This story was put together for Very Local by Brian Conway. You can see more of his stories here.
Pittsburgh’s food trucks are proliferating this spring, popping up at area festivals, business parks and breweries throughout the city and suburbs to bring a world of food options to hungry lunch and dinner-goers looking for something new and delicious. Here are five new Pittsburgh food trucks whose unveiling you may have missed this past year.
The Boonseek // Korean Food
Owner, Dong-Jo Kim, worked as a chef in a Korean restaurant in Utah before he and his wife moved to Pittsburgh. He briefly considered opening a Korean restaurant, but opted for the more economical food truck instead, opening last October.
“Most Korean food is usually pricey, because it’s so intricate,” said Kim, who says Boonseek (which roughly means “street food” in Korean) is a way to expose Pittsburghers to a cuisine they might not ordinarily encounter. Alongside veggie rolls, dumplings, and boneless fried chicken with rice, the most popular dish is the corndog, filled with cheese, sausage, or both. The secret, Kim said, is that the ‘dog is coated with sugar after it’s fried instead of being added to the batter, resulting in a sweet and savory mashup that’s not as greasy as its American counterpart. Check their Instagram for a weekly schedule.
Secretos de mis Abuelos // Puerto Rican
This Puerto Rican food truck proudly claims to be the first of its kind in the region. The name translates to “My Grandparents’ Secrets.” Owner Felipe Crespo learned the recipes from his grandmother, and offers classics like tacos and tostones alongside rotating items based on the day of the week: there’s Mofongo Monday, Steak Saturday, and Fritura Friday, with rice and beans alongside fried yuca and shredded pork and chicken. For now you can find them afternoons and evenings on Crane Ave. in Beechview, a block back from Route 51, in the Fleatique parking lot. Follow them on Facebook for the latest.
Soul Biscuit // Buttermilk Biscuits
Soul Biscuit is not a truck but a cart, pulled through town on a custom tandem bike operated by friends Micah Maughan and Kit Durrett.
“We wanted to make something like pizza, that everyone loves,” said Durrett.
The flaky buttermilk biscuits are made with cornmeal, too, for added crunch and texture. You can order them smothered in jam, swimming in sausage gravy, or covered in smoked pulled chicken with pickles on a twist of Nashville Hot sauce. The menu rotates roughly once a month, and you can find their most up-to-date spots on the pair’s Instagram page.
Streets on the Fly // International Street Food
The brainchild of South Side’s Streets on Carson, Streets on the Fly launched right before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. While their storefront offers over a dozen international street food options, the food truck keeps it simple: fall-off-the-bone tender confit wings alongside fresh-cut fries and ribeye cheesesteaks. Streets co-owner, Matt Christie, once served as personal chef to Eagles owner, Jeffrey Lurie, so you know the cheesesteak pedigree is there. Keep up to date on their Instagram.
Haskel’s Deli // Jewish Deli
Pittsburgh is home to some top-tier delis (Carson Street and Smallman Street, represent), but a great Jewish deli, the kind you might find in New York’s Lower East Side? Fuggedaboutit! As we reported in November, Haskel’s Food Truck is officially on the road, offering Jewish Deli “greatest hits,” like Pastrami on rye, matzah ball soup, and knishes. Read more in our profile and interview, and check out their website for upcoming stops and the latest menu items.
From the street to storefront
Bonus: We love hearing about food trucks that make the leap to brick-and-mortar (Braddock’s Brassero Grill and Lawrenceville’s Pita my Shawarma come to mine), and you can add two more to the list: Mediterranean food purveyors Hummus Pittsburgh just unveiled a storefront at 3285 W. Liberty Ave., at the Dormont/Mt. Lebanon border, while The Coop Chicken and Waffles opened a Northside storefront over the summer, at 401 East Ohio Street, across from Allegheny Commons Park.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments.
More great eats coming soon!
We’ve got a preview of the new cocktail brewery and check out this list of restaurants, distilleries and ice cream stands that we are looking forward to trying this summer.
