One Wichita food truck’s upgrade allows an up-and-coming taco purveyor to get in the game
A local food truck has gotten a big upgrade and is passing its rig down to another business.
Mo’s Hut, a Hawaiian food trailer owned by Shawn Gordon that last year was upgraded into a brick-and-mortar restaurant of the same name, is now operating its mobile business out of a fancy new trailer.
And Gordon has passed his original trailer on to an up-and-coming taco business — Tacos Pina, which won first place in last year’s KC Taco Fest and then placed second in the Wichita Taco Fest in the best taco category and first in the best salsa category. The family hopes to have the business rolling by next week.
Gordon says his Mo’s Hut restaurant at 2800 E. Central is doing well since he opened it a year ago with a menu featuring Hawaiian favorites made with things like teriyaki beef, Korean short ribs and barbecue chicken. He wanted to keep his mobile business going, too, and plans to set up at all the local food truck rallies and at area events.
His new trailer, he said, is top-notch.
“It’s probably the biggest, baddest trailer here in Wichita as of now,” he said. “It’s literally a commercial kitchen on wheels.”
One of the new gigs Mo’s Hut has with its new-and-improved trailer is serving at Aero Plains Brewing, 117 N. Handley, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
You might remember that back in September, I reported Aero Plains was getting its own permanent, on-site food truck called The Hub at Aero Plains Brewing that would be operated by local chef Chris Young. But that plan didn’t work out, said Aero Plains owner Lance Minor, and food service ended there several weeks ago. Local food trucks and caterers are now back in the rotation at Aero Plains.
With the upgrade, Gordon had his original trailer available and it needed a home, he said.
“We loved our little Mo’s Hut trailer,” he said. “It was a great and affordable way to enter into the industry. However we just outgrew it.”
The little rig is perfect for Tacos Pina, though, says Ray Anzures, whose mother owns the business. The family relocated to Wichita from Orange County, California, six years ago and opened a restaurant called Tacos Pina at Harry and Ida.
But it wasn’t a good location, Anzures said, and the restaurant lasted only four months. They’ve been catering ever since, serving tacos from folding tables under a tent. His mother’s specialty is tacos made with three different preparations of beef: suadero, barbacoa and tripitas, though she also makes quesadillas, burritos and more.
Over the summer, Anzures told me that the family wanted to upgrade to the food truck business but was looking for the right setup. They found it in Gordon’s old trailer and have totally renovated it to make it their own.
Anzures said that he hopes the trailer can pass all of its official inspections next week and start serving right away. The family hopes to find a permanent spot on Wichita’s north side of town where it can set up, ideally at or near NoMar Plaza. They’d like be open each week from Wednesday to Sunday or Monday.
I’ll keep you posted on Taco Pina’s plans.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 11:15 AM.
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