Hot Wheels
These food trucks deliver the goods, drawing thousands to parking lots all over Orlando.
There are almost too many food trucks roaming the streets of Orlando to list, but here are some of the best. These mobile kitchens serve everything from fried Twinkies to foie gras, bringing literally thousands of people to parking-lot gatherings. Their moveable feasts change daily, so check each truck’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates. Trucks are often cash only, with most items under $10, but some accept credit cards. Arrive at their stops early, and bring a chair!
Red Eye BBQ
Cuisine: Smoked-onboard barbecue
Owner/Chef: Robert Nelson
Don’t Miss: Corn muffin stuffed with pulled pork
Locations:
• Dr. Phillips Farmers Market, Sand Lake Road and Dr. Phillips Boulevard, almost every Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Maitland Food Truck Pod, Lake Lily, Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m.
• Firestone Live, Orange Avenue and Concord Street, Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m.
• World of Beer, Dr. Philips Marketplace, Sundays, 3-7 p.m., Mondays-Tuesdays, 11 p.m.-2 a.m.
redeyebbq.com; twitter.com/redeyebbq | 407-353-2258
Crooked Spoon
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Cuisine: American
Owner/Chef: Steve Saelg
Don’t Miss: Angus beef burger, six-cheese mac ‘n cheese with bacon
Locations:
• Maitland Truck Pod, 600 Lake Lily Drive, Tuesdays, 5-9 p.m.
• Firestone Live, Orange Avenue and Concord Street, Wednesdays, 6-11 p.m.
• CITGO station, University Boulevard and Goldenrod Road, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Sinkhole Park, behind Spatz on Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Thursdays and Fridays, 5-10 p.m.
facebook.com/thecrookedspoon; twitter.com/thecrookedspn | 407-927-1587
Treehouse Truck
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Cuisine: American
Owner/Chef: Thomas Ward
Don’t Miss: “The Luther” bacon cheeseburger between two Krispy Kreme donuts
Locations:
• CITGO station at University Boulevard and Goldenrod Road, Tuesdays,
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Maitland Food Truck Pod, Lake Lily, Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m.
• Firestone Live, Orange Avenue and Concord Street, Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m.
• Sinkhole Park, behind Spatz on Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Thursdays, 6-10 p.m.
twitter.com/treehousetruck | 407-921-1696
The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck
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Cuisine: Gourmet cupcakes
Owner: Alex Marin and Joey Conciella
Don’t Miss: Strawberry Shortcake cupcake
Locations:
• Maitland Farmers Market, Quinn Strong Park, South Maitland Avenue, Sundays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thornton Park, Washington Avenue and Hill Street, Sundays, 3-5 p.m.
• Maitland Truck Pod, Lake Lily, Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m.
• Firestone Live, Orange Avenue and Concord Street, Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m.
• Sinkhole Park, behind Spatz on Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.
• CITGO station at University Boulevard and Goldenrod Road, Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Ivanhoe Village, 1618 N. Orange Ave., Saturdays, 1-5 p.m.
theyumyumcupcaketruckcom; twitter.com | yumyumtruck_fl; facebook.com/theyumyumtruck | 407-494-9336
Korean BBQ Taco Box
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Cuisine: Korean/American fusion
Owner/Chef: Jae You
Don’t Miss: Spicy pork taco box (ask for kimchi)
Locations:
• Marathon station, University Boulevard and Goldenrod Road, Thursdays-Sundays, noon-9 p.m.
• Maitland Truck Pod, Lake Lily, Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m.
• Firestone Live, Orange Avenue and Concord Street, Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m.
• Sinkhole Park, behind Spatz on Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Thursdays, 6-10 p.m.
• Second truck at Chevron Station, 901 S. Orange Ave., noon-9 p.m. daily
kbbqbox.com; twitter.com/koreanbbq_2011 | 407-844-3990
Big Wheel Food Truck
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Cuisine: American/Continental
Owner/Chef: Tony Adams
Don’t Miss: Buffalo pork-belly sandwich, bacon fries
Locations:
• Audubon Park Market, Corrine Drive and East Winter Park Road, Mondays, 6-10 p.m.
• Firestone Live, Orange Avenue and Concord Street, Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m.
• Sinkhole Park, behind Spatz on Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Thursdays, 6-10 p.m.
• Corner of Orange Avenue and Washington Street, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m.
bigwheeltruckmenu.com; twitter.com/bigwheeltruck | 407-494-4297
Road Hog
When Big Wheel rolls, bacon hits the road.
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Tony Adams, the 29-year-old owner and chef of the Big Wheel food truck, has a tattoo in Latin on the inside of his left elbow. “To the stars on the wings of pigs,” he translates. “It’s a John Steinbeck quote. I figure for someone who makes his living making bacon, it’s not a bad motto.”
Adams (right) trained as a butcher and chef in New England and apprenticed at some of the finest restaurants in New York and Britain. His company, Big Wheel Provisions, is an umbrella for many enterprises: ready-to-eat gourmet food, private catering, hand-cut meats, sausage and cured bacon. And Big Wheel was the first “fine-dining” food truck in Orlando, hitting the road in March.
The orange and cream-colored truck has just enough room for a stove, flat-top grill and fridge. Adams works the crowd as he leans out the window, laughing, suggesting food, flirting while handing enthusiastic diners his creations as chef de cuisine Tim Lovero cooks
up Greek octopus skewers, house-made sweet fennel sausage sandwiches and fries cooked in fat from Adams’ own bacon.
Between truck events and catering, his days can run from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” And he loves it as much as his rabid fans.
—JH
