Drive into good taste: 10 bites to try at Last Exit in Dubai

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Antonie Robertson / The National

Stacie Overton Johnson tries out Last Exit in Dubai, a food truck park that offers a wide variety of dishes. Here’s her pick of bites to try out while there.

Clinton Street Baking Company

Fried chicken and waffle, Dh65

Clinton Street has loads of devoted fans, who frequent its location in Burj View Towers, downtown Dubai. They’ll be happy to find it here in food truck form. The menu includes a handful of sandwiches, a kale and quinoa salad, pancakes, waffles, deserts and milkshakes. But the bestseller, of course, is the fried-chicken and waffle. This includes two extra-large slabs of fried chicken, honey-tabasco sauce and maple butter served on a giant, crispy Belgian vanilla buttermilk waffle.

The Hot Dog Stand

The Mexican, Dh28

This straightforward stand serves up three signature hot dogs with a choice of beef or chicken sausage. Or you can build your own, with toppings that include beetroot, pineapple, jalapeños, green onions, guacamole, nachos, tomatoes and more. We kept it simple and ordered The Mexican, which comes loaded with a flavour-explosion of guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, sour cream, nacho bits and shredded cheddar cheese.

Big Smoke Burger

Poutine, Dh25

While Big Smoke Burger is known for its burgers (naturally), we opted for the poutine as it was the most unexpected item we found among the food trucks. Lucky for us, it was the real deal and offers an authentic slice of Canada in the middle of the desert. Big Smoke Burger’s poutine is made with cheese curds from Quebec that are piled on top of hand-cut fries and smothered in homemade gravy.

Urban Seafood

Classic lobster roll, Dh46

Urban Seafood has a good mix of dishes on offer, ranging from fried calamari and dynamite chilli shrimp pops to fish and chips, lobster quesadillas and a lobster grilled-cheese sandwich. Try the yummy classic lobster roll, which comes with chunks of Maine lobster and lemon and jersey sauce, all generously packed into a split-top, toasted bun.

Operation Falafel

Falafel sandwich, Dh14

This truck sticks to what it knows best: falafel and manakish (it offers salads, too). The bestseller is the falafel sandwich, served on saj bread with falafel, hummus, pickles, mint leaves and tahini salad. There’s a fiery version available, too, with spicy shatta sauce.

Burger Pit

British Heritage Burger, Dh35

Love burgers? Try the British Heritage burger from this truck. It comes with onion, tomatoes, lettuce, a sweet apple-onion marmalade and earthy Westcombe cheddar cheese. Burger Pit’s other notable burgers include: The Argentinian, with onion, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, avocado and sweet piquillo peppers; and the vegetarian Portobello burger, with crispy mushrooms, garlic butter, beetroot slaw, rocket and tarragon butter. They also serve hot dogs and milkshakes.

Sugar Rush

Gooey goodness French toast, Dh40

This is the go-to spot at Last Exit if you have a sweet tooth. Sugar Rush has five varieties of milkshakes on offer (including one called the carnival candy shake). The handful of sweet bites on the short menu are candy floss, assorted ice creams, the caramel banana French toast and the gooey goodness French toast. The latter is a French-toast base covered in toasted marshmallows, chocolate sauce and an upside down ice-cream cone — a guilt-inducing sweet end to any meal.

Poco Loco

Chicken tacos, Dh30

Poco Loco dishes up Latin American cuisine in the form of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and its signature nachos. Try the trio of tacos with chicken al pastor (shawarma-style chicken influenced by Lebanese immigrants in Mexico). These mini tacos are filled with chicken, salsa verde, coriander and onion, topped with roasted pineapple and served with lime and chilli. Dh30 for chicken, steak and lamb tacos; Dh25 for mushroom.

The Brass

Tandoori chicken paratha, Dh45

The Brass, known for its coffee and teas, is the place to go for a fresh cuppa. There is a selection of salads and bakery items, too, but don’t overlook the sandwiches. There’s a Moroccan-spiced pulled lamb flatbread, a sumac and lemon-chicken wrap, a flatbread with melted Brie, pumpkin, porcini and tarragon and more. We tried — and loved — the tandoori-chicken paratha which comes with a heap of chicken packed into a crispy paratha with pickles, mango and mint raita.

Baja Fresh

Fajitas, Dh45

This fast-food chain from California prides itself on serving up classic Tex-Mex street food made with fresh ingredients. The signature items here are burritos and tacos. You can also get quesadillas, nachos, a tostada salad and a torta sandwich. There are chicken tenders and chicken wings — classic and boneless — on offer as well. Try the fresh and flavourful steak fajitas with roasted veggies, rice, beans, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo and warm tortillas.