The Temple News’ staff voted on our Top 10 picks for the 2011 Lunchies Awards.
1. Sexy Green Truck
A long-time favorite of Main Campus, the Sexy Green Truck came out on top again this year. Located on Montgomery Avenue between 12th and 13th streets, the Sexy Green Truck’s green exterior draws in hungry students and staff, and keeps them coming back with its fresh and organic menu options. Some of the truck’s popular dishes include the hummus platter, served with warm pita bread, various paninis and a slew of breakfast sandwiches. Oh, and don’t forget the sweet potato fries. They can be added to any sandwich to make it a combo and are nothing short of delicious. Committing itself to the environment, the truck only sells coffee brewed from fair-traded beans. And, they’ll even save you some green.
–Alexis Sachdev
-Marisa Steinberg
3. Eddie’s
Eddie’s is a longstanding staple of Main Campus’ food trucks. Located in front of the Student Center on Montgomery Avenue, its current menu features a smorgasbord of steaks, wraps, burgers, sandwiches and pizza. Displayed in the front window, Eddie’s pizza is offered with a variety of toppings including pepperoni, sausage, chicken and spinach. Specialty pizzas include buffalo chicken and barbecue chicken. Per owner Eddie’s featured combos, students can buy a slice of pizza and a can of soda for $2.50, or upgrade to two slices for $4. In addition to its low prices, Eddie’s stands out because it opens early in the morning and sells breakfast. Eddie’s opened in 1984, and has been selling pizza and comfort food to Temple students at an affordable price for more than a quarter century.
–Joey Cranney
4. Fruit Truck
Chances are everyone has craved an inexpensive, thirst-quenching smoothie at some point in their college career. The fruit truck, located on 13th and Pollett streets, is a hit amongst students who enjoy quality fresh fruit and fruit smoothies. The owner of the fruit truck, who goes by the name “Mom,” came to Main Campus more than 20 years ago and has found success in selling fruit and smoothies to students and faculty. In addition to fruit and smoothies, the fruit truck also offers roasted peanuts. The most popular dish at the fruit truck, according to Mom, is any piece of fruit, including cantaloupe, honeydew and grapes. A large bag of grapes costs $2. Prices at the truck range from about 50 cents for a banana to $4 for a large fruit salad. The truck offers fruit smoothies made with any mixture of fruit you’d like. You name it, the fruit truck will make it. A small smoothie costs $3 and a large costs $3.50.
–Maura Lieberman
5. U Got Munchies
The new kids on the block gained popularity fast. Owned and operated by four guys, three of whom are affiliated with Temple, U got Munchies joined Main Campus’ food-truck family in December 2010. The truck sits on Norris Street near Peabody Hall. One look at its menu, and students can find an array of sandwiches, wraps, loaded french fries, burgers, salads and other ‘munchies’ to satisfy cravings. Deep-fried Oreos are available along with deep-fried Girl Scout cookies, during cookie-selling season. They allow customers to create their own unique sandwich, burger or loaded fries with a build-your-own option. The average platter costs about $6. There’s a $1.50 charge for delivery and orders have to be at least $4. The truck is open Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Delivery runs until midnight. Orders can be placed ahead by calling at 267-202-4164 or online at ugotmunchies.com. For more on our No. 5 pick, read Amy Stansbury’s “Got Munchies?” p. L1.
-Kierra Bussey
6. Tai’s Vietnamese
What began as a food truck 11 years ago, has become Tai’s Vietnamese, a Main Campus tradition. Open six days a week on the 12th Street Food Pad Vendors, the takeout joint is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The restaurant accepts Diamond Dollars, cash and credit cards. Prices are relatively affordable and meals average approximately $5 to $7. Appetizers, such as spring rolls and a summer salad, average $3. Not a meat lover? Tai’s also features a popular vegetarian menu of tasty dishes, including a variety of tofu products and vegetables. Owner Jason Tran has kept all of Tai’s staple menu items throughout thae years, but has added different selections when he could concoct them. The most popular items of Tai’s include the double chicken spring roll, spring roll and rice, bourbon chicken, Pad Thai and spring dumplings. Tai’s also includes a wide selection of noodles and fried rice, with the customer’s choice to add meat.
–Danielle Miess
Opened in 1985, Fame’s F
amous Pizza is one of the oldest food stops on Main Campus. What originated as part of a food court in the ‘80s, has since relocated to its landmark spot as a part of the 12th Street Food Pad outside Anderson and Gladfelter halls. Its menu features a classic combination of steaks, wraps, sandwiches and burgers. But as owner Fame Amzovski said, Fame’s is famous for its pizza. Fame’s offers a plain slice with a 16-ounce drink for $3 with an option to upgrade to two slices for $5. Amzovski said the most popular item is Fame’s specialty pizzas, buffalo and barbecue chicken. The sit-down atmosphere and delicious food keeps students coming back.
-Joey Cranney
Craving tasty Chinese food that doesn’t cost too much? If so, Orient Express is the perfect place to grab some Asian cuisine. It is located on the left hand side of the 12th Street Food Pad between the TECH Center and Anderson Hall. Owned by Johnny Tai, Orient is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Serving fresh Chinese food favorites from chicken lo mein to chicken and broccoli, the food stand offers dishes or combination platters served with fried rice and an egg roll, as well as sides and soups. While everyone has their long-cherished favorites, many students rave about the mouthwatering young chow fried rice. This popular dish consists of the restaurant’s fried rice with chicken, pork and shrimp. Nothing on the menu costs more than $10, so it’s a great alternative for student’s looking to get away from Johnson and Hardwick cafeteria or the Student Center.
-Brianna McGrody
Despite the name, the truck is in no way affiliated with Subway, but still offers inexpensive hoagies and other dishes that keep students and faculty coming back for more. The truck, owned by Sylvia Ndreu, arrived along 12th Street near Barton Hall less than two years ago and has been gaining popularity ever since. Ndreu decided to open the truck on Main Campus when she was laid off from her old job and decided to go back to catering. The affordable prices of the truck also add to its appeal. It sells foot-long hoagies for $5.50 and six-inch subs for $3.25. Fries can be added for an additional $1.25. The Five Dollar Foot Long truck also sells cheesesteaks, salads, cold sandwiches, barbecue chicken and cheese. Along with its award-winning chicken parmesan, sausage and meatball parmesan sandwiches are also offered. All of these selections continue to be affordable for college students, staying between $5-$10. The truck can be reached at 856-701-7572.
-Alexsia Brown
10. Richie’s
A yearly Lunchies’ favorite, Richie’s once again made our Top 10 list with its friendly service, affordable prices and of course, food. Richie Jr.’s great grandfather first came to Temple with a hot dog cart in the early ‘60s. His success granted him the opportunity to grow his business into a trailer, lunch truck and now, more than 40 years later, into the 12th Street Food Pad. Richie’s is the first open and last to close in the food pad, opening at 5 a.m. for the early birds and closing at 9 p.m. for the night owls. Breakfast, lunch and dinner meals, as well as coffee and a variety of other drinks, are sold throughout the day. Prices range from a $1.50 hash brown to a $5.75 wrap, and Richie said he hasn’t raised prices in years, with hopes of keeping it affordable for college students. Richie’s caters events often, most recently for AEPi and the football team during the summer.
-Lauren Hertzler
Eddie’s isn’t in front of the Student Center on Montgomery – it’s in front of Anderson on 12th Street at the end of the “food pad.”
There’s two Eddie’s Amanda!
The $5 Footlong Truck is actually on 12th outside of the Biology Life Sciences building; Barton Hall is on 13th street between Polett Walk and Norris.
Can whoever wrote this piece please email me.
Thanks