In the back garden of The Annex, right by campus, lies a fusion food truck with bright flavors and a loving family behind it all. Ez Eatz offers customers a colorful menu with fusion dishes that pack a punch, from steam bun tacos to giant protein plates.
Anaiese and Ezra Siegel met in high school, working in the restaurant industry. Now, they run the unique food truck together, alongside their two kids, Avias and Ezekiel.
The opportunity to start Ez Eatz came during the pandemic from their family friend, Nikos Ridge, owner of Ninkasi. He was opening The Annex and was looking for someone to create a food truck for their back patio.
The Siegels took a chance and decided to go for it, putting together a fusion menu based on their go-to dinner choices at home: tofu katsu, teriyaki chicken, citrus slaw and the works.
“Really, almost everything on this menu is something that we would eat once a week at home,” Anaiese said. “I feel like it’s all very easy and approachable.”
The Siegels also wanted their menu to be inviting and accessible for customers, with vegetarian options, room for customization and additional components from some of their favorite international cuisines, like the citrus slaw and the sambal sauce. The name came easily after the Siegels figured out the vibe of their menu: Ez Eatz.
Their most popular menu item, the steam bun tacos, came from a different inspiration: bar food. The taco is essentially a bao bun cut in half, with a choice of protein, a vibrant sauce and pickled vegetables. Customers can choose the fried mushroom taco or the crispy pork.
“We wanted something fun and unique on the menu, too. Whenever we’ve eaten them, I loved them,” Ezra said. “And we have kids, so it’s not something we can eat all the time. The goal for the tacos was to have them for everyone, so they made it to our menu.”
Having a home at The Annex is ideal for Ez Eatz, filled with Ninkasi-lovers on Friday nights or sports fans looking for a quick bite during game day before they head to Autzen Stadium.
With picnic tables lining the edge of the patio and a back entrance, Ez Eatz has its own space, filled with colorful menu items. Anaiese mentioned the beer garden’s friendly environment and how the back patio has become the perfect home for the truck.
“We’re in a unique situation. A lot of food carts struggle to find a location or they’re moving a lot,” Anaiese said. “With us being on the back patio, we’re kind of like our own little brick-and-mortar restaurant without having to actually have a restaurant.”
Running the food truck together has been great for the Siegels, with the synergy that comes along with being husband and wife. The trust they have in each other is key to Ez Eatz’s success.
“We can communicate without talking and things like that,” Ezra said. “I feel like not every coworker dynamic is like that. So when we’re in here together, it’s honestly super fun. We have a blast, and it flows.”
“We treat the nights we get together here now, when we have a babysitter, like date nights,” Anaiese said. “It makes it a little easier to work with someone you know so well. He’s like, ‘I need that thing,’ and I’m already handing it to him. It’s great.”
From the Siegels to the plate, the food truck is open Tuesday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Whether students are hitting $3 pints with their friends on a Friday afternoon, or just looking for something convenient between classes, they might just find their new favorite food by campus on The Annex’s back patio.
