Our weekly bite explores the city's food trucks, one at a time, highlighting our favorite mobile dishes and snacks.
The Truck: Doc's of the Bay
The Cuisine: American comfort food with California tweaks
Specialty Items: Midwestern smash burgers
Worth the Wait in Line? Yes
There is something immediately endearing about the Doc's of the Bay food truck's paint job: bright red and blue with cartoon burgers. If that doesn't draw you in, the steady stream of smoke that oscillates between bursts of fried potatoes and seared beef -- lunchtime pheromones -- will.
The menu revolves around two different burgers: a hearty vegetarian Black Bean Burger ($6.86 + tax, black beans, corn, jicama and red cabbage slaw, green onion aioli, Monterey Jack cheese, Firebrand challah bun), and the Doc's Classic Burger ($7.32 + tax, 5oz. Black Angus beef mixed with onion, Tillamook American cheese, house special sauce, pickles, tomato, butter lettuce, Firebrand challah bun) that gets smashed from ball to patty on the griddle. The onion in the beef mix gives it an old school flavor that reminded me of grandma's cast iron burgers with a nice caramelized layer. The bun has flavor and strength, yet still remains light, but it's big enough to threaten to throw the meat-to-bread ratio off. It's size does better with a double patty, though perfect with the Black Bean Burger.
Both burgers are worthwhile, but what throws the whole package into awesomeness is the Double Whammy ($2.28 + tax, matchstick french fries, griddle-sauteed Blue Lake Green beans, housemade Potlatch seasoning). The combination is simple, unexpected, and genius. The green beans add a nice contrast and vegetable crunch to the crisp fried potatoes, all lassoed together with the blend of spices that includes what tastes like paprika, oregano, pepper, and salt. The clove-laced housemade ketchup might turn off purists, with the slight chunkiness and red bell pepper sweetness, but it was impossible not to add to everything.
Get the Doc's Box (that actually comes in a bag) for exactly $10, and score the double whammy, a burger, and as much ketchup as they can hold.
