Restaurants

Best Food Carts

By Vancouver Magazine /

Re-Up BBQ

The Dish Pulled Pork Sandwich, $7. When you only do one thing, you might do it really well. Re-Up’s lone menu item is a chin-dribbler loaded with tender barbecue pork, smoky chipotle sauce, and crunchy slaw on a Portuguese bun. The caffeine in the Southern Sweet Tea ($2.25) helps, but we recommend a nap immediately after hitting Re-Up. Look for a second cart this summer serving barbecue beef brisket sandwiches. Hornby & Georgia, open Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Reupbbq.com, Twitter @reupbbq

 

Japadog


The Dish Kurobuta Terimayo (Berkshire pork sausage with teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and shredded seaweed), $6.75. Vancouver’s original food cart is still worth the long lines it attracts. Lauded by everyone from Ice Cube to Anthony Bourdain, these tricked-out tube steaks with a Japanese twist are sold at three carts plus a stand-alone restaurant—and they’re always buzzing. Burrard & Smithe, open daily noon-7:30 p.m.; Pender & Burrard and Granville & W. Cordova, open daily 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Japadog.com, Twitter @japadog

 

The Kaboom Box

The Dish Fried Oyster Po’Boy Sandwich (panko-breaded Gulf Island oysters, housemade tartar sauce, and maple-mustard slaw), $7.14. This crew is serving up some of the best that B.C. has to offer, including Ocean Wise seafood. The po’boy is well seasoned, but try it with a little sriracha for a welcome kick. Robson & Granville, open Tues-Sat 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thekaboom­box.com, Twitter @TheKaboomBox

 

Cartel Taco

The Dish Pork Bulgogi tacos, 1 for $3, 4 for $10. The best from this Korean fusion cart is a tender soy-chili-marinated pork shoulder taco served in a warm corn tortilla with spicy kimchi, diced onion, and cilantro. Elevate the flavours with a spritz of fresh orange. Hamilton & Dunsmuir, open Mon–Fri 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Carteltaco.ca, Twitter @CartelTaco

 

Nu Greek


The Dish Lamb Souvlaki, $6. Harry Kambolis’s latest venture is a mobile version of his popular Greek restaurant, Nu. Choose from either lamb or organic chicken souvlaki—both are made according to an old family recipe and served in a housemade pita with tomatoes and local onions. Howe & Dunsmuir and Granville & Georgia, open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Kambolis.com

 

Eli’s Serious Sausage


The Dish Currywurst (bratwurst dog with curry ketchup and curry powder), $6. The best of the snappy sausages on offer. Spot the black and yellow umbrella at farmers markets and festivals. No cash? No sweat—unlike many carts, they take credit and debit. Location varies, open Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 604-366-0036. Eateli.com, Twitter  @EatEli

 

Arturo’s Mexico To Go

The Dish Tacotinos (slow-roasted rotisserie pork with chipotle sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla), $4.50. Most of Arturo’s authentic Mexican recipes require sitting in order to enjoy the sides of rice, guacamole, and beans. (The original tortilla soup, $3.50, is also delicious.) But the tacotinos are perfect for those on the move. Howe & W. Cordova, open Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Arturos2go.com, Twitter @arturos2go

 

Bada Bing


The Dish Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, $6.99. This is your source for foot-long Italian buns lined with sautéed steak (100 percent halal, free-range meat), onion, mushrooms, peppers and Monterey Jack cheese. Robson & Bute, open Tues-Sun 11:30 a.m.-3 pm and 6-9 p.m.), 604-773-9316

 

Roaming Dragon


The Dish Fried Rice Balls (deep-fried shrimp, chicken and Chinese sausage with bamboo shoots, mustard greens, and arborio rice), 4 for $6. Chef Don Letendre’s pan-Asian menu changes as often as the location, so follow the truck on Twitter. Whatever you order, the signature lychee-basil lemonade is a refreshing must. Location varies, open Monday-Friday ,11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 604-639-3335. Roamingdragon.com, Twitter @DragonTruck

 

La Brasserie Street


The Dish Brass Chicken Sandwich (beer-brined rotisserie chicken in gravy with frizzled onions on a buttermilk bun), $6.25. La Brasserie’s burgundy truck, located at the Canada Line’s City Centre stop, offers only one dish—but it’s a doozy. Grab a fistful of napkins and one of their famous butter tarts ($1.79) for afters. Corner of Granville & Georgia, open daily from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 778-989-4883. Twitter @LaBrasserieSt