Off the Grid: food truck grub in San Francisco
My trips home always remind me how easy it is to take our surroundings for granted. I spend the year tucking away names of places and restaurants in San Francisco that I want to visit, and often when I suggest an outing to my local friends I’m met with a chorus of “yes, I’ve been meaning to go there!”
You probably already know that food trucks are having a moment. These aren’t your mother’s – or perhaps more accurately, your Mexican gardener’s – greasy taco trucks either. They serve up a range of cuisine from all over the globe and have rabid followings on Twitter. And, luckily enough for me, many of the SF food trucks congregate every Friday night for Off the Grid.
Obviously I had to go. A couple friends had been before, but others were glad of the push to finally make the trek across town to Fort Mason. More friends = more stomach space to try more foods, but while we did our best, we were no match for the variety on offer. I still want to try the Korean barbecue tacos that looked so good and the famous Señor Sisig burritos, but here’s what we managed to sample this time.
I was prepared for full sensory overload and so decided to go in with a plan by asking for recommendations on Twitter, where Spencer alerted me to The Chairman’s pork buns. This pork belly steamed bun with pickled daikon was both the first and the best thing I ate all night. I’ve been let down by pork buns before, but this one was a winner.
Kristin gave me another recommendation which I couldn’t wait to follow. You see, Kristin and I actually had our first interaction over a tweet of hers from way back referencing the fact that there is a creme brulée truck. I have dreamed about this truck ever since (and this was well over a year ago, people), so there was no way I was leaving without trying it for myself.
Heaven.
The strawberry Nutella creme brulée I had wasn’t the absolute best creme brulée of my life – I’m something of a CB connoisseur, and I’ve had some damn fine custards in my day – but the flavor was spot on. Plus who can resist such a fancy-sounding French dessert coming from a cart?
Thirsty after my first complete mini-meal, I enjoyed a Sutton Cellars cider. Its dry, tart flavor was a nice contrast to the creme brulée, and it cleansed my palate for the next truck on my recommendation list: Happy Dumplings.
My shrimp dumplings were both good and cheap at $3 for 3. Three of us got dumplings, and our opinion was the same – nice flavor but WAY too salty. I realize I could have done my part by not insisting on dipping them in my little pot of soy and chili sauce, but a) the mix of flavors was too good to stop and b) things that are served with soy sauce should have a salt level that allows you to enjoy them with said sauce.
My dining companions tried several of the many Mexican options on offer: a chicken taco with mango salsa, a Latin crepe (no, I do not know why that isn’t just called “a burrito”) and tamales, all of which I was told were yummy.
To round out the night, it was time for dessert. Again. With the temperature dropping after a gorgeously sunny day, Kara put on an extra jacket in order to better enjoy a Fat Face popsicle of blueberry and lemon yogurt. Priorities.
Sydney, Meggie and I opted for Cupkates. My Mexican chocolate had a great kick of chili in the frosting, and Sydney’s salted caramel was as delicious as you’d expect anything labeled “salted caramel” to be. But for me, Meggie had the winner: a ‘smores cupcake with a little layer of graham cracker underneath the chocolate cake. I loved both the flavor and the attention to detail.
I had a blast stuffing my face with food served from trucks and playing with my new DSLR (did you notice? it’s a Canon 40D! now if only I knew how to use it!), but of course, the real highlight was spending time with my friends. Well, that and the creme brulée. It’s ok, these people have known me for years. They understand.
More in this series:
How to visit the Ferry Building, San Francisco
Don’t miss the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Hi Emily,
This place is going on my list of things to do in San Francisco next month. Thanks for sharing. Hope you are having a great time.
It was a great trip, thanks! And yes, definitely check it out – 5-10pm every Friday at Fort Mason.
Kara and Sydney! How fun…I wish I could have been there to partake in them laughing you at rabidly trying to try all the food trucks in one day
They did not laugh at me! At least, not out loud. I think they’ve known me long enough that it just doesn’t cause a reaction from them anymore
Looks and sounds like fun! I miss some of the LA food trucks, but lucky for me Portland is famous for its food carts, which are basically food trucks that don’t move. Such fun and tasty offerings!
That sounds like a pretty good replacement! Plus while I’m sure the thrill of the chase is fun, it must be nice to always know where your favorites are and not have to check Twitter or Facebook and try to coordinate schedules just to get a burrito.
I’m bummed that I lived in San Francisco before the food truck trend hit! Everything always looks so delicious from them…these offerings being no exception.
I had been feeling the same way, so I’m really glad I was able to check this out when I was there. Maybe we should bring food trucks international!
Muuuuuuuuuuuah! That’s me crying. What I would have given to have been there with you eating strawberry Nutella creme brulée.
I think I would have exploded with too much excitement if I’d had both you and that creme brulée at the same time!
The food looks amazing. This is definitely going on my list of places to eat in San Francisco.
It should! If you aren’t there on a Friday, you can of course also look up individual food trucks and follow them, but I loved having so many in one place.
Awesome! We leave on Friday for the Bay Area and I can’t wait to check this out, thanks for the heads up. The pork bun looks delish. Hope you are having a great time at home!
Have a great trip! I’m back in Santiago now, so we’re switching off. The pork bun was awesome, definitely get one.
You had me at Strawberry Nutella Creme Brulee!:-) Food trucks seem to be on every corner in NYC now as well, and during lunchtime, the most popular ones can have a line stretched around the block!
I was actually surprised at how short the lines were for most of these. I expected total chaos, and while it was crowded, things weren’t totally packed and tended to move quickly. I can definitely imagine a crazy line for one super popular food truck all by itself though.
A creme brûlée truck?! You HAD to go! Especially after ages of waiting to try it! The top looks much darker than I’m used to seeing but I’d have to give it a go too!
Glad you and your friends were able to try so many places together — I’m impressed
!
I think the top looks darker because the custard underneath was the color of chocolate pudding. It was also a pretty thick layer of sugar, not that I was complaining!
This is going on my list for San Francisco in July, I love street trucks.
Yes, do it! I’ll be posting some other stuff I did while I was home over the next week or so, once I finish Valparaíso (I just couldn’t wait to get this one up), but let me know if you have any other questions about things to do.
it all sounds (and looks) so good!!!!!! i love creme brulee!! I’ve tried many flavors but I still think the original is the best!!
I agree, a really good vanilla creme brulee is hard to beat. But strawberry Nutella was still yummy!
Yay! I heart this post and I heart you! Come back so we can go every Friday and taste alllll the trucks??
You know the right way to tempt me! Oh, and your friendship. That is also tempting, promise.
YES! They are taking off here, too, but I had a blast at Off the Grid in SF. There were also some really creative trucks in Austin last weekend. So fun!
I’ve heard great things about the food trucks in Austin too and Austin in general. I’d love to visit sometime!