Syracuse’s Congo Box food truck charcoal grills consistent, hearty meals
While growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Christos Stelios helped his mom prepare meals. In 2018, he opened the Congo Box in North Syracuse. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
On the corner of West Fayette and Tioga Street, surrounded by old factory buildings, an unassuming black food truck greets customers. Burning charcoal mixed with the smell of grilling meats coats the air, as you wait patiently for the meal of the day.
“I want people to come outside, see each other and enjoy the food. That’s it,” Congo Box’s owner Christos Stelios said.
Stelios opened the Congo Box in North Syracuse in 2018, focusing on Congolese cooking styles and other local influences like chicken riggies. The restaurant’s menu changes every week, but always centers on charcoal-grilled meats with a side of rice and beans.
While growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Stelios learned his love for cooking at a young age. As the middle of five children, Stelios often helped his mother in the kitchen, chopping vegetables while his older brothers played outside. These basic ingredients would come together in a simple but delicious meal that he said later influenced his use of charcoal in grilling.
After moving to the United States, Stelios’ love for cooking only grew. While working as a traveling car mechanic, he spent months at a time on the road.
Unsatisfied with the available foods at rest stops, Stelios opted to stay in hotel rooms with kitchens and cook for himself, eventually regularly preparing simple rice and meat dishes for himself and his coworkers.
“I ended up cooking for like 20 people a day,” Stelios said. “I was making more doing that than my actual job.”
That’s when he decided to settle down with his family in Syracuse and cook for more than just his coworkers: the Congo Box was born. After purchasing the truck, he spent six months figuring out how to get the business going.
Congo Box’s distinct cooking style has helped it evolve in Syracuse, gaining widespread attention on TikTok, where food reviews — including one by local content creator Kazi Kinara — have reached over 250,000 views.
“You can see the smoke from the truck and watch everything being grilled right in front of you. It reminds me of my home in Kenya. There’s really nothing else like it in Syracuse,” Kinara said.
Because grilling is a popular cooking method in his culture, Kinara said he visited Congo Box for its grilling practices. He said he hasn’t been able to find another place in Syracuse that grills meat on charcoal right in front of the customer.
Stelios turned his cooking into a business despite early doubts from family and friends. They doubted his potential to start such a niche business in Syracuse.
Through TikTok and word of mouth, Congo Box began to build a loyal customer base centered on simple food, guided by a philosophy that emphasizes taste and consistency.
The restaurant primarily operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, occasionally adding other days. Its rotating menu changes weekly based on available ingredients while maintaining a focus on freshness and quality, Stelios said.
The tight-knit customer experience is intentional. Stelios’ outdoor grill and nontraditional restaurant setup mirror how food was prepared in his upbringing, where cooking was a daily, shared experience.
Other customers, like Syracuse resident Nichola Velasquez, have become accustomed to the Congo Box. The restaurant has become a go-to spot for Velasquez after a long day of work, offering a place to grab a hearty meal without the usual hustle that goes along with ordering similar meals, she said.
“I remember driving up one day and getting a branzino in under 20 minutes,” Velasquez said. “For me, it’s the consistency. I know it’s going to be there, and I know I’m getting the bang for my buck.”
While his business continues to grow, he said he hopes to become more involved with the Syracuse University community. In the past, Congo Box has catered an event for the SU football team. He hopes to participate in future schoolwide athletic events and even cater to students individually.
“I know there are a lot of students here from different backgrounds, and so I hope to be the somebody to feed them good food,” Stelios said.
