SAATCHI EATS is a casual insider’s guide to cool food finds around the neighborhood.    This week – Food Trucks! If you work in the neighborhood, you’re aware of the many and varied food trucks that populate Hudson St. from Houston to Varick and beyond. We solicited the help of amateur foodie and food truck enthusiast Steffan Bankier to break down a few of his faves. The task: lunch at a food truck every day for a week. The results: a lot of tasty stuff. Chime in in the comments with your personal favorites.

// Monday: CRISP FALAFEL (Hudson & Houston) //
@crisponwheels

THE ORDER:
The Order: The Original Crisp Salad, 4 crunchy falafels on a bed of lettuce and tomatoes, a few pine nuts with ample hummus and tahini (drizzled with Sriracha for those who go that extra mile.)

THE GOOD:
Particularly warm and crunchy falafels. And unlike most trucks, they let you pay with a credit card.

THE BAD:
As rare a problem as this may be, my main issue with these guys was that they gave too much hummus. Easy solve: douse with hot sauce and dig in with a spoon.

THE UGLY:
Things get nice and sloppy midway through the meal. Your humus and tahini mix with the various other ingredients to form a soupy and delicious concoction that made it hard to resist licking the plate clean.

 // Tuesday: KORILLA KOREAN BBQ (Varick & Vandam) //
@KorillaBBQ

THE ORDER:
The Korilla “Super Bowl”: double portion of seasoned chicken over kimchi bacon rice, with kimchi of various colors, vegetables, and salsa. Drenched in Korilla BBQ sauce and spicy mayonnaise.

THE GOOD:
From the rice to the pickled kimchi to the squash, the deliciously smoky chicken almost takes a back seat. You are guaranteed to encounter some intense flavor, and let’s not forget addicting sauces.

THE BAD:
Unless you ask for it, they can be skimpy with the meat. But once they recognize you, expect to be treated like royalty. They’re good guys.

THE UGLY:
The line can get very long; expect to wait upwards of 15 minutes. Redeeming factor: it’s easy to forget you’re waiting for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon if you’re willing to get lost in the blaring techno beats that resonate from within the depths of their truck.

 // Wednesday: BIG D’S GRUB (Hudson & Houston) //
@bigdsgrub

THE ORDER:
Spicy Chicken Grinder: marinated chicken, fresh cilantro, veggies and juicy Sriracha mayo squeezed into a warm pressed hoagie. (Tip: Some of you may want coconut water to help wash this one down.)

THE GOOD:
Solid portions; not shy about doubling up on the chicken, very tasty, incredible bread. You’re getting an above-par sandwich for a great price.

THE BAD:
Sometimes, his sauces fall short (easily remedied with the help of our favorite rooster: Sriracha).

THE UGLY
The sauces and meat grease eventually drench the bread. Fork and knife are recommended for that final push.

 

***AUTHORS NOTE***
(Meetings got in the way on Thursday and Friday. Be advised that the trucks vanish after 3pm!)

 

// Monday: SCHNITZEL & THINGS (Hudson & King) //
@schnitznthings

THE ORDER:
Veal Schnitzel Platter: panko-breaded veal with a side of sauerkraut and fresh cucumber salad. Served with a light spicy mayo and sour relish.

THE GOOD:
The Veal definitely did not lack any flavor. Nice selection of condiments (I asked to double up and would go back to give the pesto mayonnaise a try.)

THE BAD:
All it took was a small portion of buttery meat to leave me with a greasy feeling.

THE UGLY:
I tried to hold back with the Sriracha but was forced to call it in when I was left with a surplus of tasteless vegetation.

// Thursday: KIMCHI TACO (Hudson & King) //
@KimchiTruck

THE ORDER:
Pork Kimchi Bowl: pulled pork over a bed of hearty multi-grain rice with pickled kimchi and vegetables.

THE GOOD:
Multi-grain rice is an upgrade from the standard blandness of white rice. The chicken is much more flavorful than the pork, but they were out the day I went.

THE BAD:
While the sauces were once DIY, they now take the liberty of saucing your meal, often underestimating the needs of a hungry sauce-fanatic.

THE UGLY:
In an age when Kimchi and Tacos dominate the sidewalk culinary scene, these guys need to step up their flavor game. While the meal was beyond satisfying, I expect more from a truck with such a promising name.