















Photo: Eric Zepeda Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Image 2 of 5 The racks that lower the pies from oven to customer level. The racks that lower the pies from oven to customer level. Photo: Eric Zepeda Image 3 of 5 Photo: Eric Zepeda Image 4 of 5 Fire. Fire. Photo: Eric Zepeda Image 5 of 5 Margherita. Margherita. Photo: Eric Zepeda Giant pizza truck Del Popolo hits the streets of San Francisco 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Heavens to Betsy. Jon Darsky’s Del Popolo truck is huge.

That might sound like a silly observation, but really, that’s the only thing that comes to mind the first time you see the truck in person.

Del Popolo is no ordinary food truck, to say the least, in as much as Bigfoot is a normal pick-up. It’s a reaction that a few lucky locals have experienced this week, as Del Popolo is currently roaming the streets of San Francisco, and making random and secret appearances around town. Consider it the white whale of San Francisco, until its formal launch in the coming weeks.

The background is this:

Darsky — a former Flour + Water pizzaiolo — opted to open a pizza truck instead of a brick-and-mortar restaurant, because well, he figured it was easier. But when he left Flour + Water two years ago, he was thinking outside the proverbial box. Over $180,000 and just a few permits later, The Behemoth That Is Del Popolo is here and slinging pies.

The truck itself is going to get plenty of attention, not only from the food world, but from the auto and design worlds, too. It’s an engineering marvel … 14 tons worth. The 20-foot shipping container holds the pizza oven, and one side has been completely carved out and outfitted with full window doors; see 7×7’s piece last month for more number fun.

Then there’s the food. Neapolitan-style pizzas — two versions are on the menu for now, plus a third rotating seasonal one — are cooked for 60 seconds in the 800-degrees wood-fired oven. Darsky stands with the oven on the upper level, doing the pizzaiolo dance, up a few steps from the street level. When done, the hot pies are placed on a rack that lowers them down to the cashier in the station below.

Del Popolo is probably closer to a pizza big rig than a pizza truck, but the most appropriate way to describe it is a mobile pizzeria.

Follow @pizzadelpopolo for updates and specific locations. Until then, happy hunting.