Tacos from Darcy's Cart in Ann Arbor.El Guapo Fresh Mexican Grill—the city of Detroit’s first recognized mobile food truck—hits the streets today and will set up shop on the corner of Monroe and Randolph. The newest truck on the block was able to attack and conquer Detroit’s red tape and should be sizzling up fresh Mexican food for the rest of the season.
The food truck craze has taken other cites by storm for years. But just as in other ways, Detroit seems to be left in the dust in this foodie phenomenon.
The Grilled Cheese Truck and Kogi out in Los Angeles and New York Cities’ Big Gay Ice Cream Truck and Schnitzel & Things have had my mouth watering for ages!
So why can’t Detroit have these nice and shiny food trucks too?
Due to antiquated laws in the city of Detroit, food trucks have been not allowed to legally operate in the city limits. Other food trucks have been operating in the area but have had to steer clear of downtown Detroit, Midtown and anywhere within the city.
I’m sure the hungry workforce in the downtown area—with swarms of new additions from Blue Cross Blue Shield and Quicken Loans—would welcome new lunch options close to their workplace.
The lowdown on food trucks in Detroit
- El Guapo promises fresh Mexican fare and they are working with other local food businesses including Faygo and Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company.
- The Pink FlaminGO! recently refurbished the old AirStream and is now fully-compliant but has yet to post locations this year.
- Jacques' Tacos who—to my knowledge—has never entered the city limits of Detroit. He has a few regular locations and is regularly posting his wherabouts on Twitter & Facebook.
- Concrete Cuisine entered the scene just a short while ago but is another one that doesn’t venture into the city limits. Their playing field is mainly the western suburbs and the menu looks good enough for me to track them down. They have poutine!
- Taco Mama is waiting in the wings and has yet to launch into the food truck landscape of Detroit. We’re still waiting for her to update us with her first location. My gut feeling is that she’ll be sticking to the suburbs as well.
- The taco trucks of Southwest Detroit are the veterans and have been a mainstay in Mexicantown. Their only disadvantage is that they’re not mobile.
- Further afield, Mark’s Carts serves up street food in Ann Arbor in a courtyard setting. This set-up allows for a commissary kitchen, which solves one of the many issues surrounding food trucks. Again, they aren’t mobile.
I’m hoping that El Guapo—and all the other food entrepreneurs who have been working hard with the city—have finally opened up a door to creative food initiatives in Detroit. The road won’t be paved with gold but is it too optimistic to wish that they’ve made it somewhat easier for the next guy?
Food trucks are not needed in Detroit, we will get by without them. But damn it, I want them! Sometimes it’s the little things that can brighten your day. Peter Kageyama, the author of For the Love of Cites, said, “The things that we tend to love about cities are small. The cherry on top of the sundae.” Food trucks are just the cherry. Give me the cherry!
For all those out there who have aspirations of food truck ownership in the future, please gather around and listen.
Tantalize my taste buds with quirky concoctions. Wow me! Do something different. Don’t do the standard taco truck fare; we have a few of those already.
Take notice of all the brilliant food trucks around the country and Canada and do them one better! Do it so well that when people tell me that they’re coming to visit Detroit your food truck is the first must-do I mention. Deal?
Have I missed any other food trucks in the Detroit area? What would your ideal food truck serve?