Banh-mi is cool but when are we getting one of these?

There are few things that Penn students love more than Quaker spirit food trucks. Luckily, we now have yet another choice as to where to stuff our faces in that awkward hour-long break between classes. Coming to Penn/Drexel (meh) this spring, Baguette Philly will serve Vietnamese Banh-mi hoagies (no idea what that is either, but it looks good).

The hoagies aren’t even the best part—no, seriously. The food truck will participate in the Lunch 4 Lunch Program, which donates to a hunger relief organization for every meal purchased. Now you can feel good about stuffing your face in the middle of the afternoon! Go ahead and have that second hoagie, girl. It’s for charity.

Can’t wait for that Banh-mi? Help Baguette Philly purchase and set up its truck by pledging on kickstarter.

Listen up, freshmen goblins and ghouls: Penn’s dining halls aren’t that great. Yeah! See, at first, we were all, “Wow! Commons is serving chicken tetrazzini on a chocolate waffle today, isn’t that nice?” But then we tried it and were like, “Wow! It absolutely tastes like Paula Deen just farted in my mouth.” Luckily, though, we live in a city where we have plenty of options when it comes to grub, and Penn’s cheap and delicious food trucks are winners in our book. So bid au revoir to Bon Appétit and check out ten of our favorite trucks:

Bui’s
What’s that? For better or for worse, Bui’s is THE Penn food truck. Located on 38th and Spruce, this cart scores instant points for its low prices, quick service and simple but filling eggy sandwiches which are known for working miracles on even the worst hangovers. Pro tip: “Salpeppakeshup?” means, “Would you like me to put salt, pepper and ketchup on your sandwich?”
Don’t miss: Hangover Special

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Marrakesh Express, previously of 44th and Chestnut, appears to have reopened to the public on 40th and Locust, transforming from an ugly caterpillar full-service restaurant to a ~beautiful butterfly~ food truck in the process. (…Did we just say that?)  According to Meal Ticket, it was supposed to have opened in October, but this is the first we’ve heard of it. In any case, the Keshspress, which is an awful nickname we already regret publishing, promises to bring delicious “SHAWARMA+FALAFEL ON WHEELS” to the Penn community. We can’t wait to try it out– we’re salivating over the Yelp reviews. In the meantime, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, everyone!

How many advanced degrees does it take to start a food cart? For Penn’s newest truck, Chez Yasmine, it evidently took three, but you and your buddies might need a couple Ph.D’s and an MBA between you if you’re looking to develop a menu as complex as this.

Influenced by their childhoods in the US, Tunisia, France, Sweden, Spain, and Venezuela, as well as by international street foods, the owners of Philly’s “first gourmet sandwich, soup, and salad truck” aim to harken back to the “summer days when your grandma called you in from the outdoors to serve you your favorite lunch” — presumably with a bit more sophistication than a pack of Lunchables. With everything from PB&J to Bahn Mi and Salmon Smörgås (say that ten times fåst), it looks like Chez Yasmine will give its neighbors a run for their money when it lands at 37th and Spruce on its planned October 1 opening.

Attention all sorostitutes and skinny bitches! Pure Fare, a health-conscious café on 21st Street, is grabbing its trademark goodies and rolling over your way. Owners and siblings Kriti and Kunal Sehgal recently invested in a food truck, and they can’t wait to feed you.

The truck, arriving in about two weeks, will park itself on 40th and Locust, Monday through Friday, and will serve sandwiches, salads, snacks and Blue Bottle (it’s name brand hipster stuff like PBR, but coffee—whatever, you probably haven’t heard of it anyway, it’s pretty underground; just take our word for it).

Considering food trucks are such a big deal in Philly, you’ve probably wondered why there’s never been a head-to-head battle royale to determine who really rules the streets (and our stomachs) around here. But our insatiable appetites for both yummy street food and competition are about to be satisfied in one fell swoop. The Vendy Awards, a battle of the best street food vendors that started in NYC six years ago, is coming to Philly next weekend.

The finalists were announced today and three of the eight hail from our homeland: GiGi and Big R, Sugar Philly, and perennial favorite Magic Carpet will rep West Philly/University City while vying for the title of ULTIMATE. PHILLY. PHOOD TRUCK. Mayor Nutter will be among the judges of the cook-off showdown on Saturday, July 9 at the Piazza at Schmidts. Tickets will run you $65 if you want to go cheer on your favorite (or wave around those big foam noodle things to distract the other teams). Gooooo Magic Carpet!

Following last month’s report that Korean taco vendor Tyson Bee’s would be taking an indefinite hiatus, the incongruously-named food truck has finally called it quits. According to its Facebook page, the “company is going through a transition” and the truck has ceased operations, but they are “working on future plans” and hope to serve again soon. We hope they do, too! But until then, let us have a moment of silence and give thanks for the delicious Korean barbeque-y goodness they provided and pray that another Korean taco truck will immediately swoop in and fill the void.

Update: One of our readers points out that it may be saved after all! City Paper reports that two of the founding partners, responsible for the actual in-truck operations, have left due to disagreements with the other founders. It is still open under the helm of a different crew but it’s unclear whether the truck will keep the name or menu. If you have any info, let us know!