New Cocina Filipina food truck to carry on Filipino food tradition

Cocina Filipina is filling 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 fill 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 flavors that Milwaukee already knows. We’re going to have the different things that Meat on the Street used to serve to keep the staples that Milwaukee loves.”

That includes lumpia and pork or veggie fried rolls (five 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 outfitting 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. Sixth St., since they soft opened on May 11, and had their grand opening May 18 at the opening night of Food Trucks in the Park in 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.

SUBMITTED 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.

SUBMITTED Cocina Filipina fills a Filipino food hole in Milwaukee after Meat on the Street closed. It offers fried rolls, lumpia and more.