Food

On the Road: MoCo Food Truck Cheat Sheet

The food-truck craze has hit Montgomery County, where you can find everything from cupcakes to corned beef on wheels. Here are our favorites.

Go Fish
Perfect For: Fresh seafood–in tacos, chowder, and sandwiches–on the go.
We’ve Liked: Lobster rolls kicked up with lemon zest; crabcake sandwich.
Insider Tip: You can pick up fresh fish such as salmon and rockfish to cook at home as well as prepared foods.
Areas Served: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Kensington, Potomac, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Olney.

Corned Beef King
Perfect For: Satisfying an NYC-deli craving with pastrami and corned beef on Lyon Bakery rye.
We’ve Liked: Corned-beef Reuben; pastrami-and-slaw sandwich; meat-and-potato knish.
Insider Tip: Miss the truck at lunch? It sets up shop in Olney for dinner nightly and for breakfast on weekends.
Areas Served: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Olney, Rockville.

Cupcake Blvd
Perfect For: Classic cupcakes (red velvet, lavafudge) and more-unusual flavors (guava/cream cheese).
We’ve Liked: Peppermint patty, dulce de leche, and Oreo cupcakes.
Insider Tip: Order a dozen and the truck will deliver to you.
Areas Served: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville.

Curley’s Q
Perfect For: Big appetites–portions of hardwood-smoked meats are hearty.
We’ve Liked: Curley’s Plate, with pulled pork, chicken, and brisket; vinegary slaw.
Insider Tip: Look for specials, which might include pit beef and a range of international barbecue preparations.
Areas Served: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg.

Pino’s Auto Grill
Perfect For: Anyone yearning for Italian home cooking, including pasta and subs.
We’ve Liked: Penne Bolognese with meatballs; Italian cold-cut sub.
Insider Tip: Popular items such as steak-and-cheese sandwiches can run out early.
Areas Served: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg.

Thatsalata
Perfect For: A healthy lunch: salads, veggie chili, sandwiches with freshly roasted turkey.
We’ve Liked: Chop Shop salad with grilled steak; chicken quesadillas; vanilla/date shakes.
Insider Tip: In a rush? You can phone in an order until 11:30 am and pick it up curbside.
Areas Served: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, Gaithersburg.

Photographs by Erik Uecke.

This article appears in the May 2012 issue of The Washingtonian. Visit our slideshow of Montgomery County trucks to see tasty pictures of individual dishes.

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.