Days Before Ending Service, Cinnamon Snail Food Truck In Such High Demand That Line Limits Are Imposed

The Cinnamon Snail, one of our most beloved food trucks in the entire country and four-time Vendy Award-winner, is in its last week of service here in New York City, owner Adam Sobel announced on Facebook earlier this month. Despite consistently having one of the longest lines of any of the city's food trucks, the popular vegan truck was unable to renew its permit.

Industry advocates told the Wall Street Journal that the wait for a permit can take between 15 and 20 years.

Now in its final days, the Cinnamon Snail has had to impose line restrictions for any customers who arrive in the last half hour before closing (3 p.m. for weekdays and 6 p.m. for Saturday).

Sobel posted this note on the truck's Facebook page: "If there are more than 20 people in line, half an hour before our scheduled closing time, we will not allow more people to get on line at that time. I am really sorry to have to make this policy, but it's the only way we can eventually close and get back to our kitchen for stocking, cleaning and maintenance."

Though it's possible that Cinnamon Snail will return to New York as a brick and mortar operation, nothing is certain. Sobel's cookbook, Street Vegan, comes out in May. Between now and his next venture, Sobel will be teaching cooking classes, and his wife will made special-order vegan cakes.

This morning, a customer asked Sobel, "When will we see you again?" Chef Sobel, in a gold headpiece, said he didn't know.