Reviews

The Prince:  Study snacks, if you’re smart, aren’t very heavy for reasons including the desire to stay awake long enough to study. Fortunately, the trucks outside of Paley Library understand this and give you fare light enough to fill your tummy without knocking you out. One of those trucks is owned and operated by The Prince. For $5, you can grab a quesedilla and a can of soda, something that made me happy because of my love of (a) Mexican food and (b) inexpensive Mexican food. The tortilla, cheese and chicken meld together to provide a packet of goodness that only gets better when sour cream and salsa are added (although adding some guacamole would turn something good into something spectacular). The quesedilla isn’t the only royal snack you can get from this Prince. Also try the cheeseburger and fries special, which features a burger with your choice of cheese that you can personalize for $5.50. ~ Denise Clay

Unnamed Hot Dog Truck: If you’re looking for cheap hangover food in Rittenhouse Square, your only food truck option on the weekends is this nameless stop at 18th and Walnut streets. Open at an eye-squinting 6 a.m. every day, Hot Dog Truck (as the vendor called it) serves typical breakfast and lunch fare with a few healthy (unhealthy?) surprises. For the full experience of a cart that opens at the crack of dawn, snag the turkey sausage breakfast sandwich dripping with cheese and scrambled eggs. At nearly 12 inches, the behemoth sandwich certainly is guaranteed to fill you up – and maybe put you back to sleep. ~ Dan Wisniewski

Gigi and Big R: If fish served out of a food trucks sounds, well, fishy, you’re onto something. GiGi and Big R’s has anointed itself the "No. 1 Soul Food Kitchen," with high prices to match. To be fair, many of the meals are platters with your choice of up to two sides, with options ranging from steak fries to candied yams to macaroni and cheese. But the fish with fries, which set me back $7, left me cold. Its uneven taste was only made better with a healthy dose of ketchup. It doesn’t seem to matter what I think, though – I counted six patrons waiting for food on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon at 5:15 p.m. ~ Dan Wisniewski

Bui's Truck: As food trucks go, Bui’s on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus is an institution. In operation for nearly 20 years, this massive truck is staffed with four people on the weekends, enabling workers to churn orders out quicker than some of their nearby competitors. For lunch, the massive No. 2 chicken cheesesteak with special Bui sauce comes highly recommended. But to get the full Bui’s experience, hungry patrons should snag the famous (and aptly named) Hangover, a $5 breakfast sandwich that boasts egg, cheese, bacon, ham, sausage, salt, pepper and ketchup. If that doesn’t get you back on your feet after a night on the town, nothing will. ~ Dan Wisniewski

Insomnia Cookies Truck: Well known to many college students throughout the city, the people behind Insomnia Cookies have their particular market cornered. What other food truck would deliver hot cookies to your dorm late at night? But even if you’re not kicking back on your university-provided mattress for the evening, Insomnia Cookies – with its massive truck on Drexel University’s campus – likely has something for you and your sweet tooth, including flavors as varied as peanut butter chocolate, M&Ms and S’more Deluxe. So what if their coconut and pecan cookies border on too sweet? It’s hard to deny the appeal of warm cookies melting in your mouth. You can even get a glass of milk with your order. How cute is that? ~ Dan Wisniewski

Steak Queen Truck: Scientists have yet to prove that greasy food cures hangovers, but even if that’s not true, Steak Queen’s has you covered. The food served out of this truck on Penn’s campus comes literally dripping with the stuff, their mushroom chicken cheesesteak staining the bag it came in before I could even take a bite. But it’s that greasiness that separates this truck from the myriad cheesesteak establishments throughout the city, preventing the bread from getting in the way of the chicken and mushroom flavor. With quick service and a lengthy menu, this truck should keep you coming back for more. ~ Dan Wisniewski

Hemo's Truck: Chicken cheesesteaks are the name of the game at Hemo’s in University City, and that’s not a bad thing at all. This low-key truck serves up surprisingly meaty fare for some very cheap prices. The large chicken cheesesteak weighs in at a worthwhile $4.25, though hungry souls should check out the Jonah’s Chicken special, complete with spinach, eggs and Hemo sauce (a homemade honey mustard sauce). The nondescript truck and its tenant don’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but Hemo’s serves as a nice alternative to the Chinese trucks that line the streets around Penn’s campus. ~ Dan Wisniewski

Yue Kee Truck: I expected more from Yue Kee, voted Best Chinese Truck on Penn’s campus in 2010. This truck had everything working against it – slow cooking even during nonpeak hours, unfriendly staff, and a subpar meal. The moo goo gai pan could use significantly more chicken, and staffers could afford to tone down the stickiness on the rice by at least one power of 10. Points are begrudgingly awarded for the methodical packaging of the food and for using perhaps the cutest container I’ve seen yet. ~ Dan Wisniewski

Dapper Dog: This is not your run-of-the mill hot dog truck. The dogs are fresh, the rolls are toasted, and the various topping combinations will leave you wanting to try everything on the menu. Sure, traditionalists will be happy with their plain hot dog, but eaters who are more adventurous will enjoy Dapper Dog’s various signature hot dogs. Interested in a hot dog with a little zing? Try the Chicago Dog, topped with chopped onions, tomatoes, mustard, peppers, and a pickle spear. Want to bolster your carb count for the day? Look no further than the Jersey Special, brimming with grilled potatoes, peppers, onions, and American cheese.
The Dapper Dog can be found on Temple’s campus (13th and Norris) during mid week lunch hours and in Northern Liberties (2nd and Poplar) on Friday and Saturday nights. ~ Patrick Gordon

Ernie's: Ernie’s has been on Temple’s campus for nearly thirty years, so it’s no surprise Ernie knows everyone and always has a story to tell. If you pass his truck in the morning (13th and Montgomery,) you’ll likely see a dozen or so patrons hanging around. But don’t let the line deter you – Ernie moves fast and offers quality food. The pork roll on a kaiser is a solid meal and comes in under $3. At lunch, steaks are chopped fine and the rolls are always fresh. The truck also offers hot sausages and hot dogs with toasted hoagie rolls, and has nearly a dozen different types of salads and omelets on the menu. Let Ernie’s reputation speak for itself and give his menu a whirl. You won’t be disappointed. ~ Patrick Gordon

U Got Munchies: This cart is home to arguably the best French fries from a truck in North Philadelphia. The cart (13th and Norris) deep-fries everything including Girl Scout Cookies, Oreos, chicken and wings. Though a bit expensive (an average lunch costs about $10), the food is cooked to order and tastes great. A side order of fries ($2) seems expensive, but when they give you a moderately heavy brown paper bag checkered with grease stains you will realize it may be the best two-bucks you will spend all day. The only drawback: Service is slow, but even that’s understandable considering U Got Munchies is a small cart and not a standard food truck. They offer a call-ahead service so I suggest you take advantage. If you’re looking for fries or a cheeseburger, you can’t go wrong. ~ Patrick Gordon

Tepanyaki Truck: The blue and white truck situated on North 12th Street between Pollet Walk and Norris Street may say "Japanese & Korean Food" on its side, but everyone knows its real name is the Tepanyaki Truck. Stop by any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the week and you’re bound to find a line of at least 10 hungry Temple students or staff. Most are waiting for the truck’s signature tepanyaki dish: a large portion of thick yakisoba noodles smothered in brown sauce and your choice of beef, chicken, tofu or shrimp. The dish, priced at $5.75, comes with a side of hot chili paste. If you like your Japanese food spicy, ask for extra chili and be prepared for the friendly staff’s approbation. Sweet and spicy fried chicken wings also pass muster with students all day long. ~ Shannon McLaughlin

Brother's Pizza: At $3.50 for a pizza roll, the truck at the corner of 12th Street and Pollet Walk might be the most economical on the block. The buffalo chicken roll is tasty, but be warned that you’re buying $3.50 worth of grease that is sure to find the perfect splatter spot on your shirt as soon as you take a bite.
This is not a library-friendly lunch. Find a table, pull out the plastic fork and knife, and try to enjoy without thinking of the calories. Also available are a variety of single slices and other grinder-style sandwiches, all reasonably priced. ~ Shannon McLaughlin

Sexy Green Truck: If you’re on the Temple campus and in the mood for quick food that doesn’t involve a vending machine or a cheesesteak, head to the Sexy Green Truck on Montgomery Avenue between 12th and 13th streets. Wraps abound, filled with everything from marinated vegetables to chicken salad. With nothing on the menu more than $8, the portions are large. The Greek salad stands out for its use not just of locally grown ingredients, but for the delicious dolmades nestled inside. So what’s the best part about this sustainable fixture on campus? The truck stays open year-round, until 7 p.m. ~ Shannon McLaughlin

Tommy's Truck: Prices are reasonable and the food isn’t bad at Tommy’s (13th and Norris), but better options exist just further up the block. Breakfast sandwiches may look like the highlight of a rather extensive menu, but the bagels are hit-or-miss and the eggs are often overcooked. Tommy’s does offer combo meals at lunch, but service is extremely slow, especially if you have patrons ahead of you. One bright spot: Tommy’s offers more beverage options than any other truck on Temple’s campus. For the longest time this truck was the only option on the northern side of campus. Now, with better options right up the block, you can pass right on by Tommy’s – that is, unless you want that can of Sunkist soda you can’t seem to find anywhere else. ~ Patrick Gordon