Here's a reason to get on Twitter (it's free, and it's easy): It's the most expedient way to track the whereabouts of all the trucks and carts that are making the Minneapolis and St. Paul street-food scene so dynamic.

There are hot dogs, and then there are Natedogs. Nate Beck turns to Pastures a Plenty Farm in Kerkhoven, Minn., for his uncured, all-pork dogs and brats, and garnishes each snappy bite with a medley of handmade condiments: sweetly caramelized onions, tangy sauerkraut and fabulous coarse-ground mustards blended with Minnesota-brewed beers. Wash it down with a fizzy, brightly flavored soda from the 116-year-old Spring Grove Soda Pop company in southeastern Minnesota.

  • 4th St. and Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., and various downtown St. Paul locations
  • @Nate_Dogs

Steve Ramlow has it covered at Simply Steve's, where he and daughter Katie Newham serve up substantial, all-American fare. It's scrambled egg/sausage red chile sauce burritos, scrambled egg/bacon bagel sandwiches and scones and muffins for breakfast (served all day), and jumbo California-style burgers, thin-sliced roast beef sandwiches, grilled chicken Caesar wraps and more for lunch. Prices are reasonable, and smiles are plentiful.

  • Various downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul locations
  • @Simplysteves

Chef/entrepreneur Sarah Burt is serving up fantastic meatballs (a veal-pork-beef combo) at Saucy Burt's, splashing them with a light and lively basil- and parsley-flecked red sauce and making them portable by serving them, three at a time, in a soft torpedo roll. Caution: This $7 lunch on the go is awfully habit-forming.

  • 5th St. and Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis
  • @SaucyBurts