Food trucks have been around for a long time and have become known for convenient and inexpensive bites. In the modern world, food trucks can be an efficient option for people who can’t find the time for a sit-down meal. Here are a few options in Milpitas.
1. El Taco De Oro: 3/5 stars
For my first stop, I tried a taco truck I’ve driven past hundreds of times but never eaten from. Located at a gas station off the 880 and 237 exits, this location was the least impressive out of all the food trucks. The carne asada taco was perfectly done, and it came with a regular option or an upgraded option with sour cream and cheese. I ordered the upgrade, and the flavors worked pretty well together. It’s not a heavy taco, as the regular only comes with onion, cilantro, and salsa. While I was initially skeptical, I found that the light toppings worked well to accentuate the meat. I also ordered a burrito, which was unfortunately a bit disappointing. It was a lot less balanced than the taco, too rice-heavy with hardly any cheese. It was a little on the dry side and blander than I would have liked, so I was definitely disappointed. All in all, the food was okay, but I probably won’t be coming back unless I’m desperate for a quick meal.
2. Swaraj India: 3.5/5 stars
This truck was also at a gas station, across from Foster’s Freeze, but there was a bigger crowd at this location. Since it was a popular spot for pani puri, I knew I had to try some. Pani puri is a common Indian snack consisting of hollow fried dough balls meant to be filled with potatoes, chickpeas, veggies, spices, sauces, and flavored water. Their pani puri was underwhelming and a little bland, but it hit the spot. I found that the fillings were pretty basic and didn’t offer any unique flavors. I also tried the vada pav, which is a potato cutlet slider. I liked the vada pav better since the spices were perfectly balanced and the bun was soft and fluffy. The potato wasn’t too heavy, and I thought it would make a nice snack in the future. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, and I could see myself coming back if I was in need of an Indian street food fix.
3. Mount Everest Momo: 4/5 stars
While their menu consists of several Nepalese dishes, the Everest Momo truck is definitely known for their momos, which are Nepalese dumplings. They are located in a parking lot near the Milpitas library, and while the area was eerily empty, the food was worth it. I ordered both the chicken and vegetarian momos and was extremely impressed. The vegetarian momos were seasoned well but a little too soft, as they fell apart when I tried to pick them up. I did not enjoy the flavor of the vegetarian ones that much but my friends did, which made me think it was just personal preference. However, the chicken momos stood out to me because of their perfect flavoring, texture, and juiciness. The meat wasn’t dry or bland and the dough held up even when taking a bite out of it. The momos came with two chutneys, one mild and one spicy, and both were good in their own ways. I also tried the masala chai, since I was getting cold while waiting for the food. The chai was basic and didn’t make me feel too impressed, but the momos blew me away enough to give this truck the top spot.