RENO TASTE

Reno food trucks are starting restaurants

Evan Haddad
Reno Gazette Journal

Welcome back to the Reno Taste, your weekly newsletter covering all-things food, drink and culture in the Biggest Little City in the world. This week:

  • There's a growing food trend: food trucks opening brick-and-mortar eateries
  • Surfin' Chicken slides into Reno this Saturday
  • Nevada ranks among top states for lucrative waitressing jobs

The food truck-to-restaurant pipeline

There's an interesting food trend developing in Reno: food trucks expanding into brick-and-mortar spaces.

In that spirit, we've curated a list of seven food trucks that have launched restaurants in the last year. And we're giving you great recommendations for each one in a detailed article this week. Here are a few exclusive previews for Reno Taste subscribers:

  • Daddy's Tacos NV

4840 Mill St #8

A plate of tacos waits to be eaten at DaddyÕs Tacos NV in Reno on March 21, 2023.

Owned and operated by Valentine Lovelace and Martin Gomez, Daddy's Tacos opened in January after years of running a successful food truck.

Some of the most popular items include the quesabirria tacos ($4-6), corn tortillas infused with grilled mozzarella cheese and loaded with shredded beef. The tacos are topped with onion and cilantro, and served with consommé -- a sort of au jus for tacos, as Lovelace puts it. The most popular drink is the house-made horchata ($3-5), a traditional Mexican beverage made of rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.

Lovelace and Gomez opened a restaurant because, interestingly, it was more financially prudent to do so than to continue renting the commercial kitchen where they prepped food for the truck.

"Our rent more than quadrupled and we were asked to utilize the kitchen less," Lovelace told the RGJ. "Essentially, we just outgrew the space and began searching for another."

"It's been super exciting to see so many of our customers continue to support us even after all these years," she said.

  • Bone Appetit Bar-B-Que

299 E Plumb Ln

The two-meat combo meal at Bone Appetit Bar-B-Que costs $18

Like many of the eateries in Reno Public Market, barbecue joint Bone Appetit started as a food truck that built up a loyal following in the Reno area. Both truck and restaurant are owned and operated by wife-husband duo Kim and Lamont Daniels who smoke the meats in-house. And like most food vendors at Reno Public Market, Bone Appetit's prices mirror those at its food truck.

Pulled pork, St. Louis Ribs and chicken are among the items you can choose from for your multi-meat platter. A two-meat combo, which includes two side dishes, costs $18 before tip and tax. If meat isn't your thing, Bone Appetit also features a salad bar.

The bird is the word

Surfin' Chicken, a small Texas-based chain, is opening inside the Walmart at 5065 Pyramid Way on Saturday, March 25.

Let's go surfin' now, eatin' lots of chicken now, come on into Walmart with me.

Surfin' Chicken, a small Texas-based chain, is opening inside the Walmart at 5065 Pyramid Way on Saturday, March 25. An opening celebration event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nevada will become the third state with a Surfin' Chicken. Outside of Texas, only California has one.

Surfin' Chicken is specializing in chicken sandwiches, "loaded" fries and house-made dipping sauces. The loaded fries include items such as the 'Sada, which includes carne asada, cheese sauce, pico de gallo and sliced jalapeños. Funnel cake fries are another popular option.

Nevada a top state for waitressing jobs, report says

A waitress takes the order of David and Judi Laymon.

A new report finds that Nevada is tenth best-paying state in the nation for waitresses. With an average annual salary of $24,010, Silver State waitresses earn a bit more than their Hawaiian and Massachusetts colleagues, who rank slightly above them in pay.

Follow @HaddadEvan for timely, relevant and compelling reporting on food, drinks and city life in Reno.