Join the Food Truck Revolution!

Written by Arizona Expert: Jojo, USA, May 2011

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:

Good Place to Drink, Good Place to Eat, Popular with Locals

Comment from Arizona Expert: Jojo

Over the past three decades northern California has developed the arguably most diverse, progressive and ambitious dining scene in the country. As a pioneer of the New American Cuisine movement, the City by the Bay has ever since produced a great array of outstanding eateries celebrating the fusion of locally grown and seasonally sourced ingredients and her ethnically varied cooking traditions. Busy downtown lunch spots, laid back Mission bistros as well as upscale Nob Hill restaurants, not only honor San Francisco’s culinary heritage but get their mostly organic produce every morning fresh from neighborhood farmers markets and local fisheries.

Considering the City’s prevailing liberal spirit it was only a question of time when this cross-ethnic deliciousness would be taken to the streets finally becoming available to foodies of all wallet sizes. While curbside takeouts primarily take advantage of proximity and convenience of location, only few achieved destination status because of their uniqueness of meals. This all changed when in recent years a new generation of gourmet food trucks emerged leaving locals and visitors alike cheering across all districts. Several genuinely inventive and environmentally conscious chefs started this food revolution on wheels making the apparent costly pairing of culinary innovation with high-quality wholesome produce accessible and affordable. For the longest time these characteristics had not been present in the minds of city dwellers when it came to grabbing a quick bite from the hot dog stand around the corner.

Although modern media makes it possible to track down each gourmet truck individually (announcements on facebook and twitter), the best opportunity to find your favorite street fare is at one of the OFF THE GRID market places around town. Monday through Saturday up to 30 vendors conveniently gather at different locations throughout the city. Just hop on MUNI’s public transport and see for yourself what this hype is about. Discover an unexpected variety of still simple, yet delightfully creative and exceptionally yummy dishes to go. Savor rich and rustic, light and fancy creations (ranging from $4 to $10) which go beyond Asian fusion cuisine. Meat lovers might be tempted to try a high end bacon wrapped hot dog or a juicy Korean BBQ beef taco, while vegetarians won’t leave hungry being able to choose from delicious plates like crispy garlic tofu, freshly made veggie empanadas and even a vegan German style currywurst. Top off your street food experience with a tiramisu cup cake or Nutella infused crème brulee with balsamic strawberries inside. Come hungry and enjoy!

To join the food truck revolution and learn more about OFF THE GRID market locations, hours and vendors please visit the organizer’s website at http://offthegridsf.com/.

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Reply by Trina Tron, USA, June 2011

I went to Off the Grid in Upper Haight last night and it was fantastic! I had my choice of Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican and more. I went with the curry truck to get what they called a "deconstructed samosa" - delicious! And even though I was full, I ended the night with a red velvet mini cupcake from the cupcake truck. Yum! I'll definitely be going back again.