Grab a Bite to Eat Across the Street

Crepes with different flavors of Nutella, giant ice cream sandwiches, and chocolate-covered, bacon-wrapped brownie bites—these are only a few of what the OC Fairgrounds’ gourmet food trucks have to offer.

Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., several food trucks gather at the Fairgrounds. There are about 40-50 in rotation. Prices vary, but it is possible to get a satisfying meal for around $5 or $6.

Frequently appearing trucks to note include the OC Food Truck, which serves a delicious hash brown burger, the Burnt Truck, which serves fried chicken and mashed potato sliders, and BaconMANia, which serves a bacon soda drink and chocolate-covered, bacon-wrapped brownie bites.

Dogzilla serves incredible hot dogs, and their “dogzilla” dog includes avocado. Piaggio’s serves delicious empanadas and Argentine cuisine. If students or faculty bring their ID cards to Piaggio’s, they can get $1 off purchases $6 and up.

The OC Food Truck’s hash brown burger was a personal favorite; the hash browns were perfectly crunchy. According to The OC Food Truck employee Ken Drick, there are about 44 trucks in Orange County.

“We’re here [at the Fairgrounds] every other week,” Drick said. “Including Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.”

Food trucks are becoming more common throughout Orange County, not just at the Fairgrounds. A key feature of many gourmet food trucks is the blend of ethnic foods; for example, Kogi’s, which frequents the Irvine area, combines Korean barbecue and Mexican food.

Gourmet food trucks are a growing trend around the country, and the Lime Truck, season two winner of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race,” sometimes makes an appearance at the Fairgrounds.

The trucks are becoming so popular that FoodCartUSA, a company that builds trucks specifically for gourmet food trucks’ needs, has a branch nearby. FoodCartUSA owner Martin Ramirez has customers from Canada and all over the United States.

“Most of [our] business comes from out of state,” Ramirez said. “It’s going to get bigger every day. We’re talking with universities about building trucks, [but] right now we’re in the beginning stages. Most of the trucks here [at the Fairgrounds] are converted taco trucks.”

Many food trucks can be found on Twitter or Facebook, where followers can keep track of the trucks’ routes.