Food & Drink
Bargin Bites
Come one, come all. There’s something to satisfy every palate (and pocketbook) at these easy-on-the-wallet eateries.
Edited by Jane Marion
Written with Amy Scattergood and Mike Unger.
Photography by Justin Tsucalas
Illustrations by Paige Jung
Pictured model: Jessica Trejo
ITH SURGING FOOD COSTS, supply chain logjams, labor shortages, and rising rents, there’s a reason why your dinner tab can add up to a bad case of sticker shock. More often than not, eating out feels like a real luxury. The good news is that on many blocks in and around Baltimore, there are plenty of places to get glorious grub without breaking the bank.
Thanks to our diverse population—with residents hailing from Poland, Mexico, Greece, Italy, and West Africa, to name a few—the choice for a phenomenal frugal feast knows no bounds (or borders). From Fells Point to Dundalk, you’ll find heartfelt cooking and crave-worthy dishes as deeply delicious as any high-fallutin’, white-tablecloth restaurant. In other words, the absence of fine china and votive candlelight has no bearing on what comes out of the kitchen.
It costs a lot to run a restaurant—from the price of equipment to the cost of dinnerware—but many of the places on this list have managed to cut costs with smaller spaces, often geared toward carryout, which means there’s generally countertop service and a minimal staff.
But that doesn’t mean these spots don’t shoot for the stars. There’s so much artistry and craftsmanship on display, so much personality (and even a few personalities: see our cover models, Ekiben’s Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe) in these casual kitchens that serve everything from hefty sandwiches to exemplary tacos and designer dogs. In addition to new discoveries, our list includes those can’t-miss dining destinations for anyone in the vicinity (though some spots are so celebrated they draw people from across state lines).
After all, you can’t call yourself a Baltimorean if you haven’t opened wide for a fried chicken biscuit with spicy honey from Blacksauce Kitchen—or even wider for a meatball sub at the venerable DiPasquale’s. Or burned the roof of your mouth on the molten mozzarella that bubbles and blankets the crab in the iconic pies at Matthew’s Pizzeria.
While hardly exhaustive, this list should get you started if you’re looking to combine top-notch, flavorful fare with the most bang for your buck. In most cases, we aimed for a single meal that was $20 or so per person. In some cases you can quell those hunger pangs for even less than that, depending on where—and when—you go and what you order.
So, make a point of heading to one of these spots to keep your belly full and get the most value for your dining dollars. In our book, that’s priceless.
Above: The price is right for tasty tacos and oversized burritos at Mystic Burrito in Highlandtown.
Blacksauce Kitchen
Remington
The tiny Remington storefront of Blacksauce Kitchen is open only two days a week, which can be a frustrating realization for those of us who love Damian Mosley’s food. Mosley is a gifted chef, and also runs a busy catering business, so he can open his restaurant any time he wants to, which is Thursdays and Saturdays. Also, a word to the wise: He only offers his legendary biscuits on Saturdays. Mosley loves his smoker, and thus the biscuits are sometimes made with smoked cheddar, the fried pork loin with smoked rhubarb jam. A mere glance at the me listed on Instagram—on any given day you’ll find rabbit and dumplings, sweet potato doughnuts, smoked crab and grits, or a brisket smashburger—can get you steering your car to Remington.
Best Bite: Smoked chicken with mole—one of the best things to come out of Mosley’s smoker—is a glorious mound of roast chicken swathed in house mole negro.
Chaps Pit Beef
East Baltimore
For more than three decades, the glorified shack sat in the parking lot of a nightclub on Pulaski Highway, a beacon emitting not light but the irresistible scent of pit beef. Lines regularly stretched out the door as people waited, often in the cold or rain, for what many consider to be the preeminent version of a uniquely Baltimore form of barbecue. When it was announced that Chaps would move, there was a palpable panic. What if something—gasp—changed? Exhale, carnivores. The new larger and spiffier location (there are also now outposts in Aberdeen and Glen Burnie) is a few hundred feet from the original one, in that same strip-club parking lot. Best of all, the pit beef sandwich—charcoal-grilled to order, thinly sliced, ideally topped with onions and horseradish sauce—is just as delicious now as it’s ever been. You won’t even have to wait outside before eating one.
Best Bite: Was there ever any doubt? It’s the pit beef sandwich or bust.
Fells Point (and other locations)
Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe’s Ekiben, pictured, first started as an Asian fusion food cart in 2014, before moving to a scrappy storefront in Fells Point. Then the word got out—and the humble spot’s knock-out Taiwanese chicken bao buns landed on Travel & Leisure’s best place to get a sandwich in Maryland. Other plaudits for the fare (Thai chicken meatballs, tofu in peanut sauce) have followed, from Vogue to the James Beard Foundation, which named Chu a semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic last year. Ekiben keeps expanding (with two additional brick-and-mortars) and the lineup of bowls, buns, and sides has grown, too. (Garlic chile oil noodles are a great recent addition.) But none of this has distracted these grounded guys, best friends since their college days at UMBC, from staying true to their mission of serving some of the most unique Asian fusion fare around—here in Baltimore or anywhere else, for that matter.
Best Bite: Always get the Taiwanese chicken (aka the Neighborhood Bird) on a bun or in a bowl—or by any means possible.
Clark Burger
Govans
The best thing about Clark Burger is not its excellent Angus-beef hamburgers, or its plates of poutine (yes, one of the owners is from Toronto), its massive milkshakes, or even the Full Mountie Burger (which is, of course, a poutine hamburger), but the fact that you can take all of this with you when you see a movie at the Senator Theatre. The Senator, one of the city’s best theaters, is conveniently next-door to Clark Burger, so when you go see the latest MCU flick, or a revival showing of There Will Be Blood, you can enjoy a cheeseburger, a plate of fries with crab dip, an order of poutine brimming with brisket, and a banana milkshake while watching the movie. Fortunately, you’ll have about two hours to recover.
Best Bite: The Original Burger is a minimalist wonder with a beef patty, tomato, lettuce, and pickles—plus optional cheese. It’s simple and nearly perfect.
Cocina Luchadoras
Fells Point
While every day is an excellent day for tacos, arguably the best time to head to Cocina Luchadoras in Fells Point is Friday, when owner Rosalyn Vera serves birria tacos. These are quesabirria tacos, the addictive concoction of griddled corn tortillas lacquered with cheese and loaded with birria, served with a cup of the consomé from that chile-spiked beef stew. If Fridays aren’t possible, there are tortas on Thursdays, burritos on Wednesdays, taco specials on Tuesday, and Vera’s sopes, tamales, and elote ribs every day. Vera and her staff, mostly family members, make their own tortillas with heirloom corn masa from the L.A.-based Masienda company, which makes the tacos some of the best in town.
Best Bite: The quesabirria tacos are a wondrous combination of chile-rich meat, crisped house-made tortillas, and melty cheese, all happily dipped in a cup of broth.
Old Goucher
Just when you thought you’d eaten enough rotisserie chicken to last a lifetime, you get a taste of the chicken at Chachi’s. The on-the-spit chicken manages to be both tender and crisp, with just the right amount of spice to bring out the best in the bird. A selection of vibrant sauces for dunking enhances the flavor profile. (The green anchovy or roasted-garlic mayo should be applied liberally.) Chef and co-owner Karl Diehn (formerly of Dylan’s Oyster Cellar) is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, so it’s no surprise that these birds have, well, a leg up on the competition. Elevate your experience with a visit to nearby Fadensonnen, where you can purchase a pint of Kölsch and eat (and drink) it all in the communal courtyard.
Best Bite: Aside from the chicken, the schmaltzy potatoes coated in drippings from being placed beneath the bottom of the spit are a stellar accompaniment.
Bargain Tips
TIP No. 1
Belly Up to the (Salad) Bar
For those who like to pile it onto their plates, look for salad bars and buffets. During the pandemic, we feared we’d never see another salad bar—we don’t mind being wrong.
TIP No. 2
Loyal Friend
Restaurants love a repeat patron and loyalty cards are a way for them to offer you an incentive to come back again—and again. After a certain amount of points are accrued, many offer discounts (and sometimes free stuff) to frequent flyers.
TIP No. 3
Get Happy
Happy hours are a budget-lovers bonanza, from deals on appetizers and drinks to more substantive entrees. And there’s nothing more convivial or communal than eating at the bar.
TIP No. 4
Get Social
Use social media to track all the dizzying deals out there from Taco Tuesdays to half-price wine night. Follow your favorite spots on Facebook and X to stay informed.
TIP No. 5
Sharing is Caring
If you care about your bottom line, consider sharing a meal. It’s a fact that portion sizes have been rising since the 1970s, sometimes doubling and even tripling. If you’re watching your wallet—and your waistline—split your meal with your dining companion.
Mount Vernon
It’s been nearly 15 years since husband-and-wife team Gregory Brown and Naijha Wright-Brown opened this vegan restaurant with a soul food slant, yet the menu feels—and the food tastes—as revolutionary today as ever. Barbecue ribs made from soy and smothered in a sweet sauce have a satisfying texture and fantastic flavor. A chickpea burger with jerk seasoning is well-spiced. Local art hangs on the wall of the small space, along with a 2014 news clipping about Stevie Wonder’s visit to the restaurant. He, like Land of Kush, is not as young as he once was, but they’re both as cool as ever.
Best Bite: Whatever entree you order, get some baked mac and cheese to go with it. Made of wheat elbow noodles and vegan cheese with just a hint of sweetness—it’s comfort food at its absolute finest.
DiPasquale’s
Canton
A visit to the relocated DiPasquale’s in Canton is an assault on the senses—in the best possible way. For starters, the whole place smells like pungent provolone, pecorino, Gorgonzola, and other cheeses sitting in the cold case, folded into substantial subs, or melted onto an array of sublime brick-oven pizzas. (Try the version with spicy soppressata and green olives.) And while there’s a book-length menu that lists Italian classics—stuffed artichokes, chicken or veal Parm—your best bet is to see it all with your own eyes: Scan the case stuffed with bowling ball-sized arancini, octopus salad, and overflowing stuffed peppers or stand at the deli counter where the subs are assembled. Word of warning: You’ll want one of everything.
Best Bite: The colossal meatball sub is so big it will fill you up for days, though you’ll likely devour it in one sitting
Helmand Kabobi
East Baltimore
Although The Helmand, a perennial Best Restaurant winner, is unusually affordable as white-tablecloth restaurants go, the opening in 2017 of its more casual spinoff restaurant, Helmand Kabobi, was fantastic news for Baltimoreans who value, well, value. Kabobi features a counter for casual eating as well as a more formal dining room, but most of its business comes from nearby Johns Hopkins Hospital folks ordering take-out. You can get many of the same dishes as at The Helmand, plus more bowls and wraps, all of which travel extremely well. There are kabobs, stews of eggplant and chickpeas, slow-cooked lamb, as well as the kaddo borani, a dish of pumpkin with garlicyogurt sauce (and fan favorite at The Helmand), as well as freshly baked naan and baklava.
Best Bite: The Kabuli pallow, an ornate presentation of long-cooked lamb beneath a dome of spiced rice pilaf, is the Afghan national dish for a reason.
Heritage
Govans
There aren’t many restaurants—bargain or bougie—where you could be blindfolded, point to anything on the menu and be assured that whatever arrives at your table will be delicious. Heritage Smokehouse is one of them. The brisket (try the mammoth sandwich), pulled chicken, shaved pork, and whatever else owner and pitmaster George Marsh has decided to put in his smokers out back on the day you visit (we’ve had trout in the past) are all excellent. We also love the starters (rockfish fritters) and sides (baked mac and cheese).
Best Bite: The smoked pork spareribs are dry-rubbed and cooked to perfection, so that the meat requires a slight tug to be separated from the bone—they’re the best version of the classic barbecue staple we’ve eaten in this city.
Koshary Corner
Remington
Bowls, usually filled with a protein, veggies, and maybe some rice, are ubiquitous these days and chains have popularized them in the past several years. Koshary has them beat by a few centuries or so. Egypt’s national dish generally consists of white or brown rice, quinoa, lentils, tomato sauce, chickpeas, vinaigrette, and fried onions. The version at this stall in R. House is terrific, but whatever you order, start with pita slices topped with hummus and za’atar. Like everything at Koshary Corner, they’re the all-too-rare combination of healthful and delicious.
Best Bite: Owner Iman Moussa’s strikingly fresh and satisfying version of the koshary. Adding some of her juicy chicken shawarma is always a good decision. We’re indebted to Moussa for popularizing it here.
Fells Point
When Broadway Market in Fells Point was renovated in 2019, a few new vendors opened in the building, including this colorful stall. Helmed by husband-and-wife team John Hartzell and Kesorn Imsin, the menu is impressively large and includes dishes passed down through generations of Imsin’s family in Northern Thailand. There are familiar dishes like pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, papaya salad, and spring rolls, but also pad see ew, or broad rice noodles with eggs and peanuts, many curries, and multiple versions of fried rice including one, of course, with Maryland jumbo lump crab. There’s also a version of khao soi, the Northern Thai noodle dish, as well as a dish with braised pork shoulder and pickled mustard greens. Each dish can be spiced to order, a welcome bonus for both chile-heads and the heat-averse.
Best Bite: Khao soi, the fantastic mash-up of noodles, vegetables, herbs, and protein in a spicy yellow coconut curry, is harder to find than it should be.
La Cabaña
Dundalk
Simply finding La Cabaña, opened in 2015 by the Rodriguez family, is most of the battle: It’s hidden behind a 7-Eleven in Dundalk. But once you’ve discovered the place, you’ll never forget the way there, as it’s one of the best taquerias in the city. The tortillas are made in-house, as is everything else, including the bottles of excellent salsas on the cozy wooden tables in a dining room lit by lamps fashioned by tequila bottles. There’s a trompo set up on the outdoor patio on Wednesday evenings, which results in fantastic al pastor tacos. Weekends are for lamb specials, including lamb tortas, lamb soup, and roasted lamb by the pound. But there’s much on offer every day, including excellent pozole, quesabirria tacos with consomé, chilaquiles, and menudo.
Best Bite: Lamb barbacoa tacos—deeply flavorful stewed meat with all the fixings atop house tortillas—aren’t easy to find, especially iterations this good.
Mera Kitchen Collective
Midtown
Craving Middle Eastern fare like stuffed grape leaves, hummus, or falafel? Or maybe something from Mexico like handmade chicken tamales or tacos de carne asada? Or perhaps Yassa chicken wings bathed in a tangy mustard sauce washed down by a refreshing glass of bissap from West Africa? The beauty of Mera Kitchen Collective is that you don’t have to decide. Founded first as a pop-up, and then as a brick-and-mortar in a rowhome on Calvert Street, the Mount Vernon worker-owned co-op café features fabulous fare made by chefs who draw on their culinary heritage from places as varied as Jordan, Burkina Faso, and Latin America—and who now consider Charm City their home. The menu changes on a whim, but everything you eat here will be the very best version of what you would find if you ate in the chefs’ homelands.
Best Bite: The colorful Burkinabé plantain and avocado bowl is a feast for the eyes and treat for the tastebuds. Go easy on the five-alarm ginger habanero sauce that’s served on the side unless you’re sitting near the fire extinguisher.
Nana
Towson
Most people know the James Beard-nominated chef Carlos Raba from his cooking at Clavel, the much buzzed-about taqueria in Remington he co-owns with Lane Harlan. Thankfully for us, the talented Sinaloan chef has spread his talents to another ZIP code, in the Anneslie neighborhood of Towson near his home. The father of two has expanded his vision to include family friendly fare such as quesadillas and Sinaloan-style “doggos” (hot dogs wrapped in bacon, decorated with tomato and caramelized onion, and slathered with mayo-avocado sauce served on house-made buns), plus 24-hour brined rotisserie chickens prepared al pastor (a smoky marinade made with chiles, pineapple, and spices) or bichis (a glorious mixture of onion, garlic, and herbs).
All the recipes are heirlooms from Raba’s native Mexico, which means tortillas are handmade and the fare is as authentically South of the Border as it comes. Nana is named for Raba’s grandmother, who, along with other family members, taught him the art of making those tortillas and now looks over the kitchen from a vintage photo hanging on the wall.
Best Bite: Every bite is a best bite and you’re here for the savory stuff, but don’t miss the comfort-food-in-a-cup rice pudding.
Orient Express
Charles Village
This homey Sichuan restaurant in Charles Village has been serving Hopkins students for decades, first with Chinese-American dishes like General Tso’s chicken and Kung Pao shrimp—which are still on the lengthy menu—and more recently, as more Chinese students come to Baltimore and more local folks appreciate actual Sichuan cuisine, with more authentic dishes. Now you can order spicy bullfrog, Chengdu Sister Rabbit, duck blood with pickled cabbage, and other Sichuan dishes, along with more recognizable fare like spicy wontons, mapo tofu, and sesame cold noodles. The dining room is cozy, with DIY hot tea and a big flatscreen TV that always plays O’s games. The wooden tables are big enough to order plenty, ideally with a group so you can try multiple dishes.
Best Bite: Sour cabbage fish soup, a classic Sichuan dish, is a soulful bowl of tender white fish in peppercorn-charged broth.
Whether served whole or by the slice, Neapolitan-style or New York-style, these pies are upper crust.
BALTOZ
The puffy pies at this Anneslie take-out spot— peppered with pickled chiles, scattered with shiitakes and spinach— are as pretty as a picture. That’s not surprising given that its co-owner, Vlado Petrovski, studied painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Believe what you see: The pies taste as good as they look.
BENNIE’S PIZZA
This Columbia mall outpost has some star power behind its menu: Gerald Addison, the celebrity chef of D.C.’s Maydan fame, runs the operations and oversees the kitchen, which turns out oversized, floppy slices of New York-style pies.
ITALIAN GARDENS
Grabbing a slice at this Kenilworth Mall fixture is a rite of passage if you live in Baltimore County, though city dwellers have been known to make the pilgrimage, too. Consider the options, thick or thin, red or white, while the pleasant staff waits for your order.
MATTHEW’S PIZZERIA
The Neopolitan-style crab pie—backfin crabmeat and onion tucked under a blanket of mozzarella and Reggiano sprinkled with Old Bay—at this 81-year-old Highlandtown institution is legend. It’s Baltimore bucket list good.
RIBALDI’S
The 20-inch pizza at this Hampden carryout classic is so big that the box barely fits in the trunk of the car—and a single slice is not much smaller. This is train station pizza (in a good way). Sprinkle some shaky cheese and garlic powder on top before you head out the door.
TONY’S OF N.Y.
The name tells you all you need to know about this new pizza joint in Timonium, brought to you by Limoncello. Pies come in a variety of sizes and types, but the lunch deals—two cheese slices and a Coke for $7.99, for example—offer exceptional value.
Hampden
You know you’re in for a treat the second the yolk from the sunny-side-up egg starts to coat the jasmine rice, pickled red onions, cucumber kimchi, toasted sesame seeds, scallions, and most importantly, the tender bulgogi that comprise the Korean rice bowl at this international mash-up carryout spot in The Rotunda. There are also Vietnamese and taco versions of the bowl, as well as bánh mì sandwiches, po’ boys, and wings. A half-dozen kinds of topped French fries can make a meal by themselves.
Best Bite: The poutine fries—loaded with cheddar cheese curds and beef gravy—rank up there with hockey and Norm Macdonald among Canada’s greatest gifts to the United States. Thankfully, we only need to go to Hampden (or this year, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where The Local Fry has a permanent stall) to enjoy them.
Toki Underground
Harwood
It was happy news when the D.C. ramen-ya Toki Underground opened in Baltimore last year, even more so when they chose a former garage along a rough-and-tumble stretch of Greenmount Avenue for their noodle shop. There are seats at the counter, a bigger dining room, a beckoning deck, and a fun collection of shokuhin sampuru, the Japanese art of plastic food. The food is pretty phenomenal in its real form, with excellent tonkotsu ramen, a vegan variation made with mushrooms, and add-ons including chicken karaage. There’s an additional menu including dumplings, dan dan noodles, a terrific collection of buns (cloud shrimp, fried chicken), and inventive cocktails, some made with baijiu (Sichuan sorghum liquor) and one sporting a garnish of grilled pork belly.
Best Bite: The red miso ramen is a massive bowl of perfectly cooked noodles, chashu, Chinese broccoli, and a jammy egg, all in a thick, gorgeous broth spiked with chiles.
Villagio Cafe
Towson
At this charming little BYOB Persian restaurant on York Road, winners inhabit all sections of the large menu, starting with the rich and creamy baba ghanoush. Stuffed grape leaves are served with a tangy house dressing, and just about every entrée comes with outstanding basmati rice. Specialty versions are available for an additional fee, which is worth it. Adas polo includes lentils, dates, and raisins, and loobia is a mixture of sauteed beef tenders and green beans simmered in tomato sauce. Even the grilled tomato that accompanies most dishes is charred and sweet, proving nothing is an afterthought.
Best Bite: The chicken koobideh kabob: Charbroiled ground chicken breast mixes with minced onions and saffron to create a kabob that’s as moist as it is tender.
These dogs are something to bark about.
Ann’s Dari-Creme
FOOTLONG
FOOTLONG
The name of the main attraction at this Glen Burnie mainstay speaks for itself. Ann’s has been serving footlong franks since 1950. It keeps things simple. “The works” means a footlong with mustard, chili, and onions on a long roll. It’s quite the culinary feat.
Attman’s Delicatessen
THE BULLDOG
This East Baltimore institution has been known for its corned beef since opening in 1915. It also serves jumbo hot dogs, which are split then grilled. The Bulldog marries them by topping a link with a handful of corned beef and Swiss. Add Attman’s mustard for the full experience.
Killa Dogz
MARYLANDER DOG
It sounds counterintuitive to say that a $24 hot dog (the market price on our visit) is a bargain, but when you bite into this lump crab-topped dog, we’re sure you’ll agree. Chunks of crab blanket your choice of a Polish sausage, beef hot dog, or chicken, pork, and beef combo. After you think you’re done, glance at the bottom of the box—there’s enough crabmeat for another meal.
Polock Johnny’s
HALF SMOKE
For more than a century, the name Polock Johnny’s has been synonymous with Polish dogs. Top this smoked, half-beef, half-pork dog with PJ’s relish—which includes onion, celery, peppers, and ketchup—and with each bite you’ll taste history.
Sausage Master
HOT COUNTRY
One of the busiest stalls at the new Lexington Market was a staple at the old one as well. Since 1986, it’s served plump, juicy sausages with basic fixings like chili, cheese, sauerkraut, and onion. The Hot Country is a spicy smoked pork sausage that packs a punch. Sausage Master lives up to its name.
Snake Hill
THE CURRY LITTLE RABBIT
Made from rabbit and rattlesnake (yes, rattlesnake), this dog has a pleasing gaminess that separates it from the rest at the Highlandtown sausage bar. It’s topped with fresh cilantro and an outstanding house-made mango chutney that adds a bit of sweetness.
Sophia's Place European Deli
FRESH SAUSAGE WITH SAUERKRAUT
The sausage at this Polish stall in Broadway Market is essentially a sandwich. The large link comes on a hoagie roll with an array of colorful peppers, onions, and spicy mustard. It’s a meal all by itself.
Stuggy's
FRANK ZAPPA
There are a plethora of contenders at this Fells Point corner bar, including the well-known crab mac and cheese dog. But the cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped, onion-and pepper-topped, Stuggy’s sauce-covered dog named for the Baltimore-born nonconformist music legend, is the one to freak out about.
Highlandtown
Lots of great California-inspired Mexican options populate the menu at this funky Highlandtown spot. Tacos are packed with fresh veggies and meat. Quesadillas stuffed with protein, beans, and cheese require two hands to pick up, and a side of the fresh-cut fries are a delicious, if not traditional, accompaniment to any meal. But there’s a reason burrito is in its name. They’re the stars of the show, overstuffed and brimming with creative combinations—some inspired by the Pacific Rim, like the one with pork braised in banana leaves.
Best Bite: Get at least one pescado burrito: A filet of seasonal fish is combined with Spanish rice, beans, and pico de gallo before being grilled to perfection.
For great deals, check out these meals on wheels.
BMORE GREEK GRILL
With hefty gyros and salads, rice bowls piled high with lamb, chicken, and shrimp, and French fries topped with feta, this family- owned food truck uses recipes that immigrated from Greece with them.
DIZZY COW PIZZERIA
Making pizzas in a mobile Italian wood-fired oven, Dizzy Cow’s pies feature fermented dough, local ingredients, and interesting toppings: brie and fig, pineapple and ham, and more.
FUZZIES BURGERS
Helmed by brothers Josh and Brad Vecchiolla, Fuzzies— which also has a wildly popular food stand at Camden Yards—turns out smashed-to-order burgers tricked out with bacon and pimento cheese and paired with Old Bay-dusted fries.
JIMMY’S FAMOUS SEAFOOD
A peripatetic version of the landmark seafood restaurant, this truck offers crabcake sandwiches, “crabby fries,” crab-cake egg rolls, crab pretzels—and Smith Island cake bars (!).
KOMMIE PIG
The irreverent brainchild of two friends, one born in Russia, this truck features BBQ rib platters, pulled-pork sandwiches, fries topped with BBQ, and a pork-loaded sandwich called a Chernobyl.
KOOPER’S CHOWHOUND
An offshoot of the Fells Point tavern, this food truck has been wheeling burgers around town for 15 years: build-your-own- Black Angus beef creations that are best with a side of sweet-potato fries.
MEXICAN ON THE RUN
Jimmy Longoria has parked his taco truck on Sherwood Road in Idlewylde since 2016, making maybe Baltimore’s best quesabirria tacos from his mother’s superb birria. Get them with consomé.
SHAREEF’S GRILL
Getting its start selling halal hot dogs and burgers at a West Baltimore mosque, Shareef’s truck now offers wraps, platters, and catfish nuggets. For $5 extra, you can get crab on pretty much anything.
TACOS JALISCO
Parked in front of a Fells Point Catholic church for over two decades, this taco truck may be the oldest food truck in Baltimore. Helmed by the Costilla family, look for tacos and made-to-order gorditas.
