BATTERY PARK CITY — Long lines and rave reviews greeted the new food truck lot that opened Monday in Battery Park City.
Kimchi Taco Truck, Taim Mobile, Gorilla Cheese and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream served hungry crowds of local workers outside of 4 World Financial Center, the first in a rotating group of trucks that will now be stationed there five days-a-week.
"I just stumbled upon it — it's a fantastic discovery," said Erin White, 23, who works on Rector Street and picked up a kimchi bowl with barbecued short ribs from Kimchi Taco Truck. "It's such delicious food, and it's a fun concept."
Mara Armstrong, who works at American Express in the World Financial Center, was thrilled to have more lunchtime variety just outside her office door.
"We need more options here for sure," said Armstrong, 40, a Brooklyn resident. "People are excited about it."
Some of the street-food fans who stopped by the lot Monday afternoon came from farther afield.
Helen Galarza, 28, who works in SoHo, trekked down to Battery Park City after hearing that Gorilla Cheese would be there. She ordered one of the truck's most popular sandwiches, the spicy buffalo chicken with smoked mozzarella.
"They're really as good as — if not better than — the restaurants around here," Galarza said of the food trucks.
Workers at all four food trucks said Monday afternoon that they had done more business than they expected on their first day in the new Battery Park City location.
"It's as good as our best lunch spot in SoHo," said Paul Hightower, a worker at the Kimchi Taco Truck. "There are not a lot of options to eat around here. It's going to be a strong spot."
Michael Martins, manager of Taim Mobile, said the advantages of parking in the World Financial Center lot more than make up for the $100 daily fee to participate.
"We're guaranteed a spot, which is great," Martins said. "It becomes like a brick-and-mortar place. We'll always be here Monday, so people can find us. On the street, things happen — there's construction, you get kicked out by the cops."
Brookfield Properties, which owns the World Financial Center, arranged the food truck lot with help from the New York City Food Truck Association. On Tuesday, the lot will feature Bongo Brothers, Frites 'N' Meats, Eddie's Pizza and Cupcake Crew.
The food trucks will be at North End Avenue and Vesey Street from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, through 2013. For a complete schedule, visit the World Financial Center's website.
