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Food truckin’ on the North side

Kate Silver
Contributing writer

Living and working on the North side, it’s easy to get a little Loop envy every now and again, particularly when it comes to food trucks. Follow their Twitter feeds and you’ll see the same locations come up time and again: Aon, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue, Dearborn and Monroe, Monroe and Wacker, Tribune Tower. Nowhere on that list do we see Foster and California.

We admit it, food trucks, we’d like a little more love. We know that because of Chicago city ordinance you’re not currently allowed to cook on your truck, but we’d gladly pay for your prepared fare just the same. We did some roving to find out what trucks visit our neighborhoods (or are at least willing to make the trip, per request). Then, we even asked the chefs to suggest for us the healthiest item on their menu, so we could salivate over — er, highlight it. We’ve created a list below of the trucks that make it into the neighborhood and how to track them.

Gaztro Wagon

Based out of its Edgwater Café, Gaztro-Wagon is frequently spotted on the North side serving up eclectic naan-wiches (that’s sandwiches on warm, pliable naan), like the moo shu boar, with mushroom, egg, hoisin, bean sprouts and wasabi peas.

When it comes to healthier items, owner Matt Maroni suggests sticking with the vegetarian sandwiches, including the roasted pear with tallegio, dandelion pesto and truffle honey or the mushroom with bean sprouts, hoisin, radish and ginger.

Track them on Twitter: @wherezthewagon

 Wagyu Wagon

Chef Aaron Crumbaugh, who used to work at The Peninsula, says the WagyuWagon doesn’t have a set schedule, but does make it up to Lincoln Square, Andersonville and surrounding neighborhoods from time to time — and he’s always open to office location requests.

The WagyuWagon serves up wagyu beef burgers, tacos, chili and more. Wagyu is considered a healthier form of beef; wagyu cattle contain a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and are lower in cholesterol than other beef. As for healthier items, Crumbaugh suggests the vegetarian chili and says he might soon be adding a salad to the menu.

Track them via Twitter: @TheWagyuWagon

Sweet Misgivings

Sweet Misgivings makes the rounds on request, and can easily be swayed by just a phone call to visit a business on the North side. More and more companies are realizing that, and calling, so you can expect to spot the truck more and more.

Line up for their delectable cupcakes, cookies and brownies, or, for a more healthy option, try the bran-filled morning glory muffin. Whatever you choose, the profits all go back into a job training program helping disabled adults and also fund Chicago House, which provides housing for people with AIDS.

Track them on Twitter: @smgfoodtruck

Hummingbird Kitchen

You’ll have to make a short trek to Evanston to sample the fresh sandwiches and salads from Hummingbird Kitchen, which is a truck operated by the chefs behind Union Pizzeria and Campagnola. That’s because the city of Evanston changed the food truck rules last year and now allows chefs to cook on the truck, which is not allowed in Chicago.

When it comes to healthier items, co-owner Heather Behm suggests the tuna nicoise sandwich with olive oil-poached tuna, capers, pickled red onion and radish, arugula and black olive tapenade. She also suggests the caponata agre dolce sandwich, with roasted eggplant, red bell peppers, charred onion and patty pan squash with a pine nut and golden raisin sofrito.

Track them via Twitter: @hummingbirdtogo

In addition to the trucks above, area businesses, such as WTTW Chicago Public Media, regularly schedule food trucks to visit during lunch hours. WTTW was kind enough to share the list of regular trucks and invite the public to join in the feast (there is no set schedule, so you’ll have to track each on Twitter to learn when they’re in the area). The regular trucks include the following:

Have you tried any of these? Or have you seen any others in the area that you'd suggest?

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