The Lime Truck: California-Style Tacos Come to PasarBella

Serving up fresh, California-style tacos (including homemade tortillas!), The Lime Truck brings a bit of Mexican street food soul to Singapore

Sadly, the food truck trend is one that doesn’t really fly in Singapore – our streets are far too orderly and of course the whole reason hawker centers were created back in the day was to ensure proper, enforceable food safety standards! However I’m happy to say that new California import The Lime Truck offers up the next best thing from its truck-like stall at PasarBella @ Suntec City.

Launched in Southern California in 2010, The Lime Truck is the branchild of Chef Daniel Shemtob, who gained national fame when he won season 2 of the Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race in 2011. Making a name for himself with delectable, freshly cooked tacos, Shemtob continues to be one of the most popular mobile chefs in America, and it was a treat to have him cook for us at the Lime Truck’s official launch in mid-August.

With a limited, tightly focused menu, The Lime Truck serves up six taco varieties, reasonably priced between $3.50 and $4.50 apiece. I’ll get to the different flavors in a second, but the most exciting thing about these tacos is that The Lime Truck makes their own tortillas! NOWHERE else in Singapore does this, mamas! The result is extra flavorful, slightly doughy tortillas that envelop your taco in pillowy goodness. I closed my eyes and for a second was almost transported to my favorite Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, where a woman sits in the middle of the room and just makes tortillas all night which are then served up piping hot on your table.

Needless to say, the freshly made tortillas premise is reason enough to give The Lime Truck a look.

The superstar tacos, in my opinion, are the #1 Steak Taco – sweet & spicy steak with soy-ginger slaw, wontons, and a moreish cilantro chimichurri – and the Slow-Braised Pork Belly Taco, with sugar and soy-braised pork belly, green pico, an insane lime sambal with just the right amount of heat, and cilantro. The menu also features a California signature – a Grilled Barramundi Taco with chipotle-honey slaw, zesty lime guacamole, and a lime seasoning blend.

Be sure to try the signature Fried Chicky Taco, which is yummy buttermilk fried chicken topped with dijon slaw, mustard seeds, a lime seasoning blend and a house pickle. The Lime Truck does fried chicken very well – another super yummy snack served up on the side are fried chicken skins ($3.90), which I all but inhaled.

Sides are actually just as strong as the tacos themselves; besides the fried chicken skins and some excellent chips and guacamole (the chips have just the right amount of salt on them, which is so key), an absolute must-try are the “Legendary Brussel Sprouts” ($3.90). Slightly crispy and topped with a delectable, crumbly queso fresco, Shemtob’s secret recipe garnered him “Best Brussels Sprouts in LA” as awarded by Yelp. So not only are these craveably delicious, they’re also sorta famous!

On top of all this you’ve also got slushies, churros for dessert, and rice and salad bowls topped with your choice of grilled meat. You can also look forward to one-off daily specials too, mama.

Come for the excellent prices, stay for the totally awesome tacos.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm

The Lime Truck, PasarBella @ Suntec City 455-456/459-461, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983, www.facebook.com/TheLimeTruck.SG