Welcome back! Lately, it seems like I can’t drive around Goa without bumping into a food truck or two. Gone are the days when “proper” restaurants were the only places to dine at. Goans and tourists are flocking to food trucks in Goa for some delish cheap eats and fuss-free snacking.
I’ve personally visited each of these food trucks in Goa to make it easier for you to take to the streets in search of your new favourite burger spot or pizza joint.
SERIAL GRILLERZ, VAGATOR
Located in a field in a quiet part of Anjuna, you’ll catch the aromas wafting out of Serial Grillerz before you spot the bright orange food truck. This American-style food truck serves up chilly hot dogs, philly steaks, burgers and wraps – all stuffed with sizzling meat, straight off the grill.
Timings – 7 PM to 10 PM, all week.
The Verdict – I tried the Hot Wings which I thought were way too salty. The beef wrap was delicious and incredibly filling – great for dinner, rather than a snack. The burger was the best of the lot – a generous size, with a crispy, meaty patty that was quite tasty! The wrap and burger each came with a cup of fries. Overall, value for money.
FOOD ENGINE, VAGATOR
Parked outside AJ Supermarket in Vagator, Food Engine caters to hungry patrons with their no-nonsense, concise menu that features pita wraps, stuffed poees and burgers. One of the most affordable (and popular) food trucks in Goa, everything on the menu hovers around the Rs. 100-150 mark. If you’re in the area, its worth stopping by for delish street food made in a very hygienic manner.
Timings – Open from Friday to Wednesday – 5 to 11 PM; Thursday Closed
The Verdict – I tried the honey spiced chicken poee (would have loved the wrap, but they had run out of them) and the Loaded Fries, that were just the right amount of crispy! I’d recommend it to tourists living in the area and looking for cheap eats.
ANTOJITOS
Antojitos translates to ‘little cravings’ and this food truck in Goa has created quite a name for itself in the Taleigao-Panjim-Miramar area. I quite like the location – in a well-lit area on a not-so-busy street beside the fields, so you have lots of cool breeze to enjoy along with your snack. If you’re in the mood for Mexican fare, you may like to know that the menu at Antojitos features one variety of Quesadillas, Tacos, and Nachos each. The rest of their menu focuses on Hot Dogs, Burgers and Steaks.
Timings – 5:30 PM to 10 PM Every Day
The Verdict – I tried the Loaded Nachos and El Mexicana chicken burger, both could have been much more flavourful. Antojitos is a tad bit overpriced as compared to most food trucks in Goa. A one-time visit, in my opinion.
CAFÉ LOVII
Located a few meters in front of Antojitos, Café Lovii, is where I’d spend my money, the next time I’m in the area. This food truck in Goa specializes in grilled stuffed Goan Poee Sandwiches and the couple who run it believe that the food truck is an extension of their home kitchen. The food definitely reflects the philosophy. From Goan flavours such as Chicken Cafreal and Chicken Recheado to fillings like Hawaiian Chicken, Tuna and Cheese, Mushroom Chilly and Cheese Burst, you’ll find a variety of stuffed poees alongside weekend specials.
Timings – 5:30/6 PM to 9:30 PM; Thursday to Sunday
The Verdict: I tried the Hawaiian Chicken and Peri Peri Chicken Poees and enjoyed them both. Do try their home-made drinks – they are super refreshing and downright delicious!
NORONHA’S CORNER, ASSAGAO/ANJUNA
Believe it or not, I traveled to try this food truck over 10 times on different days at various evening hours, but they were never at their spot– the Assagao-Anjuna junction, at the time specified online. I would always see them there after I’d had my dinner! Unlike most food trucks in Goa, they open and close much later than the rest. However, they are one of the most popular spots to grab some street food in Goa, serving local favourites like Cafreal Pao, Goan snacks and gravies.
Timings – 8 PM to 12:30 AM (The opening hours mentioned online, i.e. 5 PM on Zomato and 6:30 PM on Google are LIEEEEEES!!!)
The Verdict – Tried the beef croquettes, which were regular Goan Bakery standard and nothing to write home about. The Chicken Cutlet bread was quite dismal with only a few pieces of cabbage and a chicken filet in the bread. – it could have used a touch of mayo, some gravy, or at the very least, some butter in the bread.
DICES, TALEIGAO
Yet another food truck on the same road as Antojitos and Cafe Lovii in Taleigao, but quite small in comparison. Since great food comes out of unassuming little places, I decided to stop, to add another Goan Food Truck to my listicle.
Timings – 5:30 to 9:30 PM on all days, except Wednesday.
The Verdict – While I try to support the smallest of entrepreneurs whenever I can, I unfortunately had a not-so-great experience here and wouldn’t re-visit or recommend. I tried the Chicken Wrap, a tiny, 4-5 bite sized roll with barely any chicken it. The top half of the wrap was visibly empty. Priced at 100 bucks, I felt that Rs. 50/- would have been more apt. Many say the chicken wings are good here, so if you do end up visiting, maybe you could try that instead.
ATHENAZ FOOD TRUCK, SANTA CRUZ
This one is a little out of the way, located near the Santa Cruz football ground, but oh my, is it worth the travel! Run by a sole chef, Athenaz Food Truck is usually at its designated spot every evening, unless the owner has a catering engagement elsewhere, in which case, you will have to return empty-handed… or empty-tummy-ed, rather, because unfortunately, there is no prior notice of these catering engagements.
Timings 7 PM Onward
The Verdict – Athenaz serves Gobanos (stuffed poees) with choices of fillings such as BBQ Chicken, Chicken Cafreal, Chorizo, Roast Beef and more. The Gobanos are priced at Rs. 150 and come topped with egg and cheese, while the mini Gobano is priced at Rs. 100, and you can choose to add cheese or egg if you wish to. I tried the Roast Pork Chilly Gobano and BBQ Chicken Mini.
The Gobano is large enough to make you want to skip dinner – I struggled with bite after bite to finish it, but I did, because it was downright delish! It is a meal in itself, unlike the mini, which can be had as an evening snack. They also have Zesty Orange Chicken Wings and Homemade Fries with Garlic sauce that are fabulous, in addition to Pasta and their gourmet Hot Dogs (which are a whopping 7 inches long!). Definitely one of Goa’s top food trucks – and you can bet you’ll have pleasant conversations with the chef as he loves to talk 🙂
JERRY’S BAMBOLIM
Have I saved the best for last? Hell, yes! An unassuming little food truck that’s parked out of sight, right next to GMC Hospital, I found Jerry’s Food Truck to be the best food truck in North Goa. Their menu spans hefty shawarmas, massive burgers, chicken wings, fries and more. According to me, this one struck the perfect chord between being affordable (at Rs. 60 for a shawarma and Rs. 180 for a ginormous burger), serving top-notch quality and being filling, at the same time. If they maintain their quality, quantity and price – it is THE spot to head to for fabulous street food in Goa.
Timings – All week, 6 – 11 PM
The Verdict – I tried the Shawarma (single filling) at 60 and honestly, it beat every other roll I’ve tried in food trucks across Goa, that sell rolls at double the price. Their Double-Filling Shawarma would have been too much for me to tackle alone. I also tried their Chicken Steak Burger – which comprised of a chunky chicken filet, a generous amount of fresh veggies, and cheese. Best of all, it had a nice layer of sauce in there – thank goodness! No one likes a dry burger!
I still have a couple more food trucks to try, and will keep adding to this list whenever I do that. Unlike many food-related websites that merely curate their content, I only post about things I’ve experienced first-hand, and that’s why it take me longer to put such pieces together. Hope you enjoyed reading this post – and if there’s another topic you’d like me to write about, drop me a line below or get in touch on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MEAL KART, VAGATOR
Where are the shawarma lovers at? I bet you won’t find a food truck with cliffside views like Meal Kart anywhere else in North Goa. The shawarmas here are yum (and also quite spicy, if you like 🔥) and in my opinion, the chicken cutlet bread is the best out of all their offerings, followed by the Chicken Cafreal bread. Everything is priced at Rs 80 and for the quality and quantity, I think it’s pretty reasonable.
Toodles!
Hey this is good info! 😀
Author
Thanks, Sonal!
Omg … so many to try … thank you for the valuable information… would like to try some of them in my next journey to Goa…
I stopped by Jerry’s in Bambolim and had to cancel my order, run away, and douse myself in disinfectant. They have some of the worst food service hygiene I have ever seen.
Raw chicken everywhere, touching raw chicken and then preparing sandwiches without washing hands, pouring platefuls of contaminated breadcrumbs back into the breadcrumb jar after breading raw meat, touching everything (knobs, containers, bread, knifes, money, ….) with raw chicken contaminated hands… They are an outbreak of salmonella waiting to happen
Author
Hi! Thanks for taking the time out to comment. I frequently visit this food truck and never faced any upset tummy issues. It is street-food after all, and while I do agree that hygiene is paramount everywhere, be it a 5-star hotel or a food truck, I think minor drawbacks are to be expected when the food comes out of a 3×2 open kitchen. That said, this food truck, being outside GMC has most of their clientele being doctors, people who care very much about hygiene and who wouldn’t patronize a spot that can cause Salmonella. This food truck doesn’t even know that I’ve written about them, I have no relation to them whatsoever. If I come across any of the issues you’ve noticed, I’ll be sure to bring it to their attention. It would be good if you did that as well.
Thanks for your comprehensive write-up. I was put up in Anjuna for a week and regularly visited Noronhas after 11 PM. I loved their chicken cafreal and burgers. They also had whiskey based chocolates which vanished within minutes when I brought them home. Too bad your experience wasn’t that great. You’ve given me a wide choice to cover if and when I visit Goa again! Longing for those days!