Credit Waff N Roll

We’ve always preached about how this town could use a stronger food truck presence. Last year’s Laguna Beach Food Truck Festival was a good start.

Now a long-time resident, Brian Fast, has taken up the cause. Fast will be locally debuting his Waff N Roll truck this evening (Wednesday) at the Laguna Beach High School open house from 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.

As you can probably guess, the concept is built around waffle sandwiches — inspired by Bruxie, perhaps? — featuring selections like pulled pork, cheeseburger, tandoori chicken, smoked turkey and, for the vegetarians, rosemary balsalmic mushroom. (Check out the Waff N Roll website right here for the full menu.) The waffles themselves are prepared without oil, which we’re told makes them crispier and easier to hold so the whole thing doesn’t collapse onto that shirt you just bought.

Waff N Roll has only been, umm … rolling … for a few weeks, so tonight would be a good time to take their sandwiches out for a test drive before they get crazy-popular like all the other food trucks we love and now have to wait in loooong lines to enjoy.

http://lagunabeach.patch.com/articles/good-evening-laguna-beach-are-you-ready-to-waff-n-roll

A second food truck from Irvine-based Habit Restaurants LLC is set to roll next month as the company also continues with its plan to open at least 20 new restaurants this year.

Habit Burger operates a chain of 69 Habit Burger Grills, mostly in California, along with Arizona and Utah.

The company launched its first truck in late 2011 and has seen an average of one private event daily since the rollout, prompting Habit to purchase a second truck that’s expected to be based out of Orange County for service throughout Southern California.

The company sees the truck as a good marketing tool and will roll out more based on demand, said Vice President of Marketing Mike Mirkil.

“We would love to put trucks in all the markets where we have restaurants, but these are custom-made. They’re not cheap. We don’t buy used; we buy them brand-new,” Mirkil said. “We don’t necessarily look at it as a revenue-generating vehicle. We really think first and foremost the Habit truck is a great branding device.”

Habit competes in the better-burger category of the restaurant industry’s fast-casual segment that includes another local, Irvine-based In-N-Out Burgers Inc. Others are Virginia-based Five Guys Enterprises LLC and Denver-based Smashburger Master LLC.

“Over the last year, we have seen continued and new competition from not only burger players but also continued competition from non-burger chains,” Mirkil said. “More sandwich chains are calling themselves fast casual, and pizza chains calling themselves fast casual are popping up. They’re not direct competitors with us, but the fast-casual segment is continuing to get more and more crowded. If we focus on creating one better burger at a time, we’ll do just fine.”

The company launched earlier this week the promotion of its Santa Barbara-Style Charburger, a $5.45 sandwich made with two beef patties topped with avocado on sourdough bread.

Habit partners with the California Avocado Commission at least once annually to promote a sandwich or salad item that includes avocados from California farmers.

The promotion will include the commission’s logo on in-store merchandising expected to run through early June.

Habit Burger has opened five restaurants over the past few months, including the company’s entrance into the Utah market, followed up with a second location in that state last month.

“We have more than 20 stores planned for this year, so the second half’s going to be busy this year,” Mirkil said.

Habit is set to open a second Irvine location in the summer that will be a drive-thru. The company, which offers more of a sit-down environment, currently has drive-thrus at its Northridge and Visalia restaurants.

“We’re feeling better right now about drive-thrus, because we’ve got a couple,” Mirkil said. “We feel as though we understand drive-thru. So now that we’re feeling OK, if the right sites present themselves, we’ll open more.”

http://www.ocbj.com/news/2013/apr/25/habit-burger-set-roll-out-second-food-truck/

Lily Westfall, 4, of Aliso Viejo gets to work on a corn dog from The Viking Truck outside Aliso Niguel High School.

Gourmet food trucks attracted a crowd to the Aliso Niguel High School parking lot Wednesday evening for the school’s weekly dining offering. At least four food trucks visit from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday as a fundraiser for the school.

Gourmet food trucks attracted a crowd to the Aliso Niguel High School parking lot Wednesday evening for the school’s weekly dining offering. At least four food trucks visit from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday as a fundraiser for the school.

The campus gets $25 per truck and 10 percent of the sales, said Manoj Mahindrakar, activities director at Aliso Niguel.

The school is at 28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo. For more information, call 949-831-5590.

The food truck scene is alive and cooking at Foothill High School.

Every Wednesday, about half a dozen of Orange County’s finest four-wheeled restaurants roll up the school’s front parking lot as part of a weekly fundraiser put on by the Foothill boys and girls lacrosse teams.

Trucks like Sexy Burger and Rancho A Go Go, which sells barbecue, and the award-winning Ragin Cajun, which sells lobster bisque and other Louisiana favorites are some of the more popular trucks, said Michelle O’Donoghue, a parent and organizer of the event.

The players set up tables and chairs so people can sit down to eat. They’ve even thrown candles into the mix to create a bit of atmosphere.

Many of the food trucks have websites and Twitter accounts to keep their customers updated on their location, which means people show up from all over the county in search of their favorite tri-tip sandwich or Korean barbecue burrito.

“People show up and go straight to the truck they are looking for,” said O’Donoghue.

“It’s a community thing.”

http://www.ocregister.com/news/people-500008-truck-trucks.html

The Lime Truck is among those that can be found at OC Din Din A Go Go.
NICK KOON, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Once a week, near the Irvine Lanes bowling alley, a plethora of scents and sounds dance through the air, as some of the finest food trucks in Orange County gather to dish out their best to hungry Irvine residents.

Every Tuesday, a different set of food trucks converge at what’s known as OC Din Din A Go Go. Frequent visitors include fan favorites such as The Lime Truck and The Burnt Truck, as well as many others.

Even fairly picky eaters should find something that appeals to them, as the variety of trucks offers an array of options. Customers can take their pick from the different trucks, with options ranging from steak tacos, pulled pork and carnitas fries, to chicken, waffles, barbeque, funnel cakes, and lobster corndogs, just to name a few.

Carnitas and Fries is one of the delectable dishes available from The Lime Truck.
NICK KOON, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

What’s more, those looking to enjoy these tempting morsels won’t have to worry about breaking the bank. The average order runs about $10 or less, which means there may be money left over for seconds.

Many of the trucks have TV monitors attached, giving customers something to watch while they eat. Some even play music, going the extra step to set up an enjoyable atmosphere for those enjoying their meals.

Veggie and shrimp tacos from Soho Taco gourmet taco truck. Soho Taco was among the trucks slated to appear at this week’s gathering.

One such truck is the Tailgate Truck, run by Amish Dani. The extra effort toward a comfortable atmosphere tells customers “Don’t just come and eat, come and hang out,” said Dani.

Food truck gatherings such as OC Din Din A Go Go pull in all kinds of patrons, including those curious to try food trucks for the first time.

What’s more, gatherings aren’t formed out of a sense of competition, but rather out of a spirit of companionship amongst food truckers.

“It’s good when you have more than one truck in a location,” said Dani. “It gives people variety, it gets more people to come out, it’s like strength in numbers, I guess you could say.”

The enthusiasm of the food truck workers is matched by the clientele, some of whom bring their own chairs and set up mini picnic areas to enjoy their dinner.

“Almost every time, it’s amazing,” said Keith Hickson, 20, who frequents the gathering. “They don’t mess around.”

The Burnt Truck is among the merchants that can be found at OC Din Din A Go Go.
OLIVER YU, FOR THE REGISTER

Those who are curious about checking out OC Din Din A Go Go should be advised that though the food selection is vast, seating is a bit more scarce.

Many customers simply take their food and eat in their cars, so if you’re looking for a comfy place to sit, you may have to provide a seat for yourself.

The gathering can be found every Tuesday from 5:30 to 9 p.m., just across from the Irvine Lanes bowling alley.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/food-498173-truck-trucks.html

Cousins Maine Lobster co-owner Sabin Lomac talks with his customers outside his food truck. His business was featured on the ABC television show “Shark Tank” and according to Sabin his truck brings in fresh lobster straight from Maine everyday.

The Trabuco Hills High School Baseball Program is in need of a new scoreboard since their previous one bit the dust last year.

To raise money for the program itself and fund a new scoreboard, the team’s booster holds a gourmet food truck meet-up every Wednesday at the school from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.SA

Five to seven trucks roll up each week, and 10 percent of the proceeds go directly to the baseball program said Sue Aufderheide, president of the baseball booster program.

“They (the food trucks) are in it to make money, too, and it’s a win-win,” she said. “And the food’s really good.”

Aufderheide said the program teamed up with Curbside Bites, a food truck booking service, in October. The event has since grown in popularity.

“It’s a great way for us to raise money and get the community together,” Aufderheide said.

The food truck event is every Wednesday at Trabuco Hills High School, 27501 Mustang. Visittrabucobaseball.com/events to see the weekly food truck schedule.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/food-494791-program-truck.html

(19900 Bastanchury Rd, Yorba Linda, CA)" src="http://www-mobilefoodnews-com.zippykid.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/soho-taco-500x380.jpg" width="500" height="380" /> SoHo Taco at the OC Fair & Event Center last night.
Join us 5P tonight at Yorba Linda High School for the Mustang Food Truck Roundup!
(19900 Bastanchury Rd, Yorba Linda, CA)

[UPDATE THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 1:54P: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel our appearance at tonight's stop. Although the event is scheduled to continue nonetheless, we are unfortunately unable to attend. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.]

Last night at the OC Fairgrounds it was colder than an early morning Oscar snub, but surprisingly lots of folks came out and tonight looks to be no different!

This evening at 5PM SoHo Taco has the great pleasure of returning to North Orange County for another installment of the Mustang Food Truck Roundup.  Located at Yorba Linda High School (MAP: 19900 Bastanchury Rd, Yorba Linda, CA) this gathering always proves to be popular with the locals and we can’t WAIT to come back!

[RELATED: Please click here to view our official calendar entry for tonight]

For those of you who looked out your window this morning and wondered if that was rain or Ben Affleck’s tears of disappointment, don’t worry.  We’re definitely in for clear skies tonight!

As for the evening’s line up, we’re scheduled to be joined by our super talented friends at TJ Woodfire Pizza, Piaggio On Wheels, Chef Joe Youkhan’s Tasting Spoon and Chunk-n-Chip.

Parking, admission and access to the food trucks are always complimentary here so bring the whole family.

Sure, your multi-million dollar Hollywood movie might not have gotten an Oscar nod this morning, but hopefully we can help make the rest of your day more delicious.  See you there!

*********************
SoHo Taco Promo Video

http://www.sohotaco.com/2013/01/10/tonight-its-the-mustang-food-truck-roundup-yorba-linda-high-school/

Koo’s Catering Truck is a misnomer in many ways. It’s not, for instance, associated with the late, great Koo’s Café of local DIY fame. It doesn’t operate as a catering service—instead, it’s permanently parked across three parking spaces at the Arirang Supermarket in Garden Grove‘s Little Seoul district. And while it’s technically a truck, its menu doesn’t aspire to the encyclopedic heights of a lonchera or the endless experimenting of a luxe lonchera. All it sells is coffee, water and the fabulous Korean pancake called hotteok—but calling it a pancake is a disservice to one of the finest, cheapest desserts in Orange County.

In reality, hotteok is more a dessert gordita, with wheat flour taking the place of masa. It’s similarly rolled into a thin circle with a stuffing—usually a caramel-esque syrup containing honey, cinnamon, sesame seeds and nuts. It’s then placed on a griddle so it crisps on both sides, so the inside steams up angrily after a bite, so that it keeps long after cooking and remains hearty. But while the gordita is savory, the hotteok is sweet; it’s the pastry tamale of Korea. Hotteok has never become a staple at Korean restaurants inSouthern California for reasons I’ve never been able to fathom, but it is a staple in Korean households come wintertime, and you can find ones frozen or in dough form at any of OC’s Korean markets throughout the year.

But if you want it fresh, then Koo’s Catering Truck is it in OC. Open from around lunchtime to the evening, it has parked at Arirang since 2010 and did a stint before that at a since-shuttered Korean market in Tustin, making it OC’s first non-Mexican lonchera long before Kogi’s was an inspired-by-a-blog idea in Roy Choi‘s mind. I think Koo’s sells its hotteok for $1.50—I say “I think” because I really don’t know, given I always opt for the four-for-$5 special. “Be careful; they’re hot,” the stoic Korean woman who runs the truck always warns, and she never lies—let them cool down for half an hour, and the filling still clings to your tongue like boiling Jell-O, the outside still steaming where not crisped brown. Each has a circumference somewhere between a CD and 45 rpm record, and each is sweet and earthy, chewy and perfect. One is fine; two is gluttony. But four will make you happy for a week—that is, until you eat all of them in one sitting, a fact as inevitable as gridlock on the northbound 55 freeway in the afternoon.

http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-12-13/food/hole-in-the-wall-koos-catering-truck-garden-grove/

Photo by foodforfel via the LAist Featured Photos pool

The Grilled Cheese Truck, Ludo Truck and Grill ‘Em All are popular gourmet food trucks from Los Angeles that have gained a following in Orange County. But that could all change now that Orange County health inspectors are cracking down on these and other popular trucks.

The Los Angeles food trucks were granted temporary permits but those permits are set to expire, and now health inspectors are demanding the trucks come into compliance, according to the Orange County Register.

At issue is a regulation about the way that the chefs keep food cool. Food trucks are supposed to have mechanical refrigeration, which operates when the trucks are not running, as well as a 3-part compartment sink. Many trucks from L.A. use “plate refrigeration.” The second method keeps the food at safe temperatures but it’s illegal under new state codes.

L.A. allowed some trucks with plate refrigeration to be grandfathered, but Orange County health inspectors don’t plan on doing the same thing. That could end up being a deal-breaker for L.A. trucks, who want to head south but don’t want to overhaul their trucks.

“This is it. We’re done,” Michele Grant, chef/co-founder of the Grilled Cheese Truck, told the OC Register.

Grill ‘Em All co-founder Matt Chernus told the Register that the O.C. Fair could be the last stop for the truck. Other trucks that could face trouble from health inspectors if they try to head south include the Greasy Wiener, Shrimp Pimp, Sweet E’s Bake Shop, Two Dudes One Truck and White Rabbit.

http://laist.com/2012/07/27/la_food_trucks_run_into_trouble_in.php

Piaggio Food Truck

Last Wednesday at the Food Trucks After Dark event, people gathered on the Orange County Fair Grounds to sample the different foods offered by several local food trucks.

Although it was cloudy and there were puddles covering parts of the streets and sidewalk, there was still a crowd waiting in line for the food trucks. They were all patiently waiting to buy something they would enjoy from each truck.

There were five trucks in total and each provided a menu of unique and delicious food. The trucks that showed at the fairgrounds were the O.C. Food Truck, Baconmania, Oh For Sweets Sake, SlapFish, and Piaggio.

Food trucks make all of their food on the go and sell it straight from the truck. The point of a truck that serves food is to make its menu accessible to people that might not have time to sit down in a restaurant or who just want to be spontaneous.

The food truck, Oh For Sweets Sake, was started by a former Saddleback College student. Her name is Lisa Johnson, and she received her culinary degree at Saddleback.

She has not yet visited the campus with her truck, even though her food was described as delicious by some of her customers.

Johnson’s truck had a wide variety of cupcakes, every one a different flavor and style. She also has other food on the menu, but the other options weren’t available at the fairgrounds that day.

The next truck, Slapfish, was serving up only seafood, with one of the options on the menu called the “Lobsticle.”

“We started about five months ago, our focus is sustainable fresh seafood,” said Andrew Gruel, the owner of Slapfish. “We consider ourselves a modern seafood shack on wheels.”

As for the name of the truck, Gruel said, “We love onomatopoeia. So in a way it’s memorable.”

“I came with friends, they told me to come. I heard that the food was really good, so I don’t know too much about it but I’m here to try it,” said Tracy Botero, who was standing in line for the Argentinean food truck, Piaggio. “I ordered the empanadas, so I’m going to give that a whirl. “

Food trucks aren’t a relatively new concept, but they might as well be with the popularity they have gained over the years.

While some might consider food trucks a fleeting fad, the reality is, why would anyone stand in the cold waiting in line for a mere fad? Food trucks are far more than that and inspire people to chase what they want.

Food trucks can be found all over the Orange and Los Angeles Counties, so don’t hesitate to try the food truck experience.

http://www.lariatnews.com/mobile/life/food-trucks-after-dark-1.2649874