Author: Gaby Keane
Food is good. Convenient food is better. Entrepreneurial Ithacans have taken advantage of this fact for years by serving up a variety of cuisines from on-campus food trucks. From old school PMP’s at Hot Truck to the new sushi burritos at That’s How I Roll, everyone can satisfy their taste buds with a meal on wheels.
Louie’s Lunch
Founded in 1918, Louie’s Lunch on North Campus is an icon here at Cornell. It began as a food cart pushed around by Greek immigrant Louis Zounakos, which eventually evolved into the classic red and white truck still located in its original spot, across the street from Risley Hall. The ownership of Louie’s Lunch has changed hands over the years, but the spirit of the truck has remained.
The extensive menu contains the typical burgers, cold and hot sandwiches, and myriad fried items, but it broadens its food horizons by also offering items like milkshakes, salads, and a breakfast menu. For those who crave spice, try the XXX buffalo chicken sub — it’s sure to send you running for water (pro tip: milk works best to cool a spicy mouth). Louie’s Lunch is located at 500 Thurston Ave, and is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Saturday, 12 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
That’s How I Roll
Though it sits next to a well-established neighbor, the fare offered at the new food truck next to Louie’s Lunch couldn’t be further from conventional. That’s How I Roll is a food truck specializing in sushi burritos, maki rolls, and hand rolls that opened its doors – or its window – in April, 2015. Its owner, Wopea Zegid, has a history as a sushi chef, most recently as the head sushi chef at Plum Tree Japanese Restaurant in Collegetown.
According to Zegid, there are two basic types of food on the menu: traditional inside-out rolls, and the signature sushi burritos. “Sushiritos” have gained popularity in the trendy food world in the past year after an eponymous restaurant opened in San Francisco. Though not uncommon in California or big cities, it’s certainly a unique opportunity to be able to pick up a sushi burrito on Cornell’s campus in rural Ithaca.
I tried the “Spicy Tuna Love”, a sushi burrito containing spicy tuna, guacamole, shrimp tempura, cucumber, kani, and spicy mayo. Though a bit pricer than normal food truck fare (prices for the sushi burritos range from $6-$7 for minis, $9-$13 for regulars), the ingredients were fresh and flavorful, and the handheld style made the eating experience feel creative and fun. Though not an inexpensive lunch, a visit to this new truck is worth the experience. That’s How I Roll is located next to Louie’s Lunch at 500 Thurston Ave and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Hot Truck
No Cornell food truck article would be complete without a mention of the Hot Truck. Located at the bottom of West Campus, this Cornell staple has been slinging pizza subs since the 1960s. The founder, Bob Petrillose, chose the name “Hot Truck” in opposition to Louie’s Lunch, which at the time only served cold foods and sandwiches giving it the nickname “the Cold Truck”.
The signature item at the Hot Truck is their pizza subs, which are French bread pizzas (or as the Hot Truck dubs them, the Poor Man’s Pizza, or PMP), and consuming at least one of these during your Cornell undergraduate experience should really be a requirement to graduate. The pizza sub can be customized with your choice of toppings, meats, sizes, and more. Recently, the current Hot Truck owners have started seeking to relocate to Eddy Street in Collegetown in order to bring in more business. There are logistical aspects that still need to be worked out, but, if all goes as planned, the Hot Truck should make its first move in over 50 years in July. The Hot Truck is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Forget the dining hall and spice up your next meal by grabbing a bite to eat from a Cornell food truck. Old or new, the quick, convenient fare is sure to satiate your hunger in a way a pre-made egg salad sandwich just cannot.
