Plantain District

If there’s one food truck in this town that gives me hope that KC can one day live up to the fantastic food truck scenes of other cities around the country, this place is it. Successful food trucks focus on one niche and do it better than any brick and mortar shop can replicate… Plantain District’s thing is their Cubano, and it’s far and away the best version of it in the city. You’re doing it wrong if you’re not using the traditional, flat, buttered Cuban bread. It’s just the right amount of bread to allow the succulent, slow-​braised pork to really shine, the slices of ham and swiss cheese to melt in your mouth, the salty/​sour combo of a perfect dill pickle to crunch in every bite, and the garlicky herb sauce to add that last kick that brings it all together. There isn’t another sandwich quite like the traditional Cuban, and Plantain District nails it.
The truck closes for a few months every year, but once it opens back up in early spring, you need to Carmen Sandiego this bad boy and figure out where in the KC world it is (my apologies for getting that theme song stuck in your head). Grab their Cubano, and don’t look back… unless you’re heading to Miami or Havana. That’s how far you’re going to have to travel to find one that rivals this. Viva la Plantain District!

I stumbled across this food truck at Crafts and Drafts. I ordered the beans and rice with slow roasted pork and Mr. P ordered the Cuban sandwich.
My beans and rice were tasty, but a bit plain. Perhaps more of the green sauce would have added what I needed.
The Cuban sandwich was good, a little dry, but good. There wasn’t much mustard which is important to me. After eating a life changing Cuban sandwich in NYC this summer, I’m not sure any KC version will live up to that standard.

So delicious and reasonably priced — try it all!

Not much of a pork eater, but I’ve tried both the ropa vieja and the picadillo, which were tasty and filling. Friendly service truckside. Hats off to an operator trying to offer something unique to town!

Had the opportunity to try this mobile eatery during a food truck festival at Independence Center this year. The Cuban sandwich was my goal, especially after watching the movie «Chef». There was also a long line which made my hopes rise…
To end the suspense, I stood in line, finally ordered, received the sandwich… and it was ok. Being honest, the meat was actually overcooked and slightly dry. On the flavor side, there was definitely some great taste, but the core of the sandwich wasn’t done properly, and it threw the whole balance off. While I wasn’t expecting a 5-​star experience here, I was hoping for more, and that’s why I gave it two stars… I felt like I could’ve made it better at home (not saying I could, but I felt some type of way). Having to stand in the hot sun for the better part of 20 minutes really didn’t help either… but them’s the breaks.

Very simple menu but what they do make it delicious. The pork, bean and rice plate is the best!

Thanks to Twitter, I finally chased down the Plantain District truck today in Northtown. I missed a chance in the West Bottoms months ago and have been searching ever since.
Cubans are one of my favorite sandwiches, and this is a good one. Plenty of moist, tender shredded pork, ham, melty stringy cheese, and oh, those pickles! House made or not, they’re sweet, tangy and delicious. The whole thing is pressed and grilled perfectly. I like the fact that they don’t use a lot of seasonings that overpower the simple goodness of fillings that can stand on their own. It comes with a little cup of pineapple salsa that’s also simple and delicious-​pineapple, red onion, cilantro, and a little bit of jalapeño. Maybe it’s to put on your sandwich, but I just ate it.
As badly as I’ve wanted one of their Cubans, I came THAT close to ordering a pork bowl instead when I heard it described to the guy ahead of me: roast pork, black beans, rice, vegetables and cilantro. Sounds like I’ll be stalking this truck some more!

If you are looking for an authentic Cuban, here you go. Bring your own mustard though. Otherwise, it’s authentic and true. Great service. Fresh ingredients! Thank you Stephen and Rachel!

I enjoyed a Cubano ($ 9.00) and a bottle of water ($ 1.00) while the food truck was servng at PorchfestKC. The bread was perfectly toasted, warm, delicious, and fairly thin, so it did not overwhelm the sandwich. The cheese, pickles, pork, and ham worked together well. The sandwich was tasty, unique, and generously sized, but slightly dry, while the service was friendly and helpful. Overall, this was a very good experience.

The truck woke up from it’s winter hibernation earlier this spring and keeps adding to the menu. The super yummy Cuban is still a favorite, but the new bowls are packed with incredible flavor! This addition makes the choice tough, I suggest getting both and having leftovers to savor later. They have also added a Cuban hot dog and Cuban BBQ sliders. The hot dog is a twist on a chili dog and perfect for those who don’t like a lot of spice. The sliders are the newest addition and needs to be included in your rotation of Plantain foods. The meat has the right amount of sauce to compliment the pork. The pork is tender and perfect. The slaw is incredible. I am not a huge slaw person, but I would down a side of this slaw like a competition eater.
They have a new dessert this year that is the perfect ending to a meal. Also don’t skip the plantains. They are also serving breakfast. A breakfast sandwich on that perfect Cuban bread? Heck yes!
If you haven’t tried Plantain District yet, put them on your radar. This is one of the top trucks in the city!

Once again this is the BEST food truck in KCMO. Today I had the Cuban sandwich! Can I have another please. And another! Fresh ingredients, sauce is just right! Cheese
Is melted perfectly!
Go find this truck now!

Yummmmmm… First, a big Thank You to Billie for harassing me enough to get out of bed on a rainy Saturday morning in order to enjoy Plantain District, I’m so glad I did. Even though it was rather cold and raining outside, I enjoyed every minute of standing outside and eating a very, very delicious Cuban sandwich with plantain chips. I also tried the ropa Viejo, which was just as delicious. The food truck owners were very kind and generous, and provided us with a Cuban pastry, (I’ve forgotten what it was called), but it was so flaky and delicious, I could have eaten several. I strongly encourage you to support the Plantain District, follow it on Twitter and get there!

«DO IT» is what my mom said when I told her a Cuban food truck was down the block and I was thinking of foregoing my packed lunch to try it out… I’m so glad I did!
Plantain District has it all on point:
Order was taken quickly and accurately
Service was very pleasant
Order came out super quick
Tables were set out to eat right there
Background music set a cool, Caribbean vibe
Truck has great graphic design
Food is spectacular and hot and delicious :)
I got some Orange-​Cilantro Rice & Cuban black beans with Ropa Viejo (Picadillo was another option, along with something else) and a side of plantain chips because… how could I not at a place called Plantain District???
The other menu item was a Cubano, which I have heard nothing but spectacular things about.
I’d definitely visit this food truck again!

Never been to Florida but this was the Cuban sandwich I’ve ever had. Homemade pickles were special. Service was very fast compared to most food trucks. They were also serving breakfast wwhich I didn’t try.

The Veggie Bowl (Cuban black beans & rice, sauteed veggies) was to die for!
REAL Cuban black beans! And the guava/​cream cheese pastelitos were like triangle-​shaped croissants, with wonderfully fluffy pastry, filled with the traditional Cuban guava+cream cheese combo – mmm!
I also tasted the plantain chips, which were very thin and crunchy, with a touch of salt and not a hint of grease – the paper cone that they came in did not even have any greasy residue.
In short – 5 Stars! Looking forward to an expanded veggie menu someday – I’m planning to become a Regular!

This green and yellow truck is serving up Cuban food with great bang for your buck! At $ 9 the Cuban sandwich is a solid deal because of its quality ingredients, flavors and size. I was plenty satisfied with just the sandwich and no sides. Though the plantain chips did look a-​peeling (you see what I did there!) You will have to track them on their Facebook page to see where they are day-​to-​day and if they are close to where you are, take it as a sign that you need to try them out you will not be disappointed! Dále!

I love a good Cubano. Love it. It’s such a unique sandwich and it has so many complex flavors all melding together. The first place I ever tried one was in Florida, and we had a regular one and a honey one which were both delicious. I’ve had some that rival Florida’s since, so I’ve been lucky in that regard.
Plantain District was down in the West Bottoms when I tried it and they staff was really friendly. I paid my $ 9 for my Cuban sandwich, waited a couple minutes and then dove into it.
It was good, but I wouldn’t call it great or memorable. The best part of it was what tasted like a homemade pickle, and the quality was definitely there, especially with the meats. However, it was a bit light on most ingredients, and I’m not sure there was any mustard on it. Some places may opt out of that, but I love the kick of mustard on it.
There was also about ¼ of a roasted, savory plantain with some kind of cheese on it. I think most people would like it but for some reason I’m not the biggest plantain fan. My mind is always expecting it to taste like a banana and then gets freaked out when it tastes like nothing.
My fiancée really wants to try Plantain District, so I’ll go back and give it another go round before too long.

Cafecito so tasty. Cuban sandwich reminded us of the Keys. A little saucier and would have nailed it. Bread very good with the proper thickness and crispy. Didn’t know what to expect of the plantain but found it delicious. Will definitely stalk this truck and try some of the other menu items.