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Jersey Streets Meet The $10 Challenge
By Wesley Chin on April 12, 2010
Chorizo Slider (Left) and Pulled Chicken Slider (Right)
It’s the day before payday. You’re starving and the only companionship you have besides hunger pangs is the crisp $10 bill that miraculously went unspent. With 24 hours to go til you’re paid, how do you survive? Turns out, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan lie a wealth of options in Hoboken and Jersey City, NJ for those on their last $10 bill.
For lunch, I hopped on the PATH train to Exchange Place in Jersey City for some traditional New Orleans fare from the Louisiana Spice Truck. In addition to their Crescent City specialties, they offer a rotating menu inspired by international cuisines.
There are many appealing options here, but today’s 2-for-$5 gourmet slider special caught my frugal eye. We were allowed the choice of two different sliders so I went for the chorizo and pulled chicken with spicy slaw. Both sliders were served on soft potato rolls, lightly toasted on one side. Although small enough to fit snugly in the palm of my hand, the stuffing sandwiched in between rose high and spilled beyond its bread borders.
The shredded chicken chunks were tender and juicy, accented by the crunch of red cabbage coleslaw that wasn’t as spicy as I envisioned. The chorizo combined both ground chunks and whole sausage in a thick, tangy sauce, which was topped with black bean puree. Pack extra napkins because this slide is messy.
Flickr: HobokenCondos
$5 down; $5 to go. The next stop was Hoboken where I found The Taco Truck at its usual riverside parking spot on Sinatra Drive. In warm weather, this location hosts many patrons hungry for delicious Tex-Mex fare with a picturesque view of Manhattan’s skyline. The menu boasts tacos, tortas, tamales, and plenty of sides, so there isn’t a shortage of options.
Pescado Taco
This is the pescado. It’s the biggest and – in the opinion of this broke eater – the most satisfying taco on the menu. For $5, you get a 6-inch tortilla topped with chunks of fried fish, shredded red cabbage, pico de gallo, crumbled cheese, and Mexican tartar sauce.
This taco tasted exceptionally fresh thanks to the onions, pico de gallo, and cabbage slaw on top. For those who like hot sauce, you’ll find the Mexican tartar offers sufficient heat even without pouring on the red stuff. The fish was skillfully fried – crisp on the outside and soft in the center.
I write this with a belly that’s bigger than the one I started with this morning. But I’m happy to report: For budget diners who demand quality food for less coin, you can definitely find $10 steals on wheels – especially in Jersey.
Editor’s Note: Want to tell us how you’d spend $10 on street food in your hometown? Shoot me an email at amy@vendr.tv!
About the author:
Wesley Chin is a New Jersey-born food cart groupie. He loves discovering new street vendors and passing the gospel along to others. Connect with Wes at his site, I Are What I Eat, and twitter.
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