There’s something magical about a food truck – its bright colors, roaring generators, and delicious smells . Food trucks can enhance the vibe of any social event or party.
Last Fall, Dining Services brought over 18 different local food trucks to campus, including 9 minority-owned trucks and 7 women-owned trucks! This Spring, students can expect returning favorites and a few new trucks to the line-up!
We interviewed four, local food truck owners to learn more about their truck and why they love the food truck industry in St. Louis.
Zacchi’s Jordanian Cuisine
Murad Yacoub, owner of Zacchi’s Jordanian Cuisine Food Truck, was born and raised in Jordan. In 1996, he immigrated to the US and moved to St. Louis in 1998. Murad’s love for cooking for others inspired him to take the initiative of opening his truck in 2020. It didn’t take long for Zacchi’s Food Truck to become one of the most popular trucks in St. Louis for hummus, falafel, and shawarma!
When naming his truck, Murad found inspiration from a character in the Bible, Zacchaeus, who was known for his generosity and giving back to his community. Zacchi in Arabic also means delicious! Murad’s mission of Zacchi’s Food Truck is to give back to his community and share delicious, authentic Jordanian food with all.
What makes their food so special? Zacchi’s imports all their seasonings from Jordan and serves only Halal meat, including chicken, lamb, and beef. Murad recommends trying their Falafel, made from fresh-ground chickpeas, parsley, garlic, and their special seasoning blend!
Can’t get enough of Zacchi’s? Check out their sister truck, Dessert Road, re-opening this Spring!
“I love cooking and mingling with customers- maybe cracking a joke here and there!”
Murad Yacoub, Owner of Zacchi’s Food Truck
Photo Gallery: Zacchi’s Shawarma with Fries, Lamb Schawarma, Falafel Bowl, Zacchi’s Food Truck Owner, Murad Yacoub, with his wife and daughters.
The Crooked Boot
CC Griggs was a private chef in St. Louis before opening her first food truck, The Crooked Boot, in May 2017. Born and raised in Louisiana, CC moved to St. Louis and wanted to share Southern Creole cuisine with St. Louis, especially the food she learned to cook from her father like red beans and rice, cornbread, and so much more. The name, The Crooked Boot, is a nod to her home-state of Louisiana and her childhood way of spelling Mississippi: M-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-p-p-i.
Coming from CC, “Don’t ask what’s good, everything’s good.” It’s true, it’s all good at The Crooked Boot; but if you had to choose, get The Ayiti Bowl, a Haitian Creole dish made of rice, Jerk chicken, plantains, and black bean sauce or The Voodoo Fries, smothered seasoned cheese fries topped with Jerk chicken, BBQ sauce, voodoo sauce, fried shrimp, and cilantro.
The Crooked Boot sources local fish from Illinois, Camilia red beans from New Orleans, and desserts including a Coconut Mango Lime Cheesecake and Turtle Cheesecake from local baker, Sweets by Madeline.
Can’t get enough of The Crooked Boot? Visit their brick & mortar in St. Charles!
I love the hustle and bustle of a food truck. There’s so much work that happens behind the scenes. I look at it like putting on a Broadway show, there’s so much work that goes into it before the players get on stage.“
CC Griggs, Owner of The Crooked Boot
Photos: The Crooked Boot Food Truck, Voodoo Fries, Gumbo, Shrimp Po Boy
Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill
Thomas “Buzz” Moore, owner of Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill, discovered his love for cooking and sharing Hawaiian cuisine after living on the North Shoe of O‘ahu in the 1980’s, where he met his former wife. After his job as an air traffic controller moved him to St. Louis, Buzz planned to retire after finishing his career; yet, the itch to share Hawaiian cuisine with the STL community just wouldn’t quit. Retirement could wait, and Buzz opened Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill Food Truck in 2017, sharing family recipes and Hawaiian Lunch Plates.
Hawaiian Lunch Plates became popular in Hawaii in the 1950’s due to American and pan-Asian influences. The standard plate comes with 2 scoops of white rice, 1 scoop of macaroni salad, and a choice of protein, such as Kalua Pig or try it with Buzz’s favorite, Poke– ahi tuna marinated in sesame oil, shoyu sauce, spices, and chili peppers. Buzz also recommends trying something new like the Spam Musubi, a slice of teriyaki marinated SPAM that is pan-fried and caramelized, then stacked on a bed of rice and wrapped in nori.
Can’t get enough of Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill? Visit their brick & mortar in Tower Grove East!
“I love sharing my food with others and seeing others get excited. Food trucks bring a level of excitement to an event!
Thomas “Buzz” Thomas, owner of Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill
Photos: Buzz’s Hawaiian Plate Special with Chicken, Hawaiian Plate Special with Poke, Owner Buzz Thomas with actor Jason Momoa, and Hawaiian Plate Special with Kalua Pig.
Farm Truk
Samantha Mitchell was a local chef in St. Louis for over 20 years in high end restaurants before venturing into the food truck industry. After living in the Portland area where food trucks are common, Samantha always dreamed of opening her own truck and aimed to focus on farm to table, American Midwest comfort food. Her dream came true in 2016 with the opening of her food truck, Farm Truk, featuring “farm to truck” comfort food. Samantha prides herself in sourcing local on the truck, using custom blends of mushrooms from Mushrooms Naturally for her Roasted Mushroom Tacos, local beef sourced from Kern Meat Co. for her Brisket Mac & Cheese, and custom grown butter lettuce from Ben Roberts farm for her burger.
Try Samantha’s favorite dish, The Roasted Mushroom Tacos- corn or flour tortillas served with roasted local mushrooms, micro-herbs, avocado sour cream, pickled red onions, and jalapeños. Although her Brisket Mac & Burger are fan-favorites, Samantha also recommends stepping outside of the box and trying their Reuben Sandwich, which is made with thick cut, house-made corned beef, smoked bacon kraut, thousand island dressing, house-made pickles, and rye bread.
Can’t get enough of Farm Truk? Find them at The Enterprise Center, Busch Stadium, or STL City Soccer Stadium!
“My favorite thing about owning a food truck is engaging with the community and being part of all the fun things that STL has to offer. We’re actually out talking to our guests and not behind the walls of restaurant which is super personal to me. We take hospitality seriously- being kind, knowledgeable of food and allergens, and being involved in the community. We love making people happy!”
Samantha Mitchell, Owner of Farm Truk
Photos: Farm Truk Burger, Farm Truk Reuben Sandwich, Farm Truk Roasted Mushroom Tacos, Farm Truk Food Truck