Street eats: Locals recommend their favorite food trucks serving Manatee County 

Food truck dining isn’t just a fun and trendy new way to eat.

It’s actually the latest take on an American tradition.

According to online food truck community Mobile Cuisine, the mobile food industry in North America dates to at least the late 1600s. That’s when the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam (now New York City) began regulating vendors selling food from push carts.

Mobile eateries went on to take many forms over the centuries, including train car dining, horse-drawn chuckwagons, Army field canteens, ice cream trucks and finally the world’s first taco truck in 1974.

Today, you can get greasy, gourmet and everything in between at the window of a street eatery.

We asked our Facebook group “Manatee Eats” for advice on food trucks to seek out in Manatee County.

Here’s where they recommend. Catch them in a street or parking lot near you.

Food truck dining doesn’t have to be unhealthy.

Bowled Life takes that philosophy to heart with fresh, nutritious and tasty food that will give you a boost.

The menu includes a variety of acai berry bowls layered with fruits, yogurt, honey, granola and other wholesome ingredients.

Also try green salads (a quinoa bowl or a keto bowl), chicken fajita soup, avocado toast or one of four smoothies.

There’s also a Bowled Life Cafe at 929 10th St. E., Palmetto.

Keep up with the Bowled Life food truck at facebook.com/bowledlife, or call 941-257-9235.

Grandma Wan

Grandma Wan gets high marks from locals for her authentic Thai food and friendly conversation.

The food truck’s offerings include appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts.

Spring rolls, chicken skewers with peanut sauce, garlic soy pulled chicken and stir fry are a few options on the menu.

Daily specials like Thai sweet and sour chicken (Tuesday), pad Thai (Wednesday) and Thai noodle soup (Sunday) will keep you coming back for more.

Find Grandma Wan in the parking lot of Pirate’s Den Bait & Tackle Tuesday through Sunday at 2711 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton, or call 813-476-2760.

The Schnitzel Trailer takes the best of traditional German cooking on the road around Bradenton and Sarasota.

All food is made fresh to order, and a rotating menu keeps things exciting.

Schnitzel (pounded, breaded and fried meat) is at the heart of the menu and prepared in many ways. There’s also plenty of brats, pretzels, sauerkraut and potato salad to spare.

The Schnitzel Trailer often visits local breweries, and it’s a good thing, because this food deserves to be paired with a beer.

Keep up with The Schnitzel Trailer at facebook.com/tstfood, or call 941-779-8080.