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East meets West at Ashka's: J.C. Reid photos
Ashka's East Meets West, a new food truck on Durham between Maxie and Eigel Streets, plans to offer Indian cuisine in addition to a traditional menu of tacos and burgers. It will be the first food truck in Houston to offer Indian fare such as curries and samosas, and follows in the tradition of gourmet food trucks that have gained considerable notoriety in cities like Los Angeles and Austin.
Technically a food trailer, Ashka's is the creation of Ashka Parikh, whose family owns the Ace Hardware in whose parking lot the trailer is parked. Parikh, who is Indian, acquired the gleaming, stainless steel trailer on Craigslist. Parikh notes that this is her first foray into being a restaurateur and a menu is still under development. She expects to be offering Indian cuisine within a week.
Stainless steel food trailer
Ashka's is currently open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Like the menu, operating hours will be adjusted as necessary. The current menu includes a standard offering of 99 cent breakfast tacos available all day: egg with bacon, potato, chorizo, ham or sausage. Lunch items include hamburgers and chicken sandwich baskets starting at $3.99. Canned soft drinks and bottled water are served.
Egg and chorizo breakfast taco
On a recent weekday visit for an early lunch, we ordered a selection of breakfast tacos and a burger basket. The breakfast tacos were excellent, with the egg and chorizo being a standout with alot of extra spice and flavor. The fries that came with the basket were tasty, but the burger was overcooked to the point of being almost inedible - it's clear that Ashka's is still working out operations and menu details.
As the gourmet food trailer craze continues to make its way to Houston (and it is inevitable), newly minted restaurateurs/entrepreneurs like Ashka Parikh deserve our patronage. It's a brave new world for mobile food vendors and customers alike, and lots of trial and error await. Ashka's is freshly minted and ambitious, and is clearly promising. If you're headed down Durham and you see Ashka's gleaming rig, drop in for a bite and any feedback you may have.
THis is not the first Indian truck in Houston. I have been going here for about a year.
http://chilibobshoustoneats.blogspot.com/2009/01/bansuri-indian-food-cor...
I may not have worded that precisely - not the first Indian truck, rather the first to serve curries and samosas. I did not think the other truck served curries or samosas. Probably should have mentioned the Bansuri truck anyway. Thanks for the clarification.
Oh how awesome is that? God knows we can always use more Indian food in Houston.
There's one in North Houston as well: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/6421400.html
That's funny -- I'm not sure the craze is inevitable here. I just wrote a post on food trucks (and Houston's noticeable lack of them). City regulations make it difficult for street vendors, and the majority of Houston doesn't really support the few we have. I'm ECSTATIC to see a new one, though, and will definitely stop by soon! Thanks for the news.
Obviously, taco trucks are doing a bang up business, but who knows, that may be a cultural thing. It's true that River Oaks folks my not want to walk up to a food truck and order samosas. May not be inevitable, but if one gourmet truck takes off, look for a bunch of copy cats.
Ruthie...where is the post. I saw one a few days ago but can't remember where. Some arcane City regs like a bathroom within 500ft...? No propane downtown...etc.
Gourmet Mag used to profile "street vendors" around the world. I've traveled internationally quite a bit. Some of the best food in Thailand is from the carts that are attached to the mopeds that drive around the city.
NY has some awesome ice cream trucks too.
I think the trend will increase.
Ahem.
http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/2009/12/two-birds-one-stoner-exc...
Nice writeup! Is he doing curries?
I am Indian. I don't know what "curries" means. That's a colonial (British) term meaning "anything Indian."
P.S. Thanks, and I suppose the answer is yes, on account of yes he makes Indian food.
http://www.curryhouse.co.uk/faq/define.htm
Yahoo, a new food truck in the hood. I noticed itthe other day and thought it curious that to this the truck parked next to Ace Hardware. Who would have thought they were setting up shop. Too bad they aren't open earlier, so I could stop by on the way to work.
Do they have a website or Facebook or Twitter?
Not as of yet. Stay tuned.
Wow looks great. Couldnt find there website, not even on MobileCravings.com. That truck looks like Optimus Prime
Your truck looks good. It's a nice concept. stay focused and work hard. God bless you.
Oh Yay!!! Great going! Wish you the very best :-)
Actually the first Indian food truck has been in Houston since 2004, its Desi Grill And More on Veterans Memorial Dr. between beltway 8 and FM 1960 in a Valero gas station parking lot.
Hi guys,
First off J.C thanks for writing this up for me...when you come back let me know and I'll get you another cheeseburger that we've fixed :) i have a facebook fan page, just search "ashka's east meets west" and it should come up. I'm working with mobilecravings.com for when they start a Houston branch and also have a temporary website, ashkas.weebly.com...the website will change soon. I'm also on twitter...ashkaseastwest.
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