Though San Francisco’s food trucks are having an increasingly difficult time nabbing street spots, these street-food vendors are finding innovative ways to reach out to diners. Whether on their own four wheels or occupying a brick and mortar establishment with extra kitchen space, these establishments are the best of these mobile eateries scattered throughout the city.

SWEET TOOTH

The Creme Brulee Cart
Market and Sutter streets

The moment when the torched, caramelized exterior of creme is pierced with a spoon is arguably one of the best sensations when indulging in a creme brulee. This can’t be more true than with the vanilla creme brulee with champagne strawberries and pecans, which nicely offsets the sweetness of the creamy custard.

CHEAP EATS

El Porteño
Fort Mason Off The Grid

This traditional Argentinian food kiosk serves up savory and sweet empanadas with flavors that burst out of their flaky crusts. Start with the prosciutto and fontina cheese empanada, follow with jamon y queso, and end with Argentine dulce de leche cookies for a meal that’s hard to forget.

ROMANTIC

Spencer on the Go
Folsom and 7th streets

It may be daunting to see escargot puff lollipops and foie gras on a food truck menu, but Laurent Katgely, the chef and owner of Chez Spencer, manages to make high-end French cuisine accessible to the casual diner. The sauteed shrimp vol-au-vent, which is a hollow case of puff pastry stuffed with shrimp, is simply out of this world.

WILDCARD

The Grilled Cheese Guy

This guy doesn’t have a full-on truck yet, but he is the creator of Behind the Cart, a series of food-related events bringing less mobile eateries together. This vendor can be seen at the occasional farmers market or flea market dishing out award-winning sandwiches. Be on the lookout for his occasional pop-ups in the city and get tantalized by the Karma Sutra, which consists of caramelized onions, gruyere cheese and fresh asiago all on on an Acme rustic roll.