Feel like Chicken Torta? The new breed of food trucks get tons of press, from their offbeat cuisines to their use of the latest technologies, but you can still get really good street grub at some of the old school food trucks.
El Carrito Rojo may not be a Vendy Award winner, but based on the lunch we had there recently, they offer a solid street food lunch at a good price. We got a chicken torta for $7, and are looking forward to trying some other dishes.
El Carrito Rojo (also known as El Super Carrito Rojo) is featured in our NYC Street Taco Guide.
The chicken torta is served on a Portuguese roll, which is a little larger than a kaiser roll. They start with shredded chicken on the bottom, add lettuce, tomato, cheese, beans and fresh cilantro – and you have a tasty, filling hot sandwich for lunch.
The chicken was good, and the beans were still a little firm on the outside, but soft in the middle. What really came through was the flavor and aroma of the fresh cilantro. This picked up the sandwich nicely. The cheese helped too.
El Carrito Rojo means the little red cart in Spanish, but they have a big, red truck that’s parked on the SE corner of 19th St & 6th Ave. They don’t tweet or have a website, but they do have good, solid Mexican food for lunch.
They also have more seafood than most other food trucks and carts, which is what I want to explore next time.
FAQ
Q: What’s in El Carrito Rojo’s chicken torta?
A: Shredded chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese, beans, and fresh cilantro on a Portuguese roll.
Q: Where is El Carrito Rojo parked?
A: SE corner of 19th St & 6th Ave.
Q: What else does El Carrito Rojo offer beyond tortas?
A: More seafood options than most other food trucks and carts in the area.
