Guide to Chicago's food trucks

The Mexican truck serves tortas, tacos and burritos with fillings including skirt steak, chicken and al pastor. 

Where: The truck regularly parks at Adams and Wacker and outside the shops at North Bridge.

Twitter: @Aztec_Daves

Build your own tacos, arepas, bowls or burritos by choosing fillings like braised pork, black beans and grilled steak. Finish it off with various salsas and avocado.

Where: Find them at the University of Chicago, Clark and Monroe, Adams and Wacker and Franklin and Randolph throughout the week.

Twitter: @CocinitaChicago

The new Mexican truck offers tortas, tacos and burritos on the cheap. Get two tacos for $6 or a burrito or torta for $7.

Where: So far, we've seen them at Adams and Wacker.

Twitter: @patronachicago

Mina's offers tortas, tamales and other traditional Mexican mainstays.

Where: Find Mina's regularly at LaSalle and Adams and the University of Chicago.

Twitter: @minasmhcs

Pick from a variety of tacos and sides like rice and guacamole or salsa with plantain and tortilla chips.

Where: Its regular haunts are Wacker and Adams and in Hyde Park at 58th and Ellis.

Twitter: @taquerofusion

The first licensed food truck in the city, the Salsa Truck likes to hang out at 116 W Aberdeen, or the Garage, its brick-and-mortar location, where staff serve tacos with housemade salsas and other rotating menus, like fast-food recreations. The Garage also hosts other food trucks, including Happy Lobster and Doner Men.

Where: Besides the Garage, the truck can also be found at the NBC Tower and 600 W Chicago.

Twitter: @THESALSATRUCK

For Indian flatbread sandwiches or salads, look for Bombay Wraps. 

Where: The truck tends to chill at 600 W Chicago and at the NBC Chicago Building.

Twitter: @bombaywraps

If you're craving comfort food for lunch, head to Cheesie's Truck for thick Texas toast sandwiches stuffed with different combinations, like caprese with pesto mayo.

Where: You can often find it at Adams and Wacker and Jackson and Wabash, but the truck also travels out of the Loop sometimes.

Twitter: @Cheesies_Truck

For lunch with a Vietnamese twist, Chicago Lunch Box serves bahn mi sandwiches with spring rolls and rangoon appetizers.

Where: While the truck is often around Hyde Park, you can see it around the Loop too, near Clark and Monroe, Lasalle and Adams and Wacker and Adams.

Twitter: @ChicagoLunchBox

The truck dishes out Chicago classics, including Italian beef, freshly cut fries and hot dogs.

Where: It regularly visits Clark and Monroe and the NBC Tower.

Twitter: @chicagoosfinest

The Corner Farmacy uses locally sourced ingredients in its lineup of veggie burgers, fresh juices and other items. 

Where: Find it at Clark and Monroe, 600 W Chicago, 58th and Ellis or Wacker and Adams.

Twitter: @CornerFarmacy

Da Lobsta is best known for lobster rolls, but it also serves crab and shrimp dishes, plus lobster mac and cheese. 

Where: The regular hangouts are Rush and Illinois and the University of Chicago.

Twitter: @DaLobstaChicago

The DonerMen peddle doner, the traditional Turkish and German street food of meat shaved off a cone, a treat that isn't super easy to find in Chicago. It comes tucked in pita with a variety of sauces. They also offer currywurst, sausage with tomatoey curry sauce.

Where: Find them at Clark and Monroe, the University of Chicago and 600 W Chicago.

Twitter: @DMenTruck 

For breakfast or an early lunch, Eastman Egg Company serves up egg-focused sandwiches.

Where: It's regularly at the Aon Center and LaSalle and Adams.

Twitter: @eastmanegg

The Fat Shallot serves classic and creative sandwiches, like a truffle BLT, grilled cheese with spinach and caramelized onions, and fries topped with spicy sesame aioli.

Where: Regular stops are the University of Chicago, Clark and Monroe, Wacker and Adams and the AON Center.

Twitter: @thefatshallot

For a big ol' steak sandwich, head to Gino's. The menu includes a variety of steak sandwiches, and one for the vegetarians. The fries come topped with cheese and steak or chicken.

Where: Find it at Adams and Wacker and Illinois and Rush.

Twitter: @GinosSteaks

Sure, they've got a stand in the Chicago French Market, but sometimes a food truck might just be a tad more convenient. With mini doughnuts, coffee and (if you're feeling it) doughnut milkshakes, Beaver's is a sweet breakfast choice or afternoon snack.

Where: Catch the truck at Jackson and Wabash and Wacker and Adams.

Twitter: @BeaversDonuts

Chicago Cupcake's red truck dishes out mini and full-sized cupcakes, like the crème brulée cupcake.

Where: The truck hits up a variety of locations each day, but its usual hangouts are Adams and Wacker, Jackson and Wabash and Van Buren and Wabash.

Twitter: @chicago_cupcake

Outside of big chains, ice cream is pretty scarce in the Loop. Now, there's Crave Bar, which serves messy chocolate pretzel ice cream bars, kind of like a big Klondike bar on a pretzel stick.

Where: The truck doesn't head out often, but when it does it tends to hang out at Michigan and Monroe.

Twitter: @TheCraveBar

Cupcake Gangsters sling a variety of cupcakes from their big pink truck decorated with a cupcake dressed like Al Capone.

Where: The truck frequents downtown, DePaul, Chatham and Hyde Park.

Twitter: @ccakegangsters

Born out of a dream while fighting cancer, Kathryn Pekarik, who is now in remission, and her sister Laura, made cupcakes with a purpose a reality. They donate 10 percent of the proceeds to two organizations that fund cancer research and help people with cancer. 

Where: The truck frequents Madison and Wacker and Lasalle and Adams.

Twitter: @courageouscakes

The Vault Van is on the road dishing out old-fashioned doughnuts seven days a week. With flavors like pistachio and lemon poppyseed on offer, get there early, before they sell out.

Where: Find the van regularly on Southport, at Lasalle and Adams or outside Brendan Sodikoff's restaurants.

Twitter: @doughnutvault

By morning, the truck serves doughnuts and coffee, and by afternoon, it serves a doughnut ice cream sandwich (yes, an ice cream sandwich made with a doughnut).

Where: The truck tends to hang out at Clark and Monroe, Lasalle and Adams and 3627 N Southport.

Twitter: @FirecakesDonuts

Flirty Cupcakes offers all manner of miniature cakes, like classic vanilla and red velvet and creative flavors like Nutella and cookie dough. 

Where: Find them at Lasalle and Adams, Lake and Michigan or Daley Plaza.

Twitter: @FlirtyCupcakes

For a refreshing afternoon snack, try frozen kefir from Starfruit Cafe's truck. You can usually find two flavors available with a variety of toppings.

Where: Find it at 600 W Chicago, Kingsbury and Erie or Monroe and Michigan.

Twitter: @starfruitcafe

The More Mobile serves cupcakes in boozy flavors like Grand Marnier, chocolate bourbon and mojito, plus other creative combinations.

Where: It regularly parks at Michigan and Monroe, 311 S Wacker, Jackson and Wabash and City Front Plaza.

Twitter: @themoremobile

5411 focuses on empanadas, with fillings like blue cheese and mushroom and malbec beef. While the truck always sells out fast, you can find a few brick-and-mortar stores to visit as well. 

Where: Find it at Lake and Stetson, Adams and Wacker, Clark and Monroe and Daley Plaza.

Twitter: @5411empanadas

Did you wake up a little too late this morning to grab breakfast before class? Northwestern students and Evanston residents, here is your answer to your breakfast hunger pains. Amanecer serves breakfast tacos, with varieties like chorizo and egg, potato and egg and machacado (egg, shredded dried beef, tomatoes and onions) out of their amazingly adorable and incredibly tiny food truck.

Where: They make early morning stops at various locations on Northwestern's campus and around Evanston, like Maple and Church, Garrett and Sheridan, Chicago and Sheridan, Noyes and Sheridan and Foster and Sheridan.

Twitter: @amanecertacos

Start your morning off with a cup of joe from Big Shoulders Coffee. The handful of options include lattes and iced coffee.

Where: You can often find the truck at Fairbanks and Huron or the Fullerton Red Line stop on your way into work.

Twitter: @BSCWcoffeetruck

Blue Street Market offers breakfast and lunch, with dishes like breakfast burritos and bacon-wrapped chorizo-stuffed pork. The menu changes daily.

Where: Blue Street is frequently at Adams and Wacker and Daley Plaza.

Twitter: @bluestreetmkt

The Korean-Mexican fusion food truck offers chicken, pork and beef fillings in a variety of ways, including tacos. 

Where: Find it at University of Chicago. 

Twitter: @BobchaFoodtruck

The Cajun truck serves lunch daily, and the menu includes muffulettas, gumbo and shrimp and grits.

Where: It regularly visits the Aon Center and Michigan and Monroe.

Twitter: @BooCooRoux

Bridgeport Pasty Company serves hand pies stuffed with fillings like chicken pot pie and ratatouille.

Where: You'll likely find it at University of Chicago or Jackson and Franklin.

Twitter: @BridgeportPasty

The made-to-order frites come served in a cone and piled with toppings, like croque madame ingredients and braised oxtail. This is the truck you want after a night out.

Where: The Brothers are often at Clark and Monroe and Wacker and Adams.

Twitter: @BrugesBrothers

The Chicago classic serves wings, chicken tenders, fried okra and more from its roving food truck. 

Where: The fried chicken staple visits Clark and Adams and Adams and Monroe.

Twitter: @harolds_on87th

At the barbecue truck, you pick your meat (or veggie), like pulled pork, burnt ends or portobello mushrooms; whether you want it on a bun or not; and add sides like mac and cheese and collard greens.

Where: Find it at Madison and Wacker or Clark and Monroe.

Twitter: @HuskyHogBBQ