A Healthy SoWa Food Truck Guide

The crowds at the SoWa food trucks. All photos by Emily Phares.

SoWa Open Market is back, and with it comes an impressive array of food trucks that will please every palate. And while fried food is common vehicular fare, it is possible to find nutritious options amidst the falafel, pizza, and grilled cheese.

We scoured the market looking for the healthiest dishes available using the following criteria:

• Veggies veggies veggies. Rather than bread as a base, we looked for meals that were centered on lots of colorful produce.

• Whole grains. We aimed to avoid highly refined carbohydrates, and chose grains instead, such as wheat berries and rice. 

• Clean proteins. Grilled chicken and poached eggs are simple preparations requiring minimal fuss without calorie-laden sauces. We also stayed away from fried foods.

• Flexible food trucks. We looked for trucks with a number of “create your own” options. Food trucks provide unique flexibility for vegans, vegetarians, and for those with food allergies.

Below, our healthy food truck guide for 2014: 

1. Mei Mei Street Kitchen serves contemporary Chinese-American food made with local ingredients.

Item to try:

• The whole grain berry salad ($5) is made from Four Star Farms wheat berries, miso-honey vinaigrette, pickled cranberries, watermelon radish, cilantro, and housemade spiced peanut brittle.

*Remove the peanut brittle to indulge in this whole-grain treat with less sugar.

2. Bon Me dishes up fresh Vietnamese cuisine that’s worth the wait.

Item to try:

• The Rice Bowl ($6.50) is made with brown rice, pickled carrots and daikon, market greens, bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions, soy drizzle, and gluten-free spice-rubbed chicken.

*Vegetarians can replace the chicken with roasted soy with paprika tofu or edamame. 

3. The Dining Car offers American fare for those who want comforting and flavorful foods.

Item to try:

• The honey truffle goat cheese salad ($8) is made with fresh greens, herb-marinated goat cheese, toasted walnuts, wildflower honey, and truffle oil.

4. Momogoose fills its menu with Southeast Asian cuisine. 

Item to try: 

• Build your bowl ($8): We chose organic salad greens, grilled lemongrass chicken, broccoli, zucchini, and carrots.

5. Fugu focuses on Asian fusion fare made using locally sourced ingredients. 

Item to try: 

• Bibimbap ($8) is a Korean rice bowl topped with peppers, sprouts, broccoli, scallions, kimchi, spiced pork, and 1/2 soft boiled egg.