truck popping out gourmet pizzas, including Napolitana-style.
Visit: http://www.soulkitchenpizzatruck.com.au
Afrofeast
Dennis Grace noticed a lack of African food across Melbourne’s streets. Adding to the diversity of Melbourne’s food trucks is Afrofeast, specialising in African street food. Try yourself some boerewors (a hearty sausage) or some bread filled with curry to enlighten your tastebuds.
Visit: http://afrofeast.com.au
Ghost Kitchen
Feast on the perfect mix of traditional and contemporary Taiwanese street snacks, including salt ‘n’ pepper popcorn chicken, spring onion pancakes, slow-cooked pork belly sandwiches and guo bao. Regular spots include Village Melbourne, Carlton Farmers Market, The Batman Market, Coburg North Primary School and Carlton Gardens Primary School.
Visit: Ghost Kitchen Facebook
Half the fun is chasing these food trucks wherever they go. Enjoy discovering them far and wide across Melbourne and enlighten your taste buds.
