Isuzu feeds food truck craze

N-Series Isuzu trucks are serving up a feast in Melbourne, as two mobile restaurateurs make the most of Australia's growing food truck scene

Two Melbourne entrepreneurs have embraced the city's growing food truck scene with their specialised Isuzu N-series trucks, with which they are serving up some mouth-watering tastes both on the street and at a range of cultural events.

Mobile food trucks are an entrenched phenomenon in the United States and their popularity is rising here, with custom trucks dishing out regional delicacies from all corners of the world.

Jim White's 'Smokin' Barrys' food truck is built on an Isuzu NNR 200 platform and specialises in an American southern barbecue style, offering a selection of slow-cooked meats accompanied by special sauces and marinades.

"In the past I used to tow a mobile kitchen trailer with my Isuzu D-Max ute but I needed a bigger vehicle to keep up with the expansion of the business," says White.

"The size of my new truck is ideal for my business as it is small enough to be driven on a car licence. It has a great turning circle and is easy to drive through tight residential streets. With a GVM of 4500kg, the NNR 200 can accommodate the mobile kitchen body with ease."

The NNR's body features a full kitchen and was built by Geelong's Vehicle Mechanical Specialists over three months.

Melbourne's Ibi Youssef, meanwhile, is riding the food truck wave with 'The Curry Truck' – a custom-built Isuzu NPR 275 with which he serves up a range of Indian meals.

Fitted out by Thomastown's A&B Food Truck Outfitters and bedecked in a Taj Mahal vinyl wrap, Youssef says the truck – purchased as an ex-demo from Melbourne's Westar Truck Centre – is perfect for the task.

"The fit-out required reinforcing the chassis and then basically everything had to be built from the ground up," he says.

Youssef says the ex-demo came with plenty of features.

"It came with all the extras – the bullbar, the towbar, the reversing camera and more," he says.

The Curry Truck can often be found at Yarraville Gardens in Melbourne's inner west, but Youssef also regularly attends special events.

"We just did an event at Swinburne University in Hawthorn and we had to feed over 300 people in the space of two hours," he says.

Youssef says his truck is a key element to his success.

"If people ask me for advice about starting a food truck I always recommend Isuzu trucks," he says.

Isuzu feeds food truck craze

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