New Cocina Filipina food truck to carry on Filipino food tradition in Milwaukee

Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
Cocina Filipina serves cucumber salad (left) and Cerdo Caliente, made with slow-cooked marinated pork, pickled red onions, house-made sriracha aioli, topped with green onions over rice.
Cocina Filipina serves cucumber salad (left) and Cerdo Caliente, made with slow-cooked marinated pork, pickled red onions, house-made sriracha aioli, topped with green onions over rice.

Cocina Filipina is filling the void left by Meat on the Street's abrupt closure in early May by bringing a new Filipino food truck to Milwaukee's food scene.

The woman-owned food truck comes from Modern Maki co-owner Marilupe "Lupe" Moreno and former Meat on the Street Manager Bailey "Billy" Bush.

The new concept started when Moreno reached out to Meat on the Street owner Alexa Alfaro about hiring any employees who were out of work after the closure. Moreno connected with Bush and they decided they could start a whole new food truck focusing on Filipino food with a Hispanic twist, given Moreno's Hispanic heritage.

"I thought, this is a good opportunity to fill the void that was going to be in Milwaukee since they announced their closure," Moreno said. "It's going to be very similar to past flavors that Milwaukee already knows. We're going to have the different things that Meat on the Street used to serve to keep the staples that Milwaukee loves."

Cocina Filipina fills a Filipino food hole in Milwaukee after Meat on the Street closed, offering fried rolls, lumpia and more.
Cocina Filipina fills a Filipino food hole in Milwaukee after Meat on the Street closed, offering fried rolls, lumpia and more.

That includes lumpia and pork or veggie fried rolls (five for $7 or 10 for $12). Also similar to Meat on the Street, Cocina Filipina has an adobo dish, Adobo Cerdo ($10), and other rice bowls.

Moreno is outfitting an unused Modern Maki truck to be the home of Cocina Filipina. They've been operating out of the Zocalo Food Truck Park, 636 S. 6th St., since they soft opened on May 11. They plan to have their grand opening May 18 at the opening night of Food Trucks in the Park, 251 Elm St., Thiensville. Moreno said they will be present at various festivals around the city this summer. For more on their current schedule, see their Instagram page.

Jordyn Noennig covers Wisconsin culture and lifestyle. Follow her on Instagram @JordynTaylor_n. Find her on Twitter @JordynTNoennig. Call her at 262-446-6601 or email Jordyn.Noennig@jrn.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee food truck Cocina Filipina serves Filipino-Hispanic fusion