Houston food truck scene heating up before Super Bowl

HOUSTON – Food truck vendors say Houston's budding food truck scene will benefit from visitors to the city during the week of the 2017 Super Bowl.

"There's going to be a wide variety of vendors there serving to the public during free concerts and free events," said Chris Chambers, marketing director of Mobile Food Unit Houston.

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Mobile Food Unit Houston is comprised of a collection of food truck operators. The organization helps them navigate city laws and other logistics.

[PHOTOS: Houston's food truck creator]

Chambers told KPRC2 he encourages budding restaurant owners to try running a food truck first.

"I think it is a safer area for somebody to get their feet wet and to get started, to really test out concepts," Chambers said.

According to the City of Houston's Health Department, there are 1,117 mobile food units in the city. That number includes smaller ice cream carts and trucks uses to prepare food. Trucks operating in the city must first be approved by the Health Department.

We're talking food trucks today, as part of a special digital assignment. Quite a few trucks are on order in time for the Super Bowl. I'm at Texas Cart Builder for a look at how food trucks are made.

Posted by KPRC2 Brandon Walker on Thursday, January 19, 2017

"It's much safer than signing up for a lease in a changing neighborhood district or one that might be hard to establish a restaurant it," Chambers said.

Those familiar with the food truck community in Houston point to the amount of growth over the past decade. Indeed, food trucks have grown in popularity in Houston. The road to acceptance, however, often proved bumpy.

Justin Turner is owner of Bernie's Burger Bus, which has locations on Bellaire and Katy. A new restaurant is under construction in The Heights. Turner first started in a food truck in 2010.

"I quickly grew from one truck to three," Turner said.

Digital Day Video 1

Our first video takes a look at the process of building a food truck. Meet Zack Elbay, owner of Texas Cart Builders in Houston. Elbay builds food trucks for chefs nationwide. While most of his customers come from California, Elbay says Texas is quickly surpassing the Golden State. Texas Cart Builder.

Posted by KPRC2 Brandon Walker on Thursday, January 19, 2017

"There was a huge movement around that time," he continued, referring to his start in 2010. Turner said social media and being one of the first vendors helped him.

But Turner cautioned new food truck vendors. He said overhead costs, city ordinances and inconsistency make it tough for vendors to make money. Instead, Turner said, owning a food truck allows a vendor to prove a concept, such as a menu, in hopes that popularity will help create demand for a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

"My revenue streams were less. The amount of food I can sell was less and you still pay the same rents," he said.

Instead, Turner encourages those interested in operating a food truck to put those resources into learning the ins and outs of running a restaurant.

Digital Day Video 2

DIGITAL DAY: Our second video takes a look at a growing brick and mortar business, which got its start as a food truck. Justin Turner owns Bernie's Burger Bus. Turner started with a food truck back in 2010. His business grew, allowing him to add two more food trucks to his fleet. While that experience helped him get to where he is today, Turner says owning a food truck may not be the best experience for a budding restaurateur. To learn more about this restaurant -- and its owner -- check out Bernie's Burger Bus.

Posted by KPRC2 Brandon Walker on Thursday, January 19, 2017

"It's a great way to prove a concept, but it's not a great way to make a living," he said.

Not everyone feels that way. Zack Elbay owns Texas Cart Builder, a business he started as a hobby in 2003, refurbishing old muscle cars.

"That was a hobby back in those days," said Elbay, who started his business while enrolled as a student at the Art Institute of Houston.

Elbay told KPRC2 much of his business used to come from the Los Angeles area, but that has changed. He estimates business from Texas will dethrone the Golden State.

Houston, he said, is no exception.

"I never thought Houston would be big on food trucks." I see Houston going more toward LA (Los Angeles)," Elbay said.

The city of Houston has much more information on rules and regulations regarding food trucks. To learn more, click here.

Digital Day: Video 3

DIGITAL DAY: Our final video of the day is an interview with Chris Chambers, marketing director for Mobile Food Unit Houston, an organization that works with food truck operators to navigate city ordinances and other logistics. Chambers says there are fewer hurdles through which a food vendor has to jump by starting small. He says operating a food truck before opening a brick and mortar restaurant allows a chef to get a feel of the restaurant industry.

Posted by KPRC2 Brandon Walker on Thursday, January 19, 2017