The Columbus Food Truck Festival may have already rolled through Downtown , but if you feel like you haven't gotten your food-truck fill, you're in luck. The Columbus Food Truck Festival is having two events throughout the summer, with the Hilliard Edition coming up on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on 5024 Northwest Pkwy.
Walking in, a sea of colorful trucks and enticing smells are sure to greet hungry visitors — it's going to be a formidable task to hit all of the vendors. Whether you're a foodie who's willing to take on the challenge or someone who suffers from decision paralysis and fear you might be wandering around on fairgrounds empty-handed, you're at the right place.
Read on to learn about some trucks and their offerings, as well as all the information you need to know before you go.
What are some good Columbus area food trucks to visit?
As of press time, the Columbus Food Truck Festival Hilliard Edition had 35 total vendors listed to be at the fairgrounds, though there are often last-minute additions to the roster, Columbus Food Truck Festival co-founder and organizer Mike Gallicchio said. Here are four food trucks that could be worth checking for unique offerings and to give you a look into the diversity of options at the festival.
Grilled Cheese Gangsters , the "O.G. of Grilled Cheese," is ready to make you an offer you can't refuse. A family-owned food truck in central Ohio, they offer a variety of sandwiches loaded with gooey, cheesy goodness.
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True to its theme, the truck features menu items named after famous gangsters in pop culture and beyond, from items like the "Don Vito" — a breakfast sandwich oozing with golden American cheese, egg and bacon — to the "Kingpin," which features smoked pulled pork and a generous heap of mac and cheese.
Beyond sandwiches, they offer "Gangster Tots," featuring signature "Mafia Sauce" and a sprinkling of green onions; and there is also tater tots presented with an array of different toppings like buffalo chicken and hot sauce or barbecue pulled pork.
Merrybrook Baking Company is a mobile bakery that offers sourdough vanilla glazed doughnuts and soft pretzels using an Amish family recipe by founders Ruth and Roman Kauffman, which has been used in spin-off businesses owned by friends, family and acquaintances all over the country. Lane Troyer, who is the owner of the Merrybrook Baking Company food truck, said the festival will be the first time Merrybrook will be bringing its handmade treats to the Columbus area.
Happy Elephant is a Lao and Thai cuisine food truck that offers dishes bursting with flavors from ingredients fit for a hot summer day, whether it be a shrimp spring roll or a papaya salad with shredded green papaya, diced tomatoes, lime juice and Thai chili peppers. Other items on the menu include chicken skewers for an on-the-go snack that you can take along with you to explore what else the fairgrounds will have to offer on the day of the festival.
Zaki Mediterranean Grill might be familiar to those who frequent Budd Dairy Food Hall, but on the 17th, they'll be taking gyro bowls, chicken shawarma sandwiches, hummus and harissa and more Middle Eastern flavors on wheels to the festival.
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For the full lineup of vendors, check out the festival's website at columbusfoodtruckfest.com/hilliard.html .
Columbus Food Truck Festival details
Tickets are $5 through online presale or $10 at the gate on the day of the event, which begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission, but must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older.
Tickets are single-use and reentry is prohibited. To buy tickets online, visit columbusfoodtruckfest.com . Parking is available for free on a first-come, first-served basis with free on-street parking surrounding the fairgrounds.
The event will happen rain or shine.
The Columbus Food Truck Festival has also donated proceeds to local nonprofit partners, and for this year's Hilliard Edition, they will be supporting Boxland Media and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio .
In addition to food trucks, there will be several art, craft and maker vendors, as well as musicians performing throughout the day, starting with Jared Mahone at 1:30 p.m., the Andy Shaw Band at 4 p.m., the Jocef Michael Band at 6 p.m., then Friends of the Dead at 8 p.m.
elim@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Food Truck Festival rolls into Hilliard for second edition
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