As almost any attendee will tell you, convention food is rarely appealing. It’s often overpriced and not very appetizing. However, one of the best features of WonderCon Anaheim is the diversity of food offerings in the immediate area — including the food trucks located in the front plaza of the convention center, which will be returning for WonderCon this weekend.
Comic-Con International announced that 12 (yes, 12!) food trucks will be serving attendees (though all trucks are subject to change, as are any menus) for 2015, and we’ve rounded up what we think are some of the best offerings from each.
Barcelona OntheGo
The popular Latin eatery-on-wheels is back again this year. The food truck combines “wholesome, traditional Spanish recipes with Latin influences, modern cooking techniques, and local products” to create dishes like their USDA Prime Top Sirloin topped with chimichurri sauce and served with fries, shrimp tacos with chipotle aioli, and a breakfast burrito so good that our own Sarah Lacey hasn’t stopped talking about it all year.
Burger Monster
The Burger Monster is famous for, you guessed it, burgers. The menu rotates between a wide variety of burgers, including the American Werewolf (melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a house made OC sauce), a vegetarian Creature From the Black Lagoon (balsamic marinated portabella, sauteed onions, tomatoes, avacado, spinach, and native herb spread), and The Mighty Melt (carmelized cheddar, bacon, BBQ sauce, tempura onion strings, and coleslaw – all on a white brioche bun). We also talked to the talented burger-slingers behind the wheel at Burger Monster last year, to find out just what it’s like to serve hungry hordes at WonderCon.
Chunk & Chip
The weather will hopefully be nice and sunny during WonderCon Anaheim, but if you find yourself getting overheated from a walk on the exhibit floor, cool off with Chunk-n-Chip. This food truck serves up ice cream cookie sandwiches in a wide variety of offerings, including options like Butter My Velvet (peanut butter cup ice cream sandwiched between ooey-gooey red velvet cookies), Drunk Monkey (bana ceam pie with bourbon and salted caramel on two graham crackers), and Goober Doober (a chocolate chip cookie and chocolate brownie with mint chip and vanilla bean ice cream).
Devilicious
Delicious promises that it’s “food so good it’s bad”. Everyone in line will be jealous of your All Crab Crab Cake served on a toasted sourdough english muffin with house spicy aioli, or your Buffalo Chicken Melt made with caramelized onion, habanero jack cheese, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce on a french sandwich roll. from this truck. Don’t forget the Truffle Parmesan Fries, either.
Kala
In the mood for some Mexican? Then Kala should be your first stop. This truck dishes up gourmet Mexican dishes, putting their own twist on traditional classics. Try offerings like Patron Tacos (tender steak marinated in Patron tequila and lime, then topped off with pico, guacamole, and queso fresco), Sweet Piggy Tacos (slow cooked pork shoulder with ancho chile, jicama slaw, pineapple, scallions, and tomatillo salsa), or a Raspberry-Chipotle Chicken Sandwich.
Mustache Mike’s (Italian Ice)
Not in the mood for ice cream? Cool down from the convention with Mustache Mike’s Italian ice and choose from flavors like Da Bomb (Cherry, Lemon, Blue Raspberry Swirl), Cherry, Juicy Rancher (Sour Apple, Lemon, Watermelon Swirl), or mix flavors for your own creation.
Porko Rico BBQ
New this year, WonderCon attendees will be able to find a fix for their BBQ hankerings with Porko Rico, which serves up “great slow smoked American BBQ with some fun Caribbean twists”. Pig out on options like the Black Beard Brisket (smoked and brased beef briskey with carmelized peppers and onions, and a mango BBQ sauce), THE BRIG (pulled pork, ham, bacon, pepper jack cheese, and jerk sauce), Voodoo Chicken Tacos (jerk chicken, fresh fruit salsa, jerk bbq sauce, and cilantro), and sides like the mango coleslow and Canon Fire Fries (topped with jerk chicken, jalapenos, peppers, cotija, pepper jack cheese, and jerk BBQ sauce).
Slummin Gourmet
With a tag line of “Fancy Without the Schmancy”, you know The Slummin’ Gourmet is going to be a good time. Although their menu changes with each event, in the past, the mobile eatery has offered options like a Kobe Beef Slider with blue cheese, arugula, carmelized onions, and bacon aoli, Vietnamese Style Spicy Caramel Chicken Wings, Flat Iron Steak Sandwiches, Honey Walnut Shrimp Tacos, and more.
Spudrunners
If you think the ultimate American comfort foods are potatoes and cheese, then Spudrunners might just be your new favorite digs during WonderCon. Fresh ingredients and unique sauces help showcase the potato and grilled cheese sandwiches in all their glory with the Spudrunners’ menu, which includes eats like Irish Fries (Applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, green onion, and dipping sauce), the Santa Fe Baker baked potato (grilled lime cilantro chicken, cheddar, tomato, fire roasted green chile, red onion, cilantro, and chipotle ranch), and the Pesto Chicken Grilled Cheese. If you order fries, be sure to check out their wide range of dipping sauces, like Ranch, Pesto Aioli, Lime Cilantro, Baconaise, Wasabi Ranch, and Jalapeno Cheese.
Tasting Spoon
Chef Joe Youkhan’s Tasting Spoon offers eaters grilled artisanal pizzas, sliders, pastas, salads, and more. The Carbonara pizza – black pepper marmigiano cream sauce with crispy pancetta and carmelized onions – is apparently to die for.
TJ’s Woodfire Pizza
Be treated to the smells and sights of traditional wood-fired cooking with TJ’s Woodfire Pizza. The menu rotates, but popular options include the Margherita, Quattro Formaggi with mozzerella, asiago, ricotta, parmigiano, and tomato sauce (yes please), the Chicken Fajita (shredded chicken, red onion, red peppers, cilantro, guacamole, sour cream, and tomato sauce), and the Big Al (Italian sausage, pepperoni, and tomato sauce). The menu also boasts salads, garlic knots, bruschetta, and desserts.
The Viking Truck
Vikings may not be returning to WonderCon this year, but you can still get a taste of the old world with The Viking Truck. Start off with some Dragon Eggs — delicious tator tats with dark ale chili, cheddar, sour cream, sriracha and viking ketchip — before devouring options like a Loki (Hot Polish sausage with fire roasted jalapeno and red pepper mix, thick cut bacon, smoked cheddar, brown mustard, viking ketchup, and sriracha), a Dirty Bird (chicken apple sausage topped with danish style braised red cabbage and deli mustard), or a Nemesis (a smoked bratwurst corn dog).
What WonderCon food trucks are on your must-visit list? Let us know in the comments below.