They pack a lot of good food into a small package at a reasonable price! Christopher's food carts are a welcome sight downtown Spring thru the Fall. The tarragon chicken salad is delicious, and I LOVE the small block of cheese. The fresh pickles are a good compliment to the chicken salad, and that's normally my go to lunch meal. Today I went with the fettuccine, feta and tomatoes! Delicious and filling! Meals come with a side of bread and everything on the menu being in the $7-10 range is incredibly reasonable for downtown Richmond. There's always a line, but service is fast and friendly. Truly a Richmond icon! read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Fettuccine, feta and tomatoes w/ bread. $7 & change! - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Quick, easy, cheap, and the food is great. It's a Richmond staple in the summer for a reason. It is always filling and fresh but not going to weigh you down read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Cucumber chicken salad sesame noodles - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Very good food cart near VCU MCV campus. I love to get a la carte chicken salad and eat it on my own crackers back at the office. The chicken salad is meaty and seasoned well and not overly wet, with enough raisins to add flavor and texture. And the price is right! You can also get their tuna salad a la carte. It is also a good offering but not as outstanding as the chicken salad. If you are hungrier, they sell the chicken or tuna salad with two sides and french bread as well. Side selections include a wedge of cheese, mixed fruit, sesame pasta, marinated cucumbers, and country cole slaw. I have had the cucumbers, the slaw, and the fruit. All are amply portioned. Soft drinks available, cold, and fairly inexpensive. read more

It's not horrible that the line is so long, it's a testament to the food quality, what is annoying is allowing people to have multiple orders, I'm assuming the other people in their office are too lazy to stand in line. Also, the bread was sliced haphazardly, some pieces are huge while others, like mine, were the size of a cracker. Food is still awesome, but the overall experience left a lot to be desired read more

Whenever I "forget" to pack lunch Christopher's is always there for me. I've had almost all of their menu items but I'm hooked on their chicken salad. It's so moist and so flavorful, I love the golden raisins in it. Their sesame pasta is to die for, I love a cold noodle. Cucumbers are incredible, crunchy and tangy. All this for about $10 can't be beat. I'm always so sad in the winter when they go on break (usually around December). Love the guy who works the cart at MCV, he's friendly and funny. They have multiple carts down town, and also offer catering! read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Chicken salad, sesame pasta, cucumbers, cheese, bread - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I still remember this back from 20 years ago and my mouth water is when I think about the sesame noodles. Wish they'd open a location in DC.

A frequent lunch spot of mine at work! A food truck right on VCU Health's campus that serves pasta salads, chicken salads, fruits, cheese etc. a perfect lunch option if you don't want anything super heavy though the portion sizes here are generous for the price point. The tomato feta pasta is incredible and a classic. However my favorite would be the cold sesame pasta with a side of chicken salad and marinated cucumbers. Consistent and delicious every time. Most importantly - service is FAST. Lines can appear long but they are fast and efficient. 10/10 stop by here for your next lunch break! read more

Love the chicken salad and Cole slaw. The people manning the cart are always nice. Price is reasonable.

If you're looking to get more bang for your buck while working or visiting someone at VCU Health, don't hesitate to check out this cart! They are located just a few steps away from the Valentine Museum on Clay St. currently and can be spotted with the bright colored umbrellas and usually long line on bright sunny days. But don't let that long line deter you, because it moves pretty quick as all the food has been prepared beforehand, so they just dip up and package it to go. You will definitely find generous portion sizes at this cart and a decent variety of options to customize with mains and sides. I've had the chicken salad, creamy shrimp salad, sesame pasta, fresh fruit, and cheese, and all are delicious. My coworkers also love the coleslaw. read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Menu as of 5-2-23 - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I just learned this food cart is a downtown staple Located on Main Street, I noticed the long line as I approached. Thankfully it moved quickly! I enjoyed the lemon + dill tuna. I paired it with the sesame noodles and marinated cucumbers. Both really great! read more

Can't say enough good things about this place/truck. The two guys who work at the 8th and Main location are the friendliest, and genuinely enjoy being out there serving their customers! They definitely radiate good vibes and energy. Then, the food is amazing. Filling, fresh, and reasonably priced. I always opt for the sesame pasta (bomb!) and the marinated cucumbers. The bread is the icing. It's all so satisfying and delicious. read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Menu and pricing as of June 2023 - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love this cart! It's right on the VCU Health campus M-F during lunch hours so it's convenient for me to go on a quick run while I'm at work. The people are friendly and the food is awesome. I always get the chicken salad, sesame noodles and cheese wedge. Generous proportion for less that $9. Highly recommend it! read more

It's no secret that I adore chicken salad. It's one of my favorite dishes (it's even listed as my choice for a last meal on my Yelp profile). So when I found out there's a food cart in downtown Richmond whose primary purpose is to sell chicken salad, obviously I had to check it out. I've had their chicken salad twice now and it is a phenomenal platter. But maybe platter is the wrong word? It comes in a little plastic container with two sides and crusty bread. I've had the fruit twice and will continue to order it. Love how fresh it is! I've also had the sesame noodles and cheese wedge. I'd lean more toward the cheese but the noodles are tasty as well. I'm curious to try the cole slaw too! Another great thing about this spot is that it's crazy cheap. Only $6 per meal. At that rate, I never have to go grocery shopping again. read more

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One of my coworkers eats at the Christopher's Runaway Gourmay cart almost every day. I've often wondered why as it seems like he just eats fruit, cheese, bread, and some sort of salad everyday. Boring, right? Wrong. I am upset at myself for not trying Christopher's sooner. --Food: Alright, so my assessment before of "fruit, cheese, bread, and some sort of salad" isn't *that* far off, but everything is so delicious. I've tried the dill tuna salad and the shrimp pasta salad as main items, and the fresh fruit, vinegar cucumbers, cheese wedge, sesame pasta, and bread as side items. My favorite combination is the dill tuna with fresh fruit and vinegar cucumbers with a side of bread. The fruit is super fresh and the vinegar cucumbers are absolutely delicious. Never before have I looked forward so much to eating cucumbers for lunch. The dill tuna is also A+ and has jump started my recent obsession with dill. I do still need to try their chicken salad and some of the pastas, but the tuna is just so good. --Cost: $6 for a huge scoop of tuna salad, side of fresh fruit, a scoop of cucumbers, and a large piece of bread is a heck of a bargain in downtown Richmond. Everything is unbelievably fresh tasting and delicious. Some of the pasta dishes are even less. *** Christopher's accepts cash or check only, no cards. *** --Service: There are 3 carts on Main but I have only been to the middle one. The ladies there are very nice and many people in the line don't even need to verbalize their order other than agreeing Yes to "The usual [enter name here]?". The line can get pretty massive at times. At about 12:30 PM one day I was in a line of about 20 people down the street. It moved very quick, however, and couldn't have been more than 15 minutes. --Atmosphere: It's a streetcart, but don't let it fool you. --Overall: Man have I been missing out the last 4 years. Since I've started eating a bit more healthy, I can see myself eating here multiple times a week, both for freshness and quality of food as well as it being light on the bank account. No hesitations giving Christopher's 5 stars. read more

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I see why Christopher's Runaway Gourmay has stood the test of time. Their tarragon chicken salad is delicious, their prices are reasonable, and service is fast & friendly. It is the perfect place to grab a quick and tasty lunch in Richmond! read more

This is the most fantastic quick lunch spot I've found in richmond this far. I've been about 5 times in the past month, and I'll be keeping that up. The guys at the stand are incredibly kind and lively, and never fail to brighten my day. The pasta itself is great, I'd recommend either the rotini or sesame noodles, but all choices are amazing. And for a $5 meal, it's an amazing lunch option, couldn't recommend more! read more

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Came here to have a quick bite and I always see a crowd around their little food cart. You can order a pasta and choose from a few sides (fruit, sesame pasta, cucumber, wedge of cheese as far as I can recall). I ordered the tomato and feta cheese pasta and had a side of sesame pasta and a wedge of cheese. Both pastas were delicious as well as the cheese, and there was a LOT in that little plate! Definitely worth the money. Pastas come with a small loaf of French bread which was more on the chewy side but really tasty nevertheless. I would definitely recommend Runaway Gourmay for a quick, delicious and filling lunch! Just keep in mind that their pastas are meant to be served cold so don't expect hot pasta. Their sesame pasta is so good next time I may just order sesame pasta with a side of sesame pasta as well... read more

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I would eat this everyday if I could afford it. Very fresh tasting and full of flavor. Always get the chicken salad, sesame pasta and cucumbers. 10/10. read more

For over 15 years providing some of the highest quality lunch you can find in Richmond! You will be shocked by the quality coming from this small food cart day in and day out. There is absolutely nothing on the menu that isn't fresh and outstanding Can't wait for the spring when they reopen! read more

I did my pediatric residency at MCV and the best days can be remembered by enjoying Christopher's exquisite tarragon chicken salad for lunch both because it was the best lunch around and because it meant I actually had time for lunch :) Coincidentally, Christopher was married to one of our Pediatric ICU fellows and he's also a super nice guy and talented chef. His soups are out of this world and catering him for our work lunches were always welcomed by all residents. read more

I used to eat lunch here all the time during grad school and randomly craved it 5 years later now that I'm back in VA. Stopped by out of nostalgia and hunger. Got my usual chicken salad, sesame noodles and fruit salad with side of bread. Despite it packed in a small container it is very filling. Flavors were exactly as I remembered. I think the combo of the chicken salad and fruit is the way to go as the fruit cuts through the monotony of just eating plain chicken salad with its tart sweetness. The sesame noodles were good but now that I'm older and more health conscious (ha) I would probably go for the cucumbers or extra fruit as the second side as I was very full by the end of the meal. Don't sleep on the chewy bread either-having on the side makes it like eating a deconstructed chicken salad sandwich. Anyway thanks again for all the meals through the years! Glad this cart is still doing well. read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Chicken salad, sesame noodles, fruit - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I've enjoyed lunch from their food cart at 8th and Main several times. The selections are very creative and delicious. Service is always fast and friendly and prices are very reasonable. read more

The amount of good things I heard from people going to "Christopher's", I could have sworn it was a restaurant. So I finally decided to check it out for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised it was a food cart! I got the chicken salad, sesame noodles, and cucumbers. Honestly, it was all delicious and you cannot beat the price of $6.25. The only negative I have is that the sesame noodles conflict with the chicken salad, which made the salad seem a tad bland. After a rinse of the mouth, all was well! read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Tarragon Chicken Salad, Sesame Noodles, Marinated Cucumbers $6.25 - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This is one of the best places to get food at the VCU Health System. They only serve lunch. They are usually gone before 2 pm. The set up around 11 or so. Best get there early to avoid the lines. I've tried several of the dishes with Tarragon Chicken Salad and Sesame noodles with a wedge of cheese and french bread and butter being my favorite. The shrimp with pasta is my other favorite. The dishes are consistently delicious. Whatever your taste, this is the place! read more

This is a very popular lunch spot for the downtown work crowd. Given the variety of options, price, and quality, I can see why people are willing to keep some cash in the pockets! However, I wasn't too impressed by the chicken salad. I know, I know - People are obsessed with it, citing it is the best they have ever had. For me, it was too sour and the consistency wasn't for me. Also, while I think it is a steal to get a huge scoop of that with two sides and bread, the flavors of the each part of this buffet were not up to par. I got the sesame noodles which were bland. They had some semblance of a sesame taste, but it was more of an afterthought. Sesame is a hard flavor to pull off on its own anyway, so the noodles needed something else to add depth. The cucumbers were good and added some freshness to an otherwise VERY heavy meal. I actually wasn't able to finish even half of it! Bottom line: Remember to bring cash to any of the Gourmay locations, and be prepared for a filling meal. Some of the food items here leave more to be desired though. read more

If I worked near MCV I would totally be hitting up the food carts on a daily basis. There is some seriously good grub comin' out of the carts and Christopher's Runaway Gourmay just happens to be a newfound fave. $5.50 for a salad, two sides, and a hunk of bread? Can't beat that- especially when it's scrumptious and serves as two meals. When the lemon dill tuna salad, marinated cucumbers, and mixed fruit was piled into a little plastic container I thought I might need something additional to eat. Man was I wrong! Looks are definitely deceiving when it comes to this lunch portion- it may be served in a small container but it's filling! The tuna is so delicious that I had to make myself stop eating before I reached the point of needing someone to roll me to my car. The upside to putting the kabash on my food intake at lunch? Awesome tuna salad and sides that served as a meal the next day! If you don't have to hurry back to work, then I'd suggest eating lunch in the garden at the Valentine Richmond History Center. What better way to beat the mid-week blues than by noshing on delectable cuisine in a beautiful setting! read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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After walking to and from meetings around MCV and seeing a giant line at Christopher's Runaway Gourmay, I had to stop to see what all the fuss was about. Now I know! Based on other Yelpers, I ordered the Lemon Dill Tuna Salad with the sesame pasta and marinated cucumbers as my sides. When I was handed the small container with a chunk of french bread, I wondered if that would be enough for lunch (it was). I was very happy with everything I ordered - all were full of flavor and well made. For $5.50 (including tax), I enjoyed a tasty well made lunch that really hit the spot on such a hot day. I may be forgetting to bring my lunch more often, trying some of their other offerings. read more

Christophers is my favorite food cart on the MCV campus. First, because there are so many great options, Food Truck Friday should be the next big thing on campus. If you've never tried a food truck before, Christophers should definitely be your first choice. I'm pretty sure I've tried every food truck AT LEAST twice since I started professional school here in Richmond. I was a little intimidated by the long line but from day one, Christophers held the number one spot. My go-to meal is the chicken salad with a side of fresh fruit and sesame noodles. I know it sounds like a weird combination but together, it's so tasty and surprisingly filling. They also give you a baguette with butter as an additional free side. I've tried the tuna with dill and shrimp pasta before too. They're both good but doesn't hold a candle to the chicken salad. In the end, Christophers is the healthier option and is also super cheap. Lunch for 5.75? Hook line and sinker, you got me. read more

Their food is good, price is cheap, and its prefect for summer time especially if you want something quick and refreshing. I know they have a few locations and there's one right across from my office. I am not going to point out which cart I got my food from because I know it's not their fault if something's wrong with the food since they probably didn't prepare them. I usually get the chicken or tuna salad with sesame pasta and cucumber on the side. This time, I got the chicken salad and it was good as usual. Except that I found a small piece of rock inside my chicken salad!!! I wish I saw it before I put it in my mouth but no...yuck! I took a picture of the rock if you want to look at it. As much as I love their food. Will not be back anytime soon... read more

Christopher's and I have a seriously inappropriate relationship as in I am absolutely addicted to it and there's no reason I should be ashamed of this. So! I take back the inappropriate part. They are located at several different places during the lunch rush (2 on Main Street, 1 by MCV) and serve an insanely good (and decent amount of food) for not a lot of dollars. I get the tuna salad with cucumber salad, fruit, a baguette and a cheese wedge when I go. The food is consistent and consistently DELISH! My birthday is in February and I had noticed that when Christopher's said they were closing up shop for the winter that they would be reopening on my birthday. I knew this was a sign and therefore treated myself to their heavenly food on my special day! (Bonus, I also got a shout out on their facebook for having the same bday as them opening back up...yay!) The only (and I do mean ONLY) reason I gave them 4 stars is because they only take cash. I had to go somewhere else one day when I only had my card on me. Womp womp. Go! You won't be disappointed! read more

I LOVE the chicken salad from Christopher's! The staff is always polite and energetic. I was happy to see them out today.

My favorite to-go lunch during the spring and summer!!!! I've been going to the Christopher's carts for at least 4 years since working in downtown Richmond. The food is always fresh, consistent, and well seasoned. The folks who run the carts are always pleasant, and love to strike up a quick friendly conversation with you. The tuna salad is my top favorite, it's loaded with dill and it's got a great tangy flavor. The rotini and vegetable pasta is also a top notch pick; that Dijon dressing that it's tossed with is to die for. I've tried just about everything except the shrimp salad, sesame pasta, and the coleslaw, but I'm never disappointed, you can pretty much pair any salad with a pasta or side and it'll be a great lunch. Oh, the meals also come with a GIANT piece of French bread! The lunch all together [without a drink] is about $5.75, which is an incredibly affordable option, especially in downtown Richmond. The lines get long sometimes, but they move very fast. I'd recommend getting a lunch from here on a nice day, and then eat it on a bench in the Capitol Park. Talk about a refreshing lunch break! read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Today I got tuna salad, fruit, & cheese. Not pictured: ginormous piece of bread. Portions are always generous and filling! - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

5 stars for the bread alone! A great little cart. The lines can get rather large, but they get through it quickly enough. A great spot for a light lunch. read more

I always get the tarragon chicken salad. It hits the spot and isn't too heavy if you have to finish out a 12 hr shift. An MCV staple. So I've sold you on the chicken salad? For sides the vinegar cucumbers remind me of southern summer. The pastas you can mix and match as sides. If you've never been here the cold sesame noodles are a safe bet. Alternatively, if you don't want pasta, you can choose from fruit or cheese options too. read more

Christopher's Runaway Gourmay - Tarragon chicken salad, cucumbers, and the pesto pasta (2 sides are included with chicken salad order) - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I don't get to Christopher's enough, mainly due to the fact that they do not accept cards and I rarely ever have cash, but after my lunch today I felt compelled to finally lay down a review. I'd gotten the rotini and vegetables in dijon a few times before with cheese and bread and was always floored by how delicious it was for $4.50 but after trying one of their larger combos I am a solid convert and may never eat lunch anywhere else downtown again! I got the creamy shrimp and pasta salad with fruit, a cheese wedge and bread. $6.00! I cannot stress that enough. For the same price as a foot long at the nearby Subway, or for considerably less than just about all of the competition on Main St., I got a heaping helping of what may be the best shrimp pasta salad I've ever had. The cheese was creamy with a light flavor, the bread was crusty with a good, chewy texture, and the fruit....I don't even really like grapes. How do they get their grapes so sweet! The fruit salad is to die for and now I know why the gentleman in front of me got double fruit. For $0.75 I added a can of La Croix, which warmed my little millennial heart. I have never been so satisfied with a lunch at such a great price. The food was fresh, flavorful and made me feel good. You can't say that about too many places. The service was quick and efficient and came with a smile. The ability to get your lunch quickly downtown cannot be overestimated and I think their speed is a major part (besides the delicious food, of course) of why Christopher's is succeeding. Don't be scared by a line - you won't be waiting long. I will be trying from now on to make sure I keep a ten spot in my wallet during the week for a quick run to their cart. If you haven't tried them yet, please do. This place is so deserving of 5 stars. read more

For the food cart scene, to me this is as good as it gets. The process they have in place ensures speedy service, even with long lines. The chicken and tuna salads are to die for and the uniqueness and variety of sides is a pleasant shift from the norm. And the prices are fantastic- under $6 for a healthy, filling, delicious lunch. Cart locations at Main/12th, Main/10th, Main/8th and Marshall/12th. read more

If I could give 10 stars to Christophers Runaway Gourmet I totally would! This is now the second time where I have met my boyfriend for lunch at this food stand and have gotten the tarragon chicken salad with dill the cucumbers and a block of cheese. The chicken salad has enormous golden raisins in it and has fantastic taste! I would highly recommend it... And for only six bucks...what a deal!! I have heard nothing but great things about Christophers and cannot wait to try more that is on their menu. I have also tried the dill tuna salad and it is phenomenal! This is something not to miss in the downtown Richmond area during lunchtime! read more

I used to eat here as much as I could when I worked in Downtown Richmond. The Pesto pasta and marinated cucumbers were my all-time favorites. The food always tastes fresh, and is served with a huge hunk of bread and cheese wedge. Nothing fried; not your typical food truck. They have multiple locations around Richmond. Oh, how I wish they had a truck in Williamsburg. I'm rarely in Richmond anymore. Hey Christopher?! Do you deliver??? :) read more

honestly, i saw all of these fabulous reviews and had no idea what to make of them seeing that this is a food cart. that being said, we were hungry and needed a quick bite where we could bring our dog, so we decided to try it. it's cash-only but the prices are awesome for the serving side. plus, the food was all fresh and delicious! there are no seats since it's a food cart, but it was a beautiful day and we were able to eat outside. the dishes are served cold, which is refreshing on a hot day. read more

You can't deny freshness ! They have the best chicken salad in Richmond and the food is super fresh and good every single time I go! I think they have a really good lunch special for $6 you can't beat getting chicken salad a piece of bread and your choice of a side of pasta fruit or cucumbers! They also have wedges of cheese available read more