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Washington’s newest food truck, Big Belly Deli, offers a selection of freshly prepared deli sandwiches. 

Jennifer Lee Martin (Jen) and her husband Tony are co-owners of the food truck that is less than 100 sq. ft. They opened the business, because they liked the idea of being able to choose where they can serve customers and having the ability to serve sandwiches at events, Martin said. 

Tony was a chef in western North Carolina at restaurants that sold several types of sandwiches around the Highland and Cashiers areas southwest of Asheville. Jen has a background in culinary arts as well as Marketing and Advertising. “We’ve combined all of that and have combined some really good sandwiches that you don’t see around here a lot,” Jen said. 

The Martins moved from one end of the state to the other, because the opportunity to open a business in Eastern North Carolina was better, housing prices were attractive and they’re close to the beach which appealed to Jen. 

The food truck originally opened in November in Chocowinity near a campground, but recently moved to the parking lot of D & H Equipment Company at 1220 John Small Avenue. In four months, Big Belly Deli has gained a following of regular customers. “We have a lot of clientele that come back all of the time. People have tried every sandwich,” Jen said. 

One of Jen’s favorites is the Come On Back Cuban. It has Black Forest Ham and MiFiesta’s slow roasted pork with mojo sauce. Provolone, Swiss Cheese and Sweet Gherkin pickles are generously added to the sandwich. Garlic mayo and spicy brown mustard finish the sandwich that is made on French Bread. Then it is pressed and served hot. 

She also likes Costanza’s Pastrami and  Mustard as well as Tony’s Can’t Miss Turkey and Swiss. When she gets the turkey sandwich, she’ll dip it in their homemade sauce called Boom Boom sauce – a buttery, Buffalo, teriyaki sauce. Their garlic mayo sauce is homemade, too. 

Serving a high-quality sandwich is important to the Martins which is why they slice all of their deli meat, cheeses and veggies daily on the food truck. She shared that Big Belly Deli has yet to receive a negative review on Google, Facebook or Yelp. 

“I’m keeping my finger crossed, because I know eventually you’re bound to get somebody who doesn’t like something, but so far not one negative review on Google, Facebook or Yelp or anything,” she said. 

One thing the Martins have learned about owning and operating Big Belly Deli is that “it is a lot of work.” 

“You’re here for a few hours a day, but the prepping before that and the scheduling of events and shopping and the paperwork is a lot of planning, but for what you do for that there’s been such nice people who are just out here to get food from a food truck,” Jen said. “That’s their main prerogative. They’re happy to see a food truck here. They love small businesses and we’ve really had a big following of people who have stuck behind us like that so everybody’s been really great.” 

Big Belly Deli does daily specials like Dance for Your Discount on Fridays. A free drink comes with your order on Thirsty Thursdays. Double Stack Saturdays comes with an additional quarter pound of meat on top of the quarter pound of meat that regularly comes on a sandwich.  They offer a 10% discount for customers either in Emergency Services or Armed Forces.   

Sandwiches come with a side of potato chips and/or a MoonPie. 

Big Belly Deli is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., but check their Facebook page for any changes.