PhillyFoodGuys: Hittin’ the Streets for Underground Eats

The last week in August usually marks the migration of new and returning students to the University of Pennsylvania campus. Although they may not know it yet, a wonderful culinary treat awaits them in University City. Truck food.

The seemingly ubiquitous University City food trucks come in all types and sizes ready to serve the students, staff, and professors that return to West Philadelphia each fall. With names like “Greek Lady Olga,” “The Original Le Anh” and “Taco Pal,” many trucks serve authentic ethnic foods from family recipes not readily available in restaurants.

We decided to bring back those college days with a trip to Magic Carpet. This well-known and much-loved vegetarian truck can be found in 2 locations on Penn’s campus: 36th and Spruce Streets in front of the Wistar Institute, and 34th and Walnut Streets by Myerson Hall.

We wanted to experience the full range of offerings and ordered the Dervish Delight and Trojan combo platters and a Seitan Grinder. The Dervish Delight combo includes falafel balls, hummus, and tabouli all served over a tossed romaine salad with a Mediterranean balsamic vinaigrette. The falafel was lightly fried, not at all greasy, and well spiced. Whole wheat pita is served generously on the side which was necessary to scoop up the creamy, not too garlicky, hummus. The tabouli mixed right in with the greens, adding extra flavor to the salad.

The Trojan combo platter featured a big piece of cheesy spinach pie, stuffed grape leaves all over a greek salad with generous amount of feta cheese sprinkled throughout. The spinach pie was surprisingly cheesy with a very smooth, almost sweet flavor, an excellent if unexpected combination. The grape leaves were stuffed with a flavorful rice mix that was also creamy due to an abundance of olive oil. The real benefit of the combo platters becomes apparent once you’ve finished munching the main ingredients; all of the crumbs and sauces combine with the greens to end your meal with an especially tasty salad. Any last remaining morsels can be soaked up with the pita bread without you having to lick the aluminum plate while sitting in the park on your lunch hour.

Last but not at all least is the Seitan Peppersteak grinder with cheese, salad and sauce. We aren’t entirely sure what seitan is (although it is vegetarian), or the process by which it comes to us ready to eat (soybean product). The sauce is just as mysterious, but in such cases as these it is sometimes best not to ask too many questions, but instead enjoy the interesting and delicious mix of flavors. This is a hearty, yet messy, sandwich served in a whole wheat pita. The mystery sauce may end up on your shorts if you aren’t careful and you will be left pining for the loss of that last bite you sacrificed to the laundry.

Everything at Magic Carpet is vegetarian and they are also sensitive to vegan diets.  They are always ready to answer your questions about anything on the menu. Although there are many hearty items including falafel, seitan, tofu meatballs, and tempeh there is also lighter fare including, salads, soups, and dips.

If you are new to truck food, try Magic Carpet. They have been working on Penn’s campus for many years and have a faithful and ardent following. You can tell by the long line that forms just before noon on weekdays.

Magic Carpet can be found at 36th and Spruce as well as 34th and Walnut. Telephone? Get real, it’s a truck for goodness sake!

TAGS: Philadelphia, Philly, University City, Vegetarian Food, Truck Food, Magic Carpet