“Meals on Wheels,” of Sorts

Robyn Tenenbaum, Contributing Writer, Food Culture

You know how people always say you’re supposed to find your perfect match when you’re not looking? Well, today that happened to me. I didn’t find my dream man but, I did, however, find the perfect place to satisfy my indecisive lunch craving. When you get tired of eating at the same old same old places for lunch, where do you turn? At that very moment of hesitation, I found the best-kept secret.

Nestled in a small, vacant lot between a pizza joint and a bohemian vintage shop, the “Bomb Taco” trailer is surely an unknown treasure. I don’t know if it was the ornate graffiti plastered on the side of the stand, or the thrill of buying my early afternoon lunch out of the side of a window that made my breakfast taco that much better.

Clearly, the Bomb 

The menu is as expected—not too lengthy and inexpensive, but oh-so-delish.  Apparently these window service food trucks are all the rage in the city of Austin.  They remind me of a better version of buying a hot dog off the streets of New York, taking fast food to a whole new level. My entire breakfast taco experience at the Bomb Taco trailer took under 3 minutes -- strolled up on my way to Spanish class, received my foil-wrapped treat, walked off, devoured, and licked my fingers.

These food trailers seem to be popping up everywhere I turn. On my late night walk home from the library a few days ago, I was baffled by what I thought was a parked car on the sidewalk blaring rap music. At first I thought I was delirious from my 5-hour study session, but as I approached this bizarre vehicle, I realized just where Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” was coming from:  a mini-size trailer selling gourmet waffles! As if the music wasn’t enough to catch my attention, the aroma of waffles and syrup in the midnight air coerced me into delving into such a vice. Although I had to run an extra mile or two in my next workout, to eat at that waffle stand on the random street corner was by far the best decision I made all week.  

This isn’t the only food truck that I have blown my poor college-student funds on lately. I’ve also had the pleasure of being a willing customer of the famous “Hey Cupcake!” trailer on South Congress in Austin.  How genius is it that someone thought to make a mobile cupcake shop?  Hey Cupcake’s quaint, retro mobile home façade lures in motorists, their passengers, pedestrians, bikers and joggers (those not concerned with health, of course) to stop en route to try one of their many fancy cupcakes.  

Hey! 

The moral of the story is this: Anyone can eat at the obligatory food places we pass by daily, but why not make breakfast time, lunch time, snack time, or waffle time an experience by trying a place that is fun and a bit offbeat?  You may gain a little weight by following my week’s eating suggestions, but sometimes a breakfast taco, a waffle and a cupcake served out of a trailer window is just plain worth it. 

Comments

[Anonymous]

OH MY GOD THIS MAKES ME WANT TO SUSTAIN SOLELY ON FOOD FROM CARTS!!!!! THIS AUTHOR IS AMAZING!!

[jdskj shsk]

sooooooooooooooooooo good

[A]

Kebabalicious on 7th and Trinity- the name speaks for itself. I personally find it to be the most satisfying late night cart food in all of Austin.

[medical consultation]

Meals On Wheels, is very helpful for everyone who is far away from city or restaurants..