Should food trucks fear the Bustaurant?

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Portable dining and the food truck craze isn’t limited to L.A. or New York. I was wandering in London’s East End, poking into eccentric boutiques like Junky Styling and the record store Rough Trade, when I came across a bright red double-decker London bus set up as a proper restaurant.

It was a cold day, so only a couple of hardy souls wrapped in thick mufflers were eating outside on the tables set up in front. But upstairs, I could see diners happily noshing on panissa (fried chickpea puree), savory bean ‘burgers,’ squash and lasagna. You guessed it: The kitchen is vegan. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stop for lunch as I had a reservation somewhere else. But the idea intrigued me. Instead of an Airstream trailer, a restaurant in a decommissioned bus: why not? It’s called Rootmaster Bustaurant and has been serving vegan fare since 2006.

Rootmaster Bustaurant, Ely’s Yard, part of The Old Truman Brewery, Hanbury Street (off Brick Lane), London; www.root-master.co.uk. Open Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Closest tube stations Aldgate East and Liverpool Street.

--S. Irene Virbila