Set up by Kiwi celebrity chef Michael van de Elzen, this is a fast food chain with a difference. It sells hot dogs and hamburgers that are just as tasty as your Carl’s Junior or Chili’s versions – but these ones are much healthier. So now you can certainly indulge in your favourite fast food, without any guilt. For burgers, this is achieved by adding vegetables into their burger patties – their beef burgers are made with 50% beetroot and 50% beef. Moreover, a hearty helping of vegetables is wedged in between the burger buns, so you are indeed getting a healthy and balanced meal here. Intrigued by this healthy fast food eatery, I checked out The Food Truck Garage one day during my stay in Auckland, New Zealand.

Yes, this is the restaurant’s kitchen

The Menu

You get your selection of burgers, hot dogs and wraps. Baked French fries and wholemeal pita crisps are also available too. I ordered their “cheek dog” which is basically a chicken hotdog. One of my eating companions ordered a “Chickette” burger, made with chicken and courgette pattie, while the other ordered a “beefroot” burger, made with beef and beetroot pattie. To accompany our meals, we also had baked chips and wholemeal pita bread crisps to share.

Cheek Dog

Cheek Dog

This is basically a free-range chicken hotdog, with added leek & spinach, tomato salsa and brussel slaw as fillings. It is then encased within a healthier spelt flour roll – rather than your usual white hotdog one. I thought this hotdog was absolutely delicious. The chicken sausage was moist and yummy and the bun was really tasty too. I liked the slight nutty texture of the bun and the generous serving of vegetables also provided a yummy crunchy texture to the meal. The hot dog will set you back by NZ$8.

 Chickette Burger

Chickette burger

This burger comes with lettuce, cucumber and lemon hummus (a type of paste) and is served on a wholemeal spelt bun. The pattie is made with chicken and courgette. My eating companion absolutely loved the chicken pattie and the courgette kick to it, but she thought that the bun, while quite delicious, was a little too big for her. She commented that the chicken was moist and tender though, and she loved the crunchy texture of the vegetables too. This dish will set you back by NZ$12.

Beefroot Burger

Beefroot burger.

Yes, this is actually a beefroot burger – so no spelling mistake.

This burger comes with a beef and beetroot pattie, filled with lettuce, tomato and gherkins and is also served on a wholemeal spelt bun.

I tried a little of this burger and was quite intrigued by it. The beetroot makes the beef pattie look much redder than usual, but the beef and beetroot combination is much more yummy than I had actually expected it to be. As well, the wholemeal bun is soft and delicious. The lettuce inside the burger also gives it a crunchy kick to spice up the meal.

This burger will set you back by NZ$12.

 Baked Chips

Baked Chips

I thought these chips were quite interesting and consisted of baked beetroot, potatoes and swedes (a tunip) with lime Emulsion (sauce).

The root vegetables were extremely tasty and crunchy.

Lovers of greasy fries won’t be convinced by this new healthy version of French fries, but I absolutely loved them.

These big plate of chips will cost NZ$6 each.

 Wholemeal Pita Crisps

Wholemeal Pita bread

The pita crisps are served on a plate with three sauces – a lentil dip, a lemon hummus and the el speciale sauce. Nuts are also added to the mixture for that added crunch.

I realise that these are supposed to be another healthy version of crisps. And when I tasted a piece, they were really delicious – but minus all of the unhealthy fats and oils. I thought these are absolutely mouth-watering too – I couldn’t stop eating these. The pita crisps are definitely scrumptious and the sauces help to give it an even more delicious flavour. As well, the roasted nuts (almonds, cashews and Brazil nuts) served with the dish are coated in glaze and taste absolutely yummy too. I would definitely eat these chips again.

This dish will set you back by NZ$7.

Overall Comments

I was quite impressed with the restaurant and I would most certainly come back again when I am in Auckland. Their burgers and hot dogs are definitely good and lovers of such foods will enjoy this healthier version. Now you can really have your cake and eat it too.

The Food Truck Garage
90 Wellesley St W, Auckland, 1010
Phone: 09-973 2305

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