Food Truck Fridays

If i had one word to describe it: Awesome! Great location (tower grove park), great variety of food trucks, great event! There are some other vendors and live music also. Plan for a day of it and bring your blanket or lawn chairs. Get there early before the trucks sell out of everything though.

I definitely think Food Truck Fridays are something fun to do… if you do them the correct way.
First, my best experiences at Food Truck Fridays are when I get there early. This prevents me from having to wait in the unbearably long lines. Alternatively, you can now use fast passes to cut a lot of the lines, which I think is worth it. Also… if I remember correctly, some places have cash only lines, which are oftentimes shorter than the credit card ones (so bring cash!).
Second, I don’t think it is worth coming after it has rained and/​or during unbearable heat. I came a few months ago after it rained and the ground was so muddy it was disgusting. I wasn’t able to put my picnic blanket down and my shoes got all gross. My favorite Food Truck Fridays are definitely during the winter and spring months when you can sprawl out and enjoy the nice weather.
Third, I think it helps to do some research before you go. There are so many options that having a plan beforehand really helps. Close to the date of the event, you can check out this website to see which food trucks will be attending:
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Finally, I’ve always found it easier to park somewhat further away so that I can leave more quickly. A few extra minutes of walking can prevent you from being gridlocked later. I typically like to park on one of the side streets off of Arsenal to allow for a quick getaway.
Overall, a fun way to spend a Friday during good weather.

Sauce Magazine did a great job with Foodtruck Friday in TGP! Love the variety, every item we had was delicious! We will definitely attend again! #stlmetrofoodie

Great little «something to do outdoors when it’s nice outside» activity.
Plenty of food varieties to sample here. Don’t overdo it only the first stop or it’ll ruin your journey. Make your way down the yellow brick road, taking in all the trucks to get a general idea of what yo may have a taste for. Narrow it down to 3 – 4 truck stops and leave the others for another visit.
There’s pizza, chicken, tacos, desserts, gyro, wraps, burritos, beer, corn on a stick, slaw, pasta, vegan, carnivore…
Cop a squat, pull up a lawn chair enjoy the live band, take in the scenery, share a few laughs with fellow food truckers and carry on… you’ll probably wanna go work that food off so take advantage of the location. Stroll the park for a bit; break a sweat, burn those calories.
PSA: Hand washing stations /​Port-A-Potty’s are located on each end of the Food Truck line.
Also, Speed Passes are available if you’re anything like me and hate lines.

Tower Grove is an extremely short walk from my house so it’s a no brainer to come down every 2^nd Friday! Today we had Seoul Taco and Vincent Van Doughnuts. Seoul Taco is always good. This was our first Vincent Van Doughnut and it won’t be our last. Delish! And the weather held out too! Perfect!

Love that St. Louis has a monthly food truck gathering! Especially at a park so close to where I live.
Here is my pros and cons for the event.
Pros:
— Lots and lots of food trucks, you have a lot of different choices
— Great outdoor event when the weather is beautiful
— Can bring your dog (s)
— There’s live music
Cons:
— Parking can be a pain the later you go
— The lines get really long the later you go
— There are lots of people to weave around
— Food trucks are a little pricey in my opinion
— There are picnic tables, but most people bring their own chairs
My advice is to go early to avoid the long lines and be able to find some decent parking. Also I would recommend bringing your own chairs or blankets, giving you the ability to set up wherever you would like.

After days/​months/​years — I finally made it to a Food Truck Friday event at Tower Grove Park. Thank my lucky stars!
I was able to catch the last one of the season on a cold and windy evening. This was good because the crowd level was minimal, and it gave us a great opportunity to look around and take the whole experience in with minimal disruption. Any other FTF of the season??? Forget about it — you will be waiting in line.
1. Check out the list of trucks online prior to the event and develop a game plan. Pick a handful of trucks to hit when you get there — be sure to include entrees AND desserts.
2. Go early. Get your site set up and start thinking about which trucks you wish to sample from before the masses arrive. Get a feel for the layout and where your trucks are based on your dining strategy/​game plan.
3. Bring cash — although I saw a handful of vendors that accepted cards — be prepared and bring cash. There was also an ATM on site for folks who do not fear the typical you waited until the last minute to get cash and now you must pay fee.
4. Get cozy — once the surge of people hit, it will get crowded. Find a great place to watch the people, check out the food, and listen to the music. This is like tailgating only with less
5. Sample early — These trucks are not loaded up with full menus and usually select a sample of items for FTF. They will run out as the crowd grows and time goes by.
6. Split up to expand your FTF experience. If dining in pairs — go to different trucks and get something to share with your significant other, friends, kids, or dog!
This event is for all — family, friends, kids, neighbors, and dogs. Bring everything you need for a comfortable outdoor dining experience — chairs, coolers, flasks, plates, napkins, portable speakers. It is a great social event — not to mention a great way to wrap up the work week. Don’t want to worry about parking? Ride your bike!
Be sure to check out the other FTF events too! These are held in multiple parks throughout the spring/​summer/​early fall season. This is one of those great events were you can bring all your gear in, set up shop, and dive into all the various eats and treats. I am definitely looking forward to next season!

How does this not have 5 Stars?
FTF is a St. Louis staple that is here to stay. Make sure you get to it early or else you could be waiting in line for an hour at some of the food trucks.
Be sure to bring a cooler and some law chairs. I also suggest that everyone in your group divide and conquer to you all can get a little taste of everything while you’re there.

After reading lots of reviews containing warnings about the long lines, I decided to go early (got there around 15 minutes before it started at 4 PM) and I had my husband meet me there instead of waiting for him to get off of work to go together. That way, my friend and I had enough time to set up our blanket and chairs and scope out all the trucks before too many people showed up.
There were so many food trucks and different varieties of food to try! I was wondering how many dishes I could fit in my stomach before I would be compelled to stop eating! It turns out, quite a few, with some help from my husband! Here’s what we tried:
From Zia’s food truck, we had the toasted ravioli. They weren’t spectacular, but they weren’t too bad, either, as long as you eat them while they’re hot. I got them so my out of town friend could see what they were all about, since it’s a St. Louis thing.
Cha Cha Chow food truck
— Grilled fish taco: some kind of white fish on a white corn tortilla with creamy cha cha sauce, and cilantro lime slaw. I asked the lady taking orders what kind of fish it was, but I can’t remember what it was called. She said that it was similar to tilapia but with less of a fishy taste. This taco was on the small side, but it was only $ 3, so I think it was worth it because it was flavored well and I enjoyed it.
— Lobster taco: butter poached lobster, lemon cream cheese sauce, salt and pepper slaw, topped with cilantro on a flash fried tortilla. This was sooooo delicious! Granted it was pricey, but come on! Lobster. Taco. Need I say more?! Try it out!
From Guerilla Street Food…
— Lumpia: this is a Filipino spring roll that’s not fried. Rather, the wrapping is sort of like a crêpe, but spongier and softer. It was filled with sauteed cabbage, carrots, and green beans and it came with a sweet dipping sauce. I thought it would be the fried kind, but I guess I read the description wrong. Nevertheless, it was delicious and I’m glad I tried it, but I’m not sure I would order it again.
— Flying Pig bowl: slow roasted pork asado over rice with chilis, calamansi (a type of Filipino fruit), sriracha, and a slow cooked egg (technically a sous vide 1 hour egg, if you want to get all fancy). This was amazing! It was probably the dish I liked the best from everything I tried at FTF.
From the Holy Crêpe! food truck, we had the banana Nutella crêpe. There’s really no way you can go wrong with Nutella. There was no wait, they didn’t skimp on the Nutella (yesss!), and it was a pretty decent crêpe!
Smokin’ Monkey food truck
— Shrimp lollipop: When I read that on the menu, I was perplexed and curious at the same time. I decided to get it and I liked it! It’s made up of chopped shrimp that are smoked and grilled on a sugar cane skewer and served on top of a bed of some kind of slaw and yummy sauce.
— Duck confit tacos: smoked confit duck topped with again some kind of slaw and their house-​made chipotle plum jam. These were not as good as I expected. The duck was a little on the dry side and could have been cooked to retain more of the flavor. However, the jam was good and you could tell they made it.
Drunken Pig cupcake from the Sweet Divine: It had Newcastle beer and cheddar cheese cake, cheddar and cream cheese frosting, and bacon on top. Oh em gee. So good! The cake was moist and the flavor of cheddar was not overpowering, which I was a little afraid it would be. Usually, I find that most cupcake places use too much frosting for my taste, but the Sweet Divine had a great frosting to cake ratio! Plus there were chopped up pieces of bacon on top. Seriously! What more could you ask for?! This cupcake flavor apparently helped them win on the Cupcake Wars tv show.
Other food trucks that were there included:
Steak Louie
Slice Of the Hill
Seoul Taco
Deli on a Roll
Completely Sauced
Lulu’s Local Eatery
Shell’s Coastal Cuisine
Chop Shop
Hot Aztec
(I posted photos of their menus, so check out what they offer before you go!)
There was also a band playing near the center of the line of food trucks. I can’t remember their name, but it was nice to have some live music while wandering around getting and eating food.
TL;DR — Go early, bring cash and something to sit on, and enjoy the music and wide variety of food truck fare! Be adventurous!

I enjoyed myself during my first visit to FTF. I took the advice of other posters and arrived a few minutes before the scheduled start.
There were plenty of picnic tables to use and a lot of people brought their own chairs, coolers, and blankets.
This is a great place to try a lot of different foods.

Like other reviewers, I want to love Food Truck Friday — and the first time I went in the fall, I really did. All different types of food trucks from STL line up in Tower Grove Park, and people come out to picnic and spend time in the park. Great for all sizes of groups, especially because people can split up and get food from whichever truck they choose. The sweet potato falafel from Lulu’s Eatery is incredible, and the various cupcake/​dessert trucks are excellent, too.
I went to the first Food Truck Friday this May, though, and it was just way too busy. We waited for 45 minutes at Cha Cha Chow for fish tacos, and right as we were getting towards the front of the line, they told us they were sold out! We waited at another truck for about 15 minutes before the same thing happened. We had arrived just before 7pm, and the event ends at 8pm, so while we were on the later side, we were surprised and frustrated by the incredibly long lines.
I’d still go back — I’d just be sure to arrive very early! Look for parking on the streets that run through Tower Grove Park. Bring a blanket and maybe a cooler and enjoy the atmosphere. This event is such a fun idea — I just wish it weren’t quite so popular.

I have been going to Food Truck Friday for about 3 years. I have hardly missed any. Always a great time. Roll up with a cooler, a blanket, and an appetite. I would suggest arriving early and having some patients as the lines grow quickly.
Leave room for dessert, there are many options and you can’t make a bad choice.

Food Truck Fridays are a great St. Louis community event!
It’s such a genius idea to have them all come in one spot. That way you can try a ton of different options. It can be really crowded so come early! Parking can be a little bit crazy but don’t be afraid to park on the side streets. The walk isn’t bad.
I think besides all the food trucks and music vibes, my favorite thing about them is the dogs. That’s right, I said it… the dogs. There are sooo many. Puppies, too! That’s the animal fanatic in me talking…
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Bring cash. I think they are al cash only. Someone fact check that for me.
I’m not sure when the next one is this year but check it out if you haven’t!

@Hot Aztec food truck has done it again!
Check out the early bird special Mexican Salad with Diablo Shrimp! It’s beautiful to look at and all the hot, sweet flavors come together like a party in your mouth! Thanks Dana and Rob

How can you not love an excuse to sit in a park, eat, drink and be merry?! Rapidly becoming one of my favorite events in St. Louis. Around 15 of the cities most popular food trucks line up and crank out the most tasty food truck items available. Try one or many. I like to map out a plan days ahead of time. Arrive early and bring friends. It’s almost a game to see how many trucks you can try before the lines get really long and possibly sell out.
Schlafly and other providers are literally on tap, but you can also bring a cooler of your own. Bring lawn chairs, sit back, and people watch.
Favorites:
Cheese shack, Sweet Divine, Seoul Taco and my golden child, Chop Shop. Their F-​150 roll speaks to me. I hope it will do the same for you.

I used to love Food Truck Friday, what could be better than having your choice from one or more Food Trucks while people watching in the park. Yes it always has been a little bit crowded however it was still somewhat manageable. However my opinion all changed last month when I decided to give it a go about 5:30, parking was a disaster and I managed to get stuck in the park for nearly 30 minutes trying to find a spot/​exit the park. The issue with Tower Grove is that it is essentially landlocked and only easily accessible by driving or if you live in the surrounding area. Forcing all those people to drive causes so much confusion because most people decide to park within the park or on the surrounding streets, I am starting to think that Food Truck Friday has simply outgrown Tower Grove Park, and should be moved to a place with more parking and better access to transit. Perhaps Forest Park, City Garden, or the Arch Grounds something that allows better access.
Another complaint I have is that the lines are often long, very long sometimes you are talking 40 – 50 people or more deep. I know that there are only so many food trucks available but having the event more frequently might help eliminate some of the crowds, and help the vendors make more money. Just my two cents.
I am planning to give it a try this Friday and see how things go, luckily I will be off work and can head over early.

Food Truck Friday isn’t so much a fun and relaxing event. It’s a test of patience and endurance.
My friends and I got there around 6:30. Many say that you have to get there early but in order to do that I would have to take a half day from work. So we were up against it from the beginning.
We wandered around for about 15 minutes checking out the different trucks and searching for the shortest line. Unfortunately every line stretched back to near highway 44. Some may have started in Iowa for all I know. We couldn’t find the beginning of a lot of lines.
With just about an hour left before the event ended we decided to hop in the shortest line. It was for Sarah’s Meltdown, a «gourmet» cheese themed truck. When we got in line we had a bet going to see how long the wait would be. I initially said 38 minutes. My friends thought I was crazy. After a minute, one friend quickly changed his mind and said 41 minutes. At least he didn’t «Price is Right» me and go with 38:01. Either way, we were both way off.
The final wait time: 49 minutes, 26 seconds. Then there was another 8 – 10 minutes until we finally got our food.
What did our hour long wait get us? Two grilled cheese sandwiches for $ 5 a piece. Yep. Something I’ve made at home since I was wearing diapers (I wore diapers for a looong time). As we waited in line I thought maybe we’d be getting some 3 cheese blend. Or maybe a little brie… maybe some Gouda. Nope. Just plain cheddar. It was probably just a couple of Kraft singles too. It was nothing that someone should stand an hour for.
I guess I can’t knock the event too much for our indiscretions. We did pick the truck.
Other pitfalls of Food Truck Friday include traffic and parking, which is a mess, and trucks running out of food well before closing time, as was the case with Sarah’s Meltdown.
Also, as 8 PM nears, a person comes around with a «Line Closed» sign and hands it to one patron standing at an arbitrary point in line. Who is this Czar of Food Truck Friday? I don’t know. However, you can be standing in line for 20 – 30 minutes before this person tells you that you aren’t getting served.
We were about four people in front of the cut-​off. It was the highlight of the night. I felt like Indiana Jones after sliding under a closing door and then reaching back for my hat and pulling it in at the last second… just made it.
The only real positive is the people watching. There was a guy there wearing a neckerchief. It threw me off for a bit but I assumed that is the hot new fashion item of 2013. Thus I went out and bought a dozen neckerchiefs afterwards. Thanks, guy!
My advice:
1: Don’t go… you really wouldn’t miss much.
2: Eat and then go and people watch.
3: Bring food and sell it to people standing in line at a helluva mark-​up.
4: Bring food, eat it, and laugh at me while I stand in line for an hour for grilled cheese.
I couldn’t imagine this event when it’s 90+ degrees outside. Luckily it was only about 80 on this night.

Freaking awesome STL event!
Things I like:
— the family friendly atmosphere
— the food
— the performers
— the park itself
— variety of food trucks/​cuisines
— everyone is so jolly and casual!
— the trash/​recycle/​compost system!
— can bring your own picnic supplies (i.e. chairs, tables, etc.)
Things I dont like:
— long lines!!! IT is seriously the worst. You will probably wait in line for at least an hour before you get your food.
— people who bring their dogs
— parking is difficult
— bathrooms are limited
But overall, it is really fun!

This is the worst thing I’ve ever been to in stl. Its way overcrowded and hard to get food. Would reco just bringing your own food and drink if you want to go.

I guess maybe I had higher expectations for this after hearing friends rave about it. Or maybe I am just super excited to eat food served from a truck only to have my hopes and dreams dashed because the line snakes all the way back past the public restrooms?
I think they need to do a better job of telling people where to go because Sean and I had to pretty much drive around the entire park many times before we actually found where the event was. Which seemed odd to me because there were hundreds of people there! How did we manage to miss THAT?
Anyway, we miraculously found a parking spot which was Thing No. 1 that was dreading about Food Truck Friday. Thing No. 2 I was dreading was standing in line. And Thing No. 3 was dreading getting bitten by mosquitoes. Well let’s just say 2 of those three things happened to me. Standing in line, and getting skin raped by mosquitos. Ugh.
THANKFULLY the line for Chop Shop (only truck I really care about) wasn’t super long and I managed to get my order in pretty fast! Yay!
I really wanted to try the Spring Rolls from the Bahn Mi truck but the line was INSANE.
I somehow forced myself to stand in line for 20 mins just to get a cupcake from Sarah’s Cake Stop. I moaned whilst eating it, so I’d say the wait was worth it but maybe not the mosquito bites, ugh. Next time I am spraying Raid.
Sean’s only comment was «why is there no truck that sells burgers and fries?» Sheesh! I think this is actually a challenge in disguise for us. Take out a few thousand dollars in loans from the bank, use it to buy some old rickety diesel truck, convert it into a retro-​y, cute-​sy, pin-​up-​y diner truck with bright colors painted all over it…
We would sell amazing burgers and fries to all of those folks who just really don’t feel like waiting in line for a quinoa and black bean burger with feminist organic sprouts on top with a side of fair-​trade bran and prune smoothie. Urp.