Are you looking for food that is fast, but more upscale than your typical drive-thru burger joint? Of course you are, and lucky for you Miami is full of these restaurants on wheels. Not all food trucks are equal — these five rise above the rest.
Pasta Bros.
227 NE 17th St., Miami
440-223-9370
Monday and Thursday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday.
If you ever wondered whether a food truck could deliver high-quality Italian food in the amount of time it takes you to say “mama mia,” then Pasta Bros. is here to deliver you the delicious answer. Their chicken parmigiana with penne pasta will have you wondering if you have stumbled into Little Italy. The chicken is crispy and moist with a generous amount of cheese melted on top, and the penne pasta is exactly what you would expect out of penne in an alfredo sauce. It’s hearty and savory. Pasta Bros. is the food truck you have to visit if you love a good plate of pasta. Other dishes available: lasagna for $15.40, fettuccine pasta for $13.20, raviolo spinach and ricotta pasta for $15.40.
El Toro Loco Churrascaria
6603 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami
305-970-4824
Monday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
El Toro Loco Churrascaria is a rising star in the Miami food truck scene. Opened in 2014, they serve Brazilian food that you can pick up while you are on the go. This food truck is a meat lover’s dream with an assortment of cuts that will be cooked to your preferred temperature. You can tell these guys know what they are doing because the meat is moist and tender. Their rice is light and fluffy, with a hint of garlic. For those who don’t know, feijoada is black beans cooked with pieces of meat to add more umami to the beans. It makes a difference because the beans have a savoriness that you can taste with every bite. The yuca sticks are exactly what you want, beautifully crispy and fried on the inside and soft and light on the inside. Other dishes available: A half-pound of churrasco for $10.99, meat sandwich for $9.99 and a half-pound of picanha for $9.99.
Taco Chundito
2185 W. 60th Street, Hialeah
786-908-4464
Closed Monday – Wednesday
Thursday: 5 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.
There are people who might be surprised that they can find some of the best tacos in Miami next to a gas station in Hialeah, and that is what you will find at Taco Chundito. Started by Mexican native Juan Carlos Ayala, they are without a doubt one of the best taco places you will find in Miami. The staff is friendly, and the food they serve tastes as authentic as it looks. Their carne asada tacos are juicy and fresh. As for the flour tortillas, they are given a light toasting before becoming a vessel of culinary bliss. If you are a little more adventurous, then try the beef tongue and tripe tacos. The beef tongue is tender and juicy, with a strong umami flavor to it. The tripe taco will likely surprise you the most. The tacos have crispy fried tripe, and if you closed your eyes you would be forgiven for thinking you were eating pork belly. If you don’t want to be so adventurous, then the chicken tacos are a solid choice. Regardless of what you have at this food truck, Taco Chundito is a must-try for anyone in Miami.
Pizza En Fuego
2020 N. Bayshore Drive, Miami
786-630-7858
Sunday – Wednesday: 5 – 11 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 5 – 11 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 5 – 11 p.m.
Pizza En Fuego is everything you could want from a food truck that serves pizza. They don’t use regular ovens for their pizzas. That’s right, this food truck comes equipped with a wood-fired oven. You can taste the difference. The Caprese pizza has a crust that is thin with a little chew, just how anyone who likes New York-style pizza would want it. The mozzarella, grape tomatoes, and chopped basil are well balanced, providing a nice contrast between the salty and savory cheese and the brightness and acidity that come from the tomatoes. The basil provides a nice bit of herbaceousness to the dish to round out its flavor profile. This beautiful pizza comes out in about five minutes, and then you can grab a slice. Other dishes available: Margherita pizza for $12.00 and pepperoni pizza for $12.00.
Cousins Maine Lobster
609 Brickell Ave., Miami
786-600-3824
Business hours vary.
Cousins Maine Lobster is the food truck to visit if you are craving some fresh and delicious Maine lobster. Their rolls are the kind of sandwiches that people dream about. The Maine roll is stuffed with big chunks of sweet and tender lobster tossed with a small amount of mayonnaise. Don’t forget to squeeze some lemon juice on it because that hit of acidity is the finishing touch needed to make this a top-tier sandwich.
Other dishes available: Connecticut lobster roll for $18, New England clam chowder for $7 and lobster grilled cheese for $15.
