A scene from food trucks parked at Bird Road (SW 40th St.) and SW 65th Ave.
Last month, I posted a bit here about the food trucks circulating Miami streets. Yes, the city is a little late to this culinary trend, but the upside is that people are fiercely supportive of every new enterprise. The proprietors of the trucks usually answer about 9 out of 10 tweets, and they draw ever more sizable crowds that are friendly rather than snobby.
The scene is changing quickly. When I wrote that last post, it seemed like most of the trucks were circulating around the more aggressively artsy/gentrifying areas of northeast/central Miami, with only a couple in the vast southwest/central area of town where more people live.
I am happy to report that is changing quickly — especially since I just moved back to the area after several years in the trendier, so-called “Upper Eastside.” It may be optimistic that I’m sensing a reverse migration back to the more Latin, real neighborhoods where a lot of us natives grew up, because I seem to be discovering more old and new friends around here.
Also, it’s the new hood for food trucks! Just a few blocks down from where I live, near the intersection of Bird Road and SW 65th Avenue, is an empty lot, next to a small strip mall housing an unglamorous laundromats barbershop, and a neighborhood Spanish restaurant. While a few trucks, like Grillmaster Cafe and Latin House Grill, were already circulating in the area, the lot is becoming a new hotspot for trucks that usually stop elsewhere.
In recent weeks, “Bird and 65th” has seen stops from the Asian-fusion truck Sakaya Kitchen, the Mexican-themed Nacho Mama’s Grill (which usually is found in the Keys!), and others. It’s a fun place to get dinner with a little bit of everything and hang out in a bit in an unpretentious setting, and it’s looking like the multi-truck mini fair will become a regular, weekly gathering.