By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Oct 14, 2020 at 1:31 PM

The wait is nearly over for The Truck Stop, the new street food inspired restaurant slated to open at 707 E. Brady St. In fact, the new “truck to table” concept will be hosting their grand opening on Wednesday Nov. 4 from 3 to 9 p.m.

The cleverly named restaurant, which will offer diners the street food they love in a food truck inspired environment, will be operated by industry veterans Jordan Stewart and Justin Kling, owners of the successful street food and catering company Street Chefs MKE and operators of the popular food trucks Pig Tailz and Roll MKE.

Guests who venture out to the new venue will find not only the creative, flavor-packed food for which both food trucks have become known, but also a visual experience that merges the charms of street food culture with the benefits of a brick and mortar location.

"We want the overall experience of the restaurant to be a reflection of the food truck and street food culture here in Milwaukee," says Stewart. "Customers will order from the counter and pick up there food and beverages from what will look like a food truck."

Originally, Stewart and Kling hoped to open for dine-in service; but due to current circumstances, the partners have decided they'll likely scale back those plans for the moment.

"Our plan, at least to start, will be to operate primarily as a take-out spot," notes Stewart, who says they've gained approval to add a pick-up window to the Van Buren side of the building. "So, we'll eventually add a late night walk-up window."

On the menu

The opening menu, he says will feature between 16 to 20 items, including a variety of Pig Tailz award-winning outside-the-box tacos like buffalo chicken and their more recently introduced Korean BBQ chicken tacos topped with Southern slaw, sesame aioli and crispy onion.

There will also be Roll MKE offerings including the fan favorite brisket grilled cheese, the MKE burger (with bacon jam, lettuce and tomato), the brisket burger (topped with brisket and garlic peppercorn aioli) and a selection of "crazy yet tasty" loaded fries. 

"From there, especially as we move into the winter months, we'll be working on introducing things like a fish fry and seafood tacos," Stewart says. "We also want to introduce specials so we can give people something new on an ongoing basis." 

Once open, The Truck Stop’s operating hours will be Tuesday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.