New York Street Food

(credit: NYSF)

One of the newer food trucks in town is the Urban Lobster Shack…On Wheels.  It’s an offshoot of the Urban Lobster Shack, a tiny storefront with locations in the basement of 805 Third Ave (bet 49-50 St) and at 15 Stone St (bet Bdwy & Broad St).

The menu is a bit more varied than the other lobster trucks, with 5 different types of lobster rolls, clam chowder and french fries.  They also started rolling out a couple of new specials this week such as a fried clam strip roll and shrimp & lobster bisque.

We’ve been getting caught up in Rangers and Knicks playoff fever, so we went for a Linsane Asian Lobster Roll for $14.  It  It was still a little chilly out, and the shrimp & lobster bisque special for $6 looked good too.

(credit: NYSF)

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(credit: NYSF)

One of the more interesting food trucks in NYC is Cambodian Cuisine Torsu.  The owner, Jerry Ley, and his wife Christine, came to America 30 years ago as penniless refugees from Cambodia.  On my first visit to the truck, Christine told me that “torsu” means “don’t give up” in Cambodian, and the slogan over the truck doors says “On The Street Looking To Survive”.  They’ve had some difficult times, but have not given up.

Jerry’s passion is cooking Cambodian food for people.  The truck first came out a little over a year ago serving only dinner from 6-11pm by the NYU Welcome Center.  They were off the road over the winter, and are now back serving lunch around the Flatiron District and dinner by NYU.

On this visit to the truck, I went for #10 on the menu, chaar kuey teo koke for $5.95.  I also wanted to try an appetizer, and got a #3, mchoo soup ($3.95).

(credit: NYSF)

I started with the mchoo soup.  If you want to know what mchoo soup tastes like, imagine if egg drop soup and hot & sour soup got married – that’s it.  It was pretty vinegary, had a bunch of egg in it, and was spicy.  The broth was thick and had a few big pieces of tofu, sliced bok choy, scallions, bamboo shoots and vermicelli noodles.

The chaar kuey teo koke was a sauteed wide rice noodle and chicken dish with lots of additions.  By additions, I mean small pieces of scrambled egg, cabbage, garlic and a few green vegetables like baby bok choy and Chinese broccoli.

(credit: NYSF)

The sauce was a little spicy, but not overly so.  With plenty of sliced white-meat chicken, noodles, greens and egg, I really enjoyed this lunch.  I didn’t need the soup, the noodles were plenty, but I wanted to try two different things.

The best way to find Cambodian Cuisine Torsu know is to follow them on twitter account here or our Mobile Munchies twitter feed.  They are usually by NYU for dinner, but are still trying different areas for lunch.

Jerry & Christine (credit: NYSF)

(credit: NYSF)

I walked by Worth Square earlier this week, and they were already getting things ready for Madison Square Eats, which starts Friday and runs until June 1st.

We’ve had some excellent lunches at previous incarnations of Madison Square Eats from great vendors who don’t normally serve lunch on the streets of Manhattan.  Roberta’s Pizza, Asia Dog and Bar Suzette, among others, and they all seem to be coming back for this edition.

Click here for a full list of vendors.

Another wonderful thing about Madison Square Eats is the vendors are open until 9pm, so you can go there for lunch or dinner and a drink.  Last time there were some nice craft breweries at the event, and it’s less crowded than at lunch.

Should be a fun and delicious time for all.

Asia Dog (credit: NYSF)

Eggs Travaganza - 52nd & Park (credit: NYSF)

Not the nicest morning, but people are saying the rain should stop by lunch.  Whether it does or not, you can still enjoy great New York Street Food from the vendors on the right and the trucks below.

Today is all about charity and balls! At the WFC, all the food trucks are donating 5% of sales to City-Meals On Wheels. Nice going guys!

As for balls, Uncle Gussy’s has keftedes, Greek-style meatballs, and Cruisin’ Kitchen has several different types of meatballs including a Mediterranean vegan option which they are debuting today. Guess you can’t call those meatballs, just balls.

As always, check the Mobile Munchies twitter feed before heading out, in case anyone had to move at the last minute.

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(credit: NYSF)

Last year we told you about a new food truck with a punk rock pedigree called Marky Ramone’s Cruisin’ Kitchen.  They did events on Long Island & New Jersey, but were in the city outside Marky’s gig at the Gramercy Theater in October.  Thanks again to our eagle-eyed reader @CarlyFrankel for telling us about them.

We made contact with Keith Album, the truck’s chief, cook and bottle washer (that’s actually what is says on his business card), and have been following them on twitter.

Keith told me they now have a NYC mobile vending permit, and will be in the city permanently starting today.

Click through to see what they serve and where to find them.  A hint: Do you like big balls?

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