What’s Cooking at New Food Trucks & Stalls in Northern Michigan

Embark on a culinary world tour with some of the area’s latest micro-eateries

By Hannah Cumler | Aug. 10, 2024

A world of flavor awaits, and you can experience it without leaving the Mitten. Northern Michigan is adding depth to its dining bench with an array of new, diverse dining options that can be found on wheels or tucked inside your favorite cafe.

Grab your passport—we’re taking a culinary trip around the world stopping at Le Metropolitain, Taqueria Mosqueda, Masala Magic by Anita, and Sabores Y Colores.

LE METROPOLITAIN 

Traverse City

Punch your ticket to France with Le Metropolitain. Also known as Le Metro, this food cart is located outside of Right Brain Brewery and draws inspiration from the Paris Metro, according to owner Eric Fritch. Look for an “oxidized copper, Parisian green color, and art nouveau lettering,” says Fritch.

“The fare is what I like to call French-inspired street food, [or] Cuisine de Rue,” explains Fritch. “The menu consists of snacks like warm pretzels with strong Dijon and mustard and wine marinated herring on toast.” Le Metro also offers sandwiches like Croque Monsieur, French Dip, and a Doner Kebab, which Fritch describes as a Turkish version of a gyro.

Fritch adds that Le Metro also features an up-and-coming street food dish on the menu: French Tacos. He explains the dish was invented by Algerian street vendors and describes it as a “grilled flat burrito filled with beef or chicken and a cheesy sauce and potatoes.”

As he listed off just a few of the menu highlights, we can sense Fritch’s passion for French culture and cuisine. Perhaps that should come as no surprise, given that Fritch and his wife owned and operated a French restaurant for nearly 20 years.

“[We] were looking to break from that mold, and to drive a food truck into the horizon for our semi-retirement,” Fritch says. “It’s something we’ve always wanted to do.” Now, Le Metro is fulfilling that dream for the couple as they welcome summer crowds on the front patio of Right Brain Brewery.

For those who haven’t had a chance to check Le Metro out, Fritch tells us “I always say I love my menu items like my children, and encourage my patrons to eat everything,” he says. “But for the uninitiated, I recommend a classic Croque Monsieur, the famous grilled ham and cheese sandwich redolent with unctuous bechamel sauce.”

Visit @metropolitaintc on Facebook for the menu and more.

TAQUERIA MOSQUEDA

Traverse City (and Northport!)

We continue our travels to Taqueria Mosqueda, a food stall serving up authentic Mexican cuisine inside NoBo Mrkt at Commongrounds Cooperative in Traverse City.

Tony Mosqueda, part of the family that runs the stall, says their new space at the Commongrounds building has given Taqueria Mosqueda the opportunity to realize a dream.

“Our mother, Isabel, from a young age learned to cook and sell food in the streets of Mexico. Being able to offer the most traditional food in northern Michigan is something that she has always dreamed about doing.”

First came their food truck, currently parked at Yard and Lake in Northport. Then in spring 2024, Taqueria Mosqueda launched at NoBo Mrkt, which has a dedicated incubator kitchen and mentoring program as part of its ethos. The stall operates Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:30am to 8pm, trading off with the days they are up in Northport.

Both locations offer bonus attractions: NoBo Mrkt serves coffee, cocktails, and a full slate of eats and snacks, including a smoothie bar and Buchan’s ice cream. Meanwhile, Yard and Lake has a cocktail bar, beer garden, and retail shop to entice visitors.

No matter the backdrop, all of Taqueria Mosqueda’s food is made from scratch with Isabel’s recipes, something Tony says makes the whole family proud.

Those interested in exploring this new food stall can expect a variety of traditional Mexican dishes that seem straightforward but pack a punch in terms of flavor. When it comes to must-have dishes, Tony says, “You can’t go wrong with tacos with homemade tortillas.” He adds, “Steak and al pastor seem to be our most popular protein choices.”

Tony also says the burrito has gained popularity over the last year. “We seem to be selling a lot of burritos. Whether you get a chicken burrito or even a veggie burrito, they are in high demand right now.”

Other menu items include quesadillas, tortas, and bowls, plus sides like chips and guac/salsa or rice and beans.

Visit Taqueria Mosqueda on Facebook for the menu and more.

MASALA MAGIC BY ANITA

Williamsburg

Our next food trailer stop comes by way of India and is parked at Townline Ciderworks off of US-31 between Traverse City and Elk Rapids.

Owner Anita Jogi says Masala Magic was born out of her love for cooking and feeding others. “As there are hardly any options available in nearby places offering Indian food, my friends like to come over to have my home-cooked food,” she says.

Each year Jogi celebrates Diwali, one of India’s most important holidays, with friends at her house. Last year, the invite list was quite long. “To my surprise, 100 people signed up and more wanted to join, but I have limited space,” says Jogi. “It was a huge hit.”

After that gathering, several people were asking about the next event, and it made Jogi start to think of a more permanent solution. “I found the food trailer of my dreams online,” she says. “Now I am living my dream, cooking and offering food from my orange food trailer.”

Jogi named her business “Masala Magic” referencing the spice mix of masala that’s used in several of her dishes. She says the spice mix is magic because it brings a unique flavor to the food.

The distinctive orange trailer is equipped with a full commercial kitchen that allows her to cook her dishes on-site at Townline Ciderworks. Masala Magic has a menu full of beloved dishes such as Butter Chicken Masala.

“There are some popular street foods too,” she says, “Like samosas and samosa chaat.” The dish includes chickpeas, Samosa, yogurt sauce, cilantro, fresh vegetables, and more. “Each bite has a different taste. It is tangy, sweet, and warm from chickpea curry and cool from yogurt at same time,” says Jogi. 

She usually likes to offer one meat option, one vegetarian-friendly option, and one vegan/dairy-free friendly dish to keep dietary restrictions in mind. The trailer also sells beverages, including an original chai that she uses a family recipe for.

As for Jogi’s go-to menu item?

“People often ask what is my favorite dish from the menu. It is hard to answer as I cook most things from scratch by myself with utmost love and care,” she explains. “The most popular one from my menu is Butter Chicken. The sauce takes at least four hours to simmer.”

As Jogi continues to serve authentic Indian cuisine in northern Michigan, she makes sure to note that Indian food is not too spicy but is still packed with flavor.

“I make food from love and spreading love through food. All are welcome to come to Masala Magic by Anita. I will personally make sure that everyone will find something to enjoy,” she concludes.

Visit masalamagicbyanita.com for the menu and more.

SABORES Y COLORES

Elk Rapids

Our world tour concludes with a visit to Sabores Y Colores, located at The Dam Shop in Elk Rapids. Owner Eddie Villagomez says his inspiration for the food truck came from his mother.

“Growing up my mom opened a small tent at our local Sunday league called TCFL [Traverse City Futbol League]. She started selling our Mexican cuisine during the games on a small paper plate with the help of me and my brothers,” he explains. “That small tent along with the strong female figure presence in my family really inspired me to learn how to cook and open a luncheda [food truck] to share my culture with my community.”

Now Sabores Y Colores is flourishing in Elk Rapids as Villagomez continues the tradition of serving traditional Mexican cuisine, as well as fusion dishes.

“Our goal is to bring our Hispanic culture to Traverse City and surrounding towns while bringing street food to a new level from our culture to table,” he says. Villagomez says the name of his business comes from a Spanish phrase meaning “flavors and colors.”

The Sabores Y Colores menu features a variety of taco selections, as well as nachos, burritos, and other items. Villagomez says there is also a rotating special within the menu.

For those interested in trying Sabores Y Colores out for the first time, Villagomez says he has two recommended dishes: Carnita Tacos and Barbacoa Tacos.

“I like the carnita because it is soft yet crunchy and the pico really adds to all the right elements,” he says. “The barbacoa has a great flavor, but my favorite part about it is the technique I use to make it.”

While the technique remains a secret, his love for his food and culture is clear.

Visit Sabores Y Colores on Facebook for the menu and more.