Local Flavor on Wheels: This summer, we’re trying area food trucks for our Local Flavor series instead of sit-down establishments. We hope you’ll come along for the ride!
It was a three-napkin night for me when I tried the delicious Birdies food truck fare for the first time at the recent Festa Italiana in Cuyahoga Falls.
A friend who's been in the restaurant business her whole adult life told me I absolutely had to try the Birdies burgers, which she described as "stupidly good."
She wasn't kidding.
With my husband and daughter in tow, we went on a meat-eating mission on Front Street July 19 while listening to the strains of a Journey tribute band rocking out on the riverfront. We absolutely were not disappointed with the burgers we savored from Birdies, which is owned by friendly couple Nick and Brandi Kvak of Cuyahoga Falls.
I ordered the Birdie Burger, which features a ⅓-pound Angus cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and cheese curds, topped with homemade Birdies Sauce ($13). I'd never had cheese curds on a burger, and these deep-fried wonders made an amazing combo with the tasty patty.
The sauce itself was delicious, a mayo-based concoction with ketchup added that's similar to yum yum sauce but more savory, Brandi said. The Birdies Sauce, generously slathered, also has garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce and some secret spices.
I came with an appetite and had no problem polishing the Birdie Burger off.
My husband Steve went for the gusto by ordering the 1776 combo ($17.76). It's a gargantuan sandwich that includes two ⅓-pound cheeseburgers, bacon, cheese curds and barbecue sauce, served with fries.
"Yummmmmm. It's an all American party in your mouth!" the Birdies online menu says of the novelty burger.
"It's delicious," Steve pronounced.
Each of our burgers had a patriotic touch, with sandwich picks stuck in them featuring American flags or other red, white and blue designs. Steve's was the one that also had the patriotic name (and price.)
His sandwich was so impressive looking, a couple folks stopped him while we were eating on a bench at the Front Street plaza to ask Steve where he'd purchased it.
This is the first I've ever seen Steve not finish a burger.
"I gotta pause," he said halfway through his massive 1776.
He ultimately got pretty close but didn't quite finish. The 1776 comes with either fries or pierogies, and Steve chose fries.
He and our daughter Elise shared his side, which Steve dubbed "crispy, crunchy and well seasoned."
Our girl went old school with a regular cheeseburger ($10) with mild cheddar, tomato and lettuce which she really enjoyed with ketchup and mayo.
"I taste a little char on it," said Elise, who also shared that the burger's ample lettuce had a nice bite.
All the Birdie's food is made on site, with burgers par cooked and put in a special broth before they're cooking's finished up.
Birdies business started up during COVID
Nick's originally from Brook Park and Brandi is from Rootstown. They met years ago working in a home improvement business. Brandi worked in insurance and Nick in a construction business before they decided to take the leap into starting their own food truck.
"I've always wanted to open a restaurant. It's like my love language, feeding people," Brandi said.
They bought the Birdies trailer in 2020, when sit-down restaurants were struggling during COVID. The business name was created by the couple's niece and nephew, who used to pronounce Brandi's name "Birdie" when they were little.
A customer-centric focus and consistency in culinary details are key, Brandi said: "When you bite into a Birdie Burger, I want the cheese curds to actually squish out. ... They have to be hot and fresh."
Nick, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran, is committed along with his wife to serving veterans as well as others in uniform. All military receive food discounts and a free drink.
Police, firefighters and EMTs in uniform also receive free meals. Birdies also feeds the Cuyahoga Falls SWAT team for free during their training sessions.
"We have a unique opportunity to bless people and be kind to people and do things like that and I want to take advantage of it as much as I can," Brandi said.
What else is on Birdies menu?
At Birdies food truck, you can order Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds as a side. Other sides include jalapeno poppers, fried pickles, pierogis, fries, cheesy bacon fries and chicken tenders.
Other sandwiches include the Dirty Bird buffalo chicken sandwich with ranch, the Not So Dirty Bird fried chicken sandwich, Hot Honey Chicken Sammie and Macho Burger — a cheeseburger with bacon, fried pickles and chipotle sauce.
Birdies' top-selling item is the Stoner Bowl, a big bowl with seasoned fries, mild cheddar, bacon, diced breaded chicken on top, barbecue sauce and Birdie Sauce. Other top sellers are the Birdie Burger and the jerk chicken and marinated steak skewers.
Where will Birdies be in August?
Here are some spots where Birdies will be in August.
- Aug. 1: McArthur's Brew House, 5 to 9 p.m., 2721 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
- Aug. 2: Lock 3 Concert Series, 4:30 to 11 p.m. 21 W. North St., Akron
- Aug. 6: Summit County Children Services, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 264 S. Arlington St., Akron
- Aug. 11: Akron Pickle Fest, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Cascade Plaza, 1 W. Mill St., Akron
- Aug. 14: Akron General main campus, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., 1 Akron General Ave., Akron
- Aug. 15: McArthur's Brew House, 5 to 9 p.m., 2721 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
- Aug. 17: Props and Pistons Festival, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Akron Fulton Airport, Triplett Boulevard, Akron
- Aug. 18: Props and Pistons Festival, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Akron Fulton Airport, Triplett Boulevard, Akron
- Aug. 22: Akron General main campus, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., 1 Akron General Ave., Akron
- Aug. 23: Lock 3 Concert Series, 4:30 to 11 p.m. 21 W. North St., Akron
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Little birdy who said Birdies burger is 'stupidly good' was so right | Local Flavor on Wheels
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