Cazba Express

Truck: Cazba Express

Location: Robson and Granville

Type of Food: Persian

Sidekicks: KB

Food Ordered: 
Koobideh Kabob wrap

The Verdict: 

What little I've been able to try of Persian food I love!  I am a sucker for meat on sticks in wraps and this did not disappoint!  Especially on hot days I miss being in Mytilene, Greece where on every corner there isn't a Starbucks (like in Vancouver) but there is a Pita Euro shop where you can grab some food for next to nothing and it tastes delicious. Whenever I have a wrap like this it brings me back - especially when it is delicious.  

This carts food was delicious, full of lots of great spices and it was also cheap and quick so if you're hungry and in a rush I would definitely recommend hitting this truck.

Favourite Thing(s) About This Truck: 

The originality.  I love that this cart represents one of the families of people that live in Vancouver.  I love the diversity that this cart provides.

Accessibility: 

Great if you're shopping on Robson or out on Granville street.  This is only a couple of blocks away from the skytrain stations at City Centre and Granville.

Green Rating: 

Rating: 4/5

Value:  5/5

La Brasserie

Truck: La Brasserie

Location: Granville and Georgia 

Type of Food: French 

Sidekicks: Secret Sidekick and LadyK

Food Ordered: 
Brass Chicken Sandwich - Beer brined rotisserie chicken in gravy, on a buttermilk bun, topped with crispy onions

Worlds best butter tart

The Verdict: 

Wow!  The chicken is so moist and delicious in this sandwich!  The gravy, although messy was the perfect amount for me.  The combination with the gravy, chicken, onions and the bun  worked so well together both in texture and flavour that I will definitely be back for another one.  

The "Worlds best butter tart" was not the best butter tart that I have ever had so I would challenge the name "Worlds best" but it was pretty good!  Nice flaky pastry and just enough filling, this tart is a great little desert.  

Note: I had to wait for a few hours to eat the tart because I was so full from my delicious sandwich.

My only complaint about the truck was the service was a bit brash.  It was quick and delicious and a hot day so I will give them the benefit of the doubt that this was because they were working in an oven.  Hopefully next time I try them they'll be less grumpy.

Favourite Thing(s) About This Truck: 

The onions!  I love crispy, battered, fried onions.  There is something about the aroma and the taste that always make you want to go back for more!

Accessibility: 

Probably one of the best food cart locations in the city this truck is located right outside of the Canada Line station at Georgia and Granville.

Green Rating: They have the standard recycling. 

Rating: 4/5

Value:  5/5

Mogu

Truck: Mogu

Location: Dunsmuir and Howe 

Type of Food: Japanese

Sidekicks: Kris and Mandeep

Food Ordered: 
T - Pork Miso Katsu Sandwich and Green Tea

Mandeep - Pulled Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich

Kris - Kabocha Korokke Sandwich 

Share - Sweet & Spicy Chicken Karaage

The Verdict: 

Apparently Miso Katsu is what Nagoya is renowned for.  I haven't been there but Erica has so she will need to provide the final verdict on how this compares to the legit thing, but I loved this sandwich the best out of the three.  The wasabi mayo gives this sandwich that extra oomph of flavour that when paired with the pork 

Although it is fried, the crispness reminds me of eating my Grandfather's fried chicken on a summer day at the ballpark...or at the symphony with my mom and sisters.  

Favourite Thing(s) About This Truck: 

Godzilla on the outside of the truck! Also all of the food was delicious!

Accessibility: 

A great location

Green Rating: They have the standard recycling. 

Rating: 5/5

Value:  5/5

Dim Sum Express

Truck: Dim Sum Express

Location: 200 Howe St (In front of the Pan Pacific and Vancouver Convention Centre on Howe)
Type of Food: Dim sum

Sidekicks: KS

Food Ordered: 
Combo B - Spring Rolls, Pork Dumplings, Chow Mein and Vegetables

Combo C - Pan-Fried Dumplings, Sticky Rice and Vegetables and an extra order of BBQ Pork Buns

The Verdict: 

I was very interested to try this truck.  As a Dim Sum lover I was intrigued to see whether this combination would display some of the best we have in the city or whether it would disappoint.  The food was decent, tasted like Dim Sum, but I wouldn't say it was the best Dim Sum in Vancouver, and would probably head to Floata before going here again as it is cheaper and closer to my office.  

I did like that the Pork Dumplings (Siu Mai) didn't have shrimp in them, but this does indicate that they were cheap ones and not the fancy ones that they have at many of the restaurants in Vancouver.

If you are a tourist visiting Vancouver and have never tried Dim Sum and are staying at the Fairmont Pacific Rim or the Pan Pacific I would suggest trying this experience.  If you work in the area I would guess this is some of the quickest Dim Sum you can get and recommend that if you have a hankering to head here.  If you are closer to Chinatown or Richmond I would say don't go out of your way to hit up this truck as you can get cheaper, better Dim Sum in these areas.

Favourite Thing(s) About This Truck: 

I liked the variety and the capability to mix and match combinations of Dim Sum dishes close to tourist hubs in our city.  I like that this brings awareness to the Chinese influence that we have in Vancouver.

Accessibility: Great location if you're staying at the Pan Pacific or the Fairmont Pacific Rim.  It is also right outside of Waterfront Skytrain station.

Green Rating: No recycling here.

Rating: 3/5 

Value:  3/5

Rim Food Baht

Truck: Rim Food Baht

Location: Hamilton at Robson St in front of the CBC building

Type of Food: Thai

Sidekicks: LadyK and Kris

Food Ordered: 

Green Curry

Basil and Eggplant

Fresh Young Coconut

The Verdict: 

I've been to this cart twice now and tried two different dishes. 

If you like Thai curry then the Green curry served by this cart will hit the spot.  Served over a bed of white rice, this green curry is made fresh while you wait.  It is not the best curry I have had in Vancouver but it was very delicious and relatively fast.

The Basil and Eggplant also served on a bed of white rice is my favourite of the two dishes.  The dish usually comes with pork but LadyK ordered it with Tofu as well.  The combination is genius and delicious!  The basil and eggplant combination complement each other very well and make you want to eat more.

This cart offers a few substitutions, tofu for meat and brown rice for white rice.  

The fresh young coconut is perhaps one of the most delicious and refreshing beverages I've ever tried!  To serve this the owners simply chop off the top of the coconut.  It comes with a straw and a spoon. Once you finish drinking the coconut water you scrape out the insides and eat them.  If you've never had this experience I highly recommend it.  Delicious and nutritious!  It also comes with a little umbrella so when you walk back into the office with it and get into the elevator everyone wants to know what tropical bar you have just come from.

Favourite Thing(s) About This Truck: 

The fresh young coconut  is by far my favourite thing about this truck.  They are amazingly refreshing on a hot summer day!

I also love the very friendly staff!  I love encountering staff who deliver service with a smile.  This cart is definitely a great example of good service.

Also if you hit this cart between noon and 1 during the summer you can catch the CBC Nooners.  This series of free outdoor concerts is definitely great accompaniment to a delicious lunch.

Accessibility: Great location if you're studying at the library

Green Rating: They recycle everything!

Rating: 4/5 

Value:  5/5

The pictorial version of the menu

The menu

Recycling!

Note - they take Cash Only

The cooking space

The Chef preparing my coconut yummy!

Green Curry

Basil and Eggplant with tofu and pork

Fresh young coconut

Tacofino Orange - Salima and Mun's Guest Post

 A couple of my friends wanted to try this truck in Robson Square as I tried a different truck - they wanted to give blogging a whirl and have kindly written a guest post for us to enjoy.

Truck: Tacofino Orange (Guest post by Salima and Mun)

Location: Howe and Robson beside Mom's Grilled Cheese and Pig on the Street

Type of Food: Tacos with w twist

Sidekicks: Mun and Salima

Food Ordered: 

Pork Gringa Taco – Spicy braised pork in a grilled 6” flour tortilla with melted cheese, sour cream and mango salsa

Fish Taco – Tempura battered ling cod with chipotle mayo, shredded cabbage and salsa fresca on a fire toasted flour tortilla.

Chocolate-Diablo Cookie – Fudgy chocolate cookie with fresh ginger and chili, milk chocolate chunks, and salty sprinkles

The Verdict: 

The gringo (pork) taco was divine – it was the perfect combination of tasty, cheesy, yummy goodness (the hot sauce just topped it off!)

The tacos were too small to eat only one but too big to finish two – not really a negative point however the only other negative comment was the lineup – our mouths were watering as we watched each person pick up their tacos and we patiently waited for ours

Favourite Thing(s) About This Truck: 

The cookie with a hint of chilli was a lovely treat!  Four of us shared the cookie and it left us wanting more and more – next time we’ll get one each!

Accessibility: In the “Food truck circle” surrounding the VAG (Vancouver Art Gallery) – centrally located to the downtown core.

Green Rating: Nothing worth mentioning

Rating: 4/5 

Value:  5/5

Eagerly waiting to order - mmm looks good!

Wow these tacos look amazing!

Take a look at this amazing taco I am consuming!

The Girls pose in front of Tacofino - We missed you Emma!

The Grilled Cheese Battle

	Taser Grilled Cheese	Mom’s Grilled Cheese
Location	Main St and Terminal Avenue	Howe and West Georgia
Sidekicks	None – today – just me, but because this is across from the office I have gathered some additional intel	Kat and Secret Sidekick
Food Ordered	The Vampire’s Bite	Tara - The Daily Special – The Hot Angie Kat and Secret Sidekick made their own
The Verdict	Yummy!  Said to have a cult following, it is easy to understand why!  The friendly owner has created a few simple twists on an amazing thing; these sandwiches are a perfect blend of the right amount of cheese and are definitely worth every penny!  The overall verdict in the office is that we love all of the sandwiches that Yasmin turns out!	I loved my sandwich.  Hot Capicola, hot peppers and Havarti on sourdough bread – yum!  It lasted me 2 whole meals it was so rich and filling.  I also loved that it came with fresh made potato chips and a pickle. My sidekicks both loved their sandwiches.  Secret Sidekick said there was a little too much cheese and had to take some out because it was too rich. I also tried the Sweet Tea – I loved the combination of flavours.
Favourite Thing about this Truck	The price point!  Easily the best deal around as far as food carts are concerned and for the variety that Taser offers it is one of those secret gems in our city!	The handmade potato chips and the fact that it there are root beer floats on the menu!  I will definitely be stopping to try one after work one of these days!
Accessibility	Right outside of the Main Street Science World skytrain station.  Great for all Vancity Employees as it right across the street from our office.	Robson street outside of the Art Gallery – accessible to those of you in the downtown core and only a few blocks away from the skytrain stations at Burrard and Granville
Overall Rating	5/5	4/5

AND THE WINNER IS…

In my mind – which may be contrary to much of the buzz in the city – I feel that as an all-around cart Taser takes the cheese so to speak.  The balance of ingredients, creative solutions yet commitment to simplicity and the price point make a more well-rounded lunch experience.  Also, because of location, it often doesn’t take 45 mins to get a sandwich from Taser like it does from Mom’s. I do love both of these carts though – who doesn’t like grilled cheese?

Get out there and try them both to determine who you think the winner is!