Food trucks have been a staple in the DMV for some time, revamping our workday lunches by parking conveniently near office buildings across the region. But as COVID-19 sent us home and limited our travels—even to our favorite local breweries, where food trucks are mainstays—the meals on wheels have seen sales dry up along with their restaurant counterparts.
There is good news though. As home cooking becomes stale and local eaters are in search of something new, these 10 food trucks continue to serve the DMV during the global pandemic. Here’s where you can find them and satisfy your cravings, all while being safe and socially distant. Be sure to check for delivery options for some food trucks as well, as some are offering occasional ordering through delivery apps or delivery preorders, depending on their locations and daily offerings.
7moltin
If you’re missing a cheesy plate of enchiladas or a steaming tray of fajitas from your favorite Mexican restaurant, you’re going to want to make your way to 7moltin. The bright-yellow truck is serving up Mexican meals in Manassas, including carnitas de pato tacos, cochinita pibil (Mexican pulled pork shoulder), pescado rebozado (breaded and fried fish) and its tri-color “famous” enchiladas. There’s so much to enjoy, from the seven sauces to the homemade tortillas, you might just be coming back for more later on. Call ahead to preorder, and don’t forget to check out the daily dessert.
Buena’Dillas
Maybe you’re not ready to buy all of the ingredients (including mounds of cheese) to make your own quesadillas at home. No worries, Beuna’Dillas has you covered. With everything from a barbecue duck quesadilla to a spicy shrimp quesadilla, the food truck has been frequenting Camden Dulles Station Apartments through April, and is sure to be popping up in other neighborhoods soon. Look for the smiling sliced quesadilla on the side of the truck, and check in with the Facebook page to find out when you can get your next quesadilla fix near you.
DC Steakholders
Heading north to Philadelphia is a bit out of the question right now, but you can still get your cheesesteaks nearby with DC Steakholders. A soft bun topped with thinly sliced steak, melted cheese, peppers and onions with a side of fries is the classic way to go, but the local food truck can please just about anyone with a veggie cheesesteak and chicken cheesesteak on the menu as well. And to top it off, the truck is also churning fresh custard and milkshakes for the ultimate indulgence. Check its Facebook page to find it near you (or go to its permanent location in Falls Church) and support its initiative to feed front-line workers too.
Fire Escape Food Truck
The Fire Escape Food Truck is also heading into your NoVA neighborhood, flipping fresh “crazy burgers” that you just can’t make the same at home. Check the Facebook page for the weekly whereabouts (note that some events are private depending on location, but most are open to the public), and let your heart crave everything from a classic cheeseburger to the jalapeno sausage burger with a side of fries. The truck has also been making its way around the community to serve front-line workers, so take your chance to get top-quality burgers than have been enjoyed by local doctors and nurses too.
Kool Zone Food Truck
For most food trucks, the ideal hours are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. But things are different at Kool Zone Food Truck, and it’s not just a menu that offers a “Don’t be a Chicken” sandwich alongside a “Picky Mother Klucker” chicken bites and fried Oreos for dessert. If you’re looking for jerk chicken, chicken served on a funnel cake or even a veggie sandwich, make your way to Kool Zone for lunch. But if you’re looking for breakfast too, head over to get a pancake platter, an order of the chicken and waffles or a breakfast burrito. The truck has been making various local stops, so make sure to check the Facebook page for the most recent updates, and to get yourself whatever fits your fancy, even if it’s just a hot breakfast sandwich and cup of coffee, just like the pre-pandemic days.
Lady K’s Catering, LLC
When the day is dragging on, sometimes you just need some barbecue. Chicken wings, hot dogs and homemade banana pudding are getting served up at the Leesburg-based Lady K’s Catering truck. Check whether the truck is serving lunch or dinner in the near future, and get a plate with all the fixins you need: collard greens, peach and bourbon chicken, french fries and macaroni and cheese. Things might not seem “normal” but getting a plate of comfort food may be just what you need to cheer yourself up.
Little Lady Grill & Sandwiches
Calling ahead to preorder is the new method working for Little Lady Grill & Sandwiches as the food truck makes its way across Northern Virginia and Maryland during the stay-at-home order. From Sterling to Arlington, the truck has been on the move and serving up its original grilled salmon, pesto shrimp and other grilled sandwiches. Pair your sandwich with a side salad and rice and your meal is sure to be both nutritious and satisfying. Plus, it will support a local, woman-owned business. Check the Facebook page to see where it’s headed next, or send a message requesting an area near you.
Lombardo’s Detroit-style Pizza
So you’ve seen your pizza delivery guy a little too often lately, and you’re looking for something a little more satisfying. Let the extra thick, yet very crispy crust of this Detroit-style pizza call your name from DMV-based Lombardo’s (owned by King Street Oyster Bar. The menu includes original cheese, pepperoni, a “Motown Veggie” with onion, mushroom, green pepper, arugula, tomato and pesto pizzas, as well as “Nutella sticks” for a sweet treat. The truck has been hosting a pop-up at King Street Oyster in Leesburg, but is also appearing across the region. Check the Facebook page for its nearest upcoming location, and place your order online or over the phone to get your perfect, not-delivery pizza during the pandemic.
PhoWheeLs
There’s nothing quite as comforting as a steaming bowl of soup, and PhoWheeLs is ready to serve up whenever you’re feeling down. Making its way across the region through May, the DC-based truck is offering hot pho soup in a cup, Vietnamese-style tacos and fresh banh mi sandwiches. Banh mis are served with chicken thigh, mushroom-onion tofu or pork belly, and topped with cilantro, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrot and garlic aioli, on a crusty, white roll, and tacos can have eye-round steak, beef-tendon meatballs or chicken breast (topped with red onions, scallions, cilantro, jalapeños, rice noodles and beef bone broth). But the soup? Get your beef-based noodle soup with three meat options and topped with basil, jalapeños, scallions, lime and more. Plus, add a deep-fried Chinese bread stick for $1.50, or a Vietnamese iced coffee for a sweet jolt to your lunch. Be sure to check the schedule through Sunday, May 31, as kids 12 and under will get a cup of chicken pho for free.
Zainy’s Flyin’ Grill
Two words: puffy tacos. These drizzled, squishy-yet-crispy and totally Instagram-worthy tacos started popping up around NoVA back at the beginning of the year, before the pandemic sent most food trucks to the parking lot. But Zainy’s Flyin’ Grill is determined to bring good food to the DMV and has been making stops at local neighborhoods across the region throughout the pandemic. Look for the bubblegum-pink food truck making its way around by tuning into the Facebook page daily, and be sure to give the menu a look. The San Antonio-inspired tacos can be topped with seasoned ground beef and cheese, lamb gyro and white sauce, and dishes can be made vegan with black beans and maple-peppered sriracha sauce. If the truck isn’t scheduled near you in the future, request a stop for your neighborhood.
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The post Find these 10 DMV-based food trucks for comfort food during COVID-19 appeared first on Northern Virginia Magazine.
