Finger Lakes Food Trucks Roundup

When the weather is warm and the sun is out, we don’t mind waiting in line outside for food–especially if it’s for food from one of our region’s awesome food trucks. Here’s a list of some great food trucks in the area to try out and some menu items that sound particularly delicious to us. There are a whole lot more than what’s on this list, so be sure to keep an eye out for the next truck!

Brick n Motor Truck, Rochester

You can always count on a burger, but their menu changes daily using fresh, local ingredients. Check out their website to see their current location.

Menu highlights:

Brisket Bi Bim Bop: Crispy Rice, Sesame Carrots, Cucumber Kim Chi, Gingered Greens + Fried Egg

Curried Chicken: Fried Chic Peas, Black Eye Peas, Smoked Cauliflower, Herbs + Coconut Curry Broth

Global Taco, Watkins Glen

Fresh, local ingredients are used to make these stellar tacos. The truck serves Schuyler, Chemung, Steuben and counties surrounding Seneca Lake–but check their website for their daily location!

Dishes to try:

Persian Taco: Black pepper chicken, lettuce, cantaloupe, honeyed cream, slivered almonds.

Hawaiian Taco: Smoked pulled pork with simmered cabbage, lettuce, Hawaiian BBQ sauce, green onion

Meatball Truck, Rochester

They serve a steady menu of “darn good balls” and move about the Rochester area. Check their Facebook page for the current location.

Go for these:

Meatballs in a cup: Two Fresh house-ground Angus Beef Balls, in house made Marinara, topped with fresh ricotta , Fresh Basil and served with Flour City Bread

Truffle Fries: Fresh-cut fries made from Marion Muck Potatoes, tossed in Truffle Oil, Sea Salt and topped with Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese

The Circus Truck, Ithaca

This local favorite stays in the same spot but rotates their menu daily. Check their Facebook page for what they’re serving that day. Read this post for more info and photos!

Dish from a recent list of specials:

Human Monster: Cheesesteak sandwich with grilled sliced pears, homemade riccotone cheese from Snow Farms Creamery in Brooktondale, bacon, chili mayo and fresh cut basil on grilled French bread.

Stingray Sushi Fusion, Rochester

For something a little different, try this Japanese cuisine with a Latin American twist. They visit the same locations weekly, so check their website for the schedule.

Give these a try:

Merengue roll: panko beer batter shrimp, sweet plantains, bacon avocado and hot sauce, topped with stingray sauce & sesame seeds

Stingray Trash Plate: Bowl of rice w/ panko beer batter tempura shrimp, grilled beef, sweet plantain, sweet peppers, jalapeño, cucumber, tomato, scallions, bacon, onion crunchies, fried garlic, topped over a variety of sauces.

The Good Truck, Ithaca

“Ithaca-mex and locavore-fusion,” a.k.a. a damn good taco truck. Opening in May, you can find their weekly schedule on their website.

We can’t wait to taste:

Pepita Salad: local greens, red cabbage, sweet and spicy pepitas, avocado, creamy lime and cilantro dressing

The Heist: braised brisket with red chili, lime, cumin

Marty’s Meats, Rochester

Marty’s Meats serve fresh and homemade salad, soup and sandwiches–with a whole lot of meat. You can find their weekly schedule on their website.

Meat-tastic dishes:

Carolina Sandwich: Smoked pork shoulder, apple slaw, Marty’s BBQ sauce

Country Sandwich: Buttermilk fried chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, ranch, truck-made pickles

Franny’s, Ithaca (Cornell’s Campus)

The newest food truck at Cornell, Franny’s brings a flavor-packed eclectic menu, sure to please those who love Asian fusion cuisine in particular. Look for the glowing truck (yes, it literally glows) on the Arts Quad behind Sibley.

Mouth-watering options:

Noodle Bowl: Choice of chicken tikka masala, shrimp, curry spiced lamb, or smoked tofu with rice noodles, lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, pickled carrot and daikon, Thai basil, peanuts, crispy shallots, topped with Vietnamese dipping sauce.

Pork Bánh Mi: House-made Vietnamese pâté, Vietnamese ham, pork sausage, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro and white pepper aioli.

–Carly Browning

For a list of more trucks, take a look at this directory.

To check out trucks in Ithaca, visit the Food Truck Round Up on the first Wednesday of every month, starting May 6th at the Ithaca Children’s garden.

Photo by Jan Regan