My FOOD TRUCK Brand: PART 2 — My Southern Brand

Food trucks are popular food establishments that are on the rise all across the world. Food trucks are easy to operate, can navigate throughout cities easily, are operated at much lower costs than brick and mortar restaurants, and can help build brands quickly. In my opinion, I think food trucks, on average, have better food than restaurants because the food in food trucks take a little longer to prepare; the way food is prepared definitely makes a difference in how food tastes. In Houston, food trucks are plentiful and can be found everywhere in the city. Because of this, I’m including all of my favorite black-owned and minority-owned food trucks into a series called My FOOD TRUCK Brand. My FOOD TRUCK Brand will target ethnic food trucks that add authenticity to the local community. Let me take you on a journey to these savory parked locations…

J’BON

Crawfish, is that you peeking around the corner? Aww shucks! The season is upon us, and I’m more ecstatic than ever this year. The yellow, red, and black crawfish flags are flying. The time is here! Typically, crawfish season is from January to July, with the peak months being March, April and May. My love for this little boil seasoned water critter is real. LOL. I’ve become a true crawfish connoisseur ever since moving to Houston; of course, I couldn’t help it because the metropolis of 7 million is believed to consume more crawfish than the entire state of Louisiana, which is where 90% of the nation’s crawfish is raised. Traveling on I-10 between Louisiana and Houston, you will see a plethora of crawfish trucks traveling to the Bayou City in droves during the season.

Furthermore, because of Houston’s diversity, crawfish is boiled 3 ways: Louisiana Cajun (boiled in seasoned water), Texan (seasonings on top of shell), and Viet-Cajun (seasonings, such as ginger, lemongrass, mustard seed, lemon, garlic, onion, and bay leaves, and garlic butter on top of shell). For me, I prefer the Louisiana Cajun style way more. I’m a sucker for flavor and traditions, so this style is more of my taste. Even though Houston has a lot of great crawfish establishments, I want to share with you my favorite places to eat Louisiana Cajun style crawfish. As a result, you can get authentic Cajun style crawfish at J’BON.

This is my favorite crawfish vendor in Houston! Owned and operated by Breaux Bridge native, Jamel, this food truck will not disappoint at all. The seasoning and spice are just right. The special deals he has during the height of the season are amazing! Can’t forget about the “Crawfish Holy Trinity: corn, sausage, and potatoes; the trio is sold separately but offers some of the best savory company with the crawfish. Also, he’s one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, so the customer service is awesome; Jamel pays close attention to detail and ensures that his customers are satisfied.

J’BON has it all in a bag. I give it 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) because its flavor, price, customer service, authenticity, and consistency! The food truck can be found mostly in Pearland in Shadowcreek during the weekends; if Jamel isn’t in Pearland, then he’s at the corner of Airport Blvd and Cullen Blvd or at a festival. Because J’BON doesn’t have a specific location, call (713) 247-9491 for your crawfish cravings.

Kick’n Flavor

Creole and Cajun foods are two cuisines in which Houston excels, especially in the black community. Blacks and the ones who consider themselves Creole from Louisiana have been adding some extra flavor to the local food scene, since the 1880s; aside from the black New Orleanians, most blacks have come from Southwest Louisiana and the Acadiana region of the state, which explains their Cajun influences. Their offspring continues to pay homage to the culture and continues to grow the culture in ways that have resulted in Houston’s adoption and adaptation. These individuals have opened a plethora of restaurants and have even become active in the food truck wave. One food truck that adds to the Creole and Cajun flavors here is Kick’n Flavor.

Operated by the sweet and sensational Toya, Kick’n Flavor has become one of my favorite food trucks in Houston. I’m going to always shout it out: “I love when the owner connects with patrons!” Toya holds conversations with her patrons and forms relationships with them. She’s a superwoman that hooks her food trailer onto the back of her personal truck and drives from the Pearland area to the city everyday to serve hungry customers! Everything that she whips up in the trailer is from family recipes. I definitely love the fish and shrimp combo ($12.00); both meats are fried and are seasoned with Cajun spices that add that Louisiana-style kick to every bite. It comes with three catfish fillets, two jumbo shrimp, and Cajun fries.

Crawfish étouffée anyone? What about crawfish étouffée atop French fries? If this hefty snack sounds good to you, then take your taste buds down to Midtown Houston and get a taste of Kick’n Flavor’s famous crawfish étouffée fries ($10.00)! I’m a witness; the snack is coated with Louisiana goodness! The crawfish étouffée is loaded with crawfish meat and andouille sausage, which I can appreciate. Eating the snack with a fork ensures that every bite includes big flavor and chunks of meat.

In conclusion, I definitely give Kick’n Flavor 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). The vibrant red truck will always call my name and my taste buds to come visit!

She Trappin’

We all know what trappin’ is and the effect it has had on rap music and on the mainstream culture in the southern United States; the subject at hand was primarily introduced by Atlanta rappers, especially T.I., back in the early 2000’s in the form of “trap music.” Since then, trappin’ has become such a cool factor in today’s black community. Events, such as “Trap n’ Paint,” “Trap Brunch,” and “Trap Karaoke” are plentiful in several cities across the nation. “Trap Queen,” a phrase to describe a beautiful girl with urban tendencies, has even become popular, as a result of the trap phenomenon. The term has, now, made its way to Houston’s black food truck scene.

Along Almeda Road in the Valero parking lot, She Trappin’ is a yellow and purple food truck in Houston’s Third Ward/Museum District area that is headed by Kesha, her mom, and her husband. Kesha has definitely created a great project that adds to the local food scene; the creativity that the name of the food truck presents suggests the deliciousness that is created in the traveling kitchen. “The Script,” which is the menu, includes so many items, such as “Doe Boyz” (five fried Italian donuts that are served with powdered sugar), “The Distro” (1/2 lb burger), and “The Hood” (four whole wings and large fries).

I recommend the “Trap Queen,” which includes four pancakes and four whole wings for $14.00. Yes, all of that food costs $14.00! I’m not a huge pancake fan, but Kesha, a nice and confident chef, insisted that I should try the meal; she WAS NOT wrong. The pancakes were fluffy and were stacked firmly on top of each other; they were so huge to the point that I couldn’t eat all four in one setting. The pancakes did remind me of my grandma’s pancakes, when I used to eat breakfast heavily as a kid; I did appreciate the nostalgia. The golden brown wings were also huge! They were seasoned with a homemade secret sauce; they were crisply fried and added a crunch to the pancakes, when the two were eaten together.

Furthermore, I don’t want to forget about the “Finesse Sauce,” which includes baking soda, vanilla flavoring, and other secret ingredients; its smell reminded me of a vanilla scented candle! The sweet sauce added so much flavor to the pancakes and complimented them better than typical syrup!

Yes, I give She Trappin’ 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) because of the aforementioned details. Visit their Instagram profile for more details on whereabouts, since Kesha and her team cater events during the weekends!

Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ

Chicago is a world-class food city that is known for deep-dish pizza, the classic Chicago-style hot dog, and the Italian Beef sandwich. Due to its Southern ties, it, also, has some good soul food and BBQ places, particularly in the city’s Southside and Westside areas. Since the 1990’s, many Chicagoans have moved to and continue to move to the South for affordable housing, higher paying jobs, and better qualities of life. Thus, these special individuals bring their culture to the South, especially in the form of food, and Houston is becoming a popular destination for Chicago-style food/restaurants and residents alike.

One restaurant that offers tasty Chicago-style food is Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ in Missouri City. Owned by Mr. Chicago himself, Lamont Waits, this restaurant’s savory aroma has been luring in Houstonians, since 2006. Waits wanted to bring the spicy Chicago-style BBQ to an area that was very used to the smoked style of BBQ; he suggests that the heat keeps the meat juicier and more flavorful, in comparison to the meat’s being smoked.

The food establishment sells everything from brisket to sausages and even sells boudin balls, which are more concentrated in Houston and in Louisiana. However, Mr. Waits is most proud of his ribs and rib tips, which I had to try for myself. In order to get one of the full Chicago experiences, I added fried chicken, which was the “Two Meat” meal ($14.50). This hearty meal had me full. The chicken was pretty crunchy and added some weight to the plate. The rib tips were tender and were seasoned to perfection; both meats were covered by a bed of fries!

Also, everything was covered with “Mild Sauce,” an iconic Chicago sauce that is comprised of mainly hot sauce, ketchup, and BBQ sauce. This sauce definitely added the heat that Mr. Waits succeeds to achieve in every bite of his BBQ.

All in all, I give Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ 4 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) due to its flavors, hearty portions, and prices. I’m not a fan of BBQ sauce at all, so I would have preferred no sauce; however, I wanted to try the Chicago style. Aside from the restaurant’s location in Missouri City, please note that Boogie’s travels through out Houston for catering events, festivals, and other events, so be sure to check their website for location updates.

The French Fry House

I LOVE French fries. Nothing can separate me from my first food love. LOL. When I’d learned about a restaurant that specializes in gourmet fries, I dropped everything to drive to my favorite food neighborhood in Houston: Third Ward. The French Fry House is a dream come true for me; I could not believe my eyes, when I’d seen the place!

Patrons and residents alike are welcomed to the this gem by a giant red rooster. The small yellow food stand is surrounded by funky decorations and art that depict a fun atmosphere; there is, also, a nice sized patio for a cool outdoor dining experience. Furthermore, I root heavily for businesses with amazing customer service, and I must brag on the service that the employees provide!

The French Fry House sells Cajun, Creole, Tex Mex, and other regional favorites atop of beds of thick fries; yes, there’s a vegan option for my non-meat eaters! This place has everyone covered. For me, Cajun and Creole foods have become my favorite styles of food, so of course, I opted for a Cajun and Creole twist. Behold, the “Bayou Fries” commanded my wish! This food establishment gives A LOT of food, so the small ($9.50) was just enough for me. This choice included fries topped with shrimp and crawfish étouffée, shredded cheese, and green onions. I must commend them for not being stingy with the shrimp; the shrimp, which was a hefty size, was in every bite. The étouffée didn’t make the fries soggy, and I was extremely satisfied by this. Too, the melted cheese made the eating experience similar to that of nachos and cheese. Last but not least, the green onions gave the entire meal an extra kick.

I love when my mind and taste buds agree; the mental peace treaty makes any day better for me! The “Bayou Fries” didn’t let me down one bit. Because of this, there’s NOTHING I can say about my experience at The French Fry House. As a result, I give this Third Ward landmark 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). I will be back really soon!

As you can tell, I enjoyed every last one of the listed food trucks and what each had to offer. As a result, I was compelled to create My FOOD TRUCK Brand, and I will continue to share with y’all my favorite food trucks across the Greater Houston area. If you have any recommendations, then please comment below! In the meantime, stay tuned for Part 3!