These days, street food is all the rage. And while Denver has fewer food trucks than other cities, the 16th Street Mall still has plenty of vendors that dish up the goods (think Biker Jim on Arapahoe, the Thai Food Cart on Stout, or the gyro stand on Market). Now, there’s a newcomer to seek out: The almost three-week-old Gastro Cart, which sits on the corner of 18th and Curtis.

Run by Bryan Hume and Mike Winston, former cooks at Table 6, this is a chef’s approach to street food: killer veggie tacos with a caramelized cabbage roll, whole grain rice, and smoked jalapeño aïoli; pulled pork sandwiches with smoked curry sauce, Granny Smith apples, and cabbage on a sesame roll; roast lamb gyros with tzatziki sauce, tomato guajillo, mint foam, and cabbage on grilled naan; and spicy chicken tacos with homemade kimchi and Thousand Island dressing on a caraway-corn tortilla.

Bonus: Street food is such a hot trend, look for other local restaurateurs to get in on the act. To wit, Frank Bonanno is considering a food truck that’ll serve steamed buns and noodle bowls à la Bones.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner of 18th and Curtis streets

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.