THE BEST FOOD TRUCKS IN AUCKLAND
To me, summer is synonymous with food trucks. I love the festival vibe they bring and the diversity of food available.
While food trucks really started disrupting the food scene for the better about a decade ago, the power of social media bringing together the foodie community and the general cultural movement of change in society over the last few years has increased their popularity. We live in an age where you don’t have to do things the way they have always been done. Why work for a corporation when you can build a start up and be your own boss? All revolutions and bright ideas have small beginnings, and the same can be said for great food. Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has been from tiny holes in the wall, as opposed to big fancy restaurants. Proof of this is Chan Hong Meng, a humble food stall owner in Singapore who last year became the world’s first Michelin-starred street vendor.
Food trucks don’t just feed the masses, they feed innovation. No longer are food trucks associated only with cheap meats that give you stomach issues. Now, they are vehicles for the creation of truly delicious and fresh quality food. They allow new chefs the opportunity to show people their food and run a business without the massive amounts of debt and location restrictions that owning a traditional brick and mortar restaurant entails. Food trucks also breed resourcefulness in chefs – a lot of things frequently go wrong with the equipment in a food truck. There’s no better way to learn how to improvise and think fast on your feet.
You could sit indoors in a restaurant with the same standard, uninspiring food you have always eaten from a menu that has not changed in years.
Or you could taste something bursting with flavour that you’ve never tried before, dining al fresco in the sunshine with your friends while listening to live music. I know which one I would choose.
To get you started, here is a list of my favourite food trucks in Auckland:
The Rolling Pin
If someone gave me the difficult task of picking the absolute best food truck in Auckland, for me, it would be The Rolling Pin. They sell three types of dumplings: Tsingtao spicy pulled pork, Penang pulled beef (my personal choice) and the Buddha’s Delight vegan dumplings. But it’s not just the plain dumplings that keep you coming back for more. The crunchy salad made of slaw, herbs, fried onion and delicious dressing on top is a real crowd pleaser. Their concept is ideal for food trucks because it can be served quickly, and, in addition, they give you the option to customise your meal by adding extra dumplings or salad. When The Rolling Pin is around, my choice for lunch is made easy.
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Mr Dog Frites
Their South East dog with a smoked beef frankfurter, pulled pork, Asian slaw and spicy aioli on an organic bread roll is hands down the tastiest hotdog I have ever eaten. No basic high school sausage sizzles here, because these dogs are a gourmet party in your mouth. There is a different loaded dog each time, such as the chilli cheese dog, the Saigon fire dog, or even the monster dog for when you’re extra hungry. If you’ve got a craving for something hearty and satisfying, look no further.
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Moustache
Who can forget the little milk and cookie bar that could? The initial store that opened in Auckland’s CBD almost always had a long line out its door. The city followed the business journey of its owner Deanna Yang as commercial giant Cookie Time asserted potential trademark breaches over the name “cookie bar” and then soaring rent forced the shop to close. Cookie lovers were devastated. Thankfully, Deanna used her resourcefulness to move her business into a truck that tours the country delivering happiness in the form of mouth-watering fresh cookies and decadent thick shakes. My favourite cookie flavours are cinnamon or marshmallow with Oreos. It’s your lucky day if this truck happens to be in your city.
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Guerrilla Grill
Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches? Say no more. The organic sourdough bread is always fresh and oozing with delicious, melted Dutch cheese. My favourite sandwich is definitely the skirt steak with spring onion, coriander and special sauce. Even if my friends and I have already eaten, you can bet we will still seriously consider buying one to split between us. You can smell the intoxicating garlic and tomato pesto on the grilled sandwiches as you get close to the food truck. These sandwiches are guaranteed to improve your day.
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Taco Loco
Without a doubt, Taco Loco is the best Mexican food truck in Auckland. Their food is so fresh and bursting with flavour. My favourite item on the menu is definitely the nachos with beef. A healthy amount of corn chips topped with tasty beef strips, sour cream, corn, pickled onions, cheese and guacamole makes for a super colourful and delicious lunch. I am also partial to their chicken quesadillas. The Latino boys who run the food truck are always friendly and welcoming as well, but I swear I go there for the food.
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Sabores
Sabores is an awesome Argentinian food truck that specialises in pastries. On the savoury side, they sell lovely empanadas in a variety of flavours (an empanada is like a type of pie or Cornish pasties). My favourite empanadas are the caprese (mozzarella and tomato) or the chorizo with mushrooms. And if you fancy something sweet for dessert like I always do, they make fresh churros and alfajores that are almost too pretty to eat (a sweet treat with a very soft biscuit texture on the outside and dulce de leche in the middle). Their prices are very reasonable too, and I am always happy to have their food for a well-rounded and satisfying lunch.
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Double Dutch Fries
This truck serves up chunky hand-cut fries that are crispy on the outside and delicious every single time. It is only $6 for a small cone, which is actually quite a generous portion. I also love that they’re not stingy with the sauces and give you a good amount with diced red onion for some sweetness. I would highly recommend the satay sauce if you get the chance to try these golden nuggets from carbohydrate heaven.
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Philippe’s Poutine
Ah, poutine, Canada’s perfect food and one of the best inventions ever. Poutine consists of fries smothered in a sea of gravy (traditionally brown/beef gravy), and topped with a ton of cheese curds. Having tried it in Montreal, the home of poutine, I have high expectations and I have been consistently disappointed anywhere outside of Canada. I have noticed that more and more restaurants are putting it on their menu, but it is not poutine. I ordered it at Federal Deli once and was bitterly disappointed that there was a mere drizzle of gravy and only maybe three tiny cheese curds. I almost called the chef and asked them to explain themselves. Needless to say, I was super keen to try Philippe’s poutine and it was amazing. Their portion of poutine was generous, with a good amount of gravy and cheese curds. They also have a variety of delicious toppings such as pork belly, brisket, fried chicken, and mushrooms. If you want something comforting and satisfying – there is nothing better than this.
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Peach’s hot chicken
Bringing you the irresistible taste of southern fried chicken, Peach’s regularly has a very long line of customers outside its truck. My favourite thing to order is the chicken and waffles with maple syrup and herbed butter. Their waffles are fluffy and their chicken is always juicy because they use thigh meat instead of chicken breast. The standard for chicken and waffles in Auckland has been Orleans for years, but I would prefer Peach’s any day, as the ones at Orleans can be quite dry. Peach’s also offers different levels of chilli with your meal, but be warned because they really bring the heat. I think I can stand a decent amount of chilli and so the first time I tried their waffles I went for medium heat and that was actually too much for me. Savoury, sweet and absolutely delicious, Peach’s chicken and waffles is a winner.
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All of these food trucks have four things in common that are important to me: flavour, their prices are good value, the proportion of food is decent if not quite generous, and all the vendors who run them are nothing but friendly.
You can keep up with where they are on foodspace.co.nz or follow them on instagram.
All photos are copyright to Storme Sen.
