Food Truck Fare

If you have the time, I suggest performing an adventurous hunt of the phenomenal food truck collection Orange County has to offer. Journey from site to site across town, and grab a bite from Dogzilla, The Burnt Truck and the Lime Truck. But if gas and time are your frenemies, then take advantage of the Food Truck Fare, located in the parking lot of the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. It’s hit or miss as to which favorite food trucks will be present on the usual Wednesday early evenings; but with a little Google detective talent, I’m sure finding the answer is only a slight of hand and a bite into the belly.

My boyfriend and I go here almost every Wednesday night and it’s so fun! We even brought our dog once, there’s usually a pretty good selection of food here. My favorites are the Cut burger, and Waffleicious! If you are close you must go to one, it’s so fun!

I went to the Halloween truck fare.
We had lots of fun & there were a bunch of trucks. We ended up trying a veggie sushi burrito and a veggie dog, both were delicious!
There was also a cash bar, DJ, truck or treating, and lots of seating.
We will definitely be back

Thursday lunch was a bust for us.
Four trucks only, and the only tables were in the searing August sun, even though they had umbrellas. Even the occasional leashed dog was panting hard.
Tamarindo — Mexican
The Burnt Truck — American
Cousins Maine Lobster
Dogzilla
Not sure how the others trucks fared, the huge parking lot was pretty empty. We had come for lobster, but the lobster truck had no line, even though they had nice reviews. FYI — the lobster rolls were ok, but much pricier than the other trucks, and not something I would return for.
Perhaps the other 3 seasons or summer evening hours are the better time to explore this food truck option. At least, one would hope there would be more choices for food.
Undaunted, we ended up spending most of our money and time at the Farmers Market in nearby Lot D, for some fresh produce and other goodies (nuts, desserts, kettle corn).
Not Portland for sure. But please keep trying.

This is such a nice treat. The kids love it, the wife likes it and last week we took grandma and grandpa. The goal is to find the best truck out there.

Instead of hunting your favorite food trucks down, they are here all at once for your convenience. Venues change weekly. Make sure to check OC Fair on facebook for a list of food trucks.

This fare has never let me down, especially the hard workers who work there. No matter what truck they always have a smile on their face. There are usually different varieties to choose from, don’t overeat though!

I like food trucks and I like food truck fairs, but this one is just too small. There were about only 8 of them, all compacted into maybe ¹⁄₁₀₀^th of the fair ground total space. There’s going to more food vendors at the actual Orange County Fair that’s coming up next month. If you want to drop by anyways, look online first at
to see if any of the vendors interest you because the list changes.

**** Best event in OC ****
**** during the work week! ****
Free entry, parking, and music!!!
Step out of your car and you hear sweet beats in the cool air mixed with the aroma of ready-​to-​be-​devoured food.
The array of food trucks line up next to the curb and the picnic tables are right in front. Most of the tables were taken and then completely full in the blink of an eye.
The menus vary and most of the trucks provide meat and vegetarian dishes. Review the menus carefully and you’ll see at least one dish that will make your tongue salivate. Come with an appetite and expect it to be satisfied.
The trucks we saw: Baconmania, Seabirds, Fresh Fries, Calbi, Dogzilla, Rolling Sushi, Waffles de Liege, The Burnt Truck, and Slummin’ Gourmet.
I’ve eaten fish tacos at food chain restaurants… but the Guinness Battered Alaskan Cod Tacos from The Slummin’ Gourmet are light and scrumptious down to the last bite. The sweet potato tots are really good, too.
We also ordered The Burnt Truck’s Vegetarian Sliders. Wow! If I wasn’t already full from my cod tacos & tots, I’d grub on two. Then we also bought the Buffalo fries from Fresh Fries. I’m not a big bleu cheese fan but I’ll try the Sticky Pinky fries the next time.
For my first food truck event, I thoroughly enjoyed what all the trucks had to offer. I wish my stomach could fit more but that means I’ll be returning.
I bow down to the chefs of these mobile restaurants.
Tip: Bring cash… possibly fives and singles. Some of the trucks are cash only but you will definitely want to tip these exceptional food creators. Also if you can actually wait to scarf down your dinner at home, then ask them to box it… and bring a bag to haul it away.

I’m not going to get too specific here since this review only covers the event itself, not the trucks that randomly appear every week. Having something like this on a weekly basis is great, especially since lately there seems to be less of a crowd.
I’m a total glutton, so I like to get a little something from almost every truck on site. I’m too much of an inner fat ass to see seven food trucks and not want to try foodstuffs from each one. And thankfully, they change up the selection frequently. I was here three weeks apart and only one or two trucks were also there the time before. More often than not, when I do come back there’s at least one new truck I haven’t hit yet. I’m sure that’ll change with a few more visits, but you get the idea. Plus, it beats the hell out of eating out in a more traditional manner. I like to be in control of when, where, and what I’m eating. The «what» can usually be controlled at a restaurant, but the ability to get so many unique foods from different vendors, and then go plunk down at a school cafeteria table and devour it all? Totally superior, in my opinion.

This is one of the better setups for food trucks ^_​^. I’ve always been a fan of this one because its more spacious & a better variety of food trucks! Since alexis b has a new found love for the Lobsta Truck & our bff GiGi M. lives in that area why not meet up and show off our doggies?! Yes it was cold, but that didn’t stop people from lining up and eating good food! +1 star for having real tables instead of sitting on the ground or the concrete –_​– .There is always usually 5 – 8 trucks, this week was: Waffle-​licious, Burnt Truck, SoHo tacos, Lobsta truck, Garlicscapes & NWA. It’s never the same ones which is good for variety! I’m kicking myself for not trying NWA {NINJAS WITH APPETITE} because lots of people were walking out with big sized teriyaki bowls :(. Overall nice setup, clean and not a CF! ^_^

This is my new favorite place to hang out with friends and try new food trucks and old.
Since it’s held on the OC fairgrounds, parking is free and plentiful. There’s no rush, lines aren’t that long, and there’s also plenty of seating. I like that type of environment because I hate crowds and lines.
There’s always a variety of food trucks. Some new, some old and if it’s all the ones I’ve tried before, they’ve always got something new I want to try on their trucks or maybe something old I haven’t eaten in a long time.
Bonus perks: a cash bar and restrooms nearby. Seriously, what’s not to love? It’s the perfect place to hang out, get some grub, and chill.

The lovely wife and I decided to try the Food Truck Fare for the first time on Halloween, hoping to see some young Trick-​or-​Treaters there, since there haven’t been any in our neighborhood the last few years. Unfortunately, most of costumed participants were of the adult variety and there wasn’t an abundance of places to Trick-​or-​Treat. This might explain the lack of children.
There was plenty of participation from the food trucks:
Yogasaki
White Rabbit
Dos Chinos
Waffle-​icious
Soho Tacos
Dogzilla
Gravy Train Poutinerie
The Burnt Truck
Ragin Cajun
With a large selection of food trucks, we decided to walk around and look at some of the menus before settling on our meal. Neither of us are big sushi fans, so Yogasaki was eliminated right away. Soho Tacos and Dogzilla’s menus weren’t overly impressive and nothing really jumped out at me, so they were quickly taken off the list as well. My better half doesn’t handle «heat» very well, so Ragin Cajun wasn’t going to be a good option, I never even looked at their menu. We were both impressed with Gravy Train, but my became frustrated with the incredibly long wait and bailed before being able to sample their menu.
Rohlinism: Fast food is suppposed to be fast, if it isn’t, I am not going to wait.
I finally settled on The Burnt Truck and ordered a Cheeseburger Slider with Angus Beef, American Cheese, Grilled Onions and Avocado Spread. I also ordered the Chef’s Special Chicken, Bacon and Gravy over French Fries. The Slider was overcooked (medium well) for my tastes and it was cold. This really didn’t allow the flavors to come out, so it was a disappointing offering. The Chef’s Special was a really good dish and it was served hot. There was plenty of Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Bacon and Gravy to go around. The chicken was very good, the bacon was crisp without being burnt and the gravy was good. The fries were fresh, hot and not overcooked which kept the dish warmer longer. The wife and I both really enjoyed this entrée and The Burnt Truck should consider adding it to the menu on a permanent basis.
My wife finally decided to try the White Rabbit truck and settled on the Pork Sisig Burrito. White Rabbit is Filipino Fusion food and the burrito comes with Pork Belly, Fried Garlic Rice, Egg, Onions, Jalapenos and Cheese. The combination of flavors were outstanding with pork working with the garlic and jalapenos. I liked the crispy fat layer of the pork and the crunch of the onions. This was a really good twist on the standard burrito.
For some reason we actually thought we needed dessert and hit up one of our favorites Waffle-​icious for a S’mores Waffle. It is a Liege Waffle with a melted Chocolate Bar, Marshmallows, Speculoos (for the graham cracker flavor) and Chocolate Sauce drizzled on top. You can gain weight just looking at it! The S’mores Waffle was absolutely delicious … talk about decedant. The woman working the truck (forgot her name) asked about Chief (he was truly famous) and expressed her condolences when she found out he had passed.
There is no problem with parking being located O. C. Fairgrounds, which is definitely a plus. There was some drawings going on and a DJ spinning, but in my opinion he just wasn’t that great. This is a great place to experience the food trucks in Orange County.

Halloween is actually here and we decided to head on over after work for some food truck grub and hopefully see some cute kids in costume… not so much! There was a cute dog however:
Cute right!!!
Up on Deck: Dos Chinos, White Rabbit, Dogzilla, Waffle-​Icious, The Burnt Truck, Rajun Cajun, Soho Tacos, Chunk N Chip, and Gravy Train Poutinerie. So many choices! We went with and shared:
White Rabbit (Pork Sisig Burrito, delicious pork belly with crispy fat layer, with fried garlic rice, egg, onions, jalapenos & cheese *delicious)
The Burnt Truck (Fries, topped with gravy, topped with Bacon, further topped with Fried Chicken *warm, tasty, delicious and all the flavors worked together. Beef Slider w/​Cheese, overcooked, barely warm, cold buns, not grilled or toastes *huge disappointment)
Waffle-​icious (Smores Waffle with melted chocolate, marshmallows & Speculoos *can I saw wow!)
Plenty of free parking and they had a dj spinning some tunes, albeit, some bad ones… Poison by Bel Biv De Voe, ugg.
Would definitely come back, I’m not over the food truck craze yet!
Thanks to Ms. «No Cilantro» Robin W. for making me aware of this event.

The Good: Food trucks at least 6. First off, plenty of parking, because it’s the OC Fairground. This one is every Wednesday night and it’s always a good mix of GFT. The also have a little beer stand set up so that everyone is happy.
The Bad: Every week it’s a different line up, so you there are multiple trucks that you want to try you better, because you never know when they will be there again.
The Ben: I’m getting to the point past the food truck craze, but there are a few that I still want to try so you can catch me here every so often: D

There are some really great trucks that participate in Food Truck Fare Wednesday at the OC Fair After Dark event. Last week, I attended this event with several friends who were really impressed with the set-​up.
Parking is free and you can access the lot from Fair Dr. From there, you walk to the outside the Pacific Amphitheater Box office, where food trucks galore are parked along the curb. There is plenty of seating options and several cash bars set-​up to suit your fancy — something that is sorely lacking at a lot of other food truck gatherings — this is a really great spot.
There is a DJ spinning some tunes and plenty of food truck options for everyone to enjoy. The evening I went, my friends and I enjoyed offerings from The Burnt Truck (one of our go-to’s and the longest line at the event), Chomp Chomp Nation, and a new waffle truck we had never heard of before. Others included Crepes Bonaparte, Home Skillet Truck, The Lime Truck, and Seabirds (these are the more popular ones.)
This is a really great food truck gathering that is close to the freeways, provides tons of great options and will be perfect for those cool summer evenings since it is all outdoors. Bring some cash — there may be a surcharge for using your credit card at some trucks. Enjoy!

Wednesday nights at the OC Fairgrounds is probably one of the most flavorful places in Costa Mesa thanks to the variety of food trucks that participate in «Food Truck Fare Wednesday — After Dark».
One of my favorites was there, The Lime Truck (on Twitter @TheLimeTruck), serving their version of Adobo tacos. Just delicious! Two tacos and a fresh limeade was $ 11 and some change. Their service was quick and though it was busy, it was easy to find a seat to eat.
This weekly event brings out the variety of people you normally see at the fairgrounds: the young and old, the college aged students and the moms pushing strollers, the dog walkers and everyone in between. There’s no fee for parking or to join in the culinary fun other than the food and drink you buy, so don’t be shy. There is easy access to the event from the Fair Drive entrance. It’s located in the courtyard in front of Pacific Theater.
Did you check out the OC Fairgrounds table? I did. They have a wheel to spin for goodies giveaway. Initially, my spin pointed to the lollipop, but I traded it for a bright green OC Fair tote.

I’m looking for a food truck baby, a food truck, yeah yeah yeah!
I’ve now been here a few times and there is consistently about 8 trucks every Thursday. There is a good crowd that comes out which is nice to see. They have several tables to sit on but you have to get here early. There just isn’t enough for everyone. It would be nice to see a few more out there. I saw one group of people bring their own portable/​calapsable picnic table.
They also have a farmers market opened at the same time so after you got your grub on you can go pick up a few things at the market.
If you are looking to catch any food trucks and want to a selection to choose from during your lunch hour this is a good spot to come out to for sure!
It’s food truck yummy goodness!

I’ve been to this event twice now and both times I’ve been impressed with the setup. They have a variety of trucks that participate which can vary week-​to-​week: The Burnt Truck, Soho Tacos, Lime Truck, Crepes Bonaparte, Rancho A Go-​Go, Panfiniti, Grill Em All, etc.
The trucks are parked right outside the Pacific Amphitheater Box Office. Tables with seating are plentiful. Bring cash but some trucks do take credit cards. They also have a vendor that sells bottled beers. Last time they had a DJ, but this week no live music. This week they also had a ice popsicle vendor, even though it was cold out. It’s a great way to try out your favorite or new food trucks. Bring a group of friends so you can buy from different trucks and share. Parking and admission are free.

Wednesdays 5:30−9 p.m.
Admission & Parking: Free
Food prices vary per truck.
About this event
Food Truck Fare will bring a variety of gourmet food trucks after dark that will change weekly each Wednesday plus a cash bar.
This week’s, January 4, 2012, offerings — subject to change without notice — White Rabbit, Shortstop BBQ, Waffles de Liege, The Lime Truck, Rolling Sushi, OC Burger Monster, SOHO Taco, Piaggio On Wheels.