Out-of-Town Food Trucks You'll Want to Try

Hometown: Wooster

Umami Bites' Adam Schwieterman took his team on a backpacking trip to Malaysia and Thailand for two months of active learning in preparation for opening his Asian-fusion food truck. The 6-month-old truck hits the festival circuit this summer, presenting Eastern flavors to Ohio palates. Try the Pork Belly Wonton Taco with Ohio pork belly, pickled onions and Thai-style sweet chili sauce folded into taco shells.

Hometown: Cleveland

"When I saw the invite to the Columbus Food Truck Festival, we were crazy [with excitement]," owner Tim Oleksiak says. The truck iteration of Cleveland's 30-year-old pizza joint went into business two years ago, offering Papa Nick's favorites: 12-inch calzones, roasted potatoes, meatballs (on a stick) and, of course, pizza by the slice.

Hometown: Bolivar

Wafts of smoke will lead your nose directly to this truck slinging wood-fired barbecue. Sublime Smoke started in Columbus before making a permanent home in Northeast Ohio, owner Zach Salapack says. The menu will feature a Fork Sundae: a Southern-style barbecue meal in a bowl with cornbread, greens, slaw, the truck's signature smoky pork and a choice of sauce.

Hometown: Granville

Steamed bagels from two Ohio college towns (Oxford's Bagel and Deli and Athens' Bagel Street Deli) are the inspiration for Steamroller Bagel, says co-owner Jay Snyder, who opened the truck because he missed the sandwiches, and the steamer needed to make the soft and gooey sandwiches was too expensive for home use. His favorite is a vegetarian sandwich fit for an omnivore: olive salad, sun-dried tomatoes, hummus and cheese served on a soft Block's sun-dried tomato bagel.

Hometown: Granville

Inspired by Roy Choi's Kogi truck in Los Angeles, Taco Sherpa is a sort of Korean Chipotle. "Think Asian flavors in Mexican disguises," co-owner Jon Ulmer says. The truck will feature a Kimchi Dog laden with kimchee relish, Kewpie mayo, scallions and sesame seeds.

Hometown: Lancaster

After years of serving pies in Buckeye Lake, Circleville and Newark, this pizza chain infiltrated the Interstate 270 border three years ago with its Lancaster-based food truck. The monster of a truck (it's a billboard for the restaurant, representative Steve Bowland says) transports a four-deck oven, where Pizza Cottage veterans prepare edge-to-edge pepperoni pizzas and bake them on-site. Too hot for a slice? Four subs and a selection of salads will also be available.

Find out more at columbusfoodtruckfest.com