It’s food truck season in Edmonton and there’s never been more mobile eateries on city streets.
From old gems to soon-to-be new favourites, more than a dozen food trucks are set to serve this season.
“Last year there was half the amount of food trucks that there is this year, so it’s definitely a trend that’s picking up and going strong,” said Wendy Gossen with Bully Food Truck.
“People are interested in it, people want to go to things like What the Truck or a throw down of ginger beef or whatever and try out the foods. We get lots of positive feedback.”
This year marks Bully’s first full summer season.
The Local Omnivore joins Bully as rookies on Edmonton’s food truck circuit – they’re serving up a purely breakfast menu.
“People do like breakfast all day, so a breakfast sandwich for lunch is not a stretch of the imagination at all,” said Mark Bellows with The Local Omnivore.
There are also Greek food-themed trucks, BBQ trucks, waffle trucks, poutine trucks, calzone trucks and more – including the unique and all-Vegan food truck Sailin’ On.
Sailin’ On is making its debut this summer.
“We’re going to be serving up all Vegan food. We’re Edmonton’s first Vegan food truck,” said Sailin’ On’s Michael Brennan.
“We’re doing a combination of burritos, tacos, a selection of sandwiches and some late night sides like Vegan corndogs and different types of fries,” said Sailin On’s Garret Kruger.
The food truck trend is taking over cities across North America and had a slower start in Edmonton.
The city’s long winters make for a shorter food truck season but so far those who have jumped into the market are seeing success and inspiring the launch of even more trucks.
Most of the trucks typically serve downtown to the weekday crowd, however Sailin’ On is bucking that trend and plans to park outside a bar near Whyte Avenue.
“When we were in Portland we saw a lot of late night trucks that had a certain feel to it and I think the stuff that we’re serving falls into that same sort of category. We like the aesthetic of the late nigh street food,” Kruger said.
Foodies believe the growing selection is what makes the food truck experience insatiable.
“You just get to taste so many things, it’s so much fun really,” said Diane Prowse.
“It’s way cheaper, a restaurant you would pay double I think for the amount and the calibre.”
There’s so much demand in Edmonton that there’s even an app designated to telling hungry patrons which food trucks are open where and at what time.
Edmontonians can even use the Street Food App to map out the best route from their phones to get to their favourite food truck.
The city is also home to a food truck festival called What the Truck, which brings together several food trucks to one location to serve on specific nights during the summer.
Room for more
And whether there’s room for more trucks in the local market – food truck owners hope so.
“I think there’s room for more. I hope that one day it will be like Portland, like a car dealership where everyone is on the same street, everyone comes to the same place, they know where the food is,” Bellows said.
“It would be great for people to come here, say this line up is too big, and then go down the street to the next place.”
Bellows says food trucks aren’t in competition with one another.
“Our menu is definitely designed not to be taking away from anyone else’s food trucks,” he said.
“And it seems like a lot of food trucks are mindful of that.”
With files from Laura Lowe
