At Veggie Thumper, owner Lyssa Wade serves vegan food with a smile.
Writer: Lily Allen-Dueñas
Photos: Duane Tinkey
Get ready to embark on an urban safari right here in Des Moines, where the street food scene is anything but ordinary. Forget about fancy dining rooms; you can find exotic flavors right on the curb.
Veggie Thumper
Veggie Thumper offers everything vegan from a colorful former school bus. Its organic vegan menu packs a flavor punch with dishes like the Frisco Melt and the Philly “Cheesesteak.” Keep an eye out for the bright bus around town and follow your doctor’s orders: Add some plants to your plate. Eating your vegetables was never so easy. Or tasty. Find the schedule at veggiethumper.com.
The Eggroll Ladies are known for bringing “legit Asian food” to the streets of Des Moines, as their slogan promises. They serve egg rolls, obviously, plus spring rolls, potstickers, rangoons and more. Catch them at the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s “Out to Lunch” events, CelebrAsian, PrideFest and other festivals. You can also find them through the online calendar linked to their Facebook page. That’s just how they roll. Last fall they also opened a brick-and-mirror location in the Equitable Building at 604 Locust St.
Top Bun
Top Bun has been hailed as the “Best Food Truck in Iowa” by the Food Network. It’s known for its local sourcing, including South Union buns and meat from a nearby butcher, and the Top Bun burger reigns supreme. Try the vegetarian Captain Coyle or the juicy Jurassic Pork burger, too. You can track down the truck on an online calendar at topbunfoodtruck.com.
Tacos Degollado
Tacos Degollado has a reputation for dishing out some of the city’s best tacos — and that’s saying something. Located at 1817 University Ave., this local favorite offers most dishes for less than $10. Fans love the fish tacos, and the green salsa is a must-try — dump it on by the bucket. It’s open almost all day Monday through Saturday, even in the winter, so you can satisfy your taco cravings morning, noon or night.
Hotsy Totsy specializes in gourmet tater tots with creative toppings, from crab rangoon to loaded baked potatoes. There are even truffle tots for the tot connoisseurs out there. (I see you.) Look for Hotsy Totsy at events like the Iowa Craft Brew Festival and Christkindlmarket for a twist on the comforting snack. There’s no hunt like a tot hunt. Start your search at thehotsytotsy.com.
Tikka Talk is one of the newer trucks on the local scene. Specializing in Indian options and featuring a built-in tandoor oven, the truck offers fresh naan bread and perfectly cooked tikka dishes. Don’t miss out on their paneer tikka wraps or samosas, either; there are few things in life that a samosa can’t fix. Don’t believe me? Send me samosas and I’ll prove it. To make it easy for you: tikkatalkusa.com.
The Big Taco Truck deserves a taco pilgrimage. Located at 2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, this truck is a taco lover’s dream machine, offering everything from classic tacos to quesadillas, burritos, quesabirrias, tortas and nachos. Open almost all day Monday through Saturday, the Big Taco Truck lets you enjoy tacos, served with a side of tacos, even when it’s not Taco Tuesday.
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