Cooks explain why so many food trucks pop up in Siouxland
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Siouxlanders are lining up in parking lots to grab some grub from a variety of food trucks around Sioux City, but why are there so many people now serving food on the streets?
It seems like everywhere you go in Sioux City, there's a food truck parked and serving delicious food around every corner.
Kai Thai and The Corn Dog Company have both been serving food around Siouxland for roughly three years now, both getting into the business of food trucks for different reasons.
'Well, basically, my uncle, he has one in Omaha, and he kind of convinced us to open one here. And ever since then, we've been enjoying the food trucking business,' said Diego Ruiz, the co-owner of The Corn Dog Company.
LifeServe Blood Center's Bloodmobile coming to Woodbury County
'My dad and his wife, they were both born in Laos. My dad's wife actually came here just a couple of years ago, so that's kind of a big part of why we wanted to start the truck, just for her and have something to do,' said Nickolas Saengthammavong, a co-owner of Kai Thai.
While a brick and mortar business was an idea that crossed both companies minds, the fact that they're able to travel anywhere proves to work better for the cooks.
'Having a food truck, it's cool just to be able to move around, go to different events, places, and also, . . . when we started, we [were] pretty new to the food industry, so if there would be a little easier start with a food truck than having the restaurant,' said Saengthammavong.
'We could go out and like go to like smaller towns like Le Mars, Onawa, like yesterday, we were over there in Cherokee. We just, would you like to go around too, so like more people know of us,' said Ruiz.
What makes, not just Sioux City, but the whole Siouxland area so inviting for food trucks? The Corn Dog Company and Kai Thai say it's the friendly atmosphere.
Story continues below
Top Story: Unofficial results: Voters say 'no' to South Sioux City school bond
Lights & Sirens: Sioux City firefighter taken to hospital following Mayday call during Morningside fire
Sports: #7 South Sioux City boys soccer upsets #2 Millard North 2-1 in NSAA Class A State Quarterfinals
'All the owners too; we're all cool with each other, so it kind of makes it better too, because we like to talk to each other and invite each other for like events. Like if I get invited to one, I'll tell Kai Thai if there if they got a spot open be like, oh, let's go too. I don't know, Siouxland is this the best over here for food trucks,' said Ruiz.
'I think for sure it's how friendly and just supportive all the customers and people around here are. Everyone likes to support small businesses. Everyone's always so nice to us, you know, it's cool we get to make connections with all the customers. Yeah, we really like that. We enjoy that,' said Saengthammavong.
Want to enjoy a meal from a food truck? On June 6, the 10th annual Food Truck Friday will kick off at Pearl Street Park.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Big Brother Big Sisters of Siouxland appoints new executive director
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland will soon have a new executive director. Ciarra Prather will be taking over as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland (BBBS), as Kristie Arlt will be relocating to Omaha. Prather brings a background in sales, leadership, marketing, public relations, strategic communication, and community engagement into her new role. Some of this experience was fostered here at KCAU 9. 'Originally from Utah and raised in Iowa, I've always felt connected to the values of hard work, integrity, and community,' said Prather. 'I'm honored to lead Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland and look forward to building on the strong foundation Kristie has created.' Story continues below Top Story: Local band to be featured on Saturday in the Park Main Stage Lights & Sirens: Part of roof collapses during fire at Dakota City boat dealer Sports: Construction of multi-sport complex west of Lewis and Clark Park proposed Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here Prather's appointment will be effective starting on June 30, and Arlt will be around until the end of July. Arlt voiced support in BBBS's decision. 'After nearly seven incredible years leading Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland, I am moving to Omaha with a heart full of gratitude,' Arlt said. 'It has been the greatest privilege to witness the impact our mentors have made on the lives of so many children. As I pass the baton, I am filled with confidence and joy knowing that Ciarra will lead with the same passion, determination, and heart. Her experience, energy, and vision will be an amazing gift to the organization and the community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Part of roof collapses during fire at Dakota City boat dealer
DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (KCAU) — On Friday morning, local fire crews responded to a fire in Dakota City, Nebraska. Around 5 a.m. Friday morning, Dakota City Fire Department personnel were called to a fire at 1909 Broadway Street in Dakota City, which is a local boat dealer business known as Cimmarina Boats. Crews found the roof of a building on fire when they arrived, and a section of the roof collapsed while they were at the scene. Story continues below Top Story: Local band to be featured on Saturday in the Park Main Stage Lights & Sirens: Part of roof collapses during fire at Dakota City boat dealer Sports: Construction of multi-sport complex west of Lewis and Clark Park proposed Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here Authorities believe the fire started in the repair room and workshop as a boat, that was inside for repairs, melted during the fire. South Sioux City and Homer fire crews also responded to assist in firefighting efforts. No one was reported inside the building during the fire. Further investigation will determine if the building needs to be red-tagged or if it's safe to re-enter. Power to the facility is cut off at this time, and the cause of the fire is unknown. The fire is under investigation by the Nebraska Fire Marshall's Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
The Email Chain Heard 'Round the Corps: Top Enlisted Leader Makes Surprise Visit to Corporal's Graduation
Cpl. Andrew Hundley never expected fame, but after becoming a Marine Corps sensation overnight, he wields it with humility and gratitude. In mid-April, Hundley's staff noncommissioned officer attempted to route a military certificate he completed up the chain so he could get a spot in a Marine Corps program designed to give up-and-coming leaders the skills to take on greater roles within the service. But the email got sent forcewide, setting off a chain of hundreds of responses from Marines across the fleet and lighting social media ablaze with memes and fraternal adulation only members of the amphibious service can dish out. Read Next: Army Faces Backlash over Plan to Divert Barracks Funds to Border Mission On Thursday, Hundley, 24 years old and a cyberspace warfare operator from Colorado, graduated from that program, known as the Corporals Course, and the top enlisted leader of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, made a surprise appearance to help herald his and the other junior leaders' accomplishment. "The Marine Corps gods have called upon me," Ruiz said at the graduation to cheers, laughs and whoops across the room for Hundley. "They were setting up a schedule, and the schedule somehow ended up with -- where you at, Hundley? Raise your hand ..." "An unintentional, so-innocent email that went to everyone," he said at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, where the event was held. In an interview with on Thursday, Hundley said that he was "ecstatic" to have the top enlisted Marine attend his graduation. He was quick to say that his staff sergeant was doing her due diligence in trying to get him into the course, but a glitch with the distro list led him out of the unknown and into the annals of Marine Corps lore. "I was worried more than anything that I would get in trouble or I was worried something bad was going to happen," he said. In the immediate aftermath, he said his leadership checked in on him, and then together they eventually leaned into the joke. "They took off with it and were super supportive about it," he said. "They didn't start making jokes or anything, they called me to ask if I was OK and they wanted to make sure I was doing OK." Soon, Hundley started getting requests to sign his certificate. The Marine Corps' official Instagram page got in on the joke in a post, declaring "take me off this distro" in the caption. Marines and veterans took to social media with memes, but ones that were wrapped in the congratulatory ribbing common to the Corps. "At least of my experience with the Marine Corps, we know when to be serious and that we know sometimes when it's a good time to not be serious," Hundley said. "It's a big community out there; everyone I've come across has been really motivational to talk to about [it], and I think it's a great way that we develop this because it's like friends and brother and sibling, how you have that humor with each other." After Ruiz posted to social media a video of his attendance at the Corporals Course graduation, Hundley said he started getting messages of support and congratulations from across the country, from Marines and veterans, too. He had heard rumors that Ruiz would be attending, but knew he had "so much stuff on his plate" that he wasn't certain. But he ended up being "completely amazed" -- and a little nervous -- that Ruiz attended and appreciated that he was there to celebrate with them. "To me, supporting our Marines in their endeavor to become [professional military education] complete was the win," Ruiz told through a spokesperson Thursday, referring to courses Marines take throughout their careers as they advance through the ranks. "We are Marines, and being a Marine can be difficult. As leaders, if we can take an opportunity like this and turn it into something positive that raises morale, then we should do it." Ruiz said that he too received the email chain and had "a good laugh" about a petition that received more than a thousand signatures to get the commandant of the Marine Corps to come to the graduation ceremony. Hundley said one his favorite replies to the email chain went something like, "I don't even breathe 8th comm air, why am I seeing this" in a request to get off of the distro list, referring to the 8th Communication Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Hundley serves as a mission element leader in his platoon. He joined the Marine Corps in 2021, initially wanting to be a pilot in the Air Force. But a Marine Corps recruiter told him about opportunities in cyber after learning that Hundley enjoys building out computers as a hobby. Having worked with animals growing up, he said he intends to start volunteering at an animal shelter in North Carolina as part of his next steps and is looking forward to finishing his five-year contract in the Marine Corps, wanting to "give back … as much as I can" in that time period, before looking at other cyber opportunities in the government or private sector. "I didn't want this kind of thing to take away from the experience of all the other corporals that were going in that course with me, because they worked so hard," Hundley said. "They were amazing people, every one of them in their own different ways. And they were so inspirational. They deserved more fame than I ever got from it, even just that little bit." He was promoted to corporal last year and has thought a lot about the leader he is and wants to continue to be. Of the email saga, he said that he learned it's OK to not be "super serious all the time" and that part of being human is to "sit back and laugh" about the absurdities of life. "There's a lot of things I don't know, and I want to inspire growth in all of my Marines that I'm leading," he said. "I want them to know that they're amazing in their own ways, and that they have valued input and ideas. I want to inspire them to grow as their own human beings and leaders." Related: Marine Corps Releases New Details on Drone Competitions Coming to Bases Around the World
