The food truck industry is thriving for some business owners in San Luis Obispo County amid the pandemic.
Feed my Seoul has been rolling through the 805 for a couple of years and now, through COVID-19.
The popular food truck dishes up their signature Seoul bowls with classic Korean elements.
“It's a nice convenient way to still get out and get a nice quality meal without having to worry about being around too many people,” said customer Andrew Unks. “You can still socially distance outside.”
COVID-19 has forced the restaurant on wheels to drive over a speed bump or two being that all events were canceled this year and into the next. They’ve adjusted and pivoted to parking outside different corporate businesses during lunch hour.
“We’ve been thriving,” said Grace Kim, Feed My Seoul Food Truck Managing Owner.
Kim says they serve up around 150 meals daily which is an increase compared to pre-pandemic.
“We’ve been able to grow and add on an employee,” Kim explained.
Grady Ahern came aboard halfway through the pandemic.
“The fact that I was able to get a job in a pandemic just means this is such a stable field right now because it's always pretty much to-go,” Ahern said.
In recent years, food truck businesses have been on the rise.
According to Census.gov, the number of food truck establishments in 2018 was roughly 5,900. That’s nearly double the roughly 3,200 trucks in 2013.
California had the most with more than 750 mobile food services compared to a little over 450 in 2013.
In 2020, Conny Liegl of Arroyo Grande is taking this time to open a new food truck, ‘Baguette About It’. It’s slated to hit the pavement by the end of next month.
“I’ve been working from home and it kind of just allowed me to free up a little more time to develop this passion project that I've had for years and years,” Liegl said.
With roughly a dozen food trucks rolling through San Luis Obispo County, customers give the concept an A+, especially during the time we’re living in.
“I just think it's really neat and clever and it's like a real cool like little restaurant that you can have on the go,” Unks said.
