Food Shark in Marfa, Texas: A Culinary Oasis in the Desert, Where Passion Meets Flavor

In Marfa, Texas—a desert town that feels more like a mirage built by artists—there’s a food truck parked under the wide West Texas sky that doesn’t just serve lunch. It serves something stranger and better. Food Shark isn’t a novelty. It’s a ritual.

Founded in 2006 by chef Krista Steinhauer and artist-musician Adam Bork, Food Shark calls its menu “Mediterranean-by-way-of-West-Texas.” That’s not a tagline. It’s a worldview. The truck itself is often flanked by Bork’s collection of vintage cars, including a Barcelona Matador that once flew in a Bond film. The whole setup feels like installation art with hummus.

The signature dish is the Marfalafel: a flour tortilla wrapped around falafel balls, romaine, tomato, cucumber, red onion, tahini, yogurt, harissa, and hummus. It’s messy, layered, and alive. There’s shawarma, vegetarian platters, and daily specials that shift with the mood. If you’re lucky, there’s homemade baklava at the end. If you’re luckier, there’s a seat.

Food Shark doesn’t run on convenience. It runs on intention. Open only a few hours a week, it asks you to plan, to show up, and wait. And when you do, you’re not just a customer. You’re part of the scene. The staff moves with quiet joy, the desert light hits the metal just right, and the food tastes like it was made by someone who cares what you remember.

Eating here isn’t just about flavor. It’s about context. You’re surrounded by Marfa’s creative pulse, the mystery of its lights, and the silence of its landscape. You’re part of something that doesn’t need to explain itself.

If you’re in Marfa, go to Food Shark. Order the Marfalafel. Sit in the shade if you can find it. Let the desert do its work. And know that some meals aren’t just meals. They’re moments. This one’s worth chasing.