You’re broke, I’m broke, we’re all broke. So where do we eat? This week I figured we look at street carts, a topic we touched on a few weeks ago. Funnily, the Post had the same idea today.
The gist is this, a few years ago city lifted it’s moratorium on new vending licenses but some funky regulations still exist making it hard for new vendors to come up in the city. That being said a few street vendors are out there and are making some killer – and affordable – food. Here’s a list:
A classic taco truck on 16th and Columbia. Maybe this will appease the people who keep saying there are no good tacos in D.C.
D.C. Central Kitchen’s Capital Cart
An employment development program from D.C. Central Kitchen, serving up tasty treats like a green gumbo. Good luck to them on this one so other carts can take hold, offering employment and a new future. (Image from Washington Post)
Delle & Campbell’s Halal Luncheonette
On H and 8th in Chinatown, serving up halal kebabrs, shawarma, merguez and Belgian waffles. Why did I not know about the waffles until seeing this photo on Flickr?
At 15th and M turning out gyros and chicken souvlaki.
At Howard University, serving coco bread, breakfast sandwiches, fried and baked chicken, potato wedges and hot soup.
L Street Vending a.k.a. The Bulgogi Cart
Voted the Best of DC by the readers of the City Paper, the little yellow cart on 14th and L turns it out with bulgogi and kimchi. (Image from Yelp)
The On The Fly kids and their little green cars are becoming a common sight and people like their food. They keep expanding and now have 13 locations listed on their site. Each spot has it’s own menu.
Vegetarian burritos and homemade hot sauce on 15th and K. Kind enough to offer magazine for everyone waiting in line.
On Ballston, this cute as a button cart is run by two cute as a button culinary school grads who wanted to start their dreams a little smaller. The result is amazing pizza that is making the reviewers go crazy. (Image from Washingtonian)
Whoops, I should research before I comment. I stand corrected:
funnily
Main Entry:
1fun·ny
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s):
fun·ni·er; fun·ni·est
1 a: affording light mirth and laughter : amusing b: seeking or intended to amuse : facetious2: differing from the ordinary in a suspicious, perplexing, quaint, or eccentric way : peculiar —often used as a sentence modifier 3: involving trickery or deception
— fun·ni·ly \ˈfə-nə-lē\ adverb
— fun·ni·ness \ˈfə-nē-nəs\ noun
— funny adverb
I knew it was right but I got all paranoid. Started thinking it was a bastardization of the word funnel. Funnel-y.
October 1, 2008 at 3:37 pm…or a bastardization of fennel. Fennel-y –as in, “the onion soup tastes very fennel-y today.”
October 1, 2008 at 4:26 pmYay!! thanks for this, Alex. I *heart* street meat.
October 1, 2008 at 5:46 pmI’ll try the Bulgogi cart. I had no idea it existed. I’ve been driving way out to Little River Turnpike for my Korean food fix. They need to serve Bulgogi Egg Cheese Ramen come winter (no, not Top Ramen, Shin Ramen). Shit is the bomb. Used to trade MREs for it in Katusa Snack Bars in Korea when it was 30 below zero.
October 2, 2008 at 10:14 amP.S. Does the taco cart serve hard shell tacos or that soft shell crap? There’s no such thing as a soft shell taco, it’s just a burrito that hasn’t been properly folded IMO.
October 2, 2008 at 10:16 amdude Shin Ramen is like staple convenience fare across Asia. fuck Japanese ramen. they don’t understand spicy. that shiz is crack. (haha, you said “the bomb”)
order the meat/bibim combo- i dont think its advertised but you get double the entrees. like a double whammy. WHAM WHAM
October 2, 2008 at 12:10 pmI LOVE this. I love street cart vendors - it’s one of the things I miss about Philly. An empty commercial street can have verve and come to life with a greek or pakistani street cart vendor who loves to chat with their customers and adds to the international feel of a city, makes industrial somewhat homey.
October 10, 2008 at 3:08 pmThis weekend I noticed the On The Fly cart and the halal cart park outside of 1223/Lucky Bar/Current for the late night eaters. Really smart!
October 10, 2008 at 3:19 pm
“Funnily” ? :) Pedro & Vinny’s rocks. They’re back after a hiatus!
October 1, 2008 at 2:52 pm