Burrito Carts vs Dog Carts

Hello folks! Love reading all your stuff. Once a upon a time, wanted to do a hotdog cart, but the place I live in now .. too much competition, so I thought a burrito cart.

Don't throw and bad onions at me .. I am a hotdog purist, paying bills is paying bills.

Anyone out there done one? Experience, thoughts any words would be appreciated.

Cindy

what kind of burritos are you looking to sell, and what condaments?

Taco Cart with assorted meats seems like it would be far easier and faster.. (Less all the prep work)..

I was thinking keeping it simple.

Bean
Chicken
Beef

Included is rice, beans, then onions, lettuce, tomatoes. Salsa and sour cream on the side, already prepared in little containers.

The reason I bring up the burrito cart is that in Rochester, NY hot dog carts a dime a dozen .. people like their zweigles here. Thought of somethign different.

The taco idea Uncle Vic is interesting.

My prep work would be done all beforehand .. so I am bring out containers with the mixtures that I made up the night before. Folks could also have a toasted burrito .. meaning I just toss it on the grill for them .. it is yummy if you have never done that.

I have not spent a great deal of time thinking it all through yet ... had my hot dog idea down, but did not think I would move to Rochester where again, dog carts are a dime a dozen

Toasted burro... Now that sounds tasty! Never had one myself (and surprised the thought has never crossed one of my few active brain cells either).. That could be one big time signature item... I was thinking speed in service with my above comment. Burros, as good as they are, take time.. Tacos would be a bit quicker.. But then if your serving something unique to the area, people may take the time to wait... Just make sure your prices are up there to compensate for that time..

quote:

Originally posted by LittleWurzt

I was thinking keeping it simple.

Bean
Chicken
Beef

Included is rice, beans, then onions, lettuce, tomatoes. Salsa and sour cream on the side, already prepared in little containers.

The reason I bring up the burrito cart is that in Rochester, NY hot dog carts a dime a dozen .. people like their zweigles here. Thought of somethign different.

The taco idea Uncle Vic is interesting.

My prep work would be done all beforehand .. so I am bring out containers with the mixtures that I made up the night before. Folks could also have a toasted burrito .. meaning I just toss it on the grill for them .. it is yummy if you have never done that.

I have not spent a great deal of time thinking it all through yet ... had my hot dog idea down, but did not think I would move to Rochester where again, dog carts are a dime a dozen

Cindy,

I think you have a great idea and I too have a similar one. I believe that there are too many hot dog places around here on the east coast. That said, I have considered alternatives to hot dogs and go the gourmet sausage route. Use bratwurst, sweet and/or Italian, knock wurst or other sausages that seem to be popping up in unique combinations such as chicken apple, curry cilantro. I would consider Jody Moroni and how he started from his small stand of gourmet sausages. Or not....

I think that you would be better served by offering burritos over tacos. You can get more money for a burrito compared to a taco.
Filling crisp taco shells is time consuming and every time a shell breaks apart, you are losing money. Try soft rolled tacos. Better yet, use the corn tortillas and the same ingredients to create an enchilada plate. Either way, the same grill that you are using for your toasted burrito can make the corn tortillas pliable enough to roll.

I am a burrito fan. A big one. This week I made tongue burritos. I don't think those would sell, but you could consider pork and some kind of vegetarian burrito too.
How will you prepare the beef? If it is ground, I would try it once, but if it was shredded, I'll be back for more.

You mention that the salsa and sour cream would be on the side. I think that they belong inside the burrito and part of the charge/ cost of the item. A good burrito has them inside it to begin with. You can always charge extra for more, get every last dime. The fact is that filling two ounce containers of sour cream and salsa each day is time consuming. Still, you may find yourself doing this as people always seem to want extra on the side. While you are at it consider guacamole. There is some commercially made stuff that would hold up pretty well during the day.

I do think that you have a unique idea that could work as long as you do things right. The most important thing that you need to do is a very simple one....smile and say "Come again.."

mark

Mark, Hot Doug's is one of the busiest hot dog stands in the city of Chicago. Doug Sohn, a graduate of Kendall College Culinary School, serves the typical Vienna Beef hot dog and Polish along with daily gourmet specials. On weekends, duck fat fries have people lined up out the door(which is what happens every day during lunch anyway after 11:30am). www.hotdougs.com Go to daily specials.

CSD

Born in Chicago
Escaped to Wisconsin
Business Instructor
www.hotdogu.com

Uncle Vic and Mark, thanks for additional items to consider. My plan is to work over the winter to set up my plan and to launch next spring.

Have you folks worked festivals, fairs? This guy who just opened a dog store down the road said, that is a bad idea. You pay your fee for the festival and if it rains, you don't get your money back .. less folks will be there when it rains.

Now, if I had this going this summer, boy would I have scored. I do disagree with him. Folks are still going to go to the fair/festival, certainly less folks. And if I have something different, well, I think folks would come?

Oh, Mark, yepper on the shredded ... maybe have a weekly special like buffalo chick toasted burrito ... maybe the next, fish burritos, next week philly cheese toasted burrito?

Peace
Cindy

===Have you folks worked festivals, fairs? This guy who just opened a dog store down the road said, that is a bad idea. You pay your fee for the festival and if it rains, you don't get your money back .. less folks will be there when it rains.====


I used to work the Marin Co. and S.F. farmers markets under a canopy/tent. I cannot give you the particulars as to fees, since I worked for someone else. Still, we worked year round and did okay during poor weather.
Are you planning on working just at weekend fairs? Or are you going for a permanent location within your town? For me, the optimum idea would be to work on a daily basis in a spot where I can call my own. Maybe take Sundays off....

Connecticut is among the nation's hot dog states. There are 31 listed here in the Roadfood search.
Here is one place that does an upscale dog. http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=72
I'm posting this as I would work my burrito cart the same way. He does it right smack dab in the middle of town.

=== I do disagree with him. Folks are still going to go to the fair/festival, certainly less folks. And if I have something different, well, I think folks would come?====

Good for you. I agree. Never let the naysayers dissuade you. Look at it this way, it is hard to get fans to leave a baseball stadium when it rains. They go seek shelter and get something to eat until it blows over. If you have a canopy, they will go and get something to eat.

===Oh, Mark, yepper on the shredded ... maybe have a weekly special like buffalo chick toasted burrito ... maybe the next, fish burritos, next week philly cheese toasted burrito?===

I love fish burritos. They are BIG in California and the next big thing in my mind. Think about shrimp too. The Philly cheesesteak falls into the wrap category, something I have feelings about that are not positive, yet the restaurant that I worked at sure sold a bunch of them for lunch.

mark

Dearfolk,
Who'd'a thunk it? Here I am in Athens, Georgia, a city which on weekend nights hosts five or six hot dog carts on the streets of downtown -- but not a single burrito cart! You'd think somebody would have thought of it before now, but apparently nobody has.
Since I have neither the expertise nor the cart, I'll have to leave it to someone else, but I will pass along the idea in a networking-sort-of fashion; maybe eventually I'll have something to report back to y'all about Ever-Amazing Athens, Georgia finally groping its way farther into the 20th. Century!
What could be next after that - a livermush sandwich cart?? -- A menudo cart?!?!?
Trypically, Ort. Carlton in Sunny Athens, Georgia.

I would work permanent location during week and then do fair on Saturdays. Also, they have functions in the evening in Rochester. Free Concerts type things and they have vendors. So was thinking of that perhaps.

I have done a google search on the burrito. DC and OR are the only places. I am going to take a trip to DC and see how that guy does it.

It does seem strange that no one has done it .. that is why I think it would be great and I think that toasted idea could be a key as well.

I hear you on keeping it simple. I use to work at a place going to school called Chets DogHouse and the owners kept adding stuff, and more stuff and more stuff and dang .. hard for the help!

Just need a change from my current job .. my brain is full type job!

I'll keep you posted on my journey.

Cindy

quote:

Originally posted by chicagostyledog

Mark, Hot Doug's is one of the busiest hot dog stands in the city of Chicago. Doug Sohn, a graduate of Kendall College Culinary School, serves the typical Vienna Beef hot dog and Polish along with daily gourmet specials. On weekends, duck fat fries have people lined up out the door(which is what happens every day during lunch anyway after 11:30am). www.hotdougs.com Go to daily specials.

CSD

Born in Chicago
Escaped to Wisconsin
Business Instructor
www.hotdogu.com

I think the issue here is that Cindy has taken stock of the competition. Seems like there is too much according to her. That doesn't mean that she couldn't succeed with doggies, but when there are too many of the same things, it is tough.
It reminds me of a cartoon I read as a kid in MAD magazine. Four restaurants are pictured on a block. The first one says "Best Pizza in Town" , the second one says "Best Pizza in the State", the third one says "Best Pizza in the Nation", the last store's sign reads "Best Pizza on the Block".
Still, it is hard to set yourself apart from the others and this is why I think that her idea could work.

On another note, the Duck fat fries sound interesting. Are they fried with some of the skin on like pork cracklins?


mark

Mark, duck fries are French fry cut potatoes rendered in duck fat. It's the fat/oil that potatoes are fried in that gives the product the great taste. The original McDonald's fries were fried in beef tallow. Now, they're cooked in vegetable oil with a big difference in flavor. Fries made in duck or goose fat are fabulous.

CSD

Born in Chicago
Escaped to Wisconsin
Business Instructor
www.hotdogu.com

Ort.. I feel your pain. Atleast you mentioned HOT DOG CARTS in your over humid town. I crossed paths with one of them purveyors in my town the other week. I wanted a chili dog... He served me a turkey dog. AT 1am in the morning, I'm not sure if he was looking out for my health, or had a death wish of being fed forcibly, but that was the nastiest crap I ever ate in my life... (Actually, I should have billed the City of Grand Rapids for Pot Hole repair, cause thats where that dog ended up in)...

When I was in school back in the 1970's, there was a burrito cart in Amherst Massachusetts. I had never seen one before but didn't appreciate how novel an idea this was as I was just a youngster who had yet to experience the street food world. I don't remember much about the burrito except that it was my first and it was delicious. Doubt if the cart is still there but I always thought it was a winner of an idea. As far as tacos go, in Mexico at all the fairs and markets, vendors cook the filled tortillas on a grill. It solves the problem of trying to fill a breakable taco shell. Good luck with your idea. Fred

==I love fish burritos. They are BIG in California and the next big thing in my mind.== Mark

There's a place in Seattle that makes a salmon and mashed potato burrito in a veggie tortilla. It is fabulous

Zweigles are our hometown dog and then second is Hoffmans. I think I would still offer dogs. Why not, I am going to have the grill for the burritos and that way, if two folks walk out for lunch together and one wants a dog and the other a burrito .. well, I have them both.

http://www.burritoblog.com/washington_dc/pedro_vinnys/

Ok, now I am getting more excited about my idea, that I wished it was up and running!

Mental note on the salmon burrito. Folks here like there fish fry deal on Fridays, so having a fish special is cool.

Cindy

This is at least the fourth posting of this. Deputy Dog is spamming for some reason.

Never underestimate the love between a Rochesterian and a Zweigle's dog. I grew up in the Rochester area and still crave them, especially the natural casing Whites. Slightly charred on the outside and cooked just to the bursting point. A light touch of Nances mustard and topped with Nances corn relish...yum, now that's a real Rochester treat.

While burritos and such may sell, I doubt they would inspire the passion of the traditional hometown fare.

I do have an idea for a signature side accouterment though, potato chips. I do not mean bagged commercial chips which would inspire nothing, but homemade fresh chips made on the spot if possible. Do not season the chips, but have various seasoning shakers available so they can season their own to taste. In this way you would not be just another Zweigle's vendor, you would be the only one in town featuring Zweigle's with Cindy's Chips.

Cindy:
In Mexico every corner has a taco stand, they cut the meat in little pieces, fry it on the grill add some celentro, a few onions chopped up fine and either sell it as a single taco or a dbl using 2 taco shells..they put out fresh salsa..at a buck a piece they clean up..
I can eat 5 before u say jack rabbit!

I meant to say tortillas, not shells..Corn taco tortillas in mexico go for a couple bux per kilo.

Did some checking, this applys to Florida and Cal. Inorder to sell burritos from a vehicle it must be an enclosed vehicle with grill, and fire suppression system..Neither state will allow u to sell anything but Doggies from an open cart..

I would suggest u check state health food codes and county codes before going too far..Wish u Luck and the best..