What is the appeal of food trucks?

Can anyone clue me in? I understand that its kinda cute to eat small portions for $12 out of a truck on the street, but I just simply don't get it. It seems like quite the "sheeple" activity...

Marc Summers wrote:Can anyone clue me in? I understand that its kinda cute to eat small portions for $12 out of a truck on the street, but I just simply don't get it. It seems like quite the "sheeple" activity...

The best mexican food you will find in the U.S. is almost always out of a truck.

Typically it's quicker and cheaper compared to a regular sit down and still higher quality food compared to fast food. Plus many have outdoor seating with BYOB. That's why I go.

Rocinante wrote:

The best mexican food you will find in the U.S. is almost always out of a truck.

This and at least where I live, that shit is dirt cheap too

When I'm in DC or other major metro areas i often get lunch from food trucks. They are usually cheaper and with better food than many of the restaurants.

Rocinante wrote:

The best mexican food you will find in the U.S. is almost always out of a truck.

And the truck doubles as an illegal immigrant smuggling vehicle.....

Rocinante wrote:

The best mexican food you will find in the U.S. is almost always out of a truck.  

This. Ad Korean tacos to that list.

Also, question to the OP what truck are you spending $12.00 at?

This sums it up pretty well

and

Tasty food + outside. What is there not to love about that?

The food comes to you, instead of driving thru, its walking to.

Marc Summers wrote:Can anyone clue me in? I understand that its kinda cute to eat small portions for $12 out of a truck on the street, but I just simply don't get it. It seems like quite the "sheeple" activity...

The "sheeple" comment seems weird to me given that food trucks are (usually) a great and cheap alternative to eating the same crap from Jimmy Johns, Chipotle, Potbelly, Corner Bakery, Panera, etc everyday for lunch.

Jean Valjean wrote:Typically it's quicker and cheaper compared to a regular sit down and still higher quality food compared to fast food. Plus many have outdoor seating with BYOB. That's why I go.

I've definitely never witnessed a situation where it was cheaper than comparable sit down food.

That being said, the ladies of "Baby's Badass Burgers" would earn my tip.

Simple: hipsters.

It's a truck dedicated entirely for food..BRILLIANT!

  

But seriously, I do like the idea of supporting a local family who is striking-out on their own..even if that line of thinking falls right into the Hipster mentality   

Marc Summers wrote:

I've definitely never witnessed a situation where it was cheaper than comparable sit down food.

By sitting down, you mean going through the drive-thru and then eating in your car in the parking lot?

MasonGuy wrote:That being said, the ladies of "Baby's Badass Burgers" would earn my tip.

Just the tip?

Blanch32 wrote:Simple: hipsters.

Exactly. Exactly wrong.

Is there any good food truck fare in Grand Rapids?

Pat's in Philly is a basically a huge food truck with great philly cheese steak

Some are hipster driven. (Our own posters one that turned into that restaurant... forgot the name... food was good but seemed pricey the 1 or 2 times I went.) Others are more practical. Most have good food.

JEK wrote:Is there any good food truck fare in Grand Rapids?

The food truck movement faced some push back from brick and mortar establishments, and blocked at least a couple of them from securing downtown locations. The concerns included the fact that trucks pay no property tax, and use infrastructure paid for by it's competitors.

There was also questions raised about how sales taxes would be tracked and collected. One restaurant owner also opined that much of the work (jobs) would be done off site outside the city, so those payroll taxes would also be going somewhere else.

Basically the same argument that led to a moratorium on building new trailer parks across the state. Each mobile home pays $3 a month in property taxes, but the residents expect to have schools, police, fire, etc.

Marc Summers wrote:

I've definitely never witnessed a situation where it was cheaper than comparable sit down food.

It almost seems like you are just making shit up as reasons to not like food trucks.   
I just spent $7 on an awesome lunch in the middle of a major city.

gHost Spartan wrote:I went to the sliders food truck and I hit two sliders with two meet pastries the size of a quarter and it was $10

What the **** does this even say?

Are you drunk?

My question about food trucks is where are the employees supposed to take a shit?

JEK wrote:Is there any good food truck fare in Grand Rapids?

Yes. There are two that park next to each other off Louis St, basically on the property next to the GR Art Museum and Rosa Parks Circle. One is What the Truck, and I can't remember the name of the other one. The tacos are very good but will run about $12 for 3.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/What-The-Truck/143592439004106

steveschneider wrote:My question about food trucks is where are the employees supposed to take a shit?  

Always figured in a 5 gallon bucket next the griddle

Downtown GR is also seeing more food carts/trailers. Most have pizza, hot dogs, etc., but one has walking tacos -- tacos made out of beef or chicken or chorizo which they put into a Chinese takeout container along with lettuce, cheese, black beans, fritos and the salsa of your choice. The brand name is "Woking Taco" and they are awesome.

Usually on the corner of Ottawa and Monroe Center

https://www.facebook.com/WokingTaco

The problem w/ the trucks here in SE MI is they only come out at night, not lunch. It's a fad, people in Royal Oak want to sit down w/ real silverware. Oh and the food is meh










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Narwhal wrote:The problem w/ the trucks here in SE MI is they only come out at night, not lunch. It's a fad, people in Royal Oak want to sit down w/ real silverware. Oh and the food is meh

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I'm sure there are plenty of people in Royal Oak who would prefer to grab a few tacos on their way to/from the bar rather than spending an hour and a half in a sit down restaurant on a Friday night.
Food trucks are a step up from Taco Bell, not a replacement for the fine dining crowd.
















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Phil McCrackin wrote:

I'm sure there are plenty of people in Royal Oak who would prefer to grab a few tacos on their way to/from the bar rather than spending an hour and a half in a sit down restaurant on a Friday night.
Food trucks are a step up from Taco Bell, not a replacement for the fine dining crowd.
[/quote]

That's the rub, here in RO we have Greek street food, tacos, sliders, etc. difference is they are walk up and order restaurants. Most are open late night. The trucks are either one night a week or hit/miss. The appeal is over and done and yes they are more expensive.

Marc Summers wrote:Can anyone clue me in? I understand that its kinda cute to eat small portions for $12 out of a truck on the street, but I just simply don't get it. It seems like quite the "sheeple" activity...

1. People need to eat
2. They're not always small portions for $12
3. They are trendy right now
4. Sometimes the food is really f-ing good
5. They are mobile so they can go where the crowd is

Narwhal wrote:

That's the rub, here in RO we have Greek street food, tacos, sliders, etc. difference is they are walk up and order restaurants. Most are open late night. The trucks are either one night a week or hit/miss. The appeal is over and done and yes they are more expensive.

I'm not really up to speed on the dining scene in Royal Oak, but are you talking about a counter-service grab-and-go place when you say "people in Royal Oak want to sit down w/ real silverware"? Seems like you are referring to a sit-down waitstaff restaurant, which food trucks generally aren't trying to compete with.

I get that you think food trucks are a (passing) fad. That may be true, but does it really matter?

NigelUno wrote:

By sitting down, you mean going through the drive-thru and then eating in your car in the parking lot?

No, I'm referring to a typical non chain place that primarily serves the lunch crowd(just like food trucks).

Considering that food trucks have no overhead, they should be considerably cheaper than a place in which you can get a lunch special for $6.50-7.

I should drive my bbq trailer down to RO on a Friday night and park it outside of O'Tooles, set up a table, slice and serve brisket. $5. I'd make a killing. Probably illegal.

Marc Summers wrote:Considering that food trucks have no overhead, they should be considerably cheaper than a place in which you can get a lunch special for $6.50-7.

Where are you going for lunch, TGIF?

Also, you have to factor in a tip at the sit-down place. Do you tip a food truck operator?

Marc Summers wrote:

No, I'm referring to a typical non chain place that primarily serves the lunch crowd(just like food trucks).

Considering that food trucks have no overhead, they should be considerably cheaper than a place in which you can get a lunch special for $6.50-7.

How do you figure that food trucks have no overhead? They still have to buy/rent operate insure and store a truck, buy food products, prepare food, advertise, pay employees, etc.

A sandwich, chips and a drink from Jimmy Johns costs more than $7. While I'm sure you have some awesome local sit-down waitress staffed restaurant serving great lunch food for $7 out the door, the rest of the world does not.

There a bunch of great brewpubs here in Denver that don't do food - it appears to be some sort a loophole that allows them to call their bar a "tasting room" and avoid various regulations. Many have a schedule of food trucks that come by, and I for one greatly appreciate a fresh meatball sub or some tacos after a few beers.

Marc Summers wrote:

No, I'm referring to a typical non chain place that primarily serves the lunch crowd(just like food trucks).

Considering that food trucks have no overhead, they should be considerably cheaper than a place in which you can get a lunch special for $6.50-7.

Did you get hit by a food truck or something?