The proliferation of food trucks on the Boston University campus might be overwhelming to hungry students rushing from class to class, but most of the mobile food vendors do not steer patrons the wrong way.
However difficult it is to pick from what The Dining Car owner David Harnik called a “wonderful . . . food truck community here in Boston,” here are some of the best fares on the BU campus on a typical weekday:
Mei Mei Street Kitchen
Any hungry BU student seeking a quick bite of Chinese-American cuisine should head to this blue, white and yellow truck. Run by a team of three siblings – “Mei mei” means “little sister” in Chinese, according to the Mei Mei website – the truck stops at the BU campus on Thursday afternoons in front of Morse Auditorium. The staff is friendly and welcoming, happy to explain anything from the menu.
They explained the delicious foraged fiddlehead tempura, which involves a vegetable similar to broccoli coated in a light, beer-based batter.
Also popular on the Mei Mei menu is the pulled pork pancake – “Chinese-spiced pulled pork with a farm-fresh, free-range egg and Vermont cheddar on a scallion pancake,” said Mei Li, one of the siblings in charge of the truck.
Using fresh ingredients is crucial to the Mei Mei menu, she said.
“We’re trying to showcase [our food] in the best way possible, so . . . it’s about finding the ingredients that we have available that are really high quality and seasonable, and showcasing them in a way that makes them taste great,” Li said.
The Dining Car
Lunch-goers looking for more traditional, but not necessarily typical, American fare do not have to look further than The Dining Car, which parks outside of Morse on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. The truck serves a variety of sandwiches as well as occasional soups.
The most popular item on the menu is the grilled chicken sandwich, made with wasabi spread, sliced, seedless cucumbers and avocado, said Harnik, a co-owner of The Dining Car.
Other choices include the crispy cauliflower, the kielbasa sub and the vegetarian sandwich containing herb-marinated goat cheese, toasted walnuts that have been tossed with honey and truffle oil and field greens with sherry vinaigrette, Harnik said.
The kielbasa sub, made with kielbasa meat, sausage, green peppers and onions, is a scrumptious and unique spin on run-of-the-mill sausage and peppers rolls. Set on fresh French bread, the sandwich is just right for a chilly day on the go.
The orange truck’s menu is diverse, and Harnick said The Dining Car should be welcoming to all.
“Our theme is that we love to serve really good food that’s been homemade and made with love,” he said.
Clover Food Lab
Beloved by many BU students, the Clover food truck serves up freshly made cuisine on the BU campus every weekday.
The chickpea fritter is the most popular item on the menu and should not be missed. The sandwich alone is filling, but it pairs well with Clover’s star anise lemonade.
The entire staff is friendly, taking the time to learn the pronunciations of customers’ names and providing samples when the lines flanking the truck get too long.
Redbones Food Truck
Boston meat lovers should flock to the Redbones Food Truck, an extension of the Davis Square restaurant.
The truck provides an array of traditional, BBQ-inspired sandwiches and sides, offering different meats and sauces that allow customers to flavor their meat to their liking.
However, Redbones is a bit more expensive than other options and does not come directly to the BU campus.
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