Hit the road to flavour town with these street eats from a selection of popular local food trucks.

words Stacey Jones 

Sky-high rents, crazy setup costs, and no staff to run the show – it's tough out there for folks dreaming of turning their love of food into a thriving business. The answer for many is on four, or sometimes even two wheels. From tricked-out trailers to
fuelled-up fire trucks, each one is a showcase of the chef’s individuality, bringing their culinary vision to the Bay of Plenty. 

Back in the day, food trucks were often just a stepping stone to opening
a bricks-and-mortar restaurant. Not anymore. These mobile kitchens are stars in their own right, hitting up big events and drawing in the crowds all on their own. When a new one pops up, word travels fast. So below are the trucks I’ve been hearing about the most, each with its own story of a love of food, perseverance and ambition.

Bringing Sicily to the Bay
For Ivanav Lanello of Sicula Pizza, cooking is all about her connection with her childhood memories growing up in Sicily. "If I think about food, the first thing that comes into my mind is Nonna Concetta," Lanello says. Her truck aims to recreate Sicilian classics combined with New Zealand ingredients. Starting during lockdown, she started to play around with recipes that could bring her uniquely regional Italian cooking to the people of the Bay. And boy, are we glad she did. “All the dishes are things you easily find in all Sicilian bakeries, such as arancini, fried calzones, cannoli, brioches, almond cookies, fried bread, pastries, pizza, cartocci and savoury brioche.” Sicula Pizza can be found weekly in Ōmokoroa.
@sicula_massi

Authenticity on the move
At Lek’s Go Thai, authenticity is the key ingredient. This modest food truck, recognisable by the owner Songsak Prasanpoung's face adorning its side,
has quickly become a Pāpāmoa favourite for its genuine Thai flavours. "My truck looks very simple, just white box with a picture of my face on it. But what is truly unique is the taste of the food. After nine years cooking and living in New Zealand, I know how Kiwis like to eat," says Songsak. By importing ingredients from Thailand and combining them with local produce, Lek’s Go Thai delivers flavours that pack a punch. For example, the pad Thai sauce is handmade and the customers love it. The truck can be found at 326 Pāpāmoa Beach Road, 3-8pm, Tuesday to Sunday.   @leksgothai

A grom’s food truck
Kerry Boylen’s Oshie & G's is the result of a simple yet innovative idea: A food truck that caters specifically for kids. "Let's start a food truck business and cater for the groms!" she proposed, aiming to make her food truck experience a fun and engaging experience for all the family. Named after their children, Ocean and Grayson, Oshie & G's offers more than just food; it's a place where kids can order from their own height, play games, and dive into a colouring activity while waiting for their meals. So what to choose? The cheeseburger sliders and curly fries are
a definite hit, alongside the raspberry or lemonade spiders. You can find the truck at Dinner In The Park in Matua, or check out their Instagram for winter locations.
@Oshie-Gs

Suppers by the sea
The Omanu Beach Surf Club has turned into a vibrant meeting place every Friday evening during the summer months, with a different food truck appearing each time. It's a great opportunity to grab a drink on the beach and ease into the weekend with like-minded folk. Among the lineup is Burger Lab, known for crafting burgers from scratch. Owner Morgan Stone explains, “We try to make everything from first principles, and each week we ‘experiment’ in our lab with a new burger alongside
the usual suspects.” 

omanubeach.co.nz