Ruby’s Colombian Food Trailer changed that.
I pulled up to Ruby’s not too long ago, which you may have seen rolling around Syracuse, and I want to tell you about three things I ate that genuinely made an impression on me — starting with the empanada.
The Empanada That Rewrote the Rulebook
Here’s the thing about most empanadas: they’re flat. That pressed, half-moon shape means you’re biting through dense dough before you ever get to the filling. And then there’s that oil — not in a good, crispy-fried way, but that heavy, saturated quality that sits on the outside of the dough and lingers.
Ruby’s empanada is none of that.
It’s round. Perfectly, almost architecturally round — like someone took the concept of an empanada and decided it should hold its shape with confidence. The shell is made from corn masa, which is traditional to the Colombian style, and when you bite into it, it shatters. It’s genuinely crunchy and crispy in a way that feels light, not heavy. Inside, there’s a savory, well-seasoned filling with potato that’s exactly what it should be — warm, comforting, and flavorful without being overpowering.
It’s the best empanada I’ve ever had. I mean that.
And then they handed me the salsa — a vinegar-based dipping sauce with just the right amount of acidity. That brightness cut right through the richness of the fried masa and the filling and tied the whole bite together. That’s the move. That’s the Colombian move. Don’t sleep on the salsa.
The Arepa
If you know anything about Colombian food, you know the arepa is sacred. Ruby’s gets it right. That corn-based, masa exterior — slightly crispy on the outside, soft within — is exactly what a great arepa should feel like. It’s simple food done with care, and you can taste the difference.
The Colombian Hot Dog (Yes, Really)
I don’t even know where to start with this one. I’ve had hot dogs all over the place — dirty water dogs in New York City, ballpark dogs, backyard cookout dogs — and nothing prepared me for what Ruby’s put in front of me.
We’re talking coleslaw. Mayo. Mustard. A sweet sauce. And quail eggs on top.
It sounds like chaos. It tastes like a revelation. The sweetness, the creaminess, the snap of the dog, the little quail eggs — it all works together in a way that makes you realize American hot dog culture has been leaving a lot on the table.
See Ruby’s at Taste of Syracuse This Weekend
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to track down the trailer to try this food. Ruby’s Colombian Food Trailer will be at Taste of Syracuse this year — one of Central New York’s best food festivals — at Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse this Friday and Saturday, June 5th and 6th.
And that’s really what I love most about Taste of Syracuse. It’s not just a food festival. It’s a snapshot of how diverse and vibrant this city’s food community actually is. You’ve got Colombian food sitting next to Caribbean, next to local Italian, next to food that reflects the immigrant communities that have made Syracuse what it is. That kind of culinary range doesn’t happen everywhere, and it doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because this city supports the people who bring these flavors here.
Go find Ruby’s this weekend. Get the empanada. Get the hot dog. Get the arepa. Bring someone who thinks Syracuse doesn’t have a food scene and watch their face when they take that first bite.
This is what Eat Local New York is all about.
Ruby’s Colombian Food
2708 Court Street
Syracuse, NY
