8 Indy food trucks worth the wait in the cold
On a cold winter day, standing in line at your favorite food truck may not seem like the best way to get lunch. But trust us: You want to wait in that line. Indy food trucks' winter menus are packed with hearty, warm-you-up comfort foods that you won't want to miss. Put that scarf on and get outside. Check Twitter and websites, it just might be too cold for truck operations.
Caveman Truck: Barnyard Chili
Stand in line at the Caveman Truck for its stick-to-your-ribs Barnyard Chili, made with beef, shredded chicken and Smoking Goose bacon bits ($7 per cup; $12 per bowl). The meat is simmered with tomatoes, sweet potatoes and a custom spice blend. "I've had multiple people from Texas tell me it's the best chili they have had, and I'm very proud of that," said owner Shelby Malaterre. Info: cavemantruck.com.
Citizen Hash: Carnitas Grilled Cheese
At the Citizen Hash truck, the list of winter comfort foods includes carnitas grilled cheese ($6). The sandwich is made with braised pork carnitas, pepperjack cheese and caramelized onions. Citizen Hash serves it on sourdough bread with a dollop of salsa verde. Info: citizenhash.com.
Dashboard Diner: Hoosier Chili
Dashboard Diner serves a menu of breaded tenderloin sandwiches, fried fish and pulled pork, but the Hoosier chili ($3) stands out as a winter comfort food. It's made with spaghetti, red beans, ground beef and crushed tomatoes, as well as "chili powder and a few little extra things to give it our unique taste," said manager Ryan Edwards. Chopped onions, shredded cheese and crackers are available on the side. Info: dashboard-diner.
Duos: Rustic Chicken Pie
Duos changes its menu every two weeks, but several comfort-food dishes will appear regularly in the rotation this winter. Keep an eye out for Rustic Chicken Pie, made with a buttery free-form crust. Other options include Ethiopian beef tips with fragrant rice and tofu-mushroom stroganoff with egg noodles. All items are $6 to $7. Info: duosindy.com.
Little Eataly: Zuppa Toscana
Soup with pasta is always a welcome comfort food. Little Eataly's Zuppa Toscana ($3 per cup; $5 per bowl) is made with spicy sausage, potatoes, kale and chicken broth, with dots of acini di pepe pasta for texture. Pair it with a warm panini ($7-8) or a dish of penne pasta ($8) for a hearty meal. Info: littleeataly.com.
Mrs. G's Taste of Home: Southern-Fried Catfish
Mrs. G's Taste of Home is all about warm-you-up comfort food. Case in point: the Southern-fried catfish, seasoned with housemade cornmeal batter ($9.50). Three filets are served with sides of cole slaw and turkey spaghetti, and you can add a dish of peach cobbler for $5 more. Or, try the biscuits and gravy, turkey ribs or chicken wings. Info: tasteofhomeindy.com.
Scratch Truck: Beef Stroganoff
Scratch Truck's new winter menu features hearty dishes like tri-tip beef stroganoff ($10.75), made with crimini mushrooms and seared beef tenderloin and served on a bed of egg noodles. Other dishes include hamburgers, grilled-cheese sandwiches, patty melts and poutine (french fries topped with gravy and cheese curds). Add a cup of hearty reuben chowder — made with smoked ham, Andouille sausage and sauerkraut — for $4.25. Info: scratchtruck.com.
Spice Box: Egg Curry
Indy's popular Indian food truck offers egg curry ($7) on its winter menu. The vegetarian dish is made with hard-boiled eggs in a flavorful curry of tomatoes, onions and spices. Meatier options include spicy shrimp, chicken tikki masala and chicken tandoori tacos. Info: spiceboxindy.com.