The Food Truck Festival

If you religiously follow the Melbourne food truck directory, sleeping with one hungry eye open and painstakingly keeping an ear to the ground for which flavour bus is parked where and for how long, you can relax … for at least five nights. Melbourne’s, and probably Australia’s, biggest food truck festival, Food Truck Festival Melbourne, will soon be conveniently setting up shop in the middle of the CBD.

This glorious festival is set to deliver more than 40 food trucks to Birrarung Marr, so there won’t be any wild goose chases, not this time. The hoard of travelling cooks will be pulling up the handbrake and pushing their cheese, fried chicken, tacos, dumplings, baos, burgers, vegan things, sweets, craft beers, and local wines down our throats for five nights from the 2nd of May.

Divided into four sections, the Food Truck Festival Melbourne pits food trucks from north, south, east and west Melbourne against each other. And we can only hope that a winning truck and hub is somehow crowned at the end.

Keep an eye out for the following trucks.

MILF

Before you get your American Pie references in a knot, MILF stands for Man I Love Falafel. And you can tell they do because Melbourne’s first falafel food truck really knows how to do those little Middle Eastern balls well. They sell MILF burgers and MILF bowls and they’re both superb.

Poncho Mexican

A small menu done well, that’s what you’ll get under the poncho. The tacos and the poncho bowls are sound, but for something new try the chilaquiles. Usually a breakfast or brunch option, chilaquiles are sloppy, cheesey, saucey nachos with frijoles and sour cream.

Ron’s Handburger

Whoever Ron is, the man sure can make a burger. Burgers of all different sizes and cheesiness. Some with beef and some with bird. Some with bacon and some with other bits. All should be devoured with loaded fries. Is Ron, is good.

You can also expect roaming performers and live entertainment at the Food Truck Festival Melbourne, including acts for the kiddies.

Where: Birrarung Marr, Melbourne

When: 2-6 May

Times: Wednesday and Thursday 4-10pm, Friday-Sunday 11am-10pm

words by niall roeder