Food truck roundup

One of the few bright spots of 2016 has been the increase in food trucks around Brown's campus. As someone who lives near Thayer and Waterman, just the smell wafting to my room has been enough to make me go spend real money for a brief respite from on campus dining. There are only a few more weeks of pleasant waiting-in-line weather, so Blog decided to review the most popular food trucks to help you prioritize your eating while you can.Mama Kim’sThis Brown staple really lives up to its reputation. Most famous for their Korean BBQ sliders, there’s seriously no better Asian fast food on all of Thayer. I recommend the seafood pajun for a quick snack between classes - although you might be tempted to go for the more familiar dumplings, these fried savory pancakes areseriously delicious and easy to eat on the go! For a more serious meal, try the kimchi pork rice bowl (pro tip: add a fried egg for $1, it’s worth it). But be warned: if you don’t like spicy food, their kimchi might have you running to the Blue Room for a cup of water. If you want to see how the magic is made, Blog ventured inside the truck last year. Follow Mama Kim’s on twitter to find out when they’ll be gracing the corner of Thayer Street and Waterman Street with their presence!  Buddha BellyUsually parked near Soldier’s Arch, Buddha Belly has “authentic Chinese” food at a reasonable price. The menu is limited, and vegetarians might have harder time here, but the portions are sizable for the price. My crepe and two spring rolls were only $9! Although the spring roll was a bit oily, I thoroughly enjoyed the crepe with bits of crispy wonton in it. The Buddha Belly website gives its current location, making it easy to see if it’s around campus. While the menu is small and a bit underwhelming, there are a few hidden gems, and it's perfect if you don't feel like dishing out a ton of money by forgoing the dining hall.   The Nitro CartThe Nitro Cart has officially gone mainstream. This newcomer to the Brown food truck scene appeals to the hipster within us all by selling “nitrogen infused” cold brew coffee from an actual cart. And I hate myself for saying this, but you totally have to try it (if you haven’t already). It’s not a scam - the nitrogen infused coffee really does taste velvety smooth. You can’t really go wrong with your order here. This is literally the only coffee I have ever been able to drink black. Also, as a general rule, I hate cinnamon and coconut, but their cinnamon-coconut cold brew coffee the “Wilbur” was the most amazingcaffeinated beverage I have every put in my body. Sure, the Nitro Cart is overpriced, especially with all the other places you can get coffee on Thayer, but the “Wilbur” 100% makes you feel like you’re drinking a gourmet beverage. They also sometimes feature the elusive PVDonuts! The Nitro Cart’s prime location on Waterman Street helps them snag students on their way to the Main Green. Keep an eye out for them Monday - Friday from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. (dependent on the weather). Lotus PepperWhen it comes to Asian food trucks, Lotus Pepper is sadly underrated. Mama Kim’s usually gets recommended first, but Lotus Pepper deserves some appreciation. A classic main course is the $6 BBQ pork banh mi (you can also get chicken, beef, tofu, mushroom, or fried egg), which definitely puts the Andrews Commons “banh mi” to shame. Although it could’ve been a little juicier and a lot less salty, the crispy bun and cucumbers were A+ . The pork pan-fried dumplings are foolproof ($5 for 4), and the spring rolls ($5 for 5) were gone by the time I got there, which must mean something good. The summer rolls are also a great option for some lighter fare. Other choices include a vermicelli bowl, a salad bowl, and a rice set (all with a choice of meat or tofu/mushrooms). Lotus Pepper is open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It’s generally on Waterman for lunch and Thayer by Soldier’s Arch for dinner, and they update their Facebook page with information about location and specials. Santé Mobile Farmhouse CafeThough blog wasn’t able to test it out due to pesky parking restrictions, Santé Mobile Farmhouse Café is another noteworthy food truck option. Santé advertises itself as a more nutritious alternative to the other food trucks nearby, specializing in salads and wraps. Menu options—such as marinated feta and avocado, black bean quinoa cakes, and BBQ pulled pork—can be made into either a salad or a wrap, with prices ranging from $8.50 to $12.00. Another major plus for Santé is that they serve smoothies (which are surprisingly hard to come by on Brown’s campus) in inventive flavors like chia-berry blast and chocolate-almond indulgence. Additionally, they offer four different variations of sweet potato fries (including the intriguing cinnamon sugar option) and a few other side dishes. Santé is at Brown every Friday on Waterman Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information about their menu and schedule is available on their website and Facebook page.Mike’s IceI’m always skeptical of food trends that seemed more geared towards photo than taste, but the Thai-style rolled ice trunk delivered. Everything on the Mike's Ice menu starts with a hashtag, which is a little off-putting, but the the #LilRhody, a coffee flavored ice cream, and the #Instagood, a mix of oreo, cookie dough ice cream, were infact delicious. Although a cup of ice cream is $7, the servings are big, making it sort of justifiable. Get it just once for the aesthetic value, but otherwise, leave a carton of ice cream out for ten minutes and you'll get a similar texture. If you can’t find the truck at the corner of Waterman and Thayer, they also have a physical location a 15 minute walk away.   Images via, via, via, via, and via Sarah Campbell Tucker, '19