Truckin’: Seattle

While Seattle’s food scene is thriving, it doesn’t exactly have the reputation of L.A. or Miami when it comes to serious Latin fare. However, that’s changing, and the movement didn’t begin with haute cuisine and 5-star restaurants, but the food trucks bringing tacos al pastor and Cuban sandwiches to the Emerald City.

Make no mistake; food trucks in Seattle are not just a downtown phenomenon. The many neighborhoods of this beloved Pacific Northwest city are home to vendors as unique as their surrounding communities. Visit the hipster mecca known as Capitol Hill for some kimchi quesadillas, quirky Fremont for a Mexican hot dog, or stunning South Lake Union for sweet potato gorditas.

In honor of Season 10 of Top Chef, which takes place in Seattle, here’s our list of the top ten spot to get your Latin truck fix in Seattle.

El Camión. Multiple locations.

While perhaps not the fastest taco truck in Seattle in terms of service, the consistent lines at all three locations suggest that El Camión is worth the wait. Choose from gorditas, tacos, mulitas, tortas, or burritos filled with your choice of eleven meats, including carnitas, chorizo, tilapia, tongue and tripe.

The drink menu here goes beyond soda: try the creamy, almond-based horchata, a real Mexican coke, or (for one of those chilly, rainy Seattle days) a cup of campurrado – hot chocolate flavored with cinnamon and thickened with corn flour.

Barriga Llena. Multiple locations.

The specialty here is Mexico City-style tortas with mouth-watering fillings. The Toluqueña, a mix of carne asada and Spanish sausage, is a popular choice, as is the Chorloqueso – sausage with cheddar and Oaxacan cheese.

Or you can just go for broke and get the house special. Filled with breaded steak, spanish sausage, pork leg steak, and queso, the Barrigona is for serious carnivores only.

Contigo. Multiple locations.

One glance at this menu is enough to make any Seattle foodie a regular customer. Tacos filled with combinations like fried pork shoulder, guajillo sauce, and refreshing mint slaw, or braised shortrib with onion jam and arugula, go for $3 or less.

Vegetarians will find an equally unique and delicious selection, from the spiced mushroom taco to the sweet potato gordita with pecans and queso fresco.

Flair Taco. 315 N 36^th St (Fremont).  206-499-6967

Hands down the best taco truck to hit up when you’re craving a hot dog. Flair’s has tortas, quesadillas, and burritos, but if it’s late and you’ve had a beer or two, their Mexican dog is the only way to go. The beef sausage is wrapped in grilled bacon and served smothered in sautéed onions, pimento cream cheese, and jalapeños.

Los Chilangos. Multiple locations.

This truck has a variety of meats to choose from, including chorizo, lengua, cabeza, pineapple-marinated pork. However, the tacos al pastor are the “must-try” on the menu – the meat is slow roasted on a spit and shaved off right into your tortilla, similar in concept to the kebab. Their Mexican hot chocolate (below) is also pretty unbeatable.

Rancho Bravo. 211 NE 45^th St (Wallingford)

Tamales, tacos, bowls, and five dollar burritos – this is a great alternative to the more expensive burger joint Dick’s, located just down the street. Me? I prefer warm tortillas filled with carne asada, al pastor, or chicken mole, any day of the week.

Marination Mobile, Multiple locations.

The mobile truck came first, and the brick-and-mortar store followed by popular demand. What’s all the fuss about? Tacos with a Hawaiian/Korean twist, that’s what! How about tortillas stuffed with kalbi, melt-in-your-mouth kalua pork, miso ginger chicken, or creamy tofu topped off with Nunya sauce.

And the quesadillas? Filled with kimchi. Enough said.

Tacos El Asadero. 3517 Rainier Ave S (Beacon Hill) 206-722-9977

Ceviche from an old school bus? Go on, give it a try; you won’t be disappointed! This truck is also one of the cheaper options in the city; carne asada and spicy pork tacos are less than $1.50, quesadillas are about $5.

Taqueria La Fondita. 9811 15^th Ave SW (White Center) 206-551-0529

La Fondita offers a pretty broad menu for a truck. In addition to tacos, choose from burritos, chimichangas, taquitos rancheros, tortas, and tostadas. The carne asada here is consistently moist and full of flavor, and is topped with pickled carrots, radishes, and jalapeños.

Snout & Co., Multiple locations.

Snout is the truck to chase if it’s Cuban food you’re after. Their mojo pork (below) is marinated in a blend of citrus juice and spices – get it in a pressed Cuban sandwich with sliced ham, mustard, pickles, and cheese, or served on top of a bowl of black beans and rice with plantains and a smoky tomatillo-coconut sauce.

Another delicious option is their picadillo, a Cuban-style hash of ground beef, tomatoes, green olives, bell peppers, and raisins, all served over rice and plantains.