Truck Owners

Food trucks have been popping up all over the city as part of the latest culinary craze, but they still face the challenge of on-board cooking being illegal according to local laws. While fans continue to lobby the city for change, some truck owners have been able to give their business some staying power by turning their mobile brand into permanent storefronts. Homage Street Food Opening a restaurant inspired by global street food has always been the plan for husband-and-wife duo Mike and Elaine Maloney.

With the passage of a new ordinance last month, Chicago has caught up with other major U.S. cities like Austin, Seattle and L.A. by allowing food trucks to cook and prepare food aboard their vehicles. The City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection reported Friday that 34 trucks have started the application process for a mobile food vehicle license. Twenty-seven of those are seeking a mobile food preparer license, which permits on-board cooking. The remaining seven seek mobile food dispenser licenses to sell pre-packaged, pre-cooked foods.

With the passage of a new ordinance last month, Chicago has caught up with other major U.S. cities like Austin, Seattle and L.A. by allowing food trucks to cook and prepare food aboard their vehicles. The City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection reported Friday that 34 trucks have started the application process for a mobile food vehicle license. Twenty-seven of those are seeking a mobile food preparer license, which permits on-board cooking. The remaining seven seek mobile food dispenser licenses to sell pre-packaged, pre-cooked foods.

Chicago's food truck industry will keep on truckin', but the rules may change. The ordinance regulating food trucks advanced Thursday out of the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection after nearly four hours of discussion. City officials tried to balance the concerns of restaurant owners and needs of food truck operators. “We think that local restaurants are really the cornerstones of our neighborhoods, also probably the largest employer in the city and also possibly the state.

Chicago's food truck industry will keep on truckin', but the rules may change. The ordinance regulating food trucks advanced Thursday out of the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection after nearly four hours of discussion. City officials tried to balance the concerns of restaurant owners and needs of food truck operators. “We think that local restaurants are really the cornerstones of our neighborhoods, also probably the largest employer in the city and also possibly the state.

Chicago may have just awarded its first on-board cooking license to The Salsa Truck last week, but the city still has a ways to go before it sees a vibrant truck scene like the ones that can be found in cities like New York or L.A. Luckily, the University of Chicago has its own thriving mini-food truck scene, thanks to a stretch of road near the school on Ellis Avenue and University Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets--and the power of Twitter....

UPDATE: On Wednesday, the City Council passed a Chicago ordinance that would allow cooks to prepare fresh meals from food trucks, but also restrict the areas in which they're allowed to park and serve. The ordinance was passed with a 45-1 vote, with Ald. John Arena, 45 th , the sole "no" vote, and prohibits trucks from parking within 200 feet of a restaurant.  Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st) introduced the expanded ordinance earlier this summer.

Food trucks have been popping up all over the city as part of the latest culinary craze, but they still face the challenge of on-board cooking being illegal according to local laws. While fans continue to lobby the city for change, some truck owners have been able to give their business some staying power by turning their mobile brand into permanent storefronts. Homage Street Food Opening a restaurant inspired by global street food has always been the plan for husband-and-wife duo Mike and Elaine Maloney.