As a kid, the only food truck I knew of was an ice cream truck that drove around the neighborhood blaring a weird recording of a recognizable catchy tune. Heck! Even on country roads a few miles outside of Wapato, where I grew up.
In the Yakima Valley, the taco truck reigns supreme, but these days, food trucks can rival any buffet menu. Because they have a motor and wheels, food trucks have the edge, bringing a bountiful array of options to your favorite brewery, winery, community event or workplace.
The Yakima Herald-Republic staff has been trying out some mobile restaurants over the past few weeks that may be new to you. From an excellent BLT sandwich to barbecue in Union Gap to sushi in Toppenish, here are some ideas for a meal on the go.
-Sara Rae Shields
The guy who cooks
The guy who cooks offers a wide variety of food, from tacos to burgers, but also has an excellent take on a culinary classic.
Making a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich isn’t difficult, but That Guy That Cooks exceeds all expectations and may set a new standard for sandwiches.
The bread was toasted just enough to give it some crunch, but not so much that it left burnt marks, providing a good base for the sandwich.
But what really sets the sandwich apart from the typical BLT is the bacon. When most of us think of bacon, we think of those almost paper-thin strips of meat and fat that are fried until they’re brittle.
The bacon on That Guy That Cooks sandwiches is more like slices of meat and is about 1/8 inch thick in some cases, making the sandwich much heartier and perfect to get you through an afternoon of work.
The sandwich comes with potato chips on the side. The Coke I got with it was a Mexican Coke – the good kind made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup. It was the perfect addition to the sandwich.
– Donald W. Meyers
Tacos Don Chayo
I admit that I am far from a food truck connoisseur. Although there are a number of great food trucks in the Yakima Valley, I can probably count the number of times I have eaten there on one hand. Recently, however, I decided to expand my culinary horizons by Tacos Don Chayoa food truck at 2810 W. Washington Ave. in Yakima.
After my visit to the food truck, I would definitely consider visiting again and recommend it to both food truck newbies and experienced food truck visitors.
First of all, I liked the simple menu at Tacos Don Chayo. The truck offered four dishes: tacos, burritos, tortas and quesadillas with a choice of six different meats. After a moment’s deliberation, I ordered a beef burrito.
The burrito was pretty tasty. It had equal amounts of all the ingredients and the individual components worked well together. The portion was also pretty big, so I saved leftovers for lunch the next day. Plus, the food truck employees were friendly and their service was quick.
So the next time you have an appetite for local Mexican cuisine that is off the beaten path of a typical restaurant, give Tacos Don Chayo a try.
For more information, visit the food truck’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TacosDonChayo, or Instagram page, @tacosdonchayo.
– Natalie Keller
Scorpion Tacos
In a spray-painted trailer parked under the roof of a former Shell gas station, Scorpion Tacos is easy to miss when driving down Fifth Avenue near Davis High School, but there’s a reason the lunch line is jammed in this unassuming setting.
On a sunny Friday afternoon, Scorpion Tacos offered a much-needed break from the office routine. With a no-frills menu of tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, nachos, flautas, sopes and tostadas, I opted for an asada burrito – a personal favorite at casual Mexican spots.
The warm, slightly chewy tortilla was filled with perfectly seasoned steak, rice, sour cream, cheese, and a sprinkle of red onion and cilantro. With a smoky salsa verde on the side to kick things up a notch and a Mexican Coke to wash it down, Scorpion Tacos were an affordable and almost filling lunch.
If you’re a little more adventurous, you can order the Escorpion burrito, which lets you choose between four different types of meat. The choices are asada, adovada, pollo, cabeza, lengua and barbacoa. Scorpion also offers a vegetarian option if you don’t like the taste of meat.
Scorpion provides a few picnic tables in the shade of the old gas station roof so you can enjoy your meal and delay your evening.
Scorpion Tacos’ web presence is minimal, but you can visit the trailer at 214 S. Fifth Ave. Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. or call 509-728-5962.
– Michael Ambrose
Kim has smoke
Exit Interstate 82 and merge into Kim’s Got Smoke BBQ for a changing menu with grilled food and side dishes.
The food truck – or Food RV – on Rudkin Road specialises in slow-cooked delicacies.
Pulled pork, chicken, ribs and sausage kick off the restaurant’s regular menu. Seasonal specials featuring brisket and other meats are usually available, along with popular barbecue sides like beans, coleslaw, chips, potato salad and mac and cheese.
All I’m saying is that there are a lot of good options out there, but the main focus is pulled pork. Whether on nachos or a sandwich, it has a balanced flavor that isn’t too sweet and strikes just the right balance between runny and dry.
The sauces also bring a lot to the table. We at the Yakima Herald-Republic tried mustard and barbecue. In the U.S., sauces can be too sweet, but not here. Kim’s Got Smoke adds spice – not too much to overwhelm, but enough to be fun.
But don’t ignore the rest of the menu. Last week, the food truck had, among other things, a chili with lots of sour cream and cheese and, of course, the highlight: chunks of beef brisket in the thick broth.
Kim’s Got Smoke is located at 2319 Rudkin Road, Union Gap. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For weekend hours and locations, visit www.facebook.com/kimsgotsmokebbq.
– Jasper Kenzo Sundeen
Sushi Ranch and Teriyaki
If you find yourself on US Highway 97 with an empty feeling in your stomach or don’t feel like leaving Toppenish to eat a good bowl of rice, Sushi Ranch and Teriyaki should wash away your worries.
For a small truck, the menu is extensive, but much of it is well done.
Good boba-filled drinks aren’t always easy to find in dry form, but Sushi Ranch and Teriyaki make a thick, ice-cold, not-too-sweet version that tastes great on a summer day.
Pictures of yakisoba dishes adorn the truck’s menu, along with sushi rolls and rice bowls. The sushi rolls are unique and can be a bit compact, but the teriyaki in particular is delicious.
Heavy hands can make teriyaki sauce a sugary ordeal, but lighter hands are at work with Sushi Ranch and Teriyaki Bowl.
Combine the nuanced sauce with a boatload of chicken and well-cooked rice and you have a dish that’s enough for two complete meals.
It is located in the 800 block of West First Avenue, Toppenish. Stay up to date with Sushi Ranch and Teriyaki Bowl’s Facebook page at yhne.ws/sushiranchfb. Hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
– Jasper Kenzo Sundeen
