Arab Food Trucks Create Communities in Washington, D.C.
Food trucks line Farragut West in Washington, DC.BY: Daniel Gil/Contributing Writer
There’s a growing phenomenon around major cities in the country and Washington D.C. is certainly not immune. Parked on street corners, filling entire blocks, and stuffing the faces of all who are guided by their noses are food trucks.
This certainly isn’t a recent phenomenon by any stretch. Food trucks began to gain popularity around 2008 in Los Angeles and have slowly made their way cross-country to the East coast. However, the growing prevalence of Arab-style food trucks is something new. In D.C., the change is palpable, especially on the pallet.
Strolling through Foggy Bottom during lunchtime can be overwhelming on an empty stomach. Between 22nd and 21st streets Northwest, there are about 10 food trucks with deliciously prepared food, representing all different kinds of cuisine from standard cheesy pizza to Korean barbeque.
Some of the more intriguing trucks, which one’s nose may guide them to, however, are the trucks of Tasty Kabob, The House of Falafel, and Halal just to name a few. You know they’re serving good food because of the long lines filled with hungry students from the George Washington University waiting to get a shawarma or falafel wrap.
These Arab food trucks serve mostly typical Middle Eastern and Mediterranean style cuisine. Despite the fact that they’re serving from a truck, their ability to whip up a plate of lamb gyro or a falafel pita in the span of less than 10 minutes, and also have it come out delicious, is uncanny.
Their importance on campus and across the district’s biggest neighborhoods cannot be understated. For example, not only has the House of Falafel truck been in Foggy Bottom for 26 years, well before the food truck craze began, students at GW genuinely recognize it as part of their culture.
In November of last year, the House of Falafel truck suffered a serious accident when one of their engines heated and exploded. Three of their employees were seriously injured and the owner of the food truck had essentially lost his livelihood. However, one student, John Kim sprang into action and immediately started a GoFundMe page for the employees who were severely burned during the fire. With hefty donations from the students and lovers of the food truck, they were able to raise almost $10,000 dollars over the course of a few weeks for the victims.
In Kim’s description of the accident, he says, “The food truck is part of our great community, and I believe it is right for us to help.” Obviously, he wasn’t the only one who felt this way as evident by how much money was raised.
Foggy Bottom is just one area for these trucks to hangout. They can be seen all over the city during lunch hours, like on 7th street Northwest in Chinatown, 14th street Northwest in downtown DC, along the National Mall, surrounding Farragut Park and McPherson Square, and, during the warm seasons, all over Constitutional Avenue.
If you’re ever in search of good food in the area during the upcoming warm months, just follow the tourists.
