Midtown Lunch

Photo by nycblondieandbrownie

As you knew from our post on Tuesday, Wednesday was a big day on 45th btw. 6+7th. The newly launched Rickshaw Dumpling Truck and the Treats Truck were parked next to each other in what Eater dubbed “Food Truck Row.”  There was even a halal cart and ice cream truck thrown in for good measure.  But don’t get too excited for a repeat.  While The Treats Truck is planning on being back in the spot today from 12:30 to 2:30 (they alternate with the Waffles and Dinges Truck), the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck is parking Downtown (on Pearl St. right next to the plaza for all of our Downtown Lunch readers.)

No word on whether they will try parking together again next Wednesday, but it isn’t completely smooth sailing.  The same ice cream truck guy that hassled Kim in the Treats Truck when she first started parking on the block, is now hassling Kenny in the Dumpling Truck.  Hopefully with the weather getting cold, the ice cream trucks will be leaving soon anyway…

According to Eater, the Rickshaw Dumpling Truckhit the street for the first time yesterday, parking at 51st and Lex.  Anybody see the truck or get a chance to sample?  Today they’re parking on Wall Street for lunch (what’s up with that?!?!)  Secretly, I guess I’m grateful- the last thing I want to be doing in this weather is stalking a dumpling truck.   

Eater says “they’ll be serving an abbreviated menu including six dumplings (for $6), watermelonade, and sides like chili sesame noodle salad” which kind of begs the question- why would anybody who works downtown pay $6 for dumplings, when there are so many other cheaper dumpling options. As with most of the new trucks in the city, you can follow their location on twitter. If anybody gets a chance to taste, let us know what you think.

Passed by the Treats Truck yesterday (on 45th btw. 6+7th) and owner Kim had two helpers, so the line was moving much quicker than normal.  One helper took orders, one packaged the orders up, and Kim took the money. Very nice.  Unfortunately it’s not a permanent thing, because one of the helpers was Kenny Lao, founder and co-owner of the Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, who told me that their planned cart should be ready to go in just a few weeks. Kenny has been shadowing Kim to learn more about what it takes to run a food truck in New York City.  He’s hoping to have a “soft” opening with his cart (i.e. not publicized, so he can ease into things) but I told him Midtown Lunch’ers wouldn’t let that happen. Keep your eye out for the new dumpling cart starting in September.