With dozens upon dozens of trucks and a rally or roundup many, if not most, days of the week, South Florida has loudly proclaimed its affection for the food truck. Whether you dig on the savory or the sweet, there's probably a roving kitchen that can make it happen for you. It was no easy feat, but we've identified ten of the best food trucks operating in South Florida. As always, feel free to tell us who we missed or who you think should've made the cut.
Dim Ssäm á GoGo
The frequently stalked mobile division of Miami's Sakaya Kitchen serves treats inspired by Korean street food. The eco-focused endeavor -- utensils are biodegradable, and packaging is made with sustainable materials -- arrives to diners in an attractive truck inked-up in an original design by a noted tat artist. But it's what's inside that counts, and fans of the truck dine on snacks like duck banh mi, chunked-up tater tots, kalbi tacos, and ginger Brussels sprouts. Though typically found in the Miami area, DSaGG is known to venture north into Broward and Palm Beach counties for food-truck rallies.
You can typically track this truck in the southwest Fort Lauderdale area, where it's serving tacos stuffed with the good stuff: The yum yum, for instance, comes piled with pulled pork topped with cucumber, spicy sour cream, and sweet chili sauce. Light-your-mouth-on-fire Asian-inspired concoctions aren't the only options. Burritos and salads also are available as well as platters like a nacho quesadilla and spicy Korean sliders. Nothing costs more than ten bucks, and the tacos are less than $5 each.
With a name like that, it's no surprise that the menu is dominated by blood-sugar-spiking items like freshly baked cupcakes, cheesecake, bread pudding, and pie. As if sugar and fat alone aren't enough to derail your willpower, the menu also carries several "deep-treats," wherein sugar bombs like cupcakes, Oreos, and brownies are given a dip in the deep fryer. There's even a deep-fried banana for the health nuts. A prime attraction is the cake 'n' shake, a no-holds-barred combo of ice cream, milk, and a choice of cake, all blended together and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.
Demonstrating the power of a melted cheese sandwich between two pieces of starch, this mobile supplier of stoner-caliber eats is a regular crowd pleaser in South Florida. Choose one of six signature sandwiches - the crabby cheese melt with crab salad and sharp cheddar on sourdough or the grilled blue and bacon with bacon and blue cheese and green onion, for instance - or build your own with a choice of bread, cheese (don't worry; your choices aren't limited to American or cheddar), and special add-ons like spiced apple and bacon.
This on-the-go purveyor of meaty meals by chef Ron Kerr is perhaps best-known for its burgers, made with Creekstone beef and served atop toasted challah or a whole-wheat bun. The base burger is $8, and you can add cheese or the typical toppings at no additional cost. Fancier dressings - like the "onion-bacon jam," twice-smoked bacon, or a fried egg - are each $1 extra. Other items include hand-cut fries and a crunchy fish taco, plus an eggplant "meatball" for the veggies in the crowd.
A pioneer in the South Florida food-truck movement, Gastropod serves the kind of creative bites you would typically find in a hip bar with low lighting and a good craft beer selection. New additions include a lamb-fennel sausage slider topped with harissa and goat cheese, kettle chips cooked in pork fat and topped with spicy mayo and slaw, and bacon fried rice. The truck - a customized 1962 Airstream - is as stylish as the food, and although it's Miami-based, it will venture into Broward for meet-ups and rallies.
Miso Hungry
It's not just the punny name that attracts fans to this cutesy, Asian-inspired food truck: the ground pork burger is a popular choice, particularly among those who crave offbeat burgers. Get an all-inclusive meal with a "miso box" ($8 each) served with fried rice and veggies. Choices available include curry chicken, a spicy Rendang beef, pulled pork, or a vegan option with sautéed tofu and veggies. The truck also serves up a pulled-pork sandwich and banh mi.
Jefe's Original Fish Tacos and Burgers
Though Jefe's tends to stick around Miami and environs, it'll cross the county line into Broward for rallies and expos like the Monday-night roundup at the Arts Park in Hollywood's Young Circle. The burgers and "real deal" fries are a reliable bet, but for a more memorable truckie experience, load up on the So-Cal-style tacos, particularly the ensenada fish taco piled with crisp, beer-battered fish, cabbage, pico de gallo, and crema ($2.35 each).
There's more than a hint of carnival-fairway whimsy to the menu offered by this eye-catching truck. A few of the sandwiches, like the chicken crisper and the chicken tenders, use crushed Cap'n Crunch cereal as a deliciously novel breading. There are other Midwest favorites, like tater tots doused in melted cheddar, and all of the burgers are made with bacon in the patty. It's not all cheese and bacon, though: Find Southern standbys like jerk chicken and fried green tomatoes on the list.
The dishes at this Venezuelan-inspired truck are named with a wink -- sweet Caroline, good as pluck, lord of the fries, badonk-a-donk, etc. For a meaty, substantial meal, the son of a brisket with shredded beef brisket and pickled red onions satisfies. The menu has become more streamlined in recent months, focusing on arepas and stuffed burgers, plus crowd-pleasing sides like sweet potato fries.
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