FOOD 50 TRUCKS OF WINNIPEG

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A Little Pizza Heaven
This red truck offers up the same tasty, beer friendly ‘za that is served to the young, hip set at their storefront location in Osborne Village. As my awesome co-worker Gillian says (who often edits all these articles, #blessherheart), “their garlic butter crust is so good that you should flip the pizza around to eat the crust first… and you can’t say that about a lot of pizzas.” This red fella moves around, so check their Twitter or Instagram account for locations.
Website: A Little Pizza Heaven
Facebook: facebook.com/tastealittlepizzaheaven
Twitter: @PizzaHeaven
Instagram: @alittlepizzaheaven

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The Bannock Factory/Faraci’s Pretzel Factory
With its log cabin facade, this food truck is certainly one of the most aesthetically pleasing trucks on the street.
It used to just be the Bannock Factory, where they turn bannock into everything — including tortilla chips — while also using it as a base for pulled pork and dogs (they also do a frozen banana that the Bluth family would be proud of). But, new for 2017, they are primarily (with the change of a sign) turing the truck into Faraci’s Pretzel Factory, where they will serve gourmet pretzels, pretzel dogs, garlic sausage on a stick, poutine and fries.
Website: http://www.thebannockfactory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bannock-Factory/600738466640220
Twitter: @BannockFactory

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The Beaujena Bus
This cute yellow truck features painted scenes of a French Café and slings Louisiana-style gumbo and barbecue using only Manitoba pasture-raised pork, grass-fed beef and free-run chicken. This year they are only using the bus for catering, so be sure to call if you want to get in on all that deliciousness. #greatforaparty
Website: http://www.beaujenas.com/catering/
Twitter: @BeaujenaBus
204-233-4841

Best Meal
A brand new food truck you can find on Broadway that specializes in Middle Eastern dishes like kibbe, lamb and beef kabobs, shawarma and falafel (they also have western food like fries and burgers; its a pretty huge menu for a food truck).
*Sorry, but no contact yet nor social media info, but we’ve seen it regularly on the 200 block of Broadway.

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Better than Baba’s
Ukrainian is the name of the game at Baba’s with several kinds of perogies (with multiple toppings), cabbage rolls and borscht, all served out of a handsome purple truck. Chef/owner Andrew Malitsky is from Ukraine (he moved here when he was 14) and he uses only organic, locally milled flour to make the excellent dough, which has a toothy texture like al dente pasta. They also make outrageously good dessert perogies using sour cherries and blueberries. Regular location is 325 Broadway.
Website: http://betterthanbabas.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterthanbabas
Twitter: @Betterthanbabas
Instagram: @betterthanbabas

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Big Spoon Soup Company
Surely the healthiest food truck in the city, this brand new for 2017 truck serves fresh vegan soups like corn chowder, spicy tomato basil, pho and curried cauliflower. The ingredients are sustainably sourced and the recipes come from Vancouver-based chef Aubrey Pingitore, a former Winnipegger who is the chef at Heirloom Restaurant in that city. Look for the jazzy white soup van at an event or location near you via Instagram and Twitter.
Twitter: @bigspoonwpg
Instagram: @bigspoonwpg

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Bridge Drive-In
In August 2016 the legendary BDI — “home of the creamiest shakes in town” — launched their very own food truck. Winnipeggers then proceeded to Freak. Right. Out. You can now get their famous soft serve, along with all that Goog goodness (along with their other crazy concoctions) in various spots throughout the city. And what’s even sweeter — aside from beating the lines at their home base at 766 Jubilee Avenue — is that the truck tends to stay open until 4 p.m (unlike most food trucks which wrap up at 2 p.m.), so it makes it easy to turn that downtown afternoon coffee break into an ice cream break (which is way better than a caffeine boost).
Website: http://bridgedrivein.com/
Twitter: @bridgedrivein
Instagram: @bridgedrivein

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Burgers R US
A big shiny red and black truck emblazoned with flame-kissed, hand-formed burgers — which are its specialty. It’s owned by Blair McKibbon, the same fella behind Heathy Eats, and this year they can be found regularly at 201 Portage Avenue.
Twitter: @healthyeatswpg
204-890-5676

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The Churro Stop
These are handmade, hand-cut Argentinian churros, and they are the bomb — so good that they took our Judge’s Gold Award 2015 for “best bang for your buck” at ManyFest Food Truck Wars. The dulce de leche and bavaria cream stuffed versions are insane (I wish I was eating like six of them while writing this), while the owner is one affable fellow.
Website: www.thechurrostop.ca
Twitter: @TheChurroStop
Instagram: @thechurrostop

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Cornell Creme (ice cream bike)
Ridiculously creamy, super delicious ice cream all locally crafted by Lisa Dyck, whose own cows supply the milk. Lisa and her husband William were named as part of Western Living‘s “Top 40 foodies of the Year” for 2016. The ingredients are always natural, while the flavours are often daring, including red wine, malty ale pail, and an incredibly good honey mustard ice cream they made four years ago that I still think of on a regular basis.
Website: http://cornellcreme.com/cornell-creme-bike/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CornellCreme/
Twitter: @CornellCreme

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Denise’s Blue Moon Food Truck
New to the scene in 2016, Denise’s Blue Moon specializes in well-crafted comfort food. Their signature is “smoked burgers,” of which the Black and Blue — featuring blue cheese, grape bacon jam (dear lord, yes!) and a blackened spiced bun — sounds almost too good to be true. They also do Country Fries — which are topped with pulled pork, cheese sauce, homemade BBQ sauce and crispy onions, and Blue Moon Fries — which are covered in a bacon cheese sauce. Denise, who runs the truck with her bestie Laurie and her brother Ed, also tells me that her fried apple rings ($5), which are finished with a dusting of cinnamon and sugar, are soon going to be legendary.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Denises-Blue-Moon-Food-Truck-757056517688609/
Note: cash only.

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Estellia’s Ukrainian Comfort Food
This feel good food truck is based out of a retail store in Dugald MB, where hand pinched perogies, holubtsi (cabbage rolls), borscht, sauerkraut and buns are made fresh everyday. They sell all these items on their food truck, along with malenkys (which I just learned, from owner/partner Cynthia Belbas, are a bite-sized deep fried perogies #imsold). You’ll be able to find them this summer on the festival circuit, while they are also available for catering.
Website: http://www.estellias.com/#!specials/c5wf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Estellias-Ukrainian-Comfort-Food-299513926909689/?fref=ts
204-853-7409 & 204-228-4059

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Extreme Fries
With its pink, graffiti-ed look, this truck is certainly a standout on the streets. On top of a menu that includes fries, poutine, burgers with homemade chili, smokies, and other street meat essentials, owner Bobbie Mack also jars and sells her own relish right off the truck. You can normally find them at 373 Broadway.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extremefrieswpg/
204-997-6919

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Falafel Queen
Get your gyros, falafel, shawarma, kifta and other pita wrapped items at this Middle Eastern food truck that is regularly located on Broadway at Kennedy.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Falafel-Queen-307786669281963/?fref=ts
204-996-5963

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Faraci Foods
As the Italian flags on this large black food trailer would indicate, Faraci Foods serves up items like Italian meatballs, Italian sausages and Italian sandwiches, along with fries and poutine (which, okay, aren’t as Italian). Faraci Foods Inc. is run by Anthony Faraci, and also includes The Pretzel Factory and The Bannock Factory (he is of Italian-Métis heritage).
Website: www.faracifoods.com
204-960-EATS (3287)

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Fired Up
We are big fans of the crust and simple ingredients from this food truck that utilizes a wood-burning oven right on the truck (you’ll often see one of the chefs come outside to grab more wood from the little cubby hole located near the window where you order). If you see their pear, cambozola and balsamic crema pizza on the menu that day you must order it! That pie is so brilliant it should accompanied with Ryan Adams’ “Give Me Something Good.” They also sometimes do a beet and kubasa pizza with a white garlic sauce that is pretty out of control too. Lately, they have been found right under Winnipeg’s tallest building at 201 Portage Avenue.
204-791-2689
Twitter: @FiredUpMobileWo
Facebook: facebook.com/firedupmobilewoodfiredpizzapastaandmore

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Goldie’s
An old school food truck that seemed to be around before food trucks were a thing. They don’t do much tweeting as to their location, but they are usually found parked beside the Cube Stage in Old Market Square blaring 80s-90s rock and serving up fries, burgers and such.
Twitter: @GoldiesFries

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Habanero Sombrero
Authentic tacos like you’d get down south featuring slow braised meats on six inch corn tortillas topped with queso fresco and pico de gallo. We’re big fans of their carnitas tacos, while their homemade salsas are also good times. They also get bonus points for having the sauciest Twitter account for a food truck. Check them out at 325 Broadway.
Website: http://www.habanerosombrero.com
Twitter: @habsombrero
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Habanero-Sombrero-Taqueria

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Half Moon
This mobile extension of the Lockport drive inn (which was established in 1938) specializes in a diggity dog and other diner fare and can be found at festivals and events around Winnipeg (full summer schedule here).
Website: http://www.halfmoondrivein.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfMoonDriveInn (Lockport restaurant)
E-mail: halfmoon@mts.net (private bookings and special events)

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Healthy Eats
Arguably the lengthiest food truck menu in the city, Healthy Eats specializes in everything from salads, to wraps, to fruit and yogurt parfaits, to the Bifana (a spicy Portuguese pork chop sandwich). You can currently find it under Winnipeg’s tallest building at 201 Portage Avenue.
204-890-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Healthy-Eats
Twitter: @Healthyeatswpg

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Hot Rod’s Filipino Grill
Rodolfo “Hot Rod” Cantiveros has some serious street cred, having recently been featured in a Vice Munchies episode on Winnipeg’s food scene (here’s a great pic from that). His Hot Rod food cart specializes in longanisa (sweet Filipino sausage) and other Filipino specialties.
Website: http://hotrodsfilipinogrill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HotRodsFilipinoGrill/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hotrodfilipino
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotrodsfilipinogrill/

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Iggy’s Family Doener (Steinbach and Winnipeg)
Since 2014 Iggy (Igor Georgijevic, who easily is one of the most interesting men in Manitoba) and his wife Candice have been serving up German-style döner like you’d get after the bar in Berlin, with slow roast chicken cut from a spit and a tangy cabbage salad served on homemade thin bread pockets. While they now have their own storefront in Steinbach, they will still be periodically bringing the food truck to the streets of Winnipeg this summer. We love these guys.
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Iggys-Family-Doener/602104916478952

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Island Fusion
Authentic Trini food and other Caribbean numbers like Jamaican patties that will take your tastebuds to the tropics. In 2015, their jerk sliders — which featured jerk pork and slaw in between fried plantains — had a great showing during Food Truck Wars taking Gold for “most original.” They also tend to rock out fun dancehall jams when their truck rolls up which adds extensively to the island atmosphere this fun food truck creates.
Website: http://www.islandfusionwinnipeg.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/islandfusionwpg
Twitter: twitter.com/islandfusioninc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandfusionwpg/
204-291-4263

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J.Curry
If you aren’t familiar with Japanese curries a) you’ve been missing out and b) this is a great truck to start at. They serve vegetarian and chicken curries as well as edamame and Japanese iced teas — all of which are organic and free range when possible, while also being served in biodegradable containers. #bonuspoints Look for them at events throughout the city.
Website: http://jcurrymedia.wixsite.com/jcurrywpg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcurrywpg/
Twitter: @jcurrywpg
Instagram: @jcurrywpg

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Kool Skool Bus
Owner Patty Toufanidis took an old mini school bus and turned it into a fully functioning ice cream shop. They do numerous soft serve ice cream cones, sundaes and “kool cones.” The speciality is the salted caramel krunch sundae, while you can also get all manner of big ticket items like banana splits. They also do hard ice cream, milkshakes and slushies.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoolSkoolBusIceCream/
Instagram: @koolskoolbus

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KYU Grill
These dudes took the People’s Choice title at 2015’s ManyFest Food Truck Wars (their lineup was seemingly 50 people deep at all times) with their robatayaki-inspired skewered Heroshima sandwiches. It’s a bit like Vancouver’s legendary Japadog, but with way more toppings – like nori, fried panko, scallions, mango sauce, kewpie mayo and other salty/sweet things. Often found at 333 Broadway, while they also have a great food kiosk at The Forks Market.
Website: kyugrill.com
Twitter: @kyugrill

Lemon Train
A dual purpose truck that specializes in lemonade and mini doughnuts.
*Sorry, they do not have social media that we can find

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Little Bones Wingery
These bold folks are certainly not chicken when it comes to making big flavours fly. They’ve done more things to wings than you can imagine, from Alfredo sauce, to “poutinerized,” to pineapple curry. Look for their 40-plus flavours of wings at festivals this summer.
Website: http://www.littleboneswings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleBonesWingery
Twitter: @LittleBonesWing
Instagram: @littleboneswings
204-777-2663

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Little Truck on the Prairie
This truck opened in 2016 to much fanfare for its aim to serve up delicious food for people with dietary restrictions. is owned and operated by Dr. Christopher Schneider — who is one Winnipeg’s top gastroenterologists, and chef Mike Cesario. It’s a farm-to-table based food truck, with a menu that includes walleye tacos (gluten free), bison sliders and Bothwell grilled cheese. They are already out on the streets with a new regular location at 405 Broadway.
Website: http://www.littletruckontheprairie.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littletruckontheprairie
Twitter: @LTOTP
Instagram: @littletruckontheprairie

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Mikky’s
This old school truck has stood the test of time, having been one of the city’s original food trucks dishing out burgers (with fried onions), fries and various other comfort food items. Look for the white truck with red trim and fun food food pics at 333 Broadway.
204-668-1665

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Olybees Kitchen
Having launched in 2016, Olybees has an eclectic menu featuring items like fish tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and burger variations — including one topped off with mango salsa. Heck, he even does breakfast. Owner/chef Oliver Block is also a skydiver (so bonus points) while he also mainly uses local ingredients (two more bonus points). And, if that wasn’t enough, he is also a fan of Phillips Brewery — which is one of my favourite breweries in Canada (so he gets a total of three bonus points, which is a lot). We’ve been seeing him at Hargrave, just off Broadway.
Website: olybees.com
Twitter: @olybeekitchen

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Pimp My Rice
Fun Filipino food from the food truck with possibly the Best. Name. Ever. Need we say more? Okay, how about be sure to try the adobo wings, and that Pimp My Rice took the title of “best bang for your buck” at ManyFest’s Food Truck Wars 2014. The owners Helene and Roddy are awesome, and in the past year they opened up a great new Filipino restaurant at 637 Corydon called Bisita. Due to the opening of Bisita, Pimp My Rice was not on the streets much in the past two years, but this summer they are bringing it back to the streets on a regular basis.
Twitter: @pimpmyriceinc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PimpMyRiceInc
Website: pimpmyrice.ca
204-294-1893

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Pop Cart
These gals have hit a home run with their gourmet popsicles, which are now available at stores across the city. These innovative frozen pops come in a huge variety of flavours utilizing fresh herbs and hand squeezed juices. The owners, Angela & Alana, have established a devout following of fans after two summers on the streets of Winnipeg. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram to see where you can find their push-powered carts.
Website: http://www.popcartwpg.com/
Twitter: @popcartwpg
Instagram: @popcartwpg
204-792-1271

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Poutine King
15 kinds of gourmet poutine — along with a new smoked meat sandwich — all served on fries that are right on the money. You can find this guy’s fries regularly right now at 201 Portage Avenue.
Twitter: @poutine_king
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poutineking

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PVG’s Breakfast Club
Another new(ish) entry from 2016, PVG’s Breakfast Club is making a serious bid for coolest looking truck in Winnipeg with it’s facade featuring the whole Brat Pack from the John Hughes classic. Owner/chef Paul VanGinkel’s menu is all about fancy grilled cheeses and breakfast (as the name would indicate).
Twitter: @PVGBreakfast
204-997-8914

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The Red Ember
A perennial favourite during Food Truck Wars at ManyFest and on any given lunch hour at Broadway right by the Legislative Building and the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market. Their ever-rotating roster of wood-fired pizzas are incredible — making for impressive lines at this massive truck (at last count it was the second largest food truck in North America, and owner/chef Steffen Zinn built it with his own hands, having converted a shipping container) . Their crust — made from organic wheat milled in Elie, MB — is spectacular, while they also use only locally preserved heirloom tomatoes, ethically raised heritage meats, and herbs and vegetables that they grow on the Zinn family farm. Just an all-round winner.
Website: http://www.theredember.com/
Twitter: @theredember

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Red Dot Japanese Cuisine
Now in its second year, this food truck is the work of a father and daughter duo who make sushi, bento boxes, and udon soups. This summer they are even doing a sushi doughnut.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reddotjapanesecuisine/
Instagram: @reddotjapanesecuisine
204-951-2165

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R U Caribbean Me?!
I don’t know what is better: the name of this truck, its stylish green and yellow facade (replete with the flags of the Caribbean and some palm tree silhouettes to boot), or its doubles, Jamaican patties and jerk chicken. Customer service bonus points must also be given to owner Dane Hope, as this guy always brings an extensive menu with tons of flavour and island music to the streets. New to this summer, you can also inquire about buying their hot sauces by the bottle.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rucaribbeanme/

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Simba Safari Grill
Representing foods from all over Africa (particularly the Serengeti), Simba specializes in grilled meats and ugali. They are the 2016 Food Truck Wars winner for “best bang for your buck.” Find them at festivals throughout summer.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simbasafarigrill
204-299-4189

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Sis and Me
The original food truck on the streets of Winnipeg, Sis and Me has officially been in business for 21 years now(!), operating on the corner of Broadway at Kennedy. They do all the standards from dogs, to burgers, to fries.
Website: http://www.sisandme.com
204-941-9599

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Smokin’ Haut
This food truck from Altona’s Pioneer Meat (“The Original Farmers Sausage”) specializes in elevated Mennonite comfort food (for instance, at the 2015 Food Truck Wars they took second in originality with their over the top Mennonite poutine, which was as rich as it gets with farmers’ sausage and white gravy). The extensive menu features fancy grilled cheeses, burgers, perogies (with the added bonus of making their own meats at the shop in Altona) along with lighter fare like a watermelon salad.
Website: http://smokinhaut.ca/
Twitter: @smokinhaut
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pioneer-Meat-Ltd-214386611961469/
204-324-5454

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Tamale Time
New for 2017, this one has me terribly excited as I love the food of El Salvador, particularly when it comes to pupusas. Expect to see them out by late may (the truck is actually the old Stuff It, which has a groovy new logo featuring a sombrero-ed senõr inside a clock face) with a menu of featuring tamales, panes — a Salvadorian sandwich which often contains shredded chicken that has been braised in a tomato broth that is placed into a baguette along with some crunchy onions and/or beets (perfect for the streets), and those pupusas, which are little flattened masa pockets that are usually filled with braised pork, refried beans, and queso fresco, topped with curtido — a Salvadorian slaw. They also do a yuca poutine of sorts, featuring yuca fries topped with braised pork, curtido, and sour cream. Yes, please.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tamaletimewinnipeg/  
204-881-0249

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Tia Maria’s Taqueria 
Authentic Mexican tacos (including everyone’s favourite, al pastor), taquitos and ceviche are the staples on this Manitoba-based truck that will periodically be making appearances at Winnipeg festivals.
Twitter: @tiamariastacos
Email: tiamariastacos@gmail.com
431-777-TACO(8226)

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Tiki Dogs
While technically just a hot dog cart (which we normally don’t list as the city has so many) these two fellas get an honourable mention for taking Winnipeg Old Country Sausage dogs and making them even more delicious with fun tropical toppings like mango salsa and sweet pineapple dijon mustard. Plus, their vibrant yellow cart is really quite glorious and they do specials for #WienerWednesday, which makes me laugh every time I think about it.
Twitter: @TikiDogsWpg
Instagram: @tikidogs

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Tokyo Rabbit
“Sweets from the streets of Japan” is how Tokyo Rabbit rolls (co-owner Hiro is from Japan), with creamy fruity crepes, katsu sando (fried pork sandwiches with shredded lettuce and a sinus clearing sauce), and mini Japanese cheesecakes, tarts and teas.
Website: http://www.thetokyorabbit.com
Twitter: @TheTokyoRabbit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTokyoRabbit
204-712-6576 or 204-712-6587

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Tot Wheels
I can’t lie, I’m not a big car buff, but I am a huge fan of homemade car-themed tater tots. There is no way Napoleon Dynamite could have hoarded these tots in his pockets; they are so delicious that you have to eat them right away, while they are sauced and heavily topped with delicious ingredients like kalbi and kimchi, or local vegetables and slow braised meats. Their Outback, featuring barbecued shrimp, took top honours at 2015’s Food Truck Wars for “best presentation” (I also had it at number one for taste). You can find them daily at 275 Broadway.
Twitter: @totwheelswpg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Totwheelswpg/561484997207649?ref=stream
204-770-1887

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Up South Barbeque
This truck is huge and slick looking, with a faux wood panel exterior along with two separate window sections for ordering and pickup. They smoke their meat (brisket, ribs, chicken, sausage and pulled pork) using apple wood and hickory and sell it by the pound. They also do classic southern sides like gumbo, mac n’ cheese, and slaw. Look for them mainly at festivals and industrial parks, while you can also have them cater events.
Twitter: @upsouthbarbeque
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpSouthBarbeque/
Website: upsouthbarbeque.com
204-612-9358

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Waki Temaki
This sushi-focused food truck from Yujiro — which is easily one of the best, if not the best Japanese restaurant in Winnipeg — serves super fresh, inventive rolls, sushi burritos and rice bowls. Everything chef Ed Lam and his crew do is on the money. Perhaps soon they will do a ramen truck for winter?
Twitter: @Waki_temaki
Facebook: facebook.com/WakiTemaki

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The Walleye Wagon
This truck immediately gets bonus points for referring to the correct name of the fish species it serves (pickerel is a form of pike, and not what you are eating on restaurant menus — here’s a nice chart for your reference) while the panko breaded and fried walleye is itself pretty good. It sells them in one and two piece options along with home cut fries and tartar sauce, and it normally can be found on the summer festival circuit.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Walleye-Wagon-1590786277823837/timeline

 

Via pegcitygrub.com by: Mike Green