by Rebecca Potts

Last week, I took a long lunch break to try out CArthop, a food truck event in the heart of Downtown Fresno. This event has been happening every Thursday afternoon for years, but I hadn’t even heard of it until a couple of weeks ago! It turns out, it’s the perfect spot to get some lunch downtown. Who doesn’t love food trucks??

CArthop

First things first: nothing makes me more anxious than street parking, but it wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be. Definitely bring quarters for the meter, but I was able to find a spot about a block away pretty quickly. When I turned the corner to Mariposa Plaza, I was already about to melt from the searing Fresno heat, but the best thing about the location of CArthop is the shade! Mariposa Plaza is covered in trees, and underneath them sits a small but pretty seating area for visitors.

The best thing about CArthop itself is, of course, the food trucks. There were five different options, including Tako BBQ, Sno Café, Dutch Bros, Meltdown Bistro, and La Chiquita (which was very brightly and beautifully decorated). I opted for the Meltdown Bistro and ordered the Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts. Trust me – you NEED to try this at least once. It was delicious but felt healthy. I have no idea if it actually was, but green vegetables always convince me. Danny, an employee of the Meltdown Bistro, told me that CArthop is typically a popular event. He’s been doing CArthop for a year and said the crowds show up for the lunch hour pretty consistently.

Danny, an employee of the Meltdown Bistro

There was a consistent flow of traffic through the plaza for the hour I spent there, and although they definitely could have used a few more tables, everyone seemed pretty happy standing in the shade of the trees and socializing with their families or coworkers. There was a DJ playing music in the middle of the plaza, and on some Thursdays, they bring in live music.

Ultimately, CArthop is a lunch break must-do for anyone working in the Downtown Fresno area, and is well worth the trip to try it out. The food trucks rotate every month, so there is always something new to try for repeat visitors. I’m personally hoping for an ice cream truck!

You can follow CArthop on Facebook or contact them at events@downtownfresno[dot]org or call (559) 490-9966 ext. 221.

Rebecca Potts is a blogger and Academic Coordinator for a Career Coaching Academy. In her spare time, she likes to act, sing, and write whatever comes to mind. She’s been a mental health advocate for years and has shared her story everywhere from California to Australia to help stop stigma. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her fiance and two cats, Spyro and Crash.