Exploring the Culinary Back Streets

The sun feels good on my head as I look at our distorted reflection in the quilted chrome of Le Truck on a recent blue sky day in Yakima. Aileen, Shelley and I are waiting patiently to get a bite of the tasty, truck-born vittles we have been hearing so much about. Standing around waiting for the closed sign to flip to open, we chanced some conversation with some of the other folks waiting in line for lunch. Turns out many of them are first timers too. Expectations for the food are increasing in equal amount with the rumbling in our bellies, until finally, the “order here” window is pulled up. When the paper boats finally come our way completing our order, it does not disappoint. Our wide eyes and full mouths are pleased with every bite.

Right now, there’s something going on in the culinary back streets of our Valley. It’s like a slow revolution, so quiet you might not even realize it’s going down. There are several new food trucks around these here parts, parked and waiting to fill your stomach with everything from burgers to beignets.

Our community is no stranger to the delights of the food truck. Mobile taquerias are, blissfully, a Yakima Valley staple, and have been for some time. There’s nothing like an asada (beef) or adovada (pork) taco, dripping with fresh squeezed lime juice in a warm tortilla, fresh out of the truck—truly, some of the best tacos around. But the reach is getting broader. While we’re no Portland, the variety is increasing, albeit incrementally.

We took some time on a recent afternoon to have a slow, large lunch, spread out over four trucks, beginning with Le Truck, parked on 18^th and Nob Hill this day, where we were wide eyed with pleasure. Local eggs, Pink Lady apples and smoky bacon? Chili braised chicken thighs and fresh avocado? Rockfish tacos with pickled fennel cabbage and black bean salsa? What more needs to be said between oh! and mmm?

Next we headed down to the new food truck designated area (!!!) on the 2100 block of South 1^st Street where 3 trucks were parked that day. We had a solid asada taco at Chronic Food’s. Next was the porchetta sandwich at Sammie’s Souper Sandwiches—wow! And topped it all off with a bag of beignets at the Rocking M Ranch Café, where she rolled out the dough before our eyes for a bag of super fresh, sweet, hot beignets, the perfect mobile dessert. There is seating here, which is a huge bonus, with hookups for more trucks. It would be great to see it full in the near future. Three was perfect for us on this day, because we were able to try them all.*

As the blue sky days are on the rise, take advantage and get your lunch outdoors. Keep it local with some great eats, and help swing the food truck doors of the Yakima Valley wide open. There’s some exciting times ahead where the rubber meets the road.

*The following day, Shelley and Aileen hit the Twisted Sister panini truck across the street from Jack in the Box for a flavor packed shrimp po boy, so we wanted to make sure and tip our hat to them as well!  Shelley says to grab a few extra napkins, as the sauce will drip down your arm…