If you live in a huge city like New York or Los Angeles chances are you have a lot of different food trucks cruising around the area. In Pittsburgh there are a handful that break out of the norm of the mini silver breakfast and lunch trucks that usually cruise the industrial sections. No longer are you stuck with prepackaged breakfasts or sandwiches that lack appeal, now you can get everything from authentic homemade pierogies to fresh rolled soft tacos.
The small but growing number of ‘grease trucks’ get their audience from social media; sign up for their Twitter feed or their Facebook page and be alerted to when and where some of them will be. A few have set schedules and locations but others offer on-demand services for events. I have hit almost all of them and was impressed with what they had to offer but it’s not like walking into a deli, there are things that you are going to be missing out on.
With the food truck wave comes food truck etiquette. If you don’t see something on the menu you can ask if they can make it but there are only so many things that you can cram on to a truck. Be mindful of others and dispose of your containers and plastic utensils or take advantage of the recycling cans that some local establishments offer. Keep in mind, cash is the best way to go as most of them don’t accept credit cards.
The Goodie Truck (412) 404-6626
You never know what the Goodie Truck is going to have but you know it is going to be good! They specialize in whoopee pies and cookies but their Tweets also mention ice cream sandwiches and other custom creations. I have only been able to catch them once but it was a memorable dessert experience.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Goodie-Truck/144488805087
Pittsburgh Taco Truck (412) 841-9234
If you want a fresh taco but loathe what Taco Bell has to offer, the Pittsburgh Taco Truck is almost guaranteed to satisfy your craving for some south of the border cuisine. The prices are decent and the food is fresh but the menu can be a little limited. You can see their Twitter feed here: pghtacotruck
http://www.facebook.com/pghtacotruck
Dozen Dessert Truck: If you like the retail Dozen shop then you will love being able to find them when they are mobile; they really need to work on their social media skills and offer potential customers a little more information about what they are offering and where they will be.
http://www.facebook.com/DozenDessertTruckPittsburgh
Franktuary (412) 288-0322
This was formerly known as Hot Dogma in downtown Pittsburgh (Trinity Cathedral 325 Oliver Avenue) and serves some of the best dressed dogs in Pittsburgh. While a little on the high side, the taste is heavenly. I’ve eaten at their downtown location as well as from their truck and the taste is almost the same. You can see their menu at their website: Franktuary
Moonlight Express (412) 945-0619
Asian food when you want it most! They can be found (most of the time) at the Carnegie Mellon Football Field during the week from 11am to 6pm and on Saturday from 11 to 3pm.To take a peek at their full menu, check the website (although not all items will be available on the truck) Moonlight Express
https://twitter.com/MoonliteExpress
While Sree’s Indian Truck remains a little bit of a mystery as to where it can be found and the hours it operates, it was a pure pleasure to come across them on the CMU campus. I am not big on Indian food or most vegetarian / vegan plates but the portions were generous and most everything on the menu was in the six dollar range. Another truck that is gaining popularity is India on Wheels; I have not had the chance to come across them yet but everyone says that they are at the top of their game for taste, service and price. I have been trying to track them down in Oakland but haven’t had any luck finding them yet.
Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck: Not growing up in Pittsburgh I wasn’t aware of the massive following of pierogi fanatics or how long the lines could be at the truck. I was surprised at the overall taste of them but I do admit, I prefer the fried ones to the ones served with butter and onions. To stay on top of their schedule, you can sign up for their Tweets here: pghpierogitruck
Brassero Grill: You need to sign up for the Twitter feed to find out areas where they will be but you can check the website (http://brasserogrill.jimdo.com) to see if there are any current listings. They serve mostly Mexican food like tacos and have a few dessert items. You can check out the Twitter feed here: brasserogrill It’s not a gourmet experience but it is a little higher than what you might expect from mobile food.
