At its peak, there were as many as a thousand yatai in Tokyo alone. These small, mobile food stalls generally serve simple favorites, like ramen, in generous portions.
For nearly four years, Martinez has commanded the kitchen of Tokyo Café as chef de cuisine. He has no plans to leave. Yatai Food Kart is just another way he is fueling his culinary passions.
There are plenty of trucks that serve burgers, tacos or sandwiches cruising the streets. To Martinez, there seems to be a void for the kind of food that he enjoys most. "I enjoy the flavor profiles people take a lot of time and respect to make no matter how simple they are," he explained. Comfort foods like ramen and pho will likely make their way onto his menu.
"It's literally a labor of love," said Martinez, who has worked on restoring the former carnival concession stand in his spare time. He is incorporating twinkling lights, hanging lanterns and flags, elements that make him happy. "It's very me. Quirky. A little bit dorky," he said. His 4-year-old son chose red for the business logo, thrilled that it resembles a Pokemon ball.
Yatai Food Kart rolls out this month. For updates, follow @YataiFoodKart on Twitter or facebook.com/yataifw. – Sonya Cisneros Curry