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Meals on wheels new food rage in Dubai

Dubai - Location matters when it comes to latest street food rage in Dubai.

Crowds are scant in Downtown Burj Khalifa area on a Wednesday. It's just 6pm in the evening.
Construction workers are returning to their accommodation, or they're changing shifts. A handful of fitness enthusiasts jog along Emaar Boulevard. Dog walkers and mums strolling prams are spotted, too. One even sees a skateboard-rider expat - evidently an office goer, in his suit, zipping along. And then there are the food trucks parked along the Town Square Visitor Centre.
Since September 27 until October 12, at least two food trucks - essentially restaurants on wheels: Yumtingz and Gobai will be parked opposite Emaar Pavilion, on the side of Town Square Visitor Centre. Also, you'll see the row of parked vintage cars. There are a few other 'shacks' - Mini karak café, and a Lebanese eatery beside the trucks. And a truck for gelato ice creams, but there's no one in it. The weather is bearable. And it's not the liveliest hour.
A brand called The Roundup food trucks has under it a bunch of food brands - and trucks: MOB, Fit, Calle Tacos, Bio Bean, Shawarma Station, Jordanian Brisket Truck, Toasted Grilled Cheese, Gobai, and several others.
There are the homegrown food trucks, run by one or two entrepreneurs, and there are the franchises. As far as customers go though, there are lots of options, provided you're in the right place at the right time.
On a Wednesday evening even the enticing food trucks, with the fairy lights, can't muster up enough foodies. But the later it gets, more people drop by - walk-ins, who stop to read the menu: camel burgers, fresh basil and passion fruit drinks, a steak burger for Dh30.
It was just three months back, Khaleej Times reported about a food phenomenon that would soon burst on the Dubai street food scene.
Gareth D'Souza, an investment consultant who lives in the South Ridge area of Downtown said: "I'm here (at GoBai) because I live next door, and I've been seeing these guys everyday".
Is the idea of food trucks new to him? D'Souza, an Indian from Kerala said: "No, not really, we have a few 'chowmein' vans back in India - same thing, right? I remember eating the greasy noodles as a waiting below the truck. Yeah, ok I don't know what a chorizo is, but it's exciting to see new things happening. You don't always want to go to a restaurant for a bite."
Pascal Moser, co-founder of Yumtingz, a food truck that's been active since March, says honestly: "There were more people last week, yes." Even though they've "been getting a lot of exposure and interest from people walking up to the truck", weekdays are slow.
After Emaar Boulevard, they'll be seen next at the Dubai Comedy Festival at SkyDive Dubai, then at the UAE football association, at the gulf bike week - so they've got their itinerary packed.
They have customers from all over the world, thanks to Dubai's expat community. Best selling item? The camel burger. Our suggestion for a side dish: the fries with truffles.
Goan burgers
Cara Davies, the Business Manager at Gobai, the truck next to Yumtingz is apologising to a customer for being out of shawarma by 9 pm, but the Goa-style chicken can be done in a bun. The customer is accommodating, and agrees.
Even though a few people do come by, the foldable chair-table arrangements at the boulevard venue are mostly vacant.
This is no comment on the food: the burgers are a substantial early dinner. The fries are crunchy perfection. You do wish there were more food trucks, more people, more 'atmosphere'.
Lesson being, if you're going to catch these food trucks and also soak in some ambience: head to the RIPE food market at Times Square mall. Or to SkyDive Dubai next week for the comedy fest.
Keep tabs on where the trucks are headed. For an upmarket boulevard on a weekday is clearly not a crowd puller.
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com