Drift Mobile Eatery

I was able to finally try Drift when i went to the What The Truck Event few weeks ago. I got the Mini Pork Belly Sandwich. After having the dish, I now understand the buzz and hype that surrounds them. The dish is simply stunning. Simply stunning. This is my new fav Food Truck!

Although I may not get as much Drift in my life nowadays as I would like, I’ll take what I can get it! And today was my lucky day =) It’s been over 8 months since I’ve had the pleasure of eating at Drift. These days, they only park near my work (beside Audrey’s bookstore), once a week (Wednesdays), and only from 11am — 2pm. Hopefully you can line up before noon as if you get there too late, the line up snakes down the sidewalk often to the corner of Jasper & 107 Street.
Today I got my favourite pork belly sandwich with Drift fries. *smile*
Their food makes me happy! And you know what else makes me happy? Seeing Kara as pleasant and sweet as ever at the window! She is such a doll and the nicest food truck order taker in YEG. Was sad to see Nevin missing in action, but Kara informed me he was manning their brick & mortar store on 124 Street (Dovetail Delicatessan).
The wait wasn’t too bad for the food, which came out hot and fresh. It’s nice to see that they now take credit cards!
So, don’t let the line ups scare you away from trying this amazing mobile eatery. If anything, the lineups should make you happy to know that you are waiting in line for something that will change your life ;)
Keep up the great food and work Drift!

5 stars for their out-​of-​this-​world pork belly sandwich and their friendly customer service (isn’t Kara the sweetest? I don’t even know her beyond exchanging a few words with every order and I think she is the sweetest…)
3 – 4 stars for the rest of their offerings which are fine (maybe a tad overpriced for the money), but not nearly as good as pork belly, and for the long waits during peak times — however, that is solely due to the truck’s popularity, not due to the kitchen staff. When I come before 11:20 or after 1:20 (provided they are not sold out of pork belly), service has always been fast and efficient.
As for the actual food, the juicy pork belly is complemented so nicely by the Vietnamese-​inspired slaw, and warm soft ciabatta bun. I have not tried one dish from any other food truck that I like more than this. I also love the soups when it gets cold out. At peak lunch hour, I like ordering a sandwich and a soup, and ask for the soup right away so I can drink it and keep warm while I’m waiting for my sandwich! The jerk chicken with pineapple… isn’t jerky enough. There was no spicy kick that I was expecting. Duck confit was cooked nicely and was juicy, but the melding of the flavours wasn’t as special as the pork belly. Their weekly features are pretty good too, but not stellar.
Anyway, moral of the story is: eat all the pork belly (and get there early because it often sells out)!!!

If there is one thing I miss more than any other now that I no longer work downtown, it’s Drift.
I know everybody raves about their pork belly sandwich, and, don’t get me wrong, it’s good. BUT their roast beef sandwich? OUT OF THIS WORLD. They seem to have removed it from their regular menu (am I the only one that loved it?) but they seem to still occasionally have it? I’ve seen it floating on pictures of the menu online and I’m hopeful that I’ll find it again. Sadly, the last couple times I’ve sought out Drift, it’s been without the luck of finding my dream sandwich. I’ll just have to suck it up and try the Falafal, I guess.
Please bring back the roast beef sandwich, Drift? Even without, it’s still a 5 star food truck.
UPDATE: it’s back! Get the roast beef sandwich!!!

The first food truck I’ve ever tried and my absolute favourite truck to visit! The staff are always cheerful and welcoming. Fantastic sandwiches made fresh with locally grown ingredients, they don’t disappoint.
I’ve literally tried every sandwich creation they come up with, all delicious! My favorite, by far, would have to be their pork belly sandwich. You and your taste buds will not regret it! They also serve great fries with homemade ketchup and delicious soup for when the days get colder.
If there’s one food truck you need to try, it’s definitely this one! Expect a long line of you decide to go here for lunch but it’s definitely worth it.

The drift food truck has moved into catering. They should keep doing the food truck thing. I went to a event in which drift food truck did the catering out of there new restaurant on 124 St. It was horrible. The food was cold even the hot appetizers. The small Yorkshire puddings with beef and horseradish cream had no taste and very cold. The meatballs where so plain and again very cold and dry. The corn bread triangles fell apart and again cold. The baked goods came from dutchess bakery. In short it was not worth the money, not even close

Drift is another one of the earliest food trucks on the Edmonton scene and is also another one of my favourites. I love me some sandwiches and Drift always has some great ones. I haven’t been disappointed yet in anything I have chosen. The buns are top notch, usually ciabatta or portugese buns. The buns are just as important as the inside of the sandwich and I am glad that they always use great buns to showcase their fillings.
Their fries are among my favourite of all of the food trucks and even dining establishments in the city. Their blend of spices for the fries is also quite unique and refreshing. Their homemade ketchup/​sauce is also fantastic! A winning duo, and did I mention my favourite fries?
If you are looking for a food truck to try and this is one of your choices do not hesitate to try them out. I am pretty sure you will not be disappointed. We have a proliferation of food trucks in Edmonton right now so finding a good quality truck is getting trickier. We do have many good ones, but there are also a few duds.
I eagerly await the return of Food Truck Season!

Probably my favourite food truck in the city of Edmonton, Drift has Edmonton’s best fries! And the sandwiches are excellent as well! The only reason I don’t visit more often is because I’m sure I would spend a bundle on food here if I went more frequently. They are known around town for their homemade ketchup which is indeed delicious. I don’t even like ketchup most of the time, but theirs is worth having — I used my excess ketchup on a sandwich I made today for example after finishing off my fries.
Drift has an excellent social media presence and friendly staff, which makes my visits all the better.

I fell in love with the pulled pork belly sandwich from Drift this summer. Any time I was craving a sandwich for lunch, I just headed out in search of the familiar teal green truck. I really should try other items from their menu, but the pulled pork is just so damn good! It’s like a fusion twist on a Viet sub, burger style. A mixture of shredded carrots, daikon, cilantro, spicy mayo and shredded pulled pork all in a ciabatta bun delivers the perfect ratio of crunchy freshness and juicy, tender meat in every bite.
Although I will say that one time the pork was a little overcooked and dry, to the point where I wasn’t sure if I was chewing the meat or a piece of the paper bag the sandwich came in. But no biggie, I’ll still be back.

Tried Drift for the first time for lunch today.
The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich was AMAZING!
I tried some of their cilantro aioli and it was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.

Finally had the chance to try Drift after hearing over and over how good they are on Twitter, and they did not live up to the hype.
My co-​worker and I both got the jerk chicken sandwich, and while everything on it was fresh, it was just nothing. We expected a jerk sandwich to have, well, jerk. There was really no spice, no flavour at all.
I kind of feel bad writing a bad review, but there was just nothing in it that makes me want to go there again, especially if there are other truck options available.

I stopped by the food truck today on my way to an appointment and I was NOT disappointed. The fries were so good and the spice they put on them brought them to the next level.
If you’re in the area and want a quick and good lunch check this place out.

If the time comes where I should be eating my last meal on earth, bring me a pork belly sandwich from Drift (hold the mayo… oh hell, if I’m about to die anyway, leave it on so I can taste it before the anaphylaxis hits).
This has certainly been a spectacular summer for food trucks in Edmonton, and when Avenue Magazine voted Drift as the 2013 Best Food Truck, that was some high praise. And then when they called the Pork Belly Sandwich one of the Top 25 Things to Eat in Edmonton, that was just the cherry on top of the overwhelming amount of love that Drift has received from Edmontonians since they rolled into downtown.
EVERY WORD OF IT IS TRUE. All of it. I’ve never walked by this truck without trying something, and loving every tasty, flavour-​filled bite of whatever I ordered. The fries have exactly the right amount of spice and crispy-​ness. The sandwiches are never over-​dressed with the toppings. No sauce or marinade on the meat has ever tasted like something was missing or like I should add salt or pepper or sriracha (and I like a healthy dose of that on everything), and all of it is served with a smile and the best service from some of the nicest people you’ll meet in the food industry.
They’re usually on 107 Street just south of Jasper Ave at lunch times, but with the construction going on downtown, we’ve lately been finding them one block over at 108 Street, affectionately known and Food Truck Alley.
I love food trucks, and Drift is DEFINITELY one of the best.

I dream about the pork belly sandwich. When I’m not dreaming I’m talking about it, several people have tried it just to get me to shut up and now THEY’RE talking about it too… The fries are fantastic, always fresh and perfectly cooked. If you don’t like seasoning (they put a spice mix on their fries) just let them know and they will use regular salt. Their Montréal smoked meat sandwich is amazing, almost as good as Schwartzes themselves! The price is very reasonable — you can get a big sandwich and fries for $ 10.50 and it’s worth every penny. My only complaint is that Drift is only open until 1:30 for lunch; since I work at the university and my lunch break is at 1pm I can’t always make it down in time… on the other hand this is probably the universe telling me I can’t afford to eat there every day or I will be fat and poor… but it’s almost worth it!

I came across Drift the other day while on break in between classes. I’ve heard good things about Drift and was pretty excited to give them a try. They were out of the pork shoulder when I was there so I got the pork belly sandwich and an order of fries. The sandwich was fantastic, tender pork belly with crunchy carrots, daikon and cilantro on a ciabatta bun with chili mayo. It had a great fresh taste with a nice balance between sweet, spicy and savoury. I’m not much of a french fry person. With most places I find fries are ok, but usually something I could skip next time. Not with Drift. In fact I might be so bold as to say these are the best french fries I’ve ever had. They’re spiced differently than regular fries, a good cut and the homemade ketchup is a delicious compliment to them (and completely different taste and texture than regular ketchup).
$ 11 got me a good sized sandwich and an order of fries that was enough to keep me full until dinner. Drift only accepts cash so make sure you have some on hand. After this first encounter with Drift I’ll definitely be back.

The sandwiches are fantastic. I opted for the roast beef and was rewarded with a sandwich created with FRESH bread. The flavours were well placed and it was enough of a portion to fill you up. If you get the fries to boot, you will be stuffed. The fries are fresh and their signature dipping sauce is a nice change from ordinary ketchup.
The staff was great and the truck itself looks appealing. The only issue I had was their lack of selection for beverages.

Wow what is with this place that attracts Unilocalers? Seriously! I came with a Unilocaler, we ran into Unilocalers… Who would have thought that a food truck would be the place to see and be seen? This was my first experience with the food truck phenomenon and I’m glad to say it did not disappoint.
Unfortunately for me, we came at the very end of the lunch rush and they were all sold out of buns. Boooo! Unfortunately the soup of the day wasn’t vegetarian or I would have probably tried that too. Luckily they still had plenty of fries. I had heard a lot of hype about them and can I say YUM?! Honestly these were some of the best fries I’ve ever had. Not too crispy, not too soggy. Plus the homemade ketchup was wonderful. It almost has a curry-​like flavour to it. Delish!
The owner was super chatty and nice. He ended up throwing in a couple extras for us since we weren’t able to try their sandwiches. Totally unnecessary but definitely appreciated. Drift definitely convinced me that the food truck fad has some real potential. I can’t wait to give it another go.
Edit: I stand corrected! Apparently we didn’t run into Unilocalers; we ran into Tweeters! Either way, Drift is awesome and totally deserves its fanbase.

Drift clearly had no trouble shaking off winter and getting ready for a new season of street food.
Already a fan in 2011, I hit them up on their first day back on the streets of Edmonton in 2012. In the middle of a snowy afternoon, no less.
If Edmonton has a competition for best fries (and it probably should), Drift is going to be fighting off the challengers with its spiced Drift fries (roasted fennel, cumin, mustard seeds, and chili) and even their salt and pepper fries. Hot, crispy outside soft inside, deliciousness. Pair them with the house ketchup and it’s enough to make you think about fries alone for a meal.
But then you’d be missing out on the sandwiches.
Jerk chicken is a favourite, and my first choice of 2012. The chicken’s juicy, the slaw adds a crunch, and the pineapple gives the sandwich a bit of sweetness. Easily one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had (and had again, and again). It was the perfect way to kiss winter goodbye.
It looks like Drift has some new sandwiches, and soups! for 2012 too. It’s going to be a good year.

I’ve been conflicted between a 4 and 5 star rating for Drift. I really do love their sandwiches here and so, I’m certainly a fan! I could easily see myself addicted to Drift if I worked or lived near their stop and could visit them every now and then.
The sandwiches are not ordinary truck food, in that they have a lot of subtlety to their flavors; they are, however, priced in the affordable régime and are quite simple. As mentioned by others, the pork belly sandwich is quite terrific and is served with a tasty and not over-​sauced dressing. The ciabatta bread is fresh, crunchy on top and spongy inside. It’s a huge piece of bread so it really encompasses the ingredients of the sandwich well, so much so that I’ve never had a dripping episode. The jerk chicken sandwich is flavored perfectly with crispy, caramelized pineapples and is super tasty too.
A really special mention to their fries. They’re crispy, fresh, really hot (like straight out of the frier) and, and, and… exceptionally flavored. It’s a unique combination of cumin, mustard, fennel and perhaps some other mysterious ingredient that flavors their fries. With a $ 3.00 order of fries, comes a homemade tomato ketchup/​sauce kinda thing that has a bit of a curried flavor and compliments the flavors of the fries in totality.
While I do love their sandwiches beyond any form of doubt, I find that I’m always hungry after their sandwich + fries lunch. I guess I’ve got a bit of a huge belly! It’s possible that we’re just pampered with the idea that a sandwich needs to be stuffed to the max with ingredients, but I find that this meal for $ 10.50 will often be supplemented with a large breakfast and an afternoon snack. That’s not bad, but is worth mentioning that it’s not a lion’s meal.

After catching a lot of attention in the states, we finally get some food trucks rolling downtown. You can’t miss Drift parked outside 108 Street and between 100 Ave and Jasper. Not only is it a large green truck, but it has a make shift paint easel sign with the day’s specials as well as free menus to give out (Edmonton postcards with the menu on the back. Pretty cool!). You’ll probably also notice the large crowds of people congregating around it.
I wanted to try the pork belly and to my surprise, I think I’ve had this in some sort of shape or form growing up. The pork belly sandwich was served as a sandwich with ciabatta bun, coleslaw, and cilantro. The sauce was very familiar as it nestled right up to the fatty pork belly and the cilantro provided a nice aftertaste. The carrots were crunchy but what I found was the sandwich seemed to have more bread than substance. There didn’t seem to be enough garnish or meat so the sandwich left me wanting more pork belly; all I tasted was the ciabatta bread.
Clocking in at about $ 7.50, I’m hesitant to come back here and try the other sandwiches; both coworkers also indicated the same with their sandwiches not having enough filling in their sandwiches.