'THE REAL DEAL.' Co-owners Mike and Rachel (pictured) of Brooklyn Mike's Food Truck are ready to bring a piece of New York City and the Caribbean to hungry mouths of the Chippewa Valley. Sandwiches, wraps and smash burgers dominate the current menu, with locally sourced ingredients at the center of its operations.

What was once a “someday” dream became reality about a year ago, when Brooklyn Mike’s Food Truck rolled through the Chippewa Valley.

Brooklyn Mike’s existence – and grub – is thanks to co-owner Mike’s mom, who shared her son’s dream to bring their home cooking to the streets via food truck.

“When (my mom) passed in 2024, it changed from a ‘someday’ idea into a mission to honor her memory,” he shared. “The menu is a map of my life. I grew up in Brooklyn with a Caribbean family, so those flavors are in my DNA.

“I wanted to bring a real piece of NYC to the Chippewa Valley,” he continued, “not just a version of it, but the real deal.”

Handhelds are king at Brooklyn Mike’s, where sandwiches, wraps and smash burgers dominate the menu.

Perhaps the best introduction to those flavors, from Brooklyn Mike’s, is The Chopped Cheese ($13). Ordered as a sandwich or wrap, The Chopped Cheese – “the ultimate Brooklyn staple,” Mike said – is loaded with cooked onions, lettuce and tomato, with cheddar and American cheese melted over chopped ground beef.

Caribbean influences shine in The Jerk Chicken ($14), a sandwich centered around bold, spicy jerk sauce-marinated chicken. Grilled pineapple and dressed slaw top things off, all between a toasted roll. That ‘wich is a taste of home for Mike, who said it’s the kind of thing he grew up eating.

After just shy of a year on the road, the No. 1 seller – closely followed by The Jerk Chicken, Mike said – is The Flatbush Classic ($10): a smash burger topped with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, fried onions and Brooklyn Mike’s signature smoky bacon mayo.

Handhelds are king at Brooklyn Mike’s, where sandwiches, wraps and smash burgers dominate the menu.

Some of the food truck’s protein has come from Sokup’s Market of Chippewa Falls and JNE Meats in Lake Hallie, as the owners balance their desire to keep things local and their prices competitive, they said.

As a family business, owner duo Mike and Rachel made sure to include a kids’ menu too, featuring simple (and still flavor-packed) choices like chicken strip baskets, plain hamburgers (with the option to add cheese or bacon), grilled cheese and cheese quesadillas.

Keep up with the biz on Facebook for timely updates on when – and where – the truck will pop up next. Currently, upcoming stops include a May 6 event at Markquart Motors (2191 S. Prairie View Rd., Eau Claire) and SLATE Boutique & Gifts (3834 Talmadge Rd., Eau Claire) on May 9.

Follow Brooklyn Mike's Food Truck on Facebook to view the truck's schedule, or reach out at brooklynmikesfoodtruck@gmail.com. Skip the line by ordering ahead online and swinging by to pick up your order.