West’s first food truck hub and bar rises in Kingsville

Ellie Marin is establishing a bar and food van centre in an old used car lot in Kingsville. Photo by Michael Rayner

The west’s first food truck hub and bar is rising with the arrival of West Side Best Side.

Opening in Kingsville this Friday night (November 3), the open air bar, art, music and food truck space will then run throughout summer on the site of the former Rising Sun Car Yard.

West Side Best Side founder Ellie Marin said the site will host a rotating roster of food trucks along with craft beer, cider, wine and cocktail pitchers.

“It’s going to be like a summer-long community celebration,” she said.

“It will feature a lot of local trucks from Maribyrnong and right across Melbourne as well.”

Ms Marin, who owns food trucks Cornutopia and My Two Mums Ice Cream, has noticed an explosion in the field over recent years but wanted to bring something different to the west.

She is keen to ensure the independent spirit of the site sets it apart from the corporate flavour of similar projects in the northern suburbs.

“There will be no CUB-style multinationals; we are looking at all local micro-brewed beers and ciders along with summer-style cocktails.”

Already on board are 3 Ravens Brewery and Pink Lady Cider.

Food trucks will rotate daily, including Beatbox Kitchen, Noc Mamas, Dos Diablos, Round the Way Bagels and TOASTA – along with Cornutopia and My Two Mums.
Tacos by food truck Cornutopia. Photo supplied
Tacos by food truck Cornutopia. Photo supplied

Space will be offered over to artists to display their works and acoustic live music is also expected to feature.

A garden will be established and visitors are more than welcome to lend a hand or take home some produce.

Ms Marin wants the end result to be a relaxing space attractive to everyone from local families to workers looking for a quiet knock-off drink.

West Side Best Side will be open from 5-10pm Fridays and noon-10pm Saturdays and Sundays, on the corner of Geelong and Williamstown Roads.

Then in six months time it will be gone, making way for the six-level, 33-apartment ‘Kingsvillage’ project.

If successful, Ms Marin is hoping to take the concept to other moribund sites awaiting activation.

Further details: West Side Best Side