Credit: Bob Townsend
Credit: Bob Townsend
In its third year, the Atlanta Street Food Festival returns to Piedmont Park on Saturday, with a lineup of more than 40 food trucks, and a portion of the proceeds going to the Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit charity that provides crisis grants to members of Atlanta's restaurant community facing unanticipated hardship.
The heart of the festival can be found in the rows of food trucks lined up around the park. Here are five to find:
Bar Meatball
Recently opened casual Virginia Highland Italian restaurant Bar Meatball now has a food truck of the same name offering a menu of meatball sliders with fries and pasta topped with meatballs. Choose a meatball from the menu, like classic beef, arancini (rice balls) or chicken and rosemary, then add a sauce like tomato, mushroom gravy, or pesto.
Bento Bus
The Bento Bus focuses on bringing healthy, locally sourced, organic Japanese cuisine to the streets of Atlanta, while providing customers with eco-friendly wares and utensils. That means sushi burritos and tacos, lotus chips, edamame, and even more creative cross-cultural takes like Asian nachos with fried wonton chips and a choice of chicken, steak, or tofu.
Masala Fresh
Masala Fresh takes traditional Indian food to the streets with casual takes on classic dishes like palak paneer, chicken tikka masala, and lamb masala, served in a rice bowl or wrapped in naan bread and sauced up with the likes of cucumber cool raita or Kenyan-inspired salsa. Smaller bites include samosas and papdi chaat.
Mix’d Up
Mix’d Up now has a brick-and-mortar location with a drive-thru near Grant Park. But on the truck you’ll still find rockin’ burgers and fries. Favorites include the lamb burger with tatziki, spinach, tomatoes and feta cheese on ciabatta, and a blended chorizo-beef burger with shredded cheese, pico de gallo and avocado puree.
Viet-NOMie's
Think a Southern twist on classic Vietnamese dishes and Asian comfort food. Beyond its cafe on Buford Highway, Viet-Nomie’s delivers takes on traditional pho noodle soup, tofu or five spice roast pork banh mi sandwiches on French bread, soft summer rolls and deep-fried “Jazzi Rolls” and noodle boats.
IF YOU GO
Atlanta Street Food Festival, noon-8 p.m. Saturday at Piedmont Park. Tickets available at the festival and online at atlantastreetfoodfestival.com. Tickets in advance include a discount wristband good for $1 off each menu item over $6. $10.50, adult pass; $25, four adult passes at the group rate; free, children under 12.
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