Stockholm’s Street Food & Trucks
Lola A. Åkerström heads to Hornstull to sample some of Stockholm’s street food.
All photos by author
On warm Sunday afternoons during the summer, you’ll find a decent-sized crowd – hipsters, students, the curious, and tourists alike – sitting along sloped grassy banks by the water in Stockholm’s Hornstull district, digging into one of four French-Vietnamese fusion sandwiches called Bánh Mì made with either braised pork belly, lemongrass marinated chicken, grilled tofu, or three kinds of cold cuts.
Crafted by the relatively new Bun Bun Truck, the history of Bánh Mì sandwiches actually dates back to the 1950s when Vietnam was once a French colony. Once France’s occupation of Vietnam was over, they left behind their tradition of baking that quintessentially classic French bread – the baguette.
Bánh Mì was further conceptualized when Vietnamese street vendors began filling French baguettes with native ingredients such as pickles, cilantro, spicy mayonnaise, hot chilli peppers, and cool cucumbers alongside marinated pork, chicken, and tofu.
But that’s not the only street food the crowd is enjoying. From Mexican enchiladas to vegetarian falafel and Turkish grilled meat, these are just a few sample food trunks which have been crisscrossing Stockholm this summer.
While residents have been able to buy hot dogs, or better yet, tunnbrödsrulle – a soft thin bread wrap filled with mashed potatoes, hot dog, chopped onions, shrimp salad, cheese, and other gooey toppings – from their nearest Korvgubben kiosk for years, the whole concept of food trucks hitting Stockholm’s streets is relatively new and possibly inspired by the street food truck craze currently sweeping across the United States.
There are roughly twenty or so food trucks circling Stockholm, offering up affordable lunch options in a city that’s often viewed as denting the wallet. If randomly trying to track down one of these trucks feels like chasing the Holy Grail, you can head over to the island of Södermalm during the Street Food Market on Katarina Bangata and Hornstulls marknad along Hornstullsstrand) where some of the trucks temporarily park for the day.
Here are a few food trucks worth checking out if you happen upon them in your neighborhood.
Bun Bun Truck
Recently pushed into the street on May 5, Bun Bun Truck sells Vietnamese Bánh Mì baguette sandwiches filled with braised pork or lemongrass marinated chicken and topped with jalapenos, pickled carrots and radish, cucumber, coriander, and chili mayonnaise. There’s also a tofu option for vegetarians as well. www.bunbun.se
Back A Yard
This truck sells Jamaican food which is a blend of African, Indian and Caribbean flavors highlighted in spicy fruity sauces, coconut-flavored dishes, seasoned rice, and all types of meat marinated with thyme, allspice and scotch bonnet peppers. From beef patties and ackee with saltfish to jerk chicken and curried goat, get your Caribbean food fix here.
Bon Coin
Bon Coin is a French crèperie which makes savory buckwheat flour crêpes called “galette” filled with vegetables, meat, or fish as well as sweet crêpes filled with fruity-sweet fillings and sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar.
Chilibussen (The Chili Bus)
Simply named “The Chili Bus”, you can enjoy slow cooked American-style Texas chilli meat and spicy bean bowls at the Chili Bus.
Other Food Trucks
Other food trucks include:
- El Taco Truck – Homemade Mexican tacos – www.eltacotruck.se
- Falafool – Vegetarian dishes like falafel – www.falafool.se
- Frankie’s Coffee – Sweet baked goods and pasteries alongsides strong coffee – www.frankiescoffee.se
- Fred’s Food Truck – American-inspired street food like pulled pork and pastrami sandwiches – www.fredsfoodtruck.se
- Köftebilen – Turkish grilled meat such as beef and lamb patties – http://www.koftebilen.se
- Nystekt Strömming – Serves classic Swedish pan-seared herring – www.facebook.com/Nystektstromming
Locating food trucks in stockholm
There are several ways you can find and track the food trucks as they move around Stockholm:
- You can download and use the StreetKäk App. Read more about it in our interview here – Exploring Stockholm Street Food with StreetKäk
- You can also use any of the three following Swedish websites to find the trucks or learn more about them – Stockholmfoodtrucks, Hittatrucken and Foodtrucks.
