By Saleh Fareed
Saudi Gazette
WHILE permanent food outlets will continue to give a sense of comfort to customers, it is inspiring to see the younger generation leaning toward revolutionizing the food truck business by catering to the masses.
Specialized in specific Ramadan cuisines, these youngsters who give their customers a variety of bites in the street makes it hip and trendy during the holy month. Hinting at their Saudi heritage, many young vendors offer luqaimat, fried liver, hamburger, steaks, balilah, karak tea and other popular dishes in Saudi Arabia.
One of the participants in Al-Masharef Ramadan Festival is Tariq Al-Abdullah, who owns a truck selling karak (a milky cup of tea found throughout the Arabian Peninsula). He and his two friends launched their official food truck in 2016 and were one the first five trucks to emerge in the country.
Tariq and his partners were chosen as the best project during the young entrepreneur’s exhibition held in Jeddah in 2017.
When it comes to the food truck business, Tariq believes that it is still a growing industry ,which naturally has its ups and downs. He described it as ever-changing.
“Food trucks appeal to the public because they can obtain quick meals, which are inexpensive,” said Tariq.
Where to find them? Tariq said they are always taking part in various festivals that take place in and around Jeddah. “We have participated in the Basta market, other famous festivals and looking forward to expand our presence,” he said.
“We also want to share our journey so other people can learn from our experiences or simply enjoy the drama and chaos we face day in, day out,” Tariq said.
Traiq’s advice to the young generation who are thinking of an entrepreneurial plunge into the food truck business is to never be afraid of failure and to always learn from failure. He noted that it is important to pursue their dreams with passion.
On Prince Sultan Street, a number of food trucks are parked daily during Ramadan. One of them is owned by 28 year-old Mazin Abu Ghalib who launched it two-and-a-half years ago. His aim is to serve his best dish and also to highlight the hard work that goes into operating a food truck.
While serving his customers his best hamburger sandwiches in Ramadan, Mazin said, “It gets difficult to find a perfect spot to conduct our business every now and then, but other truckers out there are helpful and we usually work together as a team.”
He noted that the holy month of Ramadan is a great period for them as food truck vendors. “In Ramadan people tend to eat more,” he noted.
Sharing his opinion about the food tuck business, Mazin said, “It is good to be an entrepreneur. The (food truck) business is booming here in Jeddah and you can see hundreds of food trucks in several locations around the city because it is nice to know that a delicious meal can still be affordable and just around the corner.”
He added, “It’s great feeling owning a food truck, but as with all businesses it also takes hard work.”
It is no secret food trucks are trending. They offer creative cooks who quickly get into the hands of customers. But with all the food trucks hitting the streets these days, it’s hard to keep track of your favorite.
