Food on the Road
No longer is it trendy to be served your food within the confined spacing of a restaurant. The rise of food trucks across Melbourne has seen them not only serve fast food, but deliver prime wagyu beef, gourmet pizza or prosciutto, with the option for chips and a drink. Among the first food trucks found was The Beatbox Kitchen Truck in Brunswick and Northcote in 2009. Since then, an array of trucks have rolled into suburbs, situating themselves as customers line up outside their windows.
Taco Truck
One of Melbourne’s best food trucks is Taco Truck, a Mr. Rashid creation. Serving up unique, inventive tacos, Taco Trucks regularly situates itself in East Brunswick, Northcote and Abbotsford. Choose from their soft shell tacos or tortilla chips. As a young girl once said, “Porque no los dos?”
Mr. Burger
Called “Melbourne’s Best New Food Truck’ by The Age during its introduction in 2012, Mr. Burger serves up simple, high quality burgers. It has become famous for its four simple, but delicious options: Mr. Burger, Mr. Meat, Mr. Hit and Mr. Veg. Slinging out beef patties, the truck delivers on burgers covered in bacon, cheese and sauce, as well as a vegetarian option. The complete experience tops off with its cheese and bacon fries, plus unique milhshakes. Regular spots are Yarraville Gardens, Federation Square, Edinburgh Gardens, Queen Victoria Market and other CBD locations.
Beatbox Kitchen
You can’t look past one of the original trendsetters of food trucks when discussing the best in Melbourne. Raph Rashid’s venture has been going strong since 2009. Pick up a Raph or Shroom Burger at your next festival, or around Melbourne’s inner Northern suburbs. Studying what makes an ideal burger, Rashid searched the USA where he brought back a mixture of New York and Los Angeles, with 100% Australian beef. He describes his burgers as an “East Coast meets West Coast” experience.
Gumbo Kitchen
Michael Cotter, Patricia Stanton and Elvin Ho are bringing the traditional tastes of American city New Orleans to Melbourne. Gumbo Kitchen offers spicy food with some soul, blaring traditional brass band jazz. With a rotating menu, Gumbo Kitchen makes your experience different each time, hitting all your senses in the right places. Serving souther-style Louisiana gumbo stews, and the classic Po’boys: fluffy bread rolls stuffed with seafood and meat. It is regularly located at the Moonlight Cinemas at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Daily Facebook posts give last minute locations.
Yogurddiction
When the heat just gets too much to handle, and you are looking for a healthier alternative to cool down, look towards frozen yoghurt. No longer are people listening out for the sound of ice-cream trucks ringing down their streets. Yogurddiction food truck serves up natural, non-fat frozen yoghurt with a huge variety of toppings to choose from. Flavours include peach mango, wild berry, green tea and pistachio, raspberry pomegranate and the ever popular New York cheesecake.
The Brulee Cart
This is some people’s definition of ‘heaven on wheels.’ Run by brothers Bart and Jack White, it offers a sweet taste to cap off truck feasting, included flavours such as chocCointreau, salted caramel, and lavender and honey. Preparing from the night before, the brulee is whipped up, refrigerated, and served across festivals and farmers markerts around Melbourne.
Dos Diablos
For food just as Mexican as its name, don’t look past Dos Diablos Mobile Cantina. Originally a CFA canteen truck, it now responds to the calls of hungry customers. Standing out as an one-of-a-kind red vintage fire truck, Dos Diablos serves up mouth-watering Mexican street food. This truck customises to everyone needs, with vegan and gluten-free options available. Locations are constantly changing daily.
Soul Kitchen Woodfired Pizza Truck
Founder Michael Ibrahim and partner Paul McCormack have engineered a moving vehicle with a wood-fired oven that operates at over 400 degrees installed at the back. From midday in front of The Arts Centre, you can see the pizza trucks popping out gourmet pizzas for lunch and dinner, with an added Napolitana-style.
Afrofeast
Dennis Grace noticed a lack of African street food across Melbourne’s streets. Adding to the diversity of Melbourne’s food trucks is Afrofeast, specialising in African street food. Try yourself some boerewors (a hearty sausage) or some bread filled with curry to enlighten your tastebuds.
Ghost Kitchen
Feast yourself on the perfect mix of traditional and contemporary Taiwanese street snacks, including salt n pepper popcorn chicken, spring onion pancakes, slowcooked pork belly sandwhich, plus guo bao. Regular spots include Village Melbourne, Carlton Farmers Market, The Batman Market, Coburg North Primary School, Carlton Gardens Primary School.
Half the fun is chasing these food trucks when they are not situated in the one spot. Enjoy!
Tamara Rocco 