Tacos El Rancho Wins Top Prize at 12th Annual Vendy Awards

The 12th Annual Vendy Awards, the first street food competition in the U.S., was held today in New York City. More than 2,000 New Yorkers descended on NYC’s Governor’s Island to sample street food from dozens of vendors. 

Competing for top honors were 26 pre-selected finalists across five categories, including a special vegan category. Past Vendy finalist turned restaurant empire, The Halal Guys, received a special Hero Award. 

Latino-centric food trucks represented five of the 26 finalists. But in the end, the celebrity judges, among them Daniel Holzman of The Meatball Shop and New York Times Dining Reporter Julia Moskin, determined that the day’s best bites were served by Vendy Cup Grand Prize winner Tacos El Rancho and Mr. Bing, Big Mozz, The Good Batch, and Mystikk Masala in their respective categories. People’s Choice Awards went to Cachapas on Wheels and Monk’s Meat.  

Known among foodies as the Oscar’s of street food, the Vendy’s are an annual event benefiting the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, a membership-based organization that provides advocacy and legal services for nearly 2,000 vendor members.

Since its inception in 2004, The Vendy’s has expanded to include events in LA and Philadelphia, as well as a weekly outdoor food market in East Harlem’s La Marqueta known as Vendy Plaza. 

Below is a complete list of finalists and winners by category.  

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Mr. Bing (Winner), The Basket, Harlem Seafood Soul, Los Viajeros Food Truck, Puran Dhaka, Sisig City

BEST MARKET VENDOR FINALISTS

Big Mozz (Winner), Arepalicious, Matzahbrei, NJS Foods, Tuson Sate

BEST DESSERT FINALISTS

The Good Batch (Winner), Sweetface Snoballs, Raindrop Cake, A Lil’ Bit Of Fun, Delmy’s Obleas  

STREET VEGAN FINALISTS

Monk’s Meat (Winner, People’s Choice Vegan Vendor), Mysttik Masaala (Winner, Best Vegan Vendor), Bamboo Bites, Jerk Shack, The Vegan Bandwagon, Yeah Dawg

 VENDY CUP FINALISTS

Tacos El Rancho (Winner, Vendy Cup), Cachapas On Wheels (Winner, People’s Choice), Gladis’ Empanadas, Traditional Chinese Cuisine