The Best Food Truck in Every State

There was a time when food trucks were synonymous with dirty, unclean food, but that's always been an unfair judgment. Over the last 15 years, food trucks have exploded in popularity, offering chefs the opportunity to cook the food they want without needing the millions it requires to open a restaurant.

Curious about your state? Taking a trip somewhere soon? Check out these popular food trucks across America, including Washington, D.C. (because the states shouldn't have all the fun), that are worth chasing down. 

Note: There are, of course, many more excellent food trucks in each state than the ones here, so if we missed your favorite one, consider this an invitation to try something new. Check each truck's website and social media accounts to confirm their location and opening hours.

Birmingham, Alabama

For ribs, burgers, fries, and other southern barbecue classics, Saw's Street Kitchen is a winner. Meatloaf sandwiches all night.

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall BBQ Joints Across America

Anchorage, Alaska

Guatemalan food is cooked with love at this Anchorage-based truck, which has won fan-favorite awards year after year. Follow them on social media to track their location.

Related: 22 Traditional Hispanic Dishes Most Americans Don't Know About

Peoria, Arizona

Classic Mexican comfort food is what you'll find at Ruby's, where specialties like flautas, chilaquiles, and huaraches are coming off the flat-top. 

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Mexican Restaurant in Every State

Little Rock, Arkansas

It's not always easy to find great African food in the U.S., and it's certainly not easy to find it in Little Rock, Arkansas. That is unless you've found your way to AfroBites, where dishes like jollof rice, piri piri chicken, and curried cabbage are only an order away.

Related: The Best Hole-in-the-Wall Diner in Every State

Los Angeles, California

There can be no "definitive" dish for a city as multicultural as Los Angeles, but if there had to be? A plate of tacos dorados de camarónes (fried shrimp tacos) from Mariscos Jalisco would probably be it. With deep flavors from the shrimp, crunch from the shell, brightness from the salsa, and fattiness from the avocado, there are few bites of food in this world more fulfilling. 

I'm not just saying that, either; I got these things tattooed on my arm.

Related: The Best Spot for Comfort Food in Every State

Denver, Colorado

Julia Rivera's family-run Korean fusion truck, which won Food Network's "Food Truck Prize Fight" is consistently exciting and delicious. Stop by for some soulful food, like a Korean street cheese dog or Taiwanese popcorn chicken.

Related: A Guide to the Best Korean Food in America

West Hartford, Connecticut

Fuego Picante is a must-hit spot for Mexican staples like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Track them on social media or book them for private events.

Wilmington, Delaware

Burgers by Wildwich is ready to freshly smash some burgers for you, but if you're not feeling the patties, hot dogs are standing by, as well as french fries topped with real crab meat.

Related: Forget Your Usual Burger. Here's Where To Find the Best Fast-Food Smash Burgers Around

Miami, Florida

Miami might be known for its Cuban food, but Puerto Rican eats can slip under the radar. At El Bori, standards like shrimp mofongo sit right next to playful ideas like lasagna empanadillas. 

Atlanta, Georgia

You can find trucks with tacos, and you can find trucks with birria. You can even find plenty of trucks with ramen. But the birria ramen trend is very real, and at Tacos de Mi Tierra in Atlanta, the birria ramen is hot and the broth is hotter.

Haleiwa, Hawaii

If you're craving pad Thai or other Thai classics, track down The Elephant Shack. The menu and hours will vary by location, so be sure to check where they’re headed next or to order online.

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Boise, Idaho

The Kilted Kod is best known for its Alaskan cod, but if you're not a fish fan, chicken is available.

Chicago, Illinois

The husband and wife team behind The Fat Shallot have been serving Chicago homey sandwiches for over a decade. What started with a truck spawned two restaurant locations, a slot in a food hall, and a lakeside shack.

Related: How Many of These Bucket-List Sandwiches Have You Tried?

Indianapolis, Indiana

You could get pulled pork or chicken tenders at As You Wish, and it's not like it would be a mistake, but there should be no leaving without the titular wings. Sauced in BBQ, spicy honey garlic, Buffalo, garlic parmesan, or ghost pepper sauce, they are the house specialty for a reason.

Related: The Best Chicken Wings in Every State

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines' flyest truck is a favorite for burgers in the area. And the "Top Gun" branding is a ton of fun, obviously.

Wichita, Kansas

Fly over to the Flying Stove for kale and avocado sandwiches, burgers, Thai-inspired burritos, and more.

Louisville, Kentucky

There's no one way to pin down FlavaVille, where you can grab everything from Buffalo chicken egg rolls to grilled salmon tacos. The menu changes and evolves constantly, so there's no wrong time to hit the truck.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Red bean chili is the queen of the Diva Dawg menu, where hot dogs come topped with everything from crawfish étouffée to fried chicken. 

Related: The South Has the Best Food in America. Here's What You're Missing

Winslow, Maine

It's become standard for a food truck to fuse cuisines across cultures, but at Ken's Food Truck, some things are better left as classics. Ken's fried chicken is infamous in the area, but let's not forget we're in Maine. Lobster rolls are available, too.

Baltimore, Maryland

If brick oven pizza has remained unchecked on your Baltimore food quest, All Fired Up is a perfect place to hit. And two pies with pineapple? On the east coast? I salute their bravery. Stand strong for what you believe in, folks.

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Pizza Joints Across America

Boston, Massachusetts

The pan-Asian menu at Boston's Bon Me are impossible to pass up from top to bottom, from the namesake sandwich to the rice bowl and miso ramen.

Ferndale, Michigan

Taco trucks appear time and time again for a reason. When done right, they are magic. Head to Regina's for beautiful tacos al pastor, grilled steak, and even fresh ceviche.

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Asian fusion is the name of the game at Kham Fu Dee, where teriyaki bowls and  spicy pork tacos fly out of the truck window, right next to cream cheese wontons and crispy chicken wings. Don't sleep on the drunken fries either, a mess of fries topped with slow-roasted pork, grilled chicken, chipotle honey, and garlic aioli.

Pelahatchie, Mississippi

Crooked Letter Kitchen has all the classic burger and pork options you could want, plus the undeniable charm of the outline of Mississippi seared on top of the bun.

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Burger Joint in Every State

St. Louis, Missouri

Cute name, mac and cheese egg rolls, rib-eye wraps, and more ... Truck Norris has it all.

Bozeman, Montana

Comforting sandwiches are served out of an old-school bus at Low-Key Sandwiches in Bozeman, Montana. Ready to serve ice cream, breakfast burritos, and smash burgers, there's no wrong time of day to be there.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Chicago's flavors are alive in Lincoln at ChiStyle Kitchen. You're here for fried chicken, but an Italian beef sandwich from a true Chicago chef is rarely a let-down.

Related: America's Best Roast Beef Sandwiches

Las Vegas, Nevada

This is the authentic stuff, ladies and gents, featuring fish wrapped in newspaper, true English sausage rolls, and steak and ale pie. Bob's your uncle!

Related: Under-the-Radar Pubs Across America That Locals Love

Dover, New Hampshire

There's plenty of rustic, fresh, foraged food in New Hampshire. Change it up at the Gravy Train, serving crispy smash burgers, decadent BLTs, and more.

Berlin, New Jersey

Jeremiah's Custom Cuisine rotates through a few phases: cheesesteaks, tacos, BBQ sliders, and burgers. No matter which variety of Jeremiah's your going for, the creativity is big and the flavors are bigger.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

You don't need a lot of bells and whistles to be a great taco truck. You just need well-grilled meats, expansive flavors, and fresh salsas. Welcome to Lupe's Andale 2.

New York, New York

New York is one of the greatest places on the planet to eat, but it's never been known for its taco scene. Birria-Landia, thankfully, is able to help represent the flavors of Mexico with extremely high quality.

Asheville, North Carolina

When Master BBQ moved from Los Angeles, CA to the Blue Ridge Mountains, it's possible they didn't know just how badly those mountains needed them. Chef and co-owner Paul Pike's family recipes are a breath of fresh air in a town that longs for bold Asian flavors. Catch his truck permanently parked at Zillicoah Beer Co., and if you leave without the tangy, unctuous barbecue pork, you've done it entirely wrong. 

Fargo, North Dakota

If food trucks are about soulful comfort eats, then sloppy Joes are the perfect dish. Find them perfected here at Jumbo's in Fargo.

Gahanna, Ohio

Surprise! Pita is the star of the show at Pitabilities, where you can chow down on custom pita wraps, rice bowls, and even pita nachos.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

You are of course here to jam down on a giant egg roll, stuffed with your choice of chicken, veggies, or ground turkey, but crispy wings and catfish are dark horse sleeper hits.

Portland, Oregon

A lot of restaurants don't even have sushi of the quality Yoshi's is slinging, but this is Portland, and street food is in the city's DNA. Keep tabs often for changing menus, fresh catches, and great prices.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Asian fusion proves wonderful time and time again in the food truck world, and it's no exception at Randevoo. Wontons, tempura, and pork belly buns made them famous; that's what you want.

Providence, Rhode Island

Nobody fries up a basket of clam strips like they do in New England, and that's exactly what your must-order is at Blount. The soups aren't too shabby, either.

Charleston, South Carolina

Low country cuisine rules supreme in Charleston, but at Roti Rolls, there's a lot more flavor to be found. Smoked pork, chicken curry, kimchi, mac and cheese, and more top the famous rotis, and to this day, they're all under $10.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Rolled ice cream is mixed by hand in freezing bowls, usually with liquid nitrogen, and if you've never had it, you're in for a treat. The texture and flavor become more extreme when made in this fashion. Hit Polar Bites to see for yourself.

Nashville, Tennessee

When you're at Maiz de la Vida, it's special that you get to eat James Beard semifinalist Julio Hernandez' tacos at all. His birria, homemade tortillas, stewed meats, and pozoles are spectacular in their own way. The only way it gets better? It's parked outside a slammin' tiki bar, and you can eat inside. 

Austin, Texas

Austin is one of the best food towns in the country, plain and simple. It's not difficult to find great tacos, but it is difficult to find tacos like the ones at Con Todo. The attention to detail and craft in every inch of a Con Todo taco is unreal, from tortillas made out of Oaxaca-imported corn to specialty salsa and umami-rich beans. A trip to Austin without several Con Todo tacos is a wasted trip to Austin.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Owned by Bruges Belgian Bistro, these two food trucks wander around Salt Lake City. Stop by for their famous Belgian waffles, burgers, and breakfast specialties.

Jericho, Vermont

Sorbet and ice cream come hand-in-hand with chili lime fries and chicken sandwiches at Kate's Food Truck, which can delight you in both savory and sweet ways.

Richmond, Virginia

Wraps and the occasional Middle Eastern specialty are available at the hugely popular Kenn-Tico wrap carts. Hard to beat a lunch as fresh and simple as this.

Seattle, Washington

Post up in front of Midnight Ramen for some of the best ramen in the city. Unfortunately, they're only open for about three hours during the dinner rush, so no actual midnight dining for you.

Huntington, West Virginia

Burgers fries, and all things cheesy await you at Truckin' Cheesy. Which, yes, means mac and cheese.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Even in 2024, new food trends continue to make people happy. At Tots on the Street in Milwaukee, homemade potato tot balls are stuffed with Buffalo chicken, sour cream, and because it's Milwaukee, cheese curds.

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The flavors of Tel Aviv live powerfully at Noam's Table. Grab a falafel wrap and some za'atar fries, or just snack on some pita and hummus. No wrong way to do it at Noam's.

Washington, D.C.

Though food trucks are a dying breed in a city with as vibrant a culinary scene as D.C., Timber Pizza remains electric. What began as two dudes, a pizza oven, and a '67 pickup truck has turned into one of the most beloved restaurants in the Mid-Atlantic. This is the place to be for beautiful, wood-fired pies.