New York City has joined in dining from food trucks as the popularity of the dining style has skyrocketed across many cosmopolitan cities.

Food truck festivals have sprouted up across New York City over the weekend of August 20th and 21st, bringing tasty treats to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Specialty food trucks serving anything from kimchee tacos to lobster have ushered in a new wave of fast food. They are generating loyal customers with hearty appetites.

More than 30 food trucks gathered in the heart of South Street Seaport on August 20th to share their individual cuisine. With the appropriately named PARKED festival, food trucks lined Water Street and Fulton Street as customers sampled an array of food.

The trucks were open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., which gave people plenty of time to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere of hopping from one food truck to another. Each truck provided customers with their regular menu, along with $5 and $8 meal options specifically for the festival.

The PARKED festival started just four years ago with a handful of food trucks gathering together to share a love of the culinary art. It has now expanded to a much larger festival, showcasing cuisine from around the world.

A crowd favorite at the festival was Korilla Korean taco truck, which serves the familiarity of Korean barbeque in new forms. Making tacos, burritos, and chosun bowls, people stood in long lines to taste some food from this Korean food truck. The popularity of the Korilla Korean taco truck has landed it on the second season of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race,” where eight food trucks compete for a prize of $100,000.

Jumping over towards Middle Eastern cuisine, the Taim food truck cooked up their signature falafel sandwiches, along with hummus, Israeli salad and a wide selection of homemade drinks and smoothies. This Middle Eastern truck is an extension of Taim’s permanent location in the West Village, where lines are always equally long.

The popular falafel and the chef behind the creation, Einat Admony, have appeared on Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” generating buzz for the cuisine.

Yet another food truck that has had Food Network exposure is Wafels & Dinges, a Belgian waffle truck that is known throughout New York City. Customers can choose between the Brussels Wafel or liege wafel, and add toppings, which are called dinges. Nutella, Belgian chocolate, and walnuts are just some options for the tasty wafels.

Wafels & Dinges also has a distinct barbeque pulled pork wafel, and their signature “de Throwdown wafel” which was highlighted on an episode of Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay.”

Other food trucks that participated in the PARKED festival included Coolhaus Ice Cream with thick ice cream sandwiches, Kelvin Natural Slush Co, serving up shaved ice, and Red Hook Lobster Pound.  Consumers were also able to enjoy dishes from Mexicue Food Truck, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the Treats Truck, and Schnitzel and Things, among many others.

Along with the large selection of food, the PARKED festival also offered live music on a a main stage in South Street Seaport. Diners were able to listen to music from Two Man Gentleman Band, Soul 2 Seoul, Anais Mitchell, Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, and Mikey Palms. A beer garden was created for the day as well.

Face painting was available for children, while cooking demonstrations were open for adults. The event offered plenty of free options for anyone wanting to spend some time outdoors.

Just over the bridge in Brooklyn, food trucks gathered once again on August 21st in Grand Army Plaza. The Prospect Park Alliance hosted the Food Truck Rally, which happens every third Sunday from June to October. Many of the same food trucks showed up at the Food Truck Rally and were met with equal enthusiasm from Brooklyn patrons.

Diners were able to eat grilled cheese sandwiches from Gorilla Cheese NYC, dumplings from Rickshaw Dumpling Truck and drink coffee from Mud Truck, along with other cuisines. Many chose to bring their meals into Prospect Park, just steps away from the Food Truck Rally.

The popularity of food trucks has become a staple in the New York City dining experience. Festivals like PARKED and the Food Truck Rally showcased these favorite meals on wheels throughout the weekend.

Image Courtesy of  bernardoh

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