Garlic pork tortas, Cambodian sandwiches on menu at new Tacoma food truck event

We all know it’s farmers market season, but did you hear it’s also food truck season?

These roving restaurants are usually busiest in the warmer months, bouncing around the aforementioned markets and private events, from birthday parties to weddings. There’s still room on weekdays, though, and a few local organizations have stepped up this year to host recurring food truck events.

The Downtown Tacoma Partnership is preparing to launch Food Truck Tuesdays, starting June 8, with a lineup to be announced.

Beginning this week, TAPCO Credit Union welcomes a different food truck over several Thursdays to its main branch, 6312 19th St. W. Visit the parking lot near Tacoma Community College for lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bethany Neiman, a business services manager with a focus on small business support at TAPCO, spearheaded the Thursday program. The credit union, founded in Tacoma in 1934 and headquartered in the West End since the ‘80s, has hosted events like blood drives and Easter egg hunts, she said in a phone call this week.

“Why couldn’t we host a food truck?” she said.

Not knowing how to invite the trucks themselves, she connected with Lori Johnson, executive director of the Washington State Food Truck Association, which advocates for mobile restaurants. They fleshed out a “trial run” for May with one date each in June and July. If successful, they anticipate hosting trucks at least through the rest of the summer.

The schedule kicks off with a restaurant we don’t yet have in Pierce County: Dick’s Drive-In, which will return May 28.

May 14 brings La Cocina de Jalisco, serving tacos, tortas and carne asada or birria plates. Try the signature Torta Tulense featuring super-garlic pork loin, pickled jalapeño and chipotle aioli.

Sumner’s Brank’s BBQ, also known for its meats and massive turkey legs at the Washington State Fair, leads the way May 21 with brisket, pork ribs, tri-tip, smoked chicken and pulled pork.

Bun & Press, a fairly new, Bonney Lake-based Cambodian truck, will visit June 4 and July 2. The menu offers Americana sandwiches, including cold subs and pressed buns, as the name implies, of cheesesteak, chopped cheese, Santa Fe-style chicken and an Italian with pesto. But it’s the Khmer specialties worth seeking out, like a beef lok lak, red curry chicken and a Mju Kreung cheesesteak inspired by a traditional Cambodian stew fragrant with lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, makrut lime leaves, garlic and shallots. Sweeten things up with a frappe, smoothie or flavored iced coffee.

Neiman said she and colleagues have shared promotional flyers with other businesses in the area and promoted on social media.

“We’re trying to do what we can to make sure it’s successful for them,” she added.

Such support from other local businesses with room to spare is essential “during these very difficult economic times,” said Johnson in an email.

The food truck group also worked with the City of Pacific to launch Food Truck Fridays at Clint Steiger Park. Find at least one truck and sometimes two parked next to City Hall for lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. from May through August. The lineup is eclectic, offering everything from barbecue to Mexican, ice cream and shave ice to Korean and Indian-Austrian.

TAPCO TACOMA - FOOD TRUCK COMMUNITY LUNCH

• 6312 19th St. W., Tacoma, wafoodtrucks.org/tapco
• Thursdays: May 7, 14, 21 & 28; June 4; July 2
• Details: lunch with rotating food trucks, menus at streetfoodfinder.com; follow instagram.com/wafoodtrucks for updates