Food carts are exploding in Vancouver. Whatever your craving is, there is sure to be a cart somewhere downtown to satisfy it. From Mexican to Chinese, Italian to a curbside bistro with seafood, you’ll find a cart somewhere on the streets of downtown Vancouver, doling out hot food to a huge lineup.
For months, ever since I discovered the show Eat Street on Food Network, I’ve been dying to try something from one of the famed food trucks. Since we live outside of the city and are always zipping through downtown to catch a ferry, there has never been a good time for me to grab lunch from one. Not just that, but my husband prefers food from a typical restaurant.
“There’s no place to park and how are we going to eat it, anyway? In the car while I drive? On the sidewalk?”
Each time, as we drive through downtown, I sit with my nose pressed against the window and dream.
Last weekend, I was visiting the city on foot and finally had my opportunity to hit a food cart for lunch. With a bunch to choose from and sourced by Twitter, I finally settled on La Brasserie Street, solely because a friend of mine told me that she tried one of their chicken sandwiches and it was so good that when a piece of meat fell to the ground, she scooped it up and ate it anyway.
The cart is located on the corner of Granville and Georgia, in downtown Vancouver, on Mondays to Fridays from 11am-5pm, and on Saturdays from 11am–3pm. They serve one thing and one thing only—a succulent chicken sandwich.
I arrived at the cart around 2pm to absolutely no lineup, much to my delight. The sandwich and a bottle of water cost far less than I had expected, at around $9 total for both. This is really a bonus, as take-out food from the restaurants in Horseshoe Bay can cost you about $13, without a drink! Service was quick and cheerful. I took my sandwich and found a quiet bench to sit while I ate, away from the hustle and bustle of crowds.
The sandwich was substantial—easily needing to be held with two hands. Big chunks of beer-brined meat were bathed in gravy, topped with deep fried crispy onions, and all was tucked into a tangy buttermilk bun. The biggest problem I had was figuring out how to eat the sandwich without wearing it. Note to self: bring napkins, and possibly wet wipes, the next time I take a food truck adventure. Despite the fact that it was messy and a bit hard to eat, the sandwich was easily the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had, and I completely understood at that point why Alexis would not let a single drop go to waste. I wasn't alone in my conclusion, either; the surrounding wildlife know exactly how good the food from La Brasserie Street is—as I tried to eat, I was nearly mugged by a shifty eyed seagull who was so bold, it literally lunged at me for a quick bite.
After devouring the entire thing, I licked my fingers, crumpled up the paper, and was off to my next encounter in the bottom of the Fairmount Hotel on West Cordova. I hear Bella Gelateria has the best gelato in Vancouver. Dessert, anyone?
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