15 Of The Most Unique Food Trucks In The US
Dining out can be a wildly varied experience depending on the location, and when your food is coming out of a truck, you know there will be an added fun element to the occasion. Whether you're picking up a quick lunch, enjoying a bite during an outdoor event, or seeking out a specific meal, food trucks can satisfy a wide range of palates. While some serve standard fare like burgers, fries, and sandwiches, others opt for less common dishes and concepts.
To guide your food truck exploration, we put together a list of some of the most unique food trucks in the country. Some serve food from cuisines that aren't so ubiquitous in the U.S. Meanwhile, there are food trucks that offer distinct concepts, like serving food made with little more than a main ingredient. Yet others get their original nature from the actual truck they use to cook and sell their food. No matter what you're craving, these food trucks will titillate your taste buds and inspire your culinary desires. Read on for the most unique food trucks in the U.S.
1. Bananarchy
Bananas are a pretty common grocery cart staple, but it's not as frequent that they pop up in a food truck's offerings. Well, Bananarchy is a food truck that exclusively sells frozen bananas. But not just any old frozen bananas; these are adorned with a wide selection of garnishes, promising a sweet treat straight from a truck. Bananarchy operates from two truck locations in Austin, providing a fruity dessert across the city. This women-owned truck does things right, ensuring the bananas are ethically sourced, and the chocolate used for dipping is fair-trade.
The menu includes a half or whole banana, followed by your choice of dip (chocolate, vanilla, or peanut butter) and around a dozen toppings (including pecans, crushed cookies, Reese's Pieces, and coconut). Finally, the whole thing gets a drizzle (Nutella, marshmallow creme, caramel, etc.), tying up this dessert with flair. If you can't make a selection from all the options, get one of the specials, like The Afternoon Delight, complete with a swirl of three dips topped with nuts and graham crackers.
(512) 522-9316
1311 South First St, Austin, TX, 78704
2. Taco Beast
There's nothing all that unique about a taco food truck, but Taco Beast is more than just that. It's actually a snowcat that parks at numerous locations at Steamboat Resort in Colorado, offering hungry skiers and snowboarders a delicious meal between runs. The winter vehicle makes it ultra easy to move around the ski resort, feeding people directly on the slopes. Although it isn't a year-round affair, the Taco Beast usually stays active from December to July.
The truck menu keeps it simple with a selection of four tacos and esquites (Mexican street corn), along with Mexican sodas and beers to fuel a long day of hitting the slopes. Expect unique and familiar tacos like beef barbacoa, elk chorizo, pollo asado, and tres hermanas (a vegetarian combo of roasted squash, beans, and corn). Meanwhile, the esquites are loaded with tangy, cilantro crema and garnished with queso fresco. With satisfying Mexican food and killer views, it's hard to think of a better taco truck.
steamboat.com/things-to-do/dining/taco-beast
2305 Mt. Werner Cir, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
3. Fire Truck Crepes
Crepes aren't the most unique food truck concept around, but when they're being sold out of a decommissioned vintage fire truck, they win some points on the originality scale. Fire Truck Crepes was founded in Denver, Colorado, but has since moved to College Station, Texas, where it serves up a menu of sweet and savory crepes. The owners know a thing or two about fire trucks, as the husband-and-wife duo were both firefighters prior to making the career switch.
Fire Truck Crepes makes the rounds at local events like festivals, football games, and more. The crepes are 18 inches in diameter, making them a sizable treat to enjoy solo or with a friend. The menu includes savory delights like steak and cheese and the Monte Cristo (the chef's favorite), loaded with roasted chicken, ham, Gruyère, jam, and the truck's signature Awesome Sauce. Meanwhile, for a sweet treat, you can go classic with lemon or cinnamon and sugar, or more decadent with fillings like s'mores, cheesecake, Nutella with fruit, and apple crisp.
(979) 218-7979
4. Fork in Nigeria
The most popular African food truck in the U.S. is a pretty nice title, and one that Fork in Nigeria proudly holds. The truck has several locations around Detroit, as well as one in Columbus, Ohio, providing a whole bunch of folks with a taste of Nigerian cuisine. Prej Iroegbu grew up on a farm in Nigeria, where he took on the role of cooking for his family, eventually feeding hungry workers from the nearby port.
Once he moved to Detroit, he decided to continue his culinary exploration with a Nigerian food truck, now a favorite among locals. He imports several key ingredients from Nigeria, ensuring the food tastes as authentic as possible. The menu includes dishes like jollof rice (with tomato and spices), suya (seasoned and grilled skewered meat), oxtail, fried plantain, goat meat stew, fufu, and meat pies. For a tasty snack, you can't miss out on puff puffs: deep-fried balls of yeasted dough.
(313) 285-8546
Multiple locations
5. El Olomega
The El Salvadorian specialty of pupusas has become increasingly popular in the U.S. over the past several years, but they remain a unique snack that isn't ubiquitous countrywide. El Olomega food truck in Brooklyn, New York, is working on making them a household name. For the uninitiated, pupusas are made of corn masa and cooked on a hot griddle until they're thick, fluffy, and ready to be stuffed with an array of ingredients.
The family-run food truck has been cooking pupusas in Brooklyn since 1990, making it a true mainstay of the community. Among the pupusas on offer, you can get the beef steak (with rice, beans, sweet plantains, yucca, and a tangy onion salad) or the countryside dinner, with corn tamal, rice, beans, sweet plantain, cheese, and sour cream. Crunchy plantain chips make an excellent snack to pair with your pupusa, and fans love the cinnamon-spiced sweet horchata. This longstanding food truck is only open on the weekends, so make sure to plan accordingly.
160 Bay St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
6. Yeni's Fusion
Texas is known for its delicious food, but it's not every day you see an Indonesian food truck roaming the streets. After Yeni Rosdiyani moved to Austin from West Java in 2011, she soon started becoming involved in the food industry, eventually opening two food trucks. If you catch Yeni's Fusion during opening hours, then you'll be able to savor a flavor-packed meal featuring Indonesian specialties, with options for vegan and gluten-free diners.
To make it more enticing to less adventurous diners, the menu also includes fusion dishes blending Texan favorites with Southeast Asian cuisine. Some standouts include beef rendang, a beef curry cooked with toasted coconut and spices, and bubur ayam, a popular Indonesian street food consisting of rice porridge with chicken and garnishes. Pick up some wings tossed in homemade BBQ sauce for a Southern flair, and don't skip out on dessert. The truck was praised for having one of the best desserts by The New York Times for its ketan itam, a sweet black rice pudding made with coconut milk.
(512) 229-5178
8315 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78757
7. Pelmeni Pelmeni
It's not that uncommon to see a food truck that specializes in one specific food, but when the menu features almost exclusively Eastern European dumplings, it's certainly more unique than the usual hamburger or hot dog truck. Pelmeni Pelmeni has a location in Washington and Oregon, offering a chunk of the Pacific Northwest a hearty taste of Slavic food. The menu includes traditional fillings, making this a great truck to stop at when you want authentic Ukrainian and Russian dumplings.
The menu is limited, but that's totally fine, since the options cover the main dumpling varieties. Chicken pelmeni come with a chicken filling and a side of sour cream and Russian ketchup, along with a dill garnish. For a no-nonsense comfort food, the potato vareniki are a winner. Finally, if you're in the mood for a sweet treat, Pelmeni Pelmeni has you covered, too. Sweet cheese vareniki are made with a sweet cheese filling and served with sour cream, fruit jam, and condensed milk. Borscht is also often on the menu as a non-dumpling choice, so you'll be all set with a well-rounded meal.
Multiple locations
8. Bake on the Run
Guyanese food might not be a staple in your neck of the woods, but if you find yourself in Portland, Oregon, it's well worth visiting the Bake on the Run food truck. Founded by a mother-and-son duo, the truck features a range of Guyanese meals and snacks that are an absolute treat whether or not you're familiar with the cuisine. This unique truck has been highlighted by several websites and newspapers, demonstrating its widespread appeal.
On the menu, don't miss out on the stuffed bakes (flash-fried puff bread) loaded with fillings like salted cod, chickpea potato curry, and even Nutella. Rice bowls are another option, topped high with curries, dahl, or salted cod. You might not think of chow mein when considering Guyanese food, but this version proclaims to be one of the best in the Pacific Northwest, and it's made with noodles imported from Guyana. Lastly, don't forget to buy a bottle of Chef Bibi's Famous Peppersauce to season your home-cooked meals. The condiment is a staple in Guyana, perfectly balancing flavor and heat.
(503) 877-8602
4727 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206
9. Honeycuspe
Food trucks are often associated with lunchtime and late-night eats, but Honeycuspe takes on the breakfast and brunch market. You can find this unique concept in Portland, Oregon, where you'll be greeted by the wafting smell of warm waffles. The mission behind this delicious food truck is to transform breakfast into art, and that's definitely achieved. The menu focuses on Belgian-style waffles, taking the task seriously with a wafflemaker imported from Europe.
Diners can choose from sweet or savory waffles, satisfying all morning and midday palates. The former includes treats like a strawberry-lemon compote, pumpkin spice, or a bananas foster waffle. The latter offers protein-forward options like the classic savory, topped with buttermilk fried chicken, or the ham, cheese, and egg waffle. Meanwhile, the Garden of Eros treats your waffle like a trendy piece of toast, loading it with smashed avocado, a soft-fried egg, roasted seeds, and microgreens. Finally, if you need an extra boost, get a side of hash browns, bacon, sausage patty, or eggs.
262 SE Main St, Portland, OR 97202
10. Ms. Cheezious
Plenty of food trucks only sell sandwiches, but Ms. Cheezious sticks to one type only: grilled cheese. The menu specializes in ooey gooey sandwiches, but there's no shortage of options to satisfy all tastes. The concept has been so successful that a brick-and-mortar location in Miami was also opened. While you might be forgiven for thinking of grilled cheese as simple, Ms. Cheezious amps it up with gourmet and quality-crafted ingredients, such as the in-house smoked and cured meat.
The menu doesn't include a basic cheese and bread concoction, but if you want to keep it classic, just build your own with your choice from the daily bread selection (gluten-free is available) along with several cheese options (including vegan). But if you really want to taste what sets Ms. Cheezious apart, try one of the menu options, like the crabby cheese melt (fresh crab salad with cheddar), the short rib melt (braised short rib, jack cheese, pickled onions, and arugula), or the Southern fried chicken & waffle melt (served with house country gravy and maple syrup). And if your sweet tooth is playing up, get the s'mores melt or the sweet meltdown (ricotta and orange marmalade with a chocolate dipping sauce).
(305) 989-4019
7956 NE 4th Ave, Miami, FL 33138
11. Space Shuttle Café
The Space Shuttle Café offers a unique take in more than one way. For starters, the food truck and full kitchen are built into a WWII cargo plane that's been converted into a truck, making it aesthetically one of a kind. The truck has moved around a fair bit, spending time in Europe, the Mojave Desert, and NYC. Then, it became part of the Soulcial Kitchen's food truck park in Swansea, Illinois. Now, the café has a seasonal spot at Flock in Alton, Illinois, a food truck park and bar with two permanent trucks, including the Space Shuttle Café.
The kitchen is decked out with plenty of equipment, because the Space Shuttle Café isn't restricted to a menu. Since joining Flock, the truck takes on a new persona each year, with a brand new chef and menu. The 2026 season is still in the works, but past years included thematically-appropriate options like Solar System Burgers, Star Ship Chicken Sliders, Rocket Launch Philly, and the Shuttle Wrap.
(618) 208-7988
210 Ridge Street, Alton, IL 62002
12. Polar Bites
An ice cream truck is about as classic as it gets, but Polar Bites incorporates a unique twist to ensure its offerings stand out. Located in Sioux Falls, this truck isn't limited to the usual frozen treat offerings like soft serve and popsicles. One of its specialties is rolled ice cream, a Thai dessert that has since received high praise far beyond Southeast Asia. Part of the allure is the novel process of preparing it, which alone draws in curious customers. The ice cream is flash frozen on a metal pan, then rolled into cylinders that are packed into a cup. Customers can also order shaved ice and Dole Whips for a sweet and frosty experience.
Some popular rolled ice cream options include the Cookie Monster, with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, Oreos, and a chocolate drizzle, as well as the Sticky Monkey, with bananas, peanut butter, and honey. And if you can't get enough, you can pre-order the rolled ice cream as a cake. As for the shaved ice, you can create your own from a wide array of ingredients or opt for a signature creation, like the Birthday Blast, which consists of cake batter-flavored shaved ice, ice cream, whipped cream, and rainbow sprinkles. Plus, you can get drinks like snow shakes or boba.
(605) 667-0106
501 E 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
13. Roti Rolls
You might expect that one of Charleston's first food trucks would feature classic Southern cuisine, but that's not quite the case with Roti Rolls. Founded in 2010, the truck has since widened its customer reach, making its way to festivals across Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, as well as showing up at events in its hometown. The truck is all about fusion flavors, starting with the foundation of most of its meals, a roti. The Indian flatbread features as a wrap in numerous menu items, with bold fusion fillings featuring Southern, Caribbean, and Korean flavor profiles, just to name a few.
Among the selection of roti rolls, diners can enjoy the Mother Clucker (Cajun chicken, pico de gallo, cotija, pickled red onion, salsa verde, and dank sauce), Wakey Bakey (candied bacon, Thai pimento cheese, roasted garlic potato, egg, and salsa verde), and the Eye Opener (braised beef, kimchi, egg, goat cheese, and dank sauce). Sides include Creole mac and cheese, curry rice, and wings. For a true fusion experience, Roti Rolls is a unique truck with plenty to offer.
(843) 735-9664
14. Malasadamobile
To understand the Malasadamobile, you need to know about malasadas. For the uninitiated, they're donuts from Portugal that are missing the hole in the center. The result is a tasty, golden fried dough that can be coated or filled. This food truck has multiple locations around the island of Oahu, primarily in Honolulu, where the original bakery that started it all was founded in 1952. Malasadas were first brought to the island by Portuguese immigrants, and the bakery has kept this treat alive since, with notable traffic on Fat Tuesday (locally referred to as Malasada Day).
The menu is sweet and simple, highlighting the delicious nature of perfectly fried dough. To add a bit of pizazz to the treat, try one of the malasada coatings, like sugar, cinnamon sugar, or li hing, a dried plum powder popular in Hawaii that adds a tangy taste. Meanwhile, the fillings offer even more flavor options, including custard, chocolate, coconut, macadamia, and guava. There's also a flavor of the month to keep each visit exciting and new.
leonardshawaii.com/malasadamobile
Multiple locations
15. The Bacon Truck
People have pretty strong feelings about bacon, so a bacon-centric food truck was bound to appear one day. The Bacon Truck in Charlestown, Massachusetts, capitalized on this food obsession, founding a business on that concept alone. The truck was so successful that it eventually led to a brick-and-mortar location, The Bacon Truck Cafe. Considering the founders' love for bacon, they've sought out some top-notch thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon to serve, produced by Blackstone St. Smokehouse in South Boston. Evidently, the menu does not pull in the reins when it comes to bacon-laden meals.
Sandwiches are the focus here, including traditional favorites like a classic BLT (enhanced with roasted garlic bacon mayo) and grilled cheese (with bacon, cheddar, havarti, and tomatoes). Meanwhile, other options like The Hangover (bacon, bacon scallion hash patty, cheddar, havarti, and egg) or The Pork & Mindy (bacon, braised pork shoulder, cheddar, avocado, red onion, and smoky chipotle aioli) offer a hearty bite for pork lovers. If you need more bacon (why not?), order a side of bacon scallion hash or a good ol' bunch o' bacon. Finally, if you want something sweet to round out all the savory goodness, bacon is still an option. Try a chocolate bacon truffle, candied bacon, or Nutella-covered bacon.
(617) 513-0497
50 Terminal St, Charlestown, MA 02129