The 9 Best Food Truck Cities in America

Austin, Texas

Texas' capital city is also the state's cultural capital, and if authentic barbecue or mouthwatering tacos are your idea of the perfect meal, this is the place to be. Austin’s food trucks take the city’s favorite cuisines to another level. Whether it’s Thai food on wheels, La Barbecue ribs and brisket, a cupcake trailer, or vegan comfort food, the city’s beloved motto ‘Keep Austin Weird’ is evident in its delectable food truck scene.

Check up-to-date options and whereabouts via Roaming Hunger.

Los Angeles, California

Rumored to be the birthplace of food trucks, L.A. has no shortage of mobile meals to satisfy your hunger and curiosity. California’s hipster haven has everything that the nation’s best food trucks offer up these days—loaded waffle-fry nachos, sushi burritos, loaded grilled-cheese works of art, cookie ice-cream sandwiches the size of your head, and of course fish tacos, fish tacos, and more fish tacos.

To try all of them at once, head to Los Angeles for Street Food Week in July.

Chicago, Illinois

Illinois’ Windy City might be the only state capital to boast a meatloaf-cupcake truck, and its quirky options aim to please. The savory offerings at Meatloaf-A-Go-Go include bun-less beef burgers, herbed Thanksgiving turkey-loaf, and spicy ground-pork “cupcakes.” All are topped with decorative deliciousness, and there’s even a vegan option made with lentils.

If you prefer to keep your cupcakes sweet, there’s a truck for that, too—and plenty more diverse options like Indian-food wraps, Italian meatballs, the aptly-named Tamale Spaceship, even wood-fired pizza on wheels. Track your favorites here

Washington, District of Columbia

Turns out our nation’s capital is also a food-truck capital, with mobile culinary options ranging from gyros and kebabs to bubble tea and crepes lined up at public parks at almost any time of day, year-round. You'll never be at a loss for options: The District of Columbia has the second-highest number of food trucks, after Los Angeles. Food-Truck Fiesta provides an up-to-date list by location in case you can’t decide between tacos, tamales, or tapas.

Miami, Florida

While Cuban sandwiches might come to mind when you think of Miami, you’ll find plenty more Latin-inspired food in this city’s food-truck scene. Burgers, tacos, and pizza with a twist dominate Miami’s massive collection of food trucks. You’re never far from food on wheels here, and can keep up with locations, contests, and events via this joint Facebook page.

Portland, Oregon

When it comes to food trucks (and food carts), the understated food and drink capital of the U.S. has it all. Try Gamila Cafe’s raved-about Moroccan-American fusion cheese steaks; or the carbo-loaded burgers and French-fry nachos at L.A.-based Lobos. Czech comfort-food cart Tabor's Bon Appetit-praised pork Schnitzelwich and Noodle House wok dishes are just a sampling of Portland’s can’t-miss cart meals.

New York City, New York

Food-focused travelers love diving down the culinary rabbit-hole that is New York, and an ever-growing part of its beating heart has proven to be food trucks. The cheapest eats in Manhattan are some of the best when it comes to food trucks—think falafel, tacos, Maine lobster rolls, and Hungarian fried-flatbread.

Denver, Colorado

Colorado’s capital has one of the highest ratios of food trucks per resident in the U.S., falling just behind Austin. Let your appetite guide you around the Mile High City, stopping for tastes of towering burgers, cheesy arepas, steaming crockpot cuisine, and fresh vegan sandwiches. After all, between the hiking and the Rocky Mountain high, you’re bound to get hungry.

Orlando, Florida

With the most food trucks per resident, the theme-park capital of the U.S. and its surrounding towns know how to please tourists with a smorgasboard of food truck offerings. Visit the Food Truck Bazaar of Windermere to taste as many as you can at once—mac and cheese masterpieces, hand-made empanadas, even a pastrami deli on wheels.