EVERETT — If you love having truckloads of food options (wood-fired pizza! fluffy frybread! pan-seared scallops!), head to the Everett Food Truck Festival this Saturday, Aug. 13.
The 9th-annual event will showcase 20 food trucks in downtown Everett. The fest is one day only, so bring an empty stomach — and maybe some friends so you can cover more territory without busting a gut.
There’s also a two-day beerfest right next door to wash it all down, featuring more than 20 craft breweries and cideries across the Northwest.
The Everett Food Truck Festival is partnering with the Upper Left Beerfest for the second year in a row.
“The partnership allows more options for more people, making it more of a delicious win-win and that much more of a fun day in downtown Everett for everyone,” said Garret Hunt, organizer of the Everett Food Truck Festival and Live in Everett’s co-founder, in a press release.
The addition of the Everett Makers Market on Saturday will make this weekend a trifecta of great food, beer and shopping opportunities from more than 30 makers.
“I’m really looking forward to all the new vendors at the show! We have a fantastic variety of small businesses and artists coming to the fest! Keep an eye out for the coloring contest, all ages are welcome! Find it amongst the bubbles!” said Kristin Keenan, organizer of the Everett Makers Market, in a press release.
Check out our guide for all the details, and a scoop on what grub you should try this year.
When and where can I find these festivals?
Both festivals are happening in downtown Everett along Hewitt and Wetmore avenues this weekend.
Everett Food Truck Festival is one day only: Saturday, Aug. 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2710 Wetmore Ave. The Food Truck Festival is immediately north of Beerfest, near Funko headquarters and the Wetmore Theatre Plaza.
Upper Left Beerfest is a two-day event and only open to those who are 21 and older: Friday, Aug. 12, from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 13, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 2930 Wetmore Ave., near Everett City Hall and right across the street from the food truck fest.
Do I have to buy tickets?
The Everett Food Truck Festival is free to enter.
You will need tickets for the Upper Left Beerfest. Those cost $25 for one day, or $40 for a weekend pass. You can buy them online, or purchase single-day discounted tickets ($20) through Aug. 12 at any of these locations: At Large Brewing; Crucible Brewing (Everett Location); Lazy Boy Brewing; Middleton Brewing; Scuttlebutt Brewing Taproom (Taproom only, not restaurant); Soundbite Cider; Toggles Bottleshop.
Each daily Beerfest ticket includes six tasting tokens and a five-ounce Upper Left Beerfest commemorative tasting glass. You can buy more tokens at the front gate for $2, or buy three for $5. Designated drivers pay $5 to enter and receive free soda and water inside the event.
Can I re-enter the beer festival?
Yes. You just have to show your Upper Left Beerfest wristband to re-enter. You can also bring in food from the food truck fest.
Are kids allowed at the Beerfest?
No. Anyone under 21 (including newborns) is not allowed into Beerfest.
Can I bring my dog?
You can bring your pooch to the Food Truck Festival on Saturday, but you’ll have to leave ‘em home to enter the two-day Beerfest.
What should I try at the Food Truck Festival?
Fair warning: These suggestions may overwhelm you.
The Scallorito ($18) from Alaska Weathervane Scallops is their take on a taco: They stuff flour tortillas with 1/4 pound of pan-seared scallops — caught right off their boat — then top ‘em with crispy bacon, pesto coleslaw, cilantro and onions. The fisherman-owned food truck also does rice pilaf bowls with a ring of scallops and your choice of sauce (creamy red curry, basil pesto or marsala mushroom). Or go naked with a bowl of buttery, tender, perfectly seared scallops.
ScoobyDogs’ hot dogs come in a fun Mystery Machine box that will transport you back to watching Saturday morning cartoons in your pajamas. The Seattle-based hot dog food truck uses 100% grass-fed beef franks. Go “all the way” and load your wiener with ketchup, mustard, Scooby sauce, coleslaw, parmesan, onions and shoestring potatoes. Or choose your own adventure.
Also on the wiener train is the homemade spicy Hungarian paprika sausage sub ($12) from Black Sea, with grilled sweet onions, peppers and barbecue sauce served on a toasted bun.
Das Bratmobile will serve up their iconic German street eats like bratwurst ($8), using brats from Seattle-based Uli’s Famous Sausage, as well as a pork schnitzel sandwich ($10). Don’t miss their extra meaty Rubenator ($13), a seasoned German hamburger topped with pastrami, Swiss, sauerkraut and Russian dressing. By the way, their German potato salad ($5) is loaded with bacon, eggs and red onions, so basically a meal in itself.
The immensely popular Ryan’s REZ-ipes Food Truck is making an appearance at the festival. They’re known for their juicy smashburgers ($12), crispy-cheesy-spicy smoked pulled pork tacos ($12) and humongous Kalbi steak burritos ($15). Don’t miss the frybread for dessert. According to one customer, “It is seriously worth the hype,” and “really the best burger (out of probably 1000s!)” they’ve eaten in their life.
This may be one of your last times to hit up El Mariachi Birria Y Tacos on the streets, before they retire their food truck and open their Everett restaurant. As their name suggests, the food truck is known for their mouthwatering birria tacos.
If you ever wanted wood-fired pizza — hot, fresh and bubbling with a well-browned, airy-crispy crust — from a food truck, head to Smokin’ Dough. Their Pigout pie ($18) comes with smoked shoulder bacon, sausage and ground beef. I’m a plain Jane so I’d go for their simple and fresh margarita ($16).
Mexicuban does just what their name says: Mexican-Cuban fusion food. I’m especially intrigued by their croquetas with mole ($13.50), three plantain breaded cakes filled with melted cheese over rich and earthy mole sauce, topped with sour cream, queso fresco and onion. Also try their Cubano fluffy tacos ($12), which are deep-fried tortillas stuffed with Cuban roast pork, grilled onions, pickles, banana peppers and fresh cilantro.
Yummy Catch specializes in both southern-style fried seafood as well as Asian cuisine. Their crispy popcorn shrimp with fries ($13) are sprinkled with Cajun seasoning.
Langostino Sushi Burrito has an especially tempting lobster sushi burrito on their menu.
You’ll also find Famous Dave’s BBQ at the food truck festival for all your smokehouse needs. Make sure you grab some wipes before heading to Wingz & Thingz and ordering their crispy, saucy (or dry rub) chicken wings.
Phew! You’re probably thirsty after all that. Organic Juice Bar & Gyros serves up smoothies like Fruity Pebbles, with strawberries, red, blue and black berries, pineapple, kiwi and coconut water. Head to Dreamy Drinks for colorful refreshments like bubble teas, matcha lattes and strawberry smoothies. Or take a food break and walk over to Upper Left Beerfest to wet your whistle.
Get your sweet fix at Sugar & Spoon: This food truck lets you safely eat gobs of cookie dough (think classic chocolate chip, birthday cake, oreo, brownie batter) without your mom yelling at you. Or head to Bliss Small Batch Creamery for the Snohomish shop’s homemade ice cream. Little Jamie’s Mini Donuts will also be there, with their adorable made-to-order doughnuts, guaranteed fresh and warm. Follow the caramel-y, nutty, fresh aroma to find Kautzman Kettle Corn’s truck, then buy two bags: one to munch on while you’re walking around, and one to take home.
Are there vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free options?
Yes! Here’s a few we found while browsing the menus:
ScoobyDogs has a plant-based hot dog option that’s made with kale, lentils, quinoa, onions and wheat protein.
The Food Atlas specializes in South Indian street snacks, such as the samosa chaat, a fried veggie-stuffed pastry that is smashed then topped with chana masala, chickpea curry yogurt, tamarind date chutney, mint jalapeño chutney, puffed rice, crunchy chickpea noodles, cilantro and pomegranate. Most of their menu is vegetarian and can be made vegan, and they also serve gluten-free options like pakora, a spiced and fried veggie fritter. The flavor journey at The Food Atlas is not one to be missed! Their samosa chaat is one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten in the seven months I’ve lived in Washington.
Tabassum, a truck dishing out Central Asian street food, has vegan and veggie samsas, which are Uzbek stuffed puff pastry hand pies. These could easily be a fun snack to carry around — or take the festival home with you in the form of these golden flaky stuffed pockets. We took a peek at the halal truck’s menu and saw that their mushroom, potato and onion-packed vegan samsa is brushed with vegan mayo instead of egg before baking. And their vegetarian butternut squash samsa looks incredible.
Alaska Weathervane Scallops offers seared scallops with green chile grits or as a “scallad”, both gluten-free.
El Mariachi Birria Y Tacos has gluten-free and cheesy keto tacos. For vegans/vegetarians, they also have soyrizo and vegan cheese options.
Langostino Sushi Burrito has a vegetarian sushi burrito on their menu.
Yummy Catch’s southern style fish and fries ($13) is seasoned with Creole seasoning and fried with corn flour batter, making it gluten-free. It comes with fries, slaw and a choice of tartar or remoulade sauce.
Websites
For more information, and to purchase tickets online for the Beerfest, head to the festivals’ respective websites:
www.EverettFoodTruckFestival.com
Stay updated on social media:
Food Truck Festival: https://www.facebook.com/EverettFoodTruckFest
Upper Left Beerfest: https://www.facebook.com/UpperLeftBeerfest
Follow your favorite food truck after the festival
You can keep tabs on these food trucks by following them on social media, or finding them on streetfoodfinder.com. Many of them also post their schedules several weeks out on Street Food Finder, which is free to access and shows what food trucks are operating in your area.
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