There were already legions of loyal food truck fanatics who always preferred restaurants on wheels before the pandemic. But when America’s restaurant industry collapsed, a whole lot of sit-down traditionalists realized that they’d been ignoring gems that had been hiding in plain sight right in their own neighborhoods. Meet the food trucks that define urban eats in America’s greatest cities.
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You know about chicken and waffles, but do you know about fryders? Those are sliders made from waffle fries. How about a smoked salmon waffle sandwich? Maybe a sweet waffle sandwich made with Nutella or strawberry Irish creme brulee? Every single one of those delicious-sounding items and more has been available at the Waffle Bus, which Houstonians loved so much its now a real restaurant. You can still hire the bus to cater events, however.
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There are few things better than a great hot dog truck, especially one built from a 1962 International Metro Harvester. You Sly Dog looks retro, but its dogs are a modern experience through and through. Happy customers recommend the Big Chicago, the Wurst, and, for vegans and vegetarians, the Sonoran, which is as good as meatless gets. Either way, beware — the ghost pepper chili sauce will sneak up on you.
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Although the truck has spawned a restaurant, the Gastro Grill food truck that started it all is still rolling strong. From pork-belly sliders and drunken tacos to eggnog bread pudding, the Gastro Grill is a major draw in Fresno for a good reason — fresh, imaginative cuisine served from a truck by a crew that clearly has a passion for their craft. After a challenging COVID-induced hiatus, the Gastro Grill is back.
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Thanks to a spot on a Yelp best-in-the-nation roundup, the secret is out about Hefty Gyros, whose name also pretty much doubles as its menu. Between Yelp and Facebook, fans are nearly as impressed with the personalities of the guys who work the truck as they are with the pita, lamb, beef, chicken, and tzatziki sauce that drowns the massive culinary works of art they create every day.
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Famous for its blend of Asian and Mexican cuisine, Yumbii now boasts two physical restaurants with another in the works. But for locals in Atlanta, the rolling kitchen that's been cruising the city since 2010 is still the only way to chow down. From tofu stir-fry tacos and burritos to Asian ribeye beef quesadillas, it's hard to imagine you'd find a similar menu in Atlanta or anywhere else.
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Of course churros — including the Oreo churros — are the main draw at the Churro Truck, which also has a physical store. But Omaha locals and tourists alike flock there just as frequently for the horchata, tamales, and tacos, as well. It's a challenge to find any online review with fewer than five stars issued by a fawning new convert.
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Rated 4.5 stars on Yelp, far too many reviewers to dismiss as hyperbole claim boldly that the best pizza they've ever eaten was served out of the Saucee Sicilian truck. A wood-fired oven on wheels, Saucee Sicilian serves fresh Neapolitan-style pizza, homemade meatballs and little else. But after just one bite of either, you won't be asking them to expand their menu anytime soon.
As the name implies, some of the food at the Fatty Patty will not go over well with the anti-grease crowd. But if you're pursuing a heavenly food coma, all that gooey goodness is the source of the flavor that comes pouring out of one of Milwaukee's favorite food trucks every day. The loaded gyro is to die for, the cheese curds can compete with any in Wisconsin, and the fried eggplant veggie burger is the pinnacle of truck-based meatless.
While the Traveling Kitchen menu offers plenty of satisfying choices, the draw that turns hungry passersby into fanatically loyal fans is the list of Korean tacos. Spicy pork tacos, veggie tacos, bulgogi tacos, and fish tacos are just a few fan favorites. If you have any room after shoveling in the best street tacos in the state, please do yourself a favor and order the dumplings.
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One reviewer summed up his experience at Southern Comfort Kitchen this way: "There was a line. There was hunger. There was a sandwich. There was heaven in my belly." That sentiment pretty much reflects the nearly universal praise the authentically New Orleans Cajun truck (now restaurant) has earned from its neighbors. If you can, try everything. If you only have one shot at the indulgent, hearty fare, go for the po' boy, crawfish etouffee, or the fried chicken sandwich.
Made-from-scratch pasta is only part of the draw at Basil Thyme, an unassuming-looking truck that locals know is a true District gem. Loyalists put the lasagna in the running for best on Earth, particularly the half-truffle, half-butternut squash version. The price is right — think: half-and-half lasagna, side salad, cannoli, and a drink for less than $20 — the lines are short and the service comes with a smile.
If you're in need of a bacon fix and you see a big, pink truck covered in pictures of pigs and bacon (or just see the restaurant that has sprung up from the popularity of that truck), you're in luck. It's The Bacon Truck. The B.L.T. is predictably delicious — add avocado to make it a B.L.A.T. There's also a bacon, scallion hash, and egg concoction called the Hangover, the Pork & Mindy, and a slew of desserts featuring everyone's favorite meat. Try the chocolate bacon truffles or the candied bacon.
"Live easy. Slide on." That's the motto at Easy Slider, which packs as much punch as possible into its adorable tiny burgers, all of which are teeming with big flavor. Try the cheddar- and jalapeño-packed Roadside, the Nutty Pig, or, if meat isn't your thing, the Baby Bella. It's also opened a physical restaurant in Deep Ellum, but food trucks are so much more fun.
The Butt Hutt is the go-to smokehouse on wheels for barbecue lovers in Jacksonville. Brisket, pulled pork, chicken and sausage are the dominant meats, and the menu is filled out with a nice selection of sides and tacos, an array of massive, messy fry concoctions, and even some salads. Its loyal crop of local followers rate the Butt Hutt five stars on Yelp, often commenting on the freshness of the food, the friendliness of the staff, and the booming flavor of the sauces.
Boasting an entire menu that's gluten-free and organic, Quiero Arepas serves its South American delicacies out of a low-emission vehicle that's powered by natural gas. With meat, cheese, and produce that's locally sourced, Quiero Arepas brings the real Venezuelan experience to Denver in an environmentally friendly way. Although the eco-friendly theme makes loyal locals feel good, it's the arepas that have earned the truck a place on a host of prominent "best-of" lists.
Small batch, scratch-made cupcakes baked within 24 hours of sale are what keeps the locals coming back to A.Sweets Girl. S'mores cupcakes are a bestseller, as are the classic red velvet cupcake. The matcha tea cupcake and PB & choco are others that will most certainly satisfy a sweet tooth.
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While great food trucks are of course known for their food, few things keep loyal customers coming back more than a great cup of coffee — and that's exactly what you'll get at Wild Way. A truly gourmet coffee experience in a world of corporate chains, you can even opt for a side of dark chocolate and a dried orange slice for perfect flavor harmony. Need a real pick-me-up? Check the menu for the Purple Drank, a one-of-a-kind espresso concoction made with fresh blueberries. Having taken a break, the camper is back in business this month.
Superhero fans rejoice — there's finally a food cart for you ... and anyone else who loves amazing sandwiches and unique sides like kale slaw and loaded waffle fries. It's Hero or Villain, and the names are big enough to match the flavor. Try out the Thor, Chewie, Bowcaster, or Captain Planet.
Missouri might be the last place you'd expect to find Hawaiian cuisine so authentic that you think you've been transported from St. Louis to Honolulu — yet there it is. Buzz's Hawaiian Grill serves plate lunches and dinners that are based on the traditional food eaten by pineapple and sugarcane plantation workers, whose roots in China, Japan, Korea, Cuba, Portugal, and beyond combined to create one of the world's most eclectic and unique cuisines. The truck was so popular a bricks-and-mortar storefront opened this spring and the truck is available for events.
Las Vegas is teeming with food trucks, but Dragon Grille is a cut above, thanks to offerings such as the Korean beef brisket bowl, chicken egg rolls, and bulgogi fries. The Asian fusion truck is a staple in the city, and tourists are beginning to understand what locals have always known — that the Korean barbecue is in the running for best in the state.
There was a time when pricey Jersey City was considered the mean streets — and Angry Archie's keeps just a little bit of that spirit alive. In this case, however, a bad attitude has proven to be delicious. The crab poutine should be your first move, but on repeat visits, branch out to the fan-favorite lobster rolls.
New York City is the beating heart of the food truck world, and New Yorkers are so fiercely loyal to their favorite carts that no one selection will please everyone. Thai Mis Delicias, however, will please most. The Thai chicken salad alone is worth a visit, as are the Thai red curry and the chicken roti wrap.
Known almost as much for their super-friendly service as they are for their outrageously good — and stacked outrageously high — pastrami sandwiches, Pastrami Zombie takes lunch meat to a new level. Several levels, actually (order a double, if you dare). Eater once named the sandwich lover's paradise as the hottest food cart in Portland — which says quite a bit in a city with hundreds of carts.
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Roti Rolls might just be the first farm-to-truck enterprise in South Carolina. Its legions of adoring fans line up for the Creole mac and cheese, homemade kimchi, braised short ribs, and more.
The Breaking Burrito logo is so Heisenberg-esque that seems to border on copyright infringement — even the truck's Facebook handle is @WALT3RWHIT3. The menu, however, is a true original. Fans rave about the "crunchies" in the burritos, and seem to agree that the reasonably priced fare is the best burrito — and Mexican food in general — in town.
Known for its "Thai with a twist," Deg Thai has won a slew of awards in Nashville in recent years (and is now a restaurant — the truck is temporarily closed, too). That's all thanks to offerings such as grilled chicken basil, grilled chicken green curry, chicken toasted sweet chili, and, of course, the classic chicken pad Thai.
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It stands to reason that one of the best food trucks in Wisconsin would be famous for its cheese — and that's exactly the case with Curd Girl. Madison locals and tourists alike flock for the fried curds, which have won a spot on a host of best-of lists, as well as accolades from the Madison press and beyond.
Aztec Dave’s came up big during the pandemic, doling out 15,000 free meals to grocery store workers, medical workers and other front-line employees. It was a favorite taco truck in the Windy City, however, long before the virus. Its signature options have names like Pineapple Devil, Avocado Heaven, and Mexican Green Tomatillo. There are daily lunch specials and each section of the expansive menu is littered with build-your-own options.
A land of cowboy hats and cattle deserves a proper taco truck — and El Rodeo delivers exactly that to Bozeman. The truck’s loyalists use one word over and over in their reviews: authentic. Come for the verde enchiladas but stay for the green chili burros — or the asada tacos or carnitas burritos. No matter your choice, you’ll be diving into a plate of Mexican street food so authentic that it’s not hard to find natives of Meccas like San Diego raving about the old-school white school bus and the food that comes out of it.
To categorize what comes out of Burgh Bites as “sandwiches” would be to put the common sandwich in far too good of company. The big blue truck with the Pittsburgh skyline painted on the back compensates by instead calling them “handhelds.” They include beastly sandwiches with fun names like Rastafarian and Schmucker. The something-for-everyone menu also serves up one-of-a-kind dogs plus torts and sides, to boot. The food truck isn't always running, but a bricks-and-mortar storefront now is.
PB&J With Tay is the namesake food truck of the daughter of the couple who run it — longtime San Antonio residents, themselves. No matter what city you come from, however, it’s almost certain that you’ve never had a PB&J quite like the Texan, which is made with peanut butter, jalapeno jelly, and crispy bacon. Or the Hawaiian, which features peanut butter, coconut flakes, crispy bacon, and, of course, pineapple jelly. The list goes on. The PB&Js are seriously out of this world and you’ll find nothing like them anywhere else.
Los Angeles is a massive, sprawling city with an old and proud food truck culture that could compete with any in America. You could live there your whole life, eat at a different truck every day and never possibly get to them all. If you can only get to one, make it the Lobos Truck. There, you’ll find an entire menu section dedicated to wachos (waffles with nacho toppings) and an off-the-grill menu where entrees have names like Nobody Puts Brisket in the Corner and Brewster the Rooster.
