Who: Curry Up Now, a mobile lunch and dinner truck (I’ve nicknamed it Curry Cart for short) serving hungry customers in San Mateo, Burlingame, and Redwood Shores.
What: They serve local and organic meals (in compostable containers), that are a mashup of Indian street food and Mexican taco truck fare. That means you get legit Indian dishes often wrapped up in corn or flour tortillas for a lunchtime fix, or a traditional boxed lunch with a side or rice, veggies, and the entree. Lunch and dinner options are available, though I think they are open either one meal or the other (not a lunch and dinner on the same day).
Where: They’re on the mid-Peninsula (I’ ve visited them in San Mateo by 92, and in the park across from Oracle). I’ve seen them tweet about showing up near Walmart.com, and they’re also getting ready to represent in San Francisco! Their location changes every day, so make sure you follow CurryUpNow on Twitter for latest details on their whereabouts.
Why:
- Organic ingredients and huge portions at a moderate price mean huge value!
- The friendly hostess has a good memory and remembers me ‘n my CurryUpNow-venturing sidekick despite her having to balance 10 tasks at one time.
- They know how to make this food spicy, if you want it that way! I’m not talkin’ Gringo Spicy (like the “spicy” level you find in a jar of salsa at a supermarket)…I’m talking, enough to impress local Desi eaters that know spicy, and for you to get a good sweat going when you eat.
- I’ve stood in line by South Asians, and and many share a conversation with the hostess, smile, nod, and then give me a thumbs up, saying “yep, this is legit.”
The one drawback to this venture? Scale… Due to their popularity, lines can get pretty long at lunchtime. Plan ahead by getting there early, or a little later. If you’re really smooth, you may even find out how to SMS/text your order in advance!
