Street Food NHV
New Haven is home to four distinct food truck districts. These popular destinations appeal to residents and visitors alike. Get the inside scoop from CT Insider here.
What’s the easiest, and possibly cheapest, way to travel around the world? Put on your walking shoes and tour the four street food districts in New Haven. A full loop is 5.4 miles, but chances are you’ll be full before you finish. You’ll travel from Downtown New Haven with its historic green, admire the “Yale Whale” (Ingall’s Ice Rink designed by Eero Saarinen) at the Sachem District, then head over to the Cedar District (near the Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital) with its long history of food carts. Finally, or firstly if you arrived by car, you can be wowed by Food Truck Paradise at Long Wharf located off of I-95 at exit 46.
Whatever your route, you will be tempted with cuisine from around the world:
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American
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Bakery
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Chinese
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Coffee & Tea
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Ethiopian
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Ice Cream
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Italian/Pizza/Mediterranean
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Japanese/Korean
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Latino/Spanish/Puerto Rican/Columbian/Cuban
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Mexican/Southwest
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Middle Eastern
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Southern
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Thai/Southeast Asian/Vietnamese
Featured dishes include Chicken Lo Mein; steak and cheese sandwiches, beef, chicken, and veggie tacos, pizza, ribs, empañadas, cashew nut chicken, falafels, General Tso’s chicken, Caesar’s salad, lamb curry, coffee, tea, cupcakes, ice cream…you get the picture.
Street food has long been a staple in New Haven, especially by the Yale School of Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital and along the shore. These hot spots have been around since the ‘80s. Going back to 2010, the Medical District was getting rave reviews for its international cuisine, including this article from the New York Times. And the accolades haven’t stopped. Carts located near Yale, Albertus Magnus College, and Gateway Community College offer satisfying meals that fit within a college student’s budget while not sacrificing taste. Read what one Yale student had to say about the Sachem Street offerings in the Yale Alumni Magazine.
Although less famous than the “picture” saying, a taste is worth a thousand words.
Tip: If taking the train, hop off at the State Street Station (served by Shore Line East, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield line and Metro-North) and you’ll be steps away from the Downtown District.
Tip: When driving into the Elm City, visit www.parknewhaven.com for information and specials.
Food Truck Paradise at Long Wharf
Directions
I-95 South
Take Exit 46 (Sargent Dr.) toward Long Wharf Dr.
Turn right onto Sargent Dr.
Take the 2nd left onto Food Terminal Dr.
I-95 North
Take Exit 46 (Long Wharf Dr.)
Turn left at light
Cedar Street
Directions
I-91 South
Stay right on I-91 until the merge onto CT-34 W and then follow the directions below.
I-95 North and South
Merge onto CT-34 W via Exit 47 toward Downtown New Haven.
Stay straight to go onto North Frontage Rd.
North Frontage Rd becomes Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Turn left onto College St.
Turn slight right onto Congress Ave.
Take the 1st right onto Cedar St.
Downtown
Directions
I-91 South
Take Exit 4 toward State Street.
Turn right onto Humphrey St.
Take the 1st left onto State St/US-5 S.
Turn right onto Chapel St.
Take the 1st right onto Church St.
You are now at the New Haven Green and can use a local map to locate vendors throughout the downtown area.
I-95 North and South
Merge onto CT-34 W via Exit 47 toward Downtown New Haven.
Stay straight to go onto North Frontage Rd.
North Frontage Rd. becomes Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Turn right onto Church St.
You are now at the New Haven Green and can use a local map to locate vendors throughout the downtown area.
Sachem Street
Directions
From I-95 North & South, merge onto I-91 North (Exit 48)
I-91 North
Take Exit 3 (Trumbull St.)
Turn slight left onto Trumbull St.
Turn right onto Prospect St.
Take the 2nd left onto Sachem St.
I-91 South
Take the Trumbull St exit, Exit 3.
Turn slight left onto Trumbull St.
Turn right onto Prospect St.
Take the 2nd left onto Sachem St.