By Jodi Mailander Farrell

The food truck trend is still rolling strong in Florida, where you don’t have to look far to find an exceptional meal on the road. Whether roving the state’s streets or rallying with other food wagons at a food truck round-up, these meals on wheels are worth following for a feast.

RAW & JUICY, SEASIDE

One of South Walton County’s first organic food and juice bars, this healthy eating establishment serves vegan and raw choices from a vintage 1966 Airstream that owner Jennifer Kuntz, a former dancer, parks along Scenic Highway 30A on the Gulf Coast. Along with cold-pressed juices and wheat or ginger shots, the chalkboard menu includes fresh salads, acai bowls, a veggie hummus wrap, vegan burritos, smoothies, homemade granola and raw pasta with raw nut, basil and garlic pesto. The food trailer is so popular that a brick-and-mortar shop is now open a block away.
Find it: 2255 E. County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
Info: 850-231-0043, rawandjuicylife.com


Other food trucks: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, at least a half-dozen classic silver Airstream food trailers line Highway 30A, creating a funky food court known as “Airstream Row,” with outdoor seating just a short distance from the beach. Find gourmet grilled cheese, barbeque and hot dogs, among other choices.

BEM BOM, ORLANDO

Bem Bom means “good good” in Portuguese, a response to the question, “How does it taste?” Chef Francisco “Chico” Mendonça has created an enthusiastic following for Orlando’s first authentic Portuguese food truck. Popular dishes include duck confit tacos, lamb burgers and chicken prego sandwich with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro, radishes and spicy piri-piri pepper sauce. A brick-and-mortar spot is also in the works at 3101 Corrine Dr. in Audubon Park.
Find it: Every Monday outside of Redlight Redlight beer parlor, 2810 Corrine Dr., in Audubon Park, among other spots. Follow Bem Bom on Facebook @BemBomFood or Twitter @BemBomFood, or check out the truck’s calendar on its website.
Info: 321-236-2660, bembomfood.com

Other food trucks: : Tasty Takever” is a food truck block party every Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m., in the Milk District community east of downtown Orlando.

PERROS EXPRESS, MIAMI

A favorite among the late-night partying crowds, this Colombian fast-food truck specializes in South American street-style hot dogs and burgers. The signature hot dog, the Super Paisa Perro, is dressed with 10 colorful garnishes, including melted queso, green garlic cilantro sauce, pink sauce, diced bacon, crushed potato chips, pineapple purée and quail eggs. Perro Express was voted “Best Food Truck” in 2017 by Miami New Times.
Find it: Every first Friday of the month, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., at Friday Night Food Trucks at Palmetto Bay Village Center, 18001 Old Cutler Rd., among other locations. Follow Perros Express on Facebook @PerrosExpressColombianFoodtruck or Twitter @PerrosExpress
Info:
305-684-5111

Other food trucks: Miami’s best food trucks roll into Wynwood Arts District every second Saturday of the month for Art Walk, the neighborhood’s after-hours galleries stroll. The trucks fill the empty lot at Northwest 23rd Street and Northwest 2nd Avenue, and start serving around 6 p.m.

MICHELLE FAEDO’S ON THE GO, TAMPA

In a town passionate about its Cuban sandwiches, Michelle and Robert Faedo’s version with juicy, piled-high pork, fresh herbs and pressed bread, is a longtime favorite sold out of their On The Go food truck. The wife-and-husband team, who used to own a restaurant in Ybor City, sell 150 to 200 sandwiches a day. They’re also known for their gourmet deviled crabs. The two are planning to open a downtown Tampa storefront, Michelle Faedo's Tampeño Cuisine, at 1218 Ray Charles Blvd.
Find it: Cypress Point Office Park, 10006 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., most weekdays or Cigar City Brewing 3924 W. Spruce St.,  on weekends. Follow the truck’s schedule on Facebook.
Info: 813-784-6933

Other food trucks: Flicks and Food Trucks” is a free gathering of 15 to 20 gourmet food trucks, along with craft beers, an outdoor movie screening and live music, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every third Thursday of the month at The Grand Central at Kennedy, 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Sister Sara’s Crab House dishes Crab Boil out of the restaurant’s Fort Lauderdale truck.

Sister Sara’s Crab House dishes Crab Boil out of the restaurant’s Fort Lauderdale truck.

- Sister Sara’s Crab House

SISTER SARA’S CRAB HOUSE, FORT LAUDERDALE

Owned by husband-and-wife duo Terry and Laquonda Griffin, Sister Sara’s Crab House is a restaurant that often takes its phenomenal Crab Boil on the road in a bright red food truck. The truck’s popularity has taken off since the South Florida food blogger The Hungry Black Man named it one of his favorites in 2016. The Crab Boil is served in a large aluminum pan with snow crab, corn-on-the-cob, sausage, whole boiled eggs, potatoes and jumbo shrimp. There are also honey hot fried jump shrimp and fries, a Philly cheese steak sandwich topped with grilled shrimp, and strawberry shortcake.
Find it: Primarily stationed at 665 SW 27th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Follow the truck when it hits the road from the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Info: 954-514-7088

Other food trucks: “Food Truck Invasion’s Family Night at Plantation” features more than a dozen food trucks every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, in the western Fort Lauderdale suburb of Plantation.

 

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