Treatbot the Karaoke Ice Cream Truck serves an ice cream cone to a student.

Treatbot the Karaoke Ice Cream Truck offers karaoke as part of their food truck experience, where costumers can sing karaoke off a LCD TV while waiting in line (Photo by Michelle Terris).

By Amanda Holst, Public Affairs Assistant

Food trucks are all the rage these days. With the support of social media and the growing popularity of finding an affordable way to have a unique dining experience, it’s no wonder they have made their way to San Jose.

These meals on wheels have evolved from serving their usual run-of-the-mill hot dogs and tacos to an infusion of different dishes: Filipino silogs, fried bananas, samosas and a multiplicity of other tastes that you won’t find in sit-down restaurants.

If SJSU students, faculty and staff want to branch out from the Unique Dogs hot dog stand stationed outside the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, a quick Internet search can help them locate their favorite food trucks. Many gourmet food trucks are now using Twitter to disclose their daily locations, unscheduled events, and latest dish specials.

Some of the food trucks to chase around lunch time include MoGo BBQ (Korean-style BBQ), Kara’s Cupcakes, Roli Roti (rotisserie), Curry Up Now (Indian street food), Little Green Cyclo (Vietnamese street food), Louisiana Territory (Cajun), MoBowl (Chinese rice bowls), and Babaloo (organic Cuban), just to name a few.

Are food trucks healthy?

Professor Marjorie Freedman of the Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging says the challenge for food trucks is finding ways to use quality ingredients while appealing to people’s tastes and pocketbooks, which doesn’t always add up to healthy dishes.

“The only way they will sell healthy food is if people demand it,” Freedman said. “They can provide fresh fruits and vegetables, but in order for the food to be healthy, one really has to know how to cook healthfully.”

So although the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health ensures food trucks follow health and safety guidelines, determining whether a food truck’s offerings are nutritious is up to you.

Dr. Freedman runs the Spartan Smart Cart, a cart which sells healthy snacks, fresh fruits, and organic items to SJSU students, faculty and staff during fall and spring terms.

Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market

An alternative to dining at food trucks is the Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market. The outdoor market takes place every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along San Pedro Street between West Santa Clara and St. John streets.

SJSU students and faculty who show their ID at the info table receive free Carrot Cash coupons, which can be used like cash at the vendor booths.

Looking for Summer Eats On Campus?

Read a related story about Spartan Shops’ eateries, including hours of operation.