Picking up by the roadside (or, even more Melbourne food trucks)
So you’ve had a crack at the deliciousness of Part 1 of my Food Truck Odyssey and you’re still hungry?! Some people are never pleased.
Fine, here’s four more awesome Melbourne Food Truck Trucks to satisfy those curb-side cravings.
5) Grub Food Van
What do you do when dreams of converting an unloved vacant block in the heart of Fitzroy into a community farm, are dashed by an uncaring local council? You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, buy a 1965 Airstream van (hot) on eBay, and set yourself up as a brunch-cum-deli-cum-pop-up bar (of course).
Now a permanent fixture on Moor Street in Fitzroy, Grub Food Van serves up a range of tasty treats from dawn to dusk, based on simple food, backed by quality, fresh produce.
The menu is constantly changing, so you can expect everything from Argentinian pork with chimichurri-style salad, t0 chops and salad, to simple terrines, and tomatoes from Grub’s very own greenhouse.
Where to find them: 87–89 Moor Street, Fitzroy
What to order: Keep an eye out for the Grub Food Van x The Sausologist sessions for Sasuage & Salad goodness
Grub Food Van Twitter| Grub Food Van Facebook
6) Fancy Hanks BBQ
The boys behind Collingwood cafe Cavallero are bringing Texan style BBQ to Melbourne, and is it amazing.
Kent Bell and Rob Cattanach — The brains behind Fancy Hanks BBQ — have custom-constructed this iron monster (as in, crane-required-to-move, monster) of a wood-fired smoker, where they place only the finest Angus brisket, Otway pork and sticky back ribs, which they then slow cook until melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Meat is priced by the gram so you can order as much or as little (but probably as much) as your heart desires.
This is probably getting to the upper-end of the price scale for road-side food; meaning you’re looking at somewhere between $20–30 for lunch (depending on what you pile up your plate with), but trust me, it is money seriously well spent.
Check out this great video for more BBQ goodness:
Where to find them: Due to the logistics required to move this black behemoth — not to mention the minimum 8 hour cook time — Fanny Hanks isn’t your usual ‘park where we feel like’ food truck. Currently they are completing a couple-of-week run (until June 3rd) at Joe’s Shoe Store in Northcote. As per usual, check the Facebook (below) for updates.
What to order: You are here for the meat (obviously), but don’t scrimp on the sides — zucchini, farro & goats cheese salad anyone?
7) Dhaba Food Truck
Need a curry in a hurry? Dhaba can help!
The Dhaba Food Trucks (there’s three of them!), serve up a mix of the freshest mix of North and South Indian flavours, their beef comes from Bendigo, lamb from Kyneton and the chicken is always free-range. The menu changes every two weeks but the structure is constant. There are always a bunch of entrees and always about six curries…three to four meat ones (and sometimes fish) and two but more often three, vegetarian curries.
Most of their menu is gluten free. And of course, there is always Indian flat breads, basmati rice and desserts. So, expect something new to try whenever you visit!
Where to find them: FINALLY, you don’t need to come into Brunswick for great street food. Dharma gets out on the road all the way to Woodend and Castlemaine
What to order: Mmmmmmmm, Papadi Chaat: crispy wafers to scoop spiced chickpea, potato, tomato and coriander topped with yogurt and tamarind sauce
Dhaba Twitter | Dhaba Facebook
8) Massive Wieners
Massive Wieners… heheheh.. Ahem. OK, compose yourself.
The Massive Wieners truck (OK, Food Stand) is an extension of the Parahan store of the same name. These guys pump out old school New York style hot dogs, Dr Pepper in glass bottles, and if you play your cards right, a boysenberry choc-top for desert.
Where to find them: These guys are a bit less predictable so you’ll never know where they are going to show up.. but sometime, just sometimes, when you need them the most, they’ll be there!
What to order: Are you a bad enough dude to get down a 25 inch wiener (see above)? Didn’t I see a movie with that same title once?
Massive Wieners Twitter | Massive Wieners Facebook
**BONUS FOOD TRUCK GOODNESS**
Want the inside scoop for all the food truck locations? Check out Where The Truck At for up-to-the-minute details of all the Melbourne (and other Aussie) food truck movements.
We’ll keep adding to this list as more trucks come on board.
Have we missed anything off? Drop me a line at stephen.m.colman@gmail.com
