Funkadelic Food Truck turns up the flavor in St. Augustine.   

Funkadelic Food Truck is fresh, fun, and funky. This wildly colored 32-foot-long truck is so large that owners Amanda and Jerry Asker refer to it as the Funkadelic Food Shack. Its playful design was inspired by the couple’s love of funk music. They commissioned Peruvian-Canadian artist Chris Dyer, known for his art in the music scene, to paint the truck’s psychedelic design, so unique it beckons customers to check it out.  

The groovy exterior paint job isn’t the only thing that sets this truck apart. One look at the menu, and you might think you’ve landed in a fancy, sit-down restaurant: Locally caught blackened Mahi Mahi, beet fries with Japanese togarashi seasoning, and lump crab grilled cheese are just a taste of what’s offered. Jerry is the brainchild behind the menu; with no formal culinary training, he uses creativity and natural talent to come up with the menu of sandwiches, bowls, and wraps. He keeps the menu exciting by changing it up – there’s a board of specials next to the regular menu. Rabbit tacos, camel burgers, and fresh octopus have all had their turn in the spotlight. The names of some of the dishes give a nod to the funky music theme: The Freddy Burger, Galactic Funk Tacos, and The Doobie Wrap.  

“We’re not shy when it comes to spice and seasoning. All our sauces have heat in one way or another,” says Amanda Asker. The couple wanted to showcase local products, like fresh St. Augustine seafood, and Datil peppers, one of the most popular fresh produce items in the area. They use these small hot yellow-orange peppers to make pepper jelly, which adds heat to shrimp sliders, tacos, and wraps. The pepper jelly is so popular they sell it by the jar. They also make a mustard pepper jelly to pair with pulled pork, and their signature “Funk Sauce,” a roasted poblano cream sauce. 

“Do you want to kick it up a notch with some goat cheese or pepper jelly?” the server asked when I placed my order for Shrimp Sliders. This trio of mini shrimp sliders already promised a mouthful of flavors with Applewood bacon, avocado, house slaw, and funk sauce. Why not go all the way? With a little heat from the sauce, the result was a sweet, spicy, salty combination of shrimp on soft Hawaiian rolls.  

This dish was one of my first meals in St. Augustine and a great warm-up for my taste buds. Even compared to the highly-rated full-service restaurants I tried, this trio of sliders in a takeaway container was one of the most memorable meals. The Funkadelic location in the Marina Munch Food Truck Park added to the magic. Picnic tables have a view over the boats in the English Landing Marina, situated on the San Sebastian River. Cold beer and cocktails are available from the marina’s Cantina, and there’s entertainment on weekends. You can even book a private yacht tour. Who needs a fancy restaurant? With a stellar waterside location and fresh, funky, and flavorful offerings, a stop at Funkadelic Food Shack is a groovy good time.