To be clear, this is a food truck, and I am rating it as such. It is set up in a gas station…read moreparking lot. They did put out a single table for me to eat there, but it has nothing to offer in the way of ambience. Weather may also be a factor, and when I arrived at the post opening time they were still setting up. The reason I have a high opinion of the place is not any of those things, but that it offers the distinctive home-cooked taste of a cuisine that is not otherwise available in the region to my knowledge. It is vegetarian South Indian and most of the options revolve around lentils and spices. I sampled a preparation I hadn't had before of ildi, a steamed rice and lentil cake, with some mouthwatering spicy powder. My spicy dosa, which I made it clear I wanted really spicy, was indeed fiery, but also possessed the delightful crispness and mix of sour and savory flavors distinctive to this cuisine. I also note that sometimes the salt in sambar overwhelms me but I didn't have a particularly tough time here; the flavors of the spices were enough without the ridiculous oversalting that some restaurants do. It is a taste that I would be happy to come back for in the near term and I would try virtually everything they offer.

Last year, I tried this place during Festival of India. The food was good. My dosa was huge and…read moretasty! The line was a bit long but definitely worth the wait. If I make it back to Roanoke, I'd try Sudha's again.

We drifted off the beaten path to check out this place out traveling between Atlanta and Lexington,…read moreVA. It's a fair bit away from the Interstate, but I can tell you that it's worth the trek. When we got here for lunch, there was a line out the door and the smokers out back hard at work told us this was the place to be. We got served pretty quickly and found a table. The place is neat and clean with a decent amount of seating both inside and out. The missus had a brisket sandwich and I got the pulled pork with slaw, pinto beans and mac&cheese for the sides. The servings are HUGE and that smoke ring isn't just for looks. The meat was done perfectly with the smoky flavor and not dried out. I also tried one of their homemade sausages. Absolutely fantastic! Snappy casing with a filling that included creamy cheese hunks and a level of spicy that was just right. We pride ourselves in having high standards when it comes to BBQ, and this joint didn't disappoint! We've been to numerous BBQ joints including the famous award-winning Big Bob Gibsons in Northern Alabama and this place comes in well over that. We visited with the owner (Kelly) and had a great experience. The staff we interfaced with were both friendly and engaging. I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Highly recommended!

Yes--the main upgrade is adding the restaurant's no-frills character from your photo, sharpening…read morethe texture description, and giving the collards a more memorable moment. Here's the elite version: One look at Mama Jean's handwritten chalkboard menu told me this was a place that lets the food do the talking--and the fried ribs backed it up. The fried-rib special was the undeniable star. Topped with Buffalo sauce, hot honey, Gorgonzola cream sauce, Gorgonzola crumbles and green onion, these ribs were an absolute revelation. They were fried hard--the right way--giving the outside a satisfying bite while the meat remained tender inside. Sweet, spicy, tangy, creamy and savory, it was a bold combination that somehow worked beautifully from every angle. The pulled-pork sandwich refused to be overshadowed. The pork was moist, tender, well-seasoned and piled ridiculously high on a soft bun. This was a serious portion of properly cooked pork--not a sandwich relying on sauce to carry it. Then came the collard greens, which unexpectedly became the star of the sides. I expected them to play backup, but they had enough presence to stand beside the barbecue. The mac and cheese was good, but those collards were the side I kept returning to. Mama Jean's is not a barbecue spot you want to miss if you're anywhere near Roanoke. The setting is casual, the portions are generous and the flavors are unapologetically big. If the fried ribs are written on that chalkboard, don't overthink it--order them before they're gone. Top-notch barbecue

Best burger in the city. The fries are also amazing. If you like actual smash burgers (not…read moresomething called a Smash Burger that is still an inch thick), this is the place. Seek them out. You will not be disappointed. Bonus points: they're also super nice people who seem to genuinely enjoy what they do.

I attended the friends and family soft opening tonight and what a beautiful evening for this food…read moretrucks debut. There were many in attendance and with my family present, it was great to have such a smorgasbord to taste! For starters, all the ingredients are fresh - except the fries - and you can really taste the freshness. Smash burgers were on point and many options left you wanting to try each one. I think we had at least three different ones - including the classic smash, the Kenny smash and the plain smash. All served on amazing soft Martins potato buns. We also had a couple hot dogs - the manhattan and the Star City. Loved the Dr Pepper chili sauce and the NYC onion sauce was a mix of mustard, ketchup in onions and spices and blended nicely with the sauerkraut and spicy mustard. French fries are crispy and battered and cooked perfect. My brother in law ordered the Gahbage plate - a favorite from Rochester, NY and it is not for the lite eater! It is a packed meal of hamburger, hot dog, on top of the fries and topped with chili meat sauce, mustard and a side of macaroni pasta salad on top. Wow. A lot of food!! My sister had the chopped cheese and it was fabulous. We also purchase a couple of cookies that were being offered from a local bakery and they were gobbled up as well. Prices are amazing and felt we could have easily paid more for each item! This was the inaugural kickoff of the food truck and I easily see this as being a favorite in the area. Service was awesome - friendly staff wanting to make you full and hope you return. And yes - we will be following this truck and yes. we will return. Great job!

Just the other day as I was driving down Brambleton Ave, Southwest Roanoke, on my way to Brambleton…read moreImports to have my Lexus washed, after having experienced a snow and ice storm, I happened to pass by this lively color food truck with the name of The Rad Shack Shaved Ice. Then and there, I decided to stop and visit it on my way back. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And The Rad Shack Shaved Ice in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Established in 2023, by Sean W, who also teaches Church History at a Christian school, this veteran-owned food truck specializes in rad hot dogs and shaved ice. Sean and his wife started the business because they value the simpler times in life. Their vision was that "people would make memories by sitting back and relaxing without the cares of the world." And I had an opportunity to experience this first hand, when I stopped by and visited the place. Sean's welcoming and hospitable personality immediately made me feel at home there. He explained the menu, and I would have liked to order one of their Rad Chili Dogs, if it were not that I just had lunch not so long ago, and a Shaved Ice served as a dessert. I ended up having a medium Mango Shaved Ice with vanilla ice-cream, melted marshmallows, and sprinkles. By having it this way, they call it: "Making It A Rad Stack." I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality food and shaved ice. As I was enjoying my shaved ice, a friend of the owner ordered a Rad Chili Hot Dog and it looked so good. Next time I'll have one. While there, I also had the opportunity of meeting Sean's wife and learning about their favorite hobby of running, and his enjoyment of teaching Church History. I've eaten at many food trucks before, but I consider this one special, because it's one where you not only enjoy some quality shave ice or rag hot dogs, but hang out and enjoy some quality time with the owner, family, or close friends.

Wonderful Business. Best Shaved Ice, and so many flavors. Owner is nice and friendly, outgoing…read more We like the coffee shaved Ice with ice cream in the center. My partner will try the hotdogs soon. I highly recommend you try them. Every flavor shaved ice under the sun. With whipped cream, and or ice cream added if you choose. Made my day when I was trapped at a tire place for almost three hours. Go try them! Business is located in Fishburn park, so plenty of parking. Picnic bench outside.

Minority owned by a husband and wife, although if you ask the husband he says she is the boss!…read more The menu is ever changing. Just as they opened the owner brought out a plank with the newest additions, from a creek burger to a pickle burger with ranch and toppings. My wife had the pickle burger and said it was delicious, while I had the bacon cheese burger with thicker cut bacon. (Note this is not what was listed in the other yelp write ups, the owner said the thick cut was replaced with a slightly thinner cut.) The fries weren't much to speak of, shoe strings but they were hot! Everything was. All was delicious. If you see this place, read the menu and enjoy!

Great place great staff great food. Great venue. Mark it a stop awesome and it's local who doesn't…read morewant to support local

I pass by this business daily, and I never tried it. There's a wide variety of options so it was…read morehard to decide on my maiden voyage. I chose the banana cream. Considering how hot it was today, this outing hit the spot. The service was excellent, and the owner (I presume) was pleasant and cheerful. There are tables with shade available but I took mine to go. The custard tasted great. I loved my mid afternoon desert particularly on this scorching day. It may become a regular routine after trying the desert just once. I'll definitely be coming back. Maybe one day, I'll be the Duke!

Celebrating some of the best women small business owners, I can't think of a better person to…read moreinclude than the owner of Kippy's Kustard. I met her for the first time when my friend and I arrived at her amazing Kustard business, housed in a small, cute, yellow trailer, parked in a parking lot, high on top of a mountain next to a college, at 1819 Electric Road, in the corner of Keagy Road and Sugar Loaf Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia. As you well know "Frozen Custard is more creamy and flavorful on the palate since it's not as cold as ice cream. It also has a higher content of egg yolks and butter fat". For ten years she has been sharing this information with her customers, who she also considers as friends, through her amazingly delicious Frozen Custard. When we arrived to the trailer on a bright and windy sunny day, Keller quickly opened the window of the trailer and welcomed us with a warm greeting and a big smile. You could immediately tell that she was a people person and had a delightful personality. She genuinely enjoyed talking with us about her business. The business has also provided a means of her spending time with her twins - daughter Jordan and son, Noah - who have both joined her in the stand, as well as some of their friends. This and the people she interacts with daily have been one of the best things about having the custard stand. On the side of the trailer, she has posted several sheets of menus with an amazing variety of ways we can order her frozen custard. Since it was our first time there we both ordered a Vanilla Chocolate Twist in a Large Waffle Cone. Since it was extremely windy and somewhat cold, we ate the custards standing up next to the trailer. They we amazingly delicious: very soft and creamy. We looked forward to returning when the weather gets nicer and have another custard with more things on it, sitting at one of the tables with umbrellas provided in the area. I highly recommend this Frozen Custard Stand. It is an extraordinary sweet dining experience eating these amazing Frozen Custards and interacting with the friendly owner of the business who is so warm and friendly and such a wonderful personality that you would think you've known her all your life.

Delicious sauces, wonderful people, and quality food! We always love seeing them at our favorite…read morebreweries!

From the owner: Catering, Full Service Caterer, BBQ, Barbeque, Pulled Pork, Rib, Brisket, Smoked Sausage, Chicken,…read moreMac&Cheese, Comfort Food, Smoked Products, BBQ Sauces, Food Truck, Competition BBQ Team, full service caterer, bartender,

Came to Parkway Brewery to get a beer and eat and this food truck was there. I ordered the mac and…read morecheese bites and pulled pork sandwich. Food was okay! Not the best sandwich I had but it filled me up. Had to wait about 10 minutes for the food to come out but the person I ordered from was friendly. It was hard to find a table near the food truck. The mac and cheese bites were pretty good. I was very hungry so this tasted good.

This is a hidden gem that exceeded our expectations during our recent breakfast visit. The daily…read morespecials caught our attention our attention, and we were delighted with the variety and the quality of the food of the food. The food was excellent and the service was top notch! With indoor seating of a train car. They have excellent daily specials! The great music playing was enjoyable for all ages. I would definitely recommend it and we will be returning for more!

I've been following their social media for awhile now and finally had the chance to try their…read morelobster roll! I'm a fan of a Connecticut style roll (hot buttered lobster roll) so this was on my must-try list. The roll was expensive ($25) for a very small roll (we finished it in three bites) BUT it did contain both claw and tail meat. The roll was fresh and buttery and the lobster was cooked well. I only wished the lobster contained a little more butter. They had other items on the menu such as crab fries, coconut shrimp and on Facebook they show snow crab rolls coming soon (yuuum). The staff were really kind and even threw in a few fries for us to try. Overall, a nice experience but just expect to spend some money!

Note that this review is for the food truck when it was in RVA…read more Ok, so I should have tempered my expectations because this is a food truck, and I'm not in Maine, though with the lines and the social media hype, I was hoping to be blown away. Sadly, I wasn't. Service: I stood in line for 40 minutes before I ordered and then another 12 minutes for my food. Yes, there was a line ahead of me, yet there really was zero sense of urgency to move that line at above a snails pace. I also had to ask for forks and napkins Sandwich was pretty small, and lobster was chopped up and heavily seasoned. IMHO, it didn't taste fresh either, like maybe the seasoning was an attempt to cover the quality or freshness. Roll was not sturdy enough to support the lobster (pretty sure it was a cheap hotdog bun) Two sandwiches =$52. Alot for what it was and for lunch at a food truck My rating rationale Service +.5 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1. Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe Value

My wife and I went there today for lunch. I had the triple club sandwich and my wife had the turkey…read moreprovolone wrap. The offerings there were locally-sourced snacks and sides, which were very tasty. My favorite part of visiting was the attentive care the owner gave us while we were there. The careful plating of our sandwiches, ensuring everything was okay, asking how things were. It was reminiscent of having lunch at my Mom's house and how my mother would put that much effort into fixing a lunch and ensuring things were "just right." We will be back and, quite frankly, I question why it has taken us this long to come out and enjoy some quality time there while enjoying some delicious food and merchandise.

My family stopped in during our Blue Ridge road trip to stock up on healthy foods, to break up the…read morestreak of roadside burgers and fries. We got two soups, the potato leek and the beef stew. I loved the beef stew--deliciously spiced with rosemary. Both were peppery which was delicious but unexpected and a little too hot for the kiddos. We also appreciated the local peaches and tomatoes, and the homemade cookies and granola. I had a bowl of the granola this morning and loved it. Simple and wholesome and cinnamony. Highly recommend!