By james art The city of Madison has released the results of its 2024 food cart review, with 20 vendors selected to operate citywide, according to city press release.
This year’s review attracted a record 38 Madison food truck submissions for the review. The City of Madison’s Vending Oversight Committee must approve the official map of vending locations by the end of the year, prioritizing those with the highest scores, according to the press release.
Surco 2 food truck is in first place, followed by Braisin’ Hussies and Bulgogi Korean Taco, according to the press release.
Megan Blake-Horst, street vending coordinator for the city of Madison, said the review process evaluates vendors based on several criteria outlined in Madison’s general ordinance or city regulations.
“We evaluate design and visual impact, graphics and signage, cleanliness and maintenance, taste of food, menu presentation, originality and creativity,” Blake-Horst said.
This holistic approach ensures that each food cart not only meets health and safety standards, but also enhances the city’s aesthetic and culinary diversity, Blake-Horst said.
This year, Madison introduced a new State Street Night Sale program located in the Library Mall, Blake-Horst said. The goal of the program is to raise awareness among students and encourage regular visits to the food carts in the coming years, she added.
This year, there are two new vendors with unique offerings – one specializing in sugar cane juice and the other a specialty tamale vendor, marking the first time a vendor with tamales as their main product line has been licensed, Blake-Horst said.
“These diverse operators provide students with familiar flavors from their own backgrounds while introducing them to new culinary experiences,” Blake-Horst said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to be able to provide that unique lunch and, hopefully, late-night venue.”
The food cart program is growing beyond the campus area, allowing students and residents to explore Madison’s rich culinary offerings, Blake-Horst said.
The city currently licenses more than 100 food carts, with 33 operating downtown, according to Blake-Horst.
“We continue to train students in this [food trucks] are there, get the food carts out there on a regular basis and we hope to expand this program in the coming years,” Blake-Horst said.