It’s no secret that Dallasites love a good meal. Industry-leading restaurant rankers with The Zagat Survey even went so far as to recently name Dallas one of “hottest food cities” in the country. Downtown Dallas, in particular, is widely recognized as a foodie’s paradise. Here, established favorites rub shoulders with the latest buzz-worthy eateries. But sometimes the newest Downtown hot spot doesn’t stay in one spot.
Over the past few years, food trucks have become a viable force in Dallas cuisine. Banish thoughts of greasy tacos and over-cooked hot dogs, however — these road-ready kitchens are cooking up some serious and often innovative eats. And because they’re mobile, food trucks can pop up just about anywhere, from festivals and other celebrations to dedicated food-truck courts.
So, where in Downtown Dallas can you put in your order?
Klyde Warren Park is home to a substantial (and growing) food truck court. It’s open from open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and sometimes during the evening as well. It’s the perfect place for a family picnic… and you don’t even have to pack a thing.
The Dallas Arts District Food Truck Court, located at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Sammons Park, offers both sustenance and cultural experiences of substance. Check out what’s new in the DMA’s galleries and then grab a bite to eat. Or fuel up beforehand to make sure the sound of your stomach rumbling doesn’t drown out the star soprano during her big aria at The Winspear.
The Browder Street Food Truck Plaza, located in the concourse just across the street from The Joule Hotel, is an easily walkable green space offering games, special events and a place for food trucks to park.
Food trucks are also frequent visitors to the newly renovated Dallas Farmers Market. Visit their huge (26,000 square foot) indoor/outdoor complex to see which chefs have pulled over for the day.
After sampling the wares offered by these eclectic eateries on wheels, you might find yourself unable to live without specific dishes from your new favorites. To cater to these cravings as soon as they crop up, you’ll want to follow your favorite trucks on social media to keep up with their daily whereabouts, specials and promotions.
Here are a few standout food trucks to be on the lookout for the next time you’re walking the streets of Downtown Dallas.
Bringing a bit of French bistro style to any curbside or street corner, Chez Flo specializes in savory crêpes. Chef Florence Chauvet began her career in the vineyard-rich region of Pays de la Loire. She’s been operating Chez Flo since 2012 — and to great success. So much so that she’s expanded to a second food truck, Sandwiches Around the World, that allows her to show off her expertise with culinary traditions from outside of her native country.
Chef Brett, a 30-year veteran of the food service industry, brings the flavors of the Gulf Coast to Dallas via The Dock. The menu rotates on a regular basis, but mainstays include Baja fish tacos, lobster grinders and the “Terrapin.” Contrary to its name, this last isn’t a variant of turtle soup, but a crab cake slider topped with bacon, basil pesto and cilantro lemon aioli. Wow!
The Guava Tree’s owners Onel and Pam Perez put fresh twists on Onel’s traditional Cuban family recipes. Prime examples include Cuban sandwiches with guava mustard, yucca fries and black bean cupcakes.
Nammi is the place to get your bánh mì fix. Everything served by this Vietnamese street food truck, from the rice and noodle bowls to the Asian tacos, is made from scratch using fresh ingredients. And don’t overlook the Asian sodas, basil mint lemonade and Vietnamese iced coffee.
If it’s comfort food you seek, the Soul Bowl is the truck to track down. Southern favorites such as fried chicken, smothered pork chops and fried catfish are prepared from scratch and served with classic sides such as collard greens and candied yams. And what’s a Southern-style supper without dessert? Peach cobbler and pecan pie are two sweet treats sure to please.
Texas just isn’t Texas without some Tex-Mex. The Texas Burrito Company is a new venture from successful area food truck entrepreneurs Dain Pool and Jon Wagner, creators of The Butcher’s Son, What’s Da Scoop? and Gandolfo’s New York Deli. With recipes like The Bevo (the main ingredient of which is grilled steak) and The Southfork (a taco that bears a striking resemblance to a barbecue sandwich), you know you’re chowing down with locals.
And don’t forget that Carpenter Park, whose groundbreaking is expected in the second quarter of 2018, will have a food truck plaza, too. DDPC looks forward to sharing more about Carpenter Park’s design in the upcoming months.
What are your favorite Dallas food trucks? Keep the conversation going with your recommendations — and sightings — by connecting with Downtown Dallas Parks Conservancy on Facebook and Twitter.