Being the glutton that I am, one of the that things I love about Ottawa is all the food festivals…read more I'm only there once a month, but I've already been to a few in the past year.  When a friend was in town visiting my wife, we were looking for some food while doing a mix of tourist-y stuff and less interesting errands that I was running while in possession of a car. Always on the look out for trying new food trucks as I am, I gave the Street Food App a look, and saw that a couple were located in front of city hall. Knowing that this is where a lot of events occur, I delved a little further and found out that there was a mac and cheese food fest going on. This was going to happen. The mac and cheese fest wasn't to the scale of poutine fest(s) or others that have been held in the same space. Maybe it was because it was just the mid-afternoon, but there was just a handful of slingers of cheese-y decadence, a couple dessert ones, and a lone leomade vendor to sate your thirst. The beergarden was empty, save one couple whose motto was likely "it's five o'clock somewhere" and the band soldiering on despite sound issues and the lack of an audience.  However, when you're there for a simple meal and not to engage in a full out day of pasta gorging, you don't need that much selection. I picked out Smoke n' Steam, a rustic-looking hut on top of a trailer, as they had several types of mac and cheese to choose from, and at a more respectable price point than some of their competitors. Among their options there was chunky bacon, shrimp, hotdog (for the young and young at heart), and what I ended up going with, the Reuben. There wasn't much of a line up, so we quickly had our orders in and then in hand, taking seat in the nearby colourful Muskoka chairs.  The container was generously filled with big hunks of smoked meat, sauerkraut, and pasta in a white cheese sauce that was presumably Swiss, in true Reuben fashion. It was the type of mac and cheese that called out to be mixed altogether, mostly since I'm not enough of a sauerkraut fan to want mouthfuls of just that. Everything came together quite nicely, as the sauerkraut cut through the richness of the cheese and smokey, tender meat, but wasn't too funky. The pasta itself was a tight spiral similar to gemelli, and was a nice al dente, which was pleasant to find, since pasta served at big events like this can often be over cooked from sitting in a heating tray. I got an order of their smoked meat mac and cheese to take home to my studious wife, and look forward to trying Smoke n' Steam's regular menu of smoked meat goodness in the future.

Best food truck in the city! The smoked meat is out of the world. Have been looking for something…read moreto remind me of Montreal and this is above and beyond. Best smoked meat I have ever had.

So wow - after all the build up I feel bad giving this truck a 3! But please understand, a 3 is…read moreA-OK! I liked it, I just didn't love it. The food is high quality - often locally sourced and organic. Dahl soup was tasty, with just a hint of heat from the spice. Chicken taco filling was tasty but... and I think this is where I'm struggling... I am realizing that I really don't like soft tacos. Something about the texture of the taco itself puts me off. I'm sitting here trying to decide if I'm being fair giving them a three because of my preference for taco shells. I guess what I'm saying is: take my review with a (proverbial) grain of salt. Would love to see a garbage can and recycling bin put out. Since they are located on the UOttawa campus during school year, plan to bus/walk to get there. (Parking is a pain during the week.) If you get off at Campus Station 2B, Sweetpea (the truck) is really close by. (Don't take my word for it though - things change, so make sure you check on that.) Staff was great. They have 2 tables and about 6 chairs for people who want to sit and eat for a bit. Would I return: Yes. I'd love to go again when it's not Taco Thursday, to try to get a different menu item. Would I recommend: Yup - if you like healthy choices that are locally sourced and organic, this is a great option.

I know it's good - but all sold out today :(…read more Went to Bite This instead, support'n those trucks with my Belly !!!!

Today's menu had 2 offerings - chicken club and pork tacos - along with several sides. Picked…read morecoleslaw and sweet potato fries. Tacos were great - but what really shone were the sides. Absolutely fantastic - both the slaw and the fries. Service was cheerful, love their truck (which I guess passes for great décor in the food truck world) and the location is perfect, with a park just steps away and lots of suitable srocks to sit on. We got there just before noon - and just before 'the rush' - at one point, I think there were about 20 people in line. Would I return: Yes Woudl I recommend: Yes - particularly if the weather is great and you just want to soak it up.

Summary: Tasty food, but I found it overpriced for what you get…read more While in the neighbourhood this week, I decided to try Red Roasters since it is one of the food trucks on Bank that opened up last year. I've tried the Urban Cowboy food truck down the street and quite liked what I had so I thought I'd give Red Roasters a try. FOOD I ordered the chicken sandwich for myself and a pair of their pulled pork tacos for a friend. I have to say I liked the chicken sandwich, though their choice of bun isn't one I would make (a bit to plain and boring). My friend found the tacos tasty as well. The portions are on the smaller side. Their menu is rather limited. They have their chicken sandwich, their tacos, a salad, and sweet potatoe fries. They also had a daily special. That's it, that's all. COST/VALUE And this is my main issue with Red Roasters (which my friend agreed with). At $9 for a main and $6 for sweet potatoe fries (which I didn't try), that too me is about $2-$3 too much for what you get. (If you order a combo, you get the main, the fries, and a drink for $15). This, unfortunately, is a common occurrence with a lot of the new food trucks that opened up last year (Red Roasters isn't the only one). I guess time will tell if selling items at this price is a good decision or not. LOCATION/PARKING Their location on Bank is such that you should be able to find parking on a side street nearby if arriving by car. SEATING There isn't any seating at the food truck but it is on a part of Bank that is less occupied so finding a spot on the sidewalk to eat shouldn't be a problem. WOULD I GO BACK? I liked what I had but I wouldn't go back.

Went to this food truck on a Tuesday and grabbed some tacos. I had the beef taco and was pretty…read morehappy with it. It comes with 2 tacos and a side of salad. The salad was very fresh tasting and helped cut the richness of the beef. I would have preferred more meat in the tacos though, especially at the price point! Overall still pretty good and filling for a lunch meal.

My husband and I gave this place a try at the Ottawa Taco Fest at the Shaw Centre. We got there…read moreearly, so there was no line. The service was quick and the employees were friendly. I ordered a steak taco. We had created a ranking system for the festival to make it fun and to help keep track of the taco places. We gave it a 3/3 for visual presentation 2/3 taste (it was great, but could have used a little more kick), and 3/3 likelihood of return. I really liked that the hard taco shell they used didn't fall apart upon biting into it. It was a little pricey at $5 for a taster amount, but was on par with all of the other other vendors. Of all the vendors we tried, this was one of the best tacos available.

So, I rode in an elevator with someone who had just gotten take out from a chip truck. The next day…read moreI walk into my boss's office and he's got fresh poutine from a chip truck... and when you keep smelling that delicious chip truck smell, just had to cave. Lou Fast Food is parked a block away from where I work and so I waited in line for my deep fried deliciousness. They were just at the tail end of a rush--it gets pretty busy with gov workers at lunch time--and the two guys in the truck were friendly and efficient. They made sure everyone got their order in and checked what people were waiting on so no one go left out and everyone walked away with their super fresh fried goods (they also have burgers and sausages and things... but I only wanted the fries). I just got a simple small fry and they added salt and vinegar half way up--which I just love, because getting to the bottom of the bag and those last few lonely fries with no flavours on them are just so sad. But, not at Lou's! All the fries get all the flavours. The fries hit that special spot that only a good chip truck can. The staff handled the rush like pros. Recommended!

Great poutine and burgers, service very personal no real ambiance in the winter. However in the…read moresummer nice little location, with nice garden beds.

Had a smash burger craving and found this place on google. As GTA-ers, food trucks in a parking lot…read morewith picnic tables is a relatively new thing for me. Kinda feels like a semi-permanent establishment. Smash Daddy Burger - A double patty of flattened beef was delicious. It was a melange of flavours that worked very well. I wish the patty was more crispy so that there is more texture in the patty. Naked Fries - The spiced fries were one of the best fries I've had. Fries were super crispy with fluffy interior. There was a good amount of seasoning on the fries making it tasty in flavour and texture. Would come back just for this!

Food truck in parking lot…read more Smash burger very tasty. A bit greasy, but doesn't take away from it. Two patties well smashed. Love the crispy brown look. The fries are nice and crispy/crunchy and come seasoned. Very friendly staff/owner? Serves food to the small patio area, and checks in with patrons on how they find the food. I would come back again.

Situated in a stand-alone building in the middle of some residential area but still close to a main…read morestreet. There is free street parking so that nice. Inside the establishment is smaller than I'd expect with a couple of tables tightly knit together. Expect close seating and small tables. They also get busy, but take reservations. Asada fries - Lots of fries, crispy and loaded with toppings. The veggies, pico de gallo and salsa all come together nicely to balance out the cheese and fries. There was so much toppings that the last fries were eaten before the toppings were finished off. Taco de Carnitas - Proteins felt a bit dry and lacked sauce to back up to dryness. Big portion, but for $8.... its a bit steep. would not recommend. Taco de Carne Asada - A good portion for a single taco, but as with the other taco $8 is a bit too much for just one. This time proteins was more juicy and you get a hint for carmalization from the charred meat. Tacos not worth. Would come back for Asada fries but add protein. WIll try the wings (they look stacked) and maybe a torta.

We waited a while to get seated, the restaurant was super busy and we felt kind of rushed. The food…read morewas great, but took a little long to arrive. The chicken wings were dedelicious, the chicken torta was definitely spicy . Inside the restaurant was kind of dark and lit with candles.

Smash Daddy's - Restaurant Review Note for Americans: Bring…read morecash - no U.S. credit cards accepted! (Not sure if it's the same for international cards.) Walked here from my hotel. At first glance, the place is a bit cramped and chaotic, with minimal counter service and not much signage to help you out. But once you get the flow, it's straightforward. The menu is tight: Burgers, Fries, and Shrimp. That's it! There was a line out the door, which usually means good things. The small Asian lady working the grill was super nice and honestly seemed like the only one who had a handle on things. The burger joint itself is a haze of burger grease and onions--smells great while you're there, but be warned: you'll carry it with you the rest of the day. Food-wise, it's solid. The smash burger had a great crisp with a chipotle mayo or ranch-style sauce. Fries were better than average. I didn't try the shrimp, but people around me seemed happy with it. Now, the not-so-great part: they couldn't process any of my U.S. credit cards. That was awkward. My total was $23 CAD, so I just handed over $30 USD and told them to keep the change. Could've avoided the mess by ordering through Uber Eats (assuming you want to use a card). Bottom line: The food is worth it, but the payment situation and setup could be smoother. Slightly pricey for what it is, but your mileage may vary. Give it a shot if you're nearby--and bring cash just in case.

TL;DR/The Short Version: Tasty smash burger. A bit pricey at…read more$13 for just a burger, but it was delicious. The Long Version: I've been meaning to try Smash Daddy since they started their food truck on Preston St, but never got around to it. Then on a Sunday in February we were walking around downtown and checking out Winterlude and came across this Smash Daddy location. It's an actual restaurant (not a food truck), but is mostly takeout. They have 7 stools along a counter if you want to eat-in, but it's a bit snug. My husband and I got the original Smash Daddy ($13) to-go to share. It's 2 smashed beef patties, 2 slices of cheese, pickles, onions and Smash Daddy sauce in a buttered brioche bun. It was delicious. My first time having smashed burgers. I like my burgers well done, so this style is to my liking. I liked the crispy edges. I found the price a bit high for just a burger, but those are the prices everywhere these days :( Service was pleasant. There's really no decor to speak of. You go there for the food, not the ambiance, haha. Happy to see this business expanding. They have 3 locations now. I think 2 food trucks and this restaurant. Street parking only. Review #60 (2025)

This food truck is incredible!!! The food is all so fresh & delicious. Friendly owner sure to put a…read moresmile on your face. Menu has wide variety but the jerk chicken roti is toooo good 10/10 check this local spot out

This food truck packs so much flavour in its food! I always get the jerk chicken poutine or the…read morelamb......I'm not normally a traditional poutine person but god this stuff is good. It's a Caribbean truck so your gonna wait alittle, just like on vacation but seriously worth the wait. The Beef Roti is excellent as well Enjoy