What a year it’s been! Lots of questionable and unfortunate things have happened in 2016, but Chicago’s food scene has continued to truck on (pun intended). I’ve been very grateful to be able to explore in greater depth the amazing food that Chicago has to offer, starting with Instagram back in spring and being so lucky to join the Fab Food Chicago team this past October. It’s always hard to make a list of the best things I’ve eaten, so I’ve decided to do a “Top 5 Food Trucks” list to narrow down my options.
I absolutely love my job in Hyde Park, but one of the very small down sides is that there isn’t much to eat around the neighborhood, or it is a 20-minutes-or-more walk to any restaurant. (First world problems, I know.) What this means though, is that the food trucks that park on Ellis Avenue are my saving graces. Not every truck goes to Ellis Avenue, so I can’t say I’ve eaten at every food truck in Chicago. However, of the many that I have tried, I present to you my “Top 5 Food Trucks”…
5. Lucy’s
Lucy’s goes big. Their fried chicken sandwich is actually a “four-pieces-of-fried-chicken” sandwich. After you get past the initial shock of the sheer size of the food, the flavor speaks for itself. The fried chicken has a light hot sauce flavor, complimented by their coleslaw and pickles, all on top of a beautifully toasted brioche bun.
Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich from Lucy’s // Photo: @senxeats
The loaded porky fries are THE definition of loaded. It is topped with braised pork shoulder, Applewood smoked bacon, Queso Cotija, and pickled jalapeños. It was a bit salty for my taste and my only real wish would be to make the fries crispier.
Porky Fries and Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich from Lucy’s // Photo: @senxeats
If you’re not feeling these items, you can opt for other classic American sandwiches or burgers.
FAB TIP: They used to be called Soho, if you’re wondering where that truck went.
{Location}
Lucy’s Food Truck
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Ratings: 3.5 Fabs}
4. The Roost
The Roost Carolina Kitchen has a couple restaurants in Chicago but brings their classic Southern dishes on-the-go with a build-your-own fried chicken sandwich menu (can you tell I really like fried chicken?). You can choose the level of spiciness for your bird, a biscuit or roll for your bread, and toppings that include coleslaw, ranch, cheese, and more.
Their sides include chips, peach cobbler, a buttermilk biscuit, or more slaw. Let’s start by saying the fried chicken and buttermilk biscuit combination is something to call home about. The biscuit is soft and crumbly and pairs fantastically with the crispy hot chicken. The slaw adds a touch of sweetness and some more crunch, and the peach cobbler really rounds out the meal. For the rare days you don’t want a fried chicken sandwich, you can also get bone-in fried chicken (1/4 or 1/2 bird) or spicy chicken tacos.
FAB TIP: The fried chicken sandwiches are at a minimum medium spiciness level, so if you don’t want something less fiery, you can try the herb seasonal bone-in chicken.
{Location}
The Roost Carolina Kitchen
Lakeview || 1467 Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 261-5564
River West || 455 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 877-5738
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Ratings: 4 Fabs}
3. Yum Dum
Of course I’ve tried every fusion food truck I can get my hands on, and Yum Dum is thankfully bringing some great fusion food to the food truck scene. They have several baowiches to choose from (sandwiches enveloped in fluffy baos): pork belly, crispy shrimp, Korean chili chicken, and crispy fish. My favorite is the pork belly, which is topped with pickled mustard greens, crush peanuts, and cilantro. The pickled greens are a true highlight – lightly pickled, not too sour, and true to Chinese flavors. If you want something more traditional, they also serve steamed dumplings. Yum Dum shows off their creativity in their sides: their kimcheesy rice balls have some really bold flavors and the Sriracha pecan fudge brownie is next on my to-try list.
Also, their logo has a panda peeking out of it. How can you say no to that?
{Location}
Yum Dum Truck
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Ratings: 4 Fabs}
2. Chicago Lunchbox
The cheery orange color of the Chicago Lunchbox truck is a sight for sore eyes. The Asian flavors in their menu are a welcome addition to the many other types of cuisines served by the food trucks. You can get any of the items on their menu as a banh mi (a sandwich on a Vietnamese baguette), tacos, or rice box. I personally love the rice box because their rice is so fluffy, and it comes with a salad of lightly pickled veggies. While you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, my favorite is the longanisa, a Filipino sweet pork sausage. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty (and a bit garlicky), and the Lunchbox tops theirs with Japanese mayo, adding an extra layer of creaminess. This is the kind of dish you want to eat slowly to savor and appreciate every level of flavor. It also smells so incredible that all of my co-workers who walked within ten feet of me, asked what I was eating.
Banh Mi Long Time Rice Box from Chicago Lunchbox // Photo: @senxeats
FAB TIP: You can add a beautiful fried egg to your rice box.
{Location}
Chicago Lunchbox
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Ratings: 4.5 Fabs}
1. Fat Shallot
I’m going to be honest and say that I have actually only ever ordered one thing from the Fat Shallot: the truffle BLT. It’s not exactly a BLT since the lettuce is subbed out with arugula and there’s added avocado – so a BLT 2.0. There’s something simple and unassuming about this sandwich, but everything is so well done that it’s one of the best things I’ve ever gotten from a food truck. The veggies are fresh, the truffle aioli wildly addicting, the bacon fatty and crisp, and the Texas toast buttery and – well – perfectly toasted. It took some debating whether I could put this truck at the top my list without having tried anything else from the menu, but this sandwich is enough to win that spot. It’s one of those sandwiches that just randomly pops into your head for no reason at all and leaves you with an intense craving.
{Location}
The Fat Shallot
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Ratings: 4.5 Fabs}
Honorable Mention: Piko
Piko was my favorite food truck for a long time while I was in college. They serve Asian fusion food and have the best pork belly (rubbed with Chinese 5-spice) of any food truck. You can pick between lemongrass chicken, beef bulgogi, the pork belly, or teriyaki tofu and get your food as tacos, baos, sliders, or a rice bowl – or better yet, you could get a sampler set if you’re indecisive like me. So why isn’t Piko on my top 5 list? Because I have no idea where they are. They just up and disappeared, and I have searched far and wide for their location. If you know where Piko has gone, please let me know ASAP so I can have their pork belly bao one last time.
{Location}
Piko Street Kitchen
{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)
{Fab Ratings: 4.5 Fabs}
Have I missed any of your favorite trucks? Which other trucks have you guys tried?
Live, laugh, eat,
Senxi
Note: These items were not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.
KEEPS TRUCKING ON
Another Classic Senxi Moment. Love it.
Also YAS @ LUNCHBOX !!
Gotta keep it witty haha
-Senxi