It’s lunchtime in Foggy Bottom and J Street sounds unappealing already. Strewn across campus sit brightly colored food trucks all vying for student’s attention — and dollars. So which food trucks are worth your cash?
Pepe @pepefoodtruck
★★★★½✰
Chef Jose Andres continues to serve up lessons to Foggy Bottom even after teaching a class to GW students last semester. Now, he’s created one of the first chef-inspired food trucks. His sandwiches — like the pollo frito with tangy piparra peppers and brava sauce for $9 — fill you up without requiring sides. Plus, it’s wrapped up to make for easy on-the-go eating.
CapMac @CapMacDC
★★★★½✰4
CapMac, a.k.a. the Holy Grail, crafts an awesome combination of coolness and creamy, crunchy cheese cracker-topped macaroni and cheese. The issue: Lines for the truck are like those outside of the Verizon Center when Jay-Z comes to town — nearly impossible to conquer without time or money. When you find yourself with both, seek the Holy Grail: Mac and cheese topped with chicken parmesan meatballs is worth the wait and the slight tug on your wallet.
Far East Taco Grille @FarEastTG
★★★★✰
Far East Taco Grille satisfies cravings like a panicked husband going out to 7-Eleven at 3 a.m. for his pregnant wife, except their food tastes good at all hours of the day. Authentic Mexican tacos are fused with the likes of Asian-style juicy steak, kimchi-lime slaw, spicy pineapple sauce and onion-lime relish. Satisfy a craving with one taco for just $3 or fill yourself up with three for $8.
Yumpling @yumplingdc
★★★✰✰
Yumpling’s dumplings are not yummy because of the dumpling itself. The yum comes from their sauces: The sweet chili is tame, while their spicy chili oil satiates more adventurous appetites. The meat and veggie fillings are not significant, so just treat this bright yellow truck as your place for cheap, yummy snacks where you can grab six dumplings for $5.
Tasty Kabob @TastyKabob
★★½✰✰✰
Lamb over rice with white sauce may be your go-to halal fixture, but this popular truck should up its game for the price it’s charging. If you’re really in the mood, go for a side like chickpeas or okra for $2, but if not, pass this truck up and get some better bang for your GWorld-less buck.
THE DISH ON OFF-CAMPUS BITES…
fojol bros. @fojolbros
★★★★★
This traveling circus goes by fojol, not Ringling, and serves Indian and Mediterranean-style cuisine. Sides include curry and non-melting Mango Lossipops.
Basil Thyme @BasilThymeDC
★★★★½✰
Missing mom’s lasagna? Hit up Basil Thyme. They husk and roast their corn as a side to $11 traditional lasagna dishes.
DC Slices @dcslices
★★✰✰✰
Disclaimer: I am a New Yorker. Appropriately prefaced with “DC,” the pizza has a brick (not “brick oven”) crust. At $4 a slice, it is not worth the price nor the hype.
