Annual Food Cart Review Results Finalized
The annual review that determines where your favorite food carts will be next year is complete and the results have been tallied.
A team of more than 20 volunteers helped conduct this year's review of food carts in the City of Madison's Mall/Concourse Vending Area, which stretches from the Capitol Square to East Campus Mall. The review's final score rankings determine the order for vendors to pick their spots for the upcoming vending season.
The 2026 review period stretched from September 14 to October 10, with 31 food carts completing the process. The group of volunteers evaluated the food carts on:
- Food flavor (20 points)
- Cleanliness and maintenance (15 points)
- Design and visual impact (15 points)
- Graphics and signage (10 points)
- Menu (10 points)
- Presentation (10 points)
- Originality and creativity (10 points)
- Total experience (10 points)
Final scores are a combination of:
- Raw Average Score: The average score after discarding the highest and lowest overall scores.
- Adjusted Average Score: The Raw Average Score minus any demerit or violation points. Demerits include missing scheduled vending days and any health code violation citations issued between September 1 and August 31 of the previous year.
- Seniority: Bonus points for the number of years a food cart has been active in the Mall/Concourse Vending Area, with a maximum of 5 points possible.
2026 Food Cart Review Updated Final Rank Scores
| Rank | Cart Name | Adj. Avg. | Missed Days | Demerits | Final Adj. Avg. | Seniority | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braisin' Hussies Food Cart | 95.10 | 0 | 0 | 95.10 | 5 | 100.10 |
| 2 | Surco 2 | 92.78 | 0 | 0 | 92.78 | 5 | 97.78 |
| 3 | Surco | 92.61 | 1 | 0 | 91.61 | 5 | 96.61 |
| 4 | Common Pasta | 91.53 | 0 | 0 | 91.53 | 5 | 96.53 |
| 5 | Fresh Cool Drinks | 91.45 | 0 | 0 | 91.45 | 5 | 96.45 |
| 6 | Sandwich Hub | 91.06 | 0 | 0 | 91.06 | 5 | 96.06 |
| 7 | El Burrito Loco | 90.65 | 0 | 0 | 90.65 | 5 | 95.65 |
| 8 | Curt's Gourmet Popcorn | 90.15 | 0 | 0 | 90.15 | 5 | 95.15 |
| 9 | Teriyaki Samurai | 89.89 | 0 | 0 | 89.89 | 5 | 94.89 |
| 10 | Bulgogi Korean Fusion | 90.74 | 0 | 1 | 89.74 | 5 | 94.74 |
| 11 | Caracas Arepas | 89.39 | 0 | 0 | 89.39 | 5 | 94.39 |
| 12 | The Roost Fried Chicken | 91.29 | 1 | 0 | 90.29 | 4 | 94.29 |
| 13 | Hibachi Hut | 89.06 | 0 | 0 | 89.06 | 5 | 94.06 |
| 14 | Bombay Fast Cafe | 89.00 | 0 | 0 | 89.00 | 5 | 94.00 |
| 15 | Thai-Riffic | 88.70 | 0 | 0 | 88.70 | 5 | 93.70 |
| 16 | Taquitos Marimar | 89.68 | 1 | 0 | 88.68 | 5 | 93.68 |
| 17 | Pagoda Smoothie | 88.59 | 0 | 0 | 88.59 | 5 | 93.59 |
| 18 | Empanada Haus | 89.63 | 0 | 0 | 89.63 | 3 | 92.63 |
| 19 | Natural Juice | 87.10 | 0 | 0 | 87.10 | 5 | 92.10 |
| 20 | The Fizzy Lizzy Beverage Co. | 91.44 | 0 | 0 | 91.44 | 0 | 91.44 |
| 21 | Caracas Empanadas | 87.30 | 1 | 0 | 86.30 | 5 | 91.30 |
| 22 | Ernie's Kettle Korn | 86.17 | 0 | 0 | 86.17 | 5 | 91.17 |
| 23 | Toast | 87.15 | 0 | 1 | 86.15 | 5 | 91.15 |
| 24 | The Shop by EBNS | 88.65 | 0 | 0 | 88.65 | 1 | 89.65 |
| 25 | Jolly Frog | 86.60 | 0 | 0 | 86.60 | 2 | 88.60 |
| 26 | Ochabro | 88.28 | 0 | 0 | 88.28 | 0 | 88.28 |
| 27 | Crepuw | 90.22 | 3 | 0 | 87.22 | 1 | 88.22 |
| 28 | Gyro Guyz Xpress | 87.59 | 0 | 0 | 87.59 | 0 | 87.59 |
| 29 | China Cottage | 82.11 | 0 | 0 | 82.11 | 5 | 87.11 |
| 30 | Curd Girl | 81.63 | 0 | 0 | 81.63 | 5 | 86.63 |
| 31 | M & J Jamaican Kitch'n | 80.58 | 1 | 0 | 79.58 | 4 | 83.58 |
Based on these results, all 31 food carts that completed the review process met the minimum point total of 70 to qualify for a spot in the Mall/Concourse Vending Area next year.
