The wait is over: One of Pittsburgh’s favorite food trucks, PGH Taco Truck, has returned to the city’s food truck scene after a leave of absence that lasted over half a year.
When the PGH Taco Truck first rolled onto the Pittsburgh food scene in January of 2013, it was still the early days of Pittsburgh’s food truck culture. Today, food trucks parked outside of breweries and events across the city are a given, but it wasn’t always so.
As a food truck pioneer in Pittsburgh, PGH Taco Truck (and its owner James Rich) quickly amassed a large following in city thanks to its delicious tacos, and friendly staff. And, that following has been anxiously awaiting the truck’s return since Rich announced in late 2016 that the truck would be ceasing operations temporarily.
On getting back in the truck, Rich, who paused operations as he recovered from a surgery, says he’s hoping to have even more fun with it. As the truck has run consistently since it first opened in 2013, a small break and refresh was exactly what this truck needed.
“I missed my customers,” says Rich. “When I reopened in Lawerenceville, I knew the first name of almost everyone for six hours. It’s nice to know that is the result of years and years of being in the window, and meeting people and cooking for them.”
And as they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. For the most part, the truck will run the same as before the break.
“I think there might be some new specials, and not the same menu every time,” says Rich “And a variety of new locations.”
PGH Taco Truck is already known for operating in a variety of locations, which is one of the reasons it became such a presence in the Pittsburgh community. For years, the truck has shown up in less obvious places than just food truck festivals.
“I went to Braddock or Larimer, and I’ve tried to set up in the North Side,” says Rich. “I enjoy bringing food to people, and the community of people to come out and patronize me. I just really enjoy meeting people everywhere I go. One day we’d have our truck on a farm, and the next day we were out near the airport, and then next time we were by an old steel mill in Braddock.”
If you aren’t familiar with the truck, their taco recipe is simple (which is why it is so good): Tacos are served on a double-thick griddled corn tortilla. The menu changes daily, but commonly includes varieties like ground beef with cheddar Jack and fresh salsa, Thai peanut chicken with sweet chili slaw and vegan curried potato with mango chutney.
Coming up, the truck will be parked located at the Boyd & Blair Distillery in Glenshaw on Saturday, July 1 (12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), and Tupelo Honey Tea in Millvale on Sunday, July 2 (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Additionally, you can find the truck at the “Round Up to the Rescue” event on July 8.
For a regularly-updated schedule of where they’ll be, follow PGH Taco Truck on Twitter and Facebook.
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