Meals on Wheels

Your guide to the best and worst in curbside dining at Penn Although it can't be confirmed, Ben Franklin is said to have invented the first food truck. Back then, it was nothing more than a horse and buggy parked outside of Carpenter's Hall that sold hot sausages, lo mein and Snapple. Since then his legacy lives on. It's impossible to walk a few steps without running into some meals on wheels, so here's a brief guide on what your weekend diet will likely consist of? For the best truck-born cheesesteak, and one of the best steaks on campus, go no further than Sophie's located on 34th and Walnut. Be sure to ask for a cheesesteak with sauce, and while you're there you can sample their exceptional baklava and chicken salad hoagies. Hommus anyone? At Rami's Luncheonette at 40th and Locust everything is good, so don't worry if you can't pronounce half of the Middle Eastern menu. You can enjoy Penn's best falafel and babaghanouj, and be sure to say "Hi" to Sammy, the fatherly proprietor, for us while you're there. If you're a fan of cheap but plentiful Chinese food, then Penn is the place to be. There are countless Chinese food trucks dotted throughout the campus. The typical Chinese mobile kitchen offers some sort of seafood, meat or vegetable dish served on rice or noodles, all accompanied with a mysterious but tasty brown sauce. For the most part, they're all pretty good, but a few are worth mentioning. Leading us off are Le Anh (36th and Walnut), The Real Le Anh and Original Le Anh (both at 36th and Spruce). The Le Anh trucks have been faithfully serving Quakers for a long, long time, and most people patron to the one closest to them. A key advantage of these trucks is that they are usually open much later than any other food trucks, giving evening eaters an affordable alternative to non-moving restaurants. Several other Chinese trucks line the Annenberg Center along Walnut Street between 36th and 38th streets. Chief among these is Kim's, although Minh Yang deserves honorable mention. Make sure, though, that you notice the difference between Kim's and its neighbor, Kim-Sen. Kim's is among the best while Kim-Sen is a bit below standard. For Italian there's Pizzeria Express, located west of 36th Street on Spruce. They offer a wide variety of toppings, and they sell slices of cheese pizza for only a buck. Speaking of Italian, a new little Italian ice stand opened up outside of Houston Hall. They only have a couple of flavors, but they're one of the only places to get Italian ice between here and South Street. As Pac-Man once said, "Eat more fruit." There are at least five, maybe more, fruit salad trucks on campus. If you're sick and tired of greasy cheesesteaks, fruit salads offer a healthy alternative. For about two or three dollars, you can get a huge basket of fresh fruit and a banana to boot. Walnut Street offers a remarkable variety of eateries. For fire breathers, there's Jow's Spicy Thai Food (36th and Walnut). Just down the street from Jow's is Ali Baba Magic Food. Ali Baba has falafel and other middle eastern treats, but they truly stand out because they're one of the only places at Penn that sell the college fave Jolt Cola. Mr. Kabob is new to Penn and serves (big surprise) Shish Kabobs! Only time will tell, but so far Mr. Kabob is gaining popularity, and the truck will likely find a happy home here at Penn. Bento Box offers primarily sushi and some Japanese food. Their best is their Philly roll (rice, seaweed, cucumber, avocado, cream cheese and raw crab all rolled together and dipped in soy sauce mixed with hot Japanese horseradish, wasabi -- no, it's good, really, I swear). Across the street on the north side of Walnut and 37th Street is Korean/Japanese Food -- a nameless truck with amazing specialties. One of my favorites is their "Don Ka Tsu," a generous and affordable breaded pork dish with an amazing sweet and sour dipping sauce and side fruit and veggies. Also popular are the many "tin can" food trucks, so called for their square shape and shiny metal exterior. Despite their size and appearance, many of these trailers have friendly owners and great food. The tin can outside of Bennet Hall at 34th and Walnut opens insanely early and has one of the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches around. Another "smallie but goodie" is Greek Lady Olga, a food stand specializing in hoagies. Located at 38th and Spruce, Greek Lady Olga has been voted by various Wharton groups as "favorite food truck," so give them a try. Painted bright red at 36th and Walnut is Ralph and Son's. Ralph is a round, friendly character who always tries to get your sandwiches just right. While their lunches aren't anything to write home about, they easily have one of the best breakfast menus in town. (You can't go wrong with the egg and cheese sandwich with pepperoni before that 9 a.m. class.) Last, but far and away not least, is The Quaker Shaker located on 37th between Walnut and Locust. The Quaker Shaker is as much of a "Pennstitution" as Smokey Joe's or Billybob's, but recently the University has decided to remove the popular truck from its long-time location. Food-wise, the Shaker has your standard fare: egg sandwiches, cheesesteaks, burgers, etc. Their lunch specials (which usually include a sandwich, chips or pretzel, and a soda) are always a great deal, and you can't go wrong with a chicken cheesesteak with barbeque sauce. Assuming they're still on campus, be sure to stop by. Good or bad, the trucks are a much of a way of life here at Penn as throwing toast. And hey, where else can you appreciate good, cheap food that can go from zero to 60 in about a day-and-a-half.