21 Best Food Trucks in NYC in 2024
Gourmets in the Big Apple on the lookout for good food with a modern touch are in for a treat thanks to NYC’s food truck scene. These mobile canteens have found an audience willing to forgo the atmosphere of a sit-down experience in favor of phenomenal food on the go. Food trucks in NYC offer an eclectic mix of cultural treasures for diners willing to take a chance on wheeled eateries.
With food trucks in NYC stationed all over town, choosing the right spot to satisfy your hunger can be a cosmopolitan culinary quest. To help you find prime options without delay, we've gathered 21 of the best food trucks NYC has to offer. These traveling bistros provide a walking feast of specialties from around the world — everything from the best Mexican food in the city to Caribbean, Greek and Halal options that bring the cross-cultural intrigue of the NYC food truck scene into focus.
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The 21 Most Popular Food Trucks in NYC
1. Birria-Landia
Swing by Birria-Landia and grab your fill from one of the top taco food trucks NYC has to offer. A modest menu of tacos, quesadillas and birria soup means this NYC food truck can focus on what it does best: providing authentic Latin dishes that add flavor to the city.
What to Order
A warm bowl of consommé delivers comfort food thanks to seasoned birria and broth flavored with onion and cilantro. For some of the best Mexican food in NYC, pair it with a taco or a mulita cheese quesadilla and you’ll have your own personal fiesta without leaving Manhattan.
Birria-Landia | Multiple Locations | $
2. The Halal Guys
You'll find all your favorite Middle Eastern and Mediterranean hand-held dishes at The Halal Guys. Where other popular food trucks in NYC might trim their menus to save space, this mobile eatery beefs up its selection with wraps, bowls and platters that are filling enough to make a meal of.
What to Order
A combo platter is your best bet here, a mix of gyro, chicken and falafel nesting in warm rice and dressed out with your choice of vegetable toppings and drizzle. It's a complete NYC food experience in a single dish!
The Halal Guys | 307 E. 14th St., New York, NY 10003 | $
3. Wafels & Dinges
Belgian waffles become a whimsical option among the myriad food trucks around NYC thanks to Wafels & Dinges. A legendary local delicacy in Belgium, Liège “wafels” are made with pearl sugar that adds a caramel flavor, while the “dinges” in the name refer to the various sweet toppings customers can choose to top their waffles.
What to Order
How could you pass up a selection of the best sweet and sour mix and match? Try the bacon and syrup waffle and thank us later.
Wafels & Dinges | Multiple Locations | $
4. Uncle Gussy’s
Authentic Greek specialties fill the menu at Uncle Gussy's, a stand-out among the Mediterranean-focused food trucks in NYC. With more than 50 years of family tradition propelling this wheeled diner along, there's plenty of heritage worked into every dish.
What to Order
If you order the Greek salad, you get a garden of fresh vegetables serving as a bed for your choice of savory proteins — anything from chicken breast to pork sausage. What's not to love?
Uncle Gussy’s | 345 Park Ave, New York, NY 10154 | $$
5. King Souvlaki
Sampling selections from King Souvlaki is like trading the city life for a spree in the Greek isles. Some of the finest traditions from the region appear in an array of wraps, sandwiches and platters that deliver a spot of sunshine to the heart of the metropolis.
What to Order
Dig into a chicken souvlaki platter and find yourself fork-deep in two skewers of tender chicken atop rice, with a side salad and pita bread along for the ride.
King Souvlaki | Multiple Locations | $$
6. NY Dosas
The classic Indian dosa gets the mobile gourmet treatment at NY Dosas, where food trucks in NYC meet the cuisine of the Near East. Despite the name, this ambulatory eatery serves an array of regional favorites to add a touch of international intrigue to your lunch hour or dinner date.
What to Order
A masala dosa delivers lush potatoes in a crisp crepe served with fluffy rice and creamy lentils for a well-rounded and fully portable Indian platter.
NY Dosas | 345 Park Ave., New York, NY 10154 | $$
7. DiSO's Italian Sandwich Society
Italian sandwiches from DiSO's Italian Sandwich Society are like an open secret passed around NYC’s food truck landscape, all bearing suspiciously gangster-like names that add vintage New York City vibes. Becoming the must-have street food of Manhattan was a dream for proprietor Adam DiSilvestro, whose nickname "DiSO" gives the enterprise its catchy moniker.
What to Order
A Lefty Louie piles prosciutto on a hero roll or focaccia bread. Fresh mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano ramp up the cheese factor, all dressed in a glazed balsamic dressing.
DiSO's Italian Sandwich Society | Multiple Locations | $$
8. Jerk Pan
Treat yourself to a tastebud-driven trip to the Caribbean by stopping at Jerk Pan for island-based treats. It's the next best thing to hopping on a jet and enjoying your jerk chicken and oxtail with rice and beans on the beach.
What to Order
Eating Jamaican food can be one of the most tasty things to do in NYC. And you can’t visit an NYC food truck called Jerk Pan without trying the jerk chicken lunch plate. Well, you can, but only if you want to miss out on saucy chicken served with seasoned rice and crispy potato wedges.
Jerk Pan | 48 St. and Park Ave., New York, NY 10017 | $
9. El Rey del Taco
The name El Rey del Taco translates to "the king of tacos," a bold claim that's more than backed up by this superior NYC food truck. Familiar Mexican fare such as tacos and burritos mixed with fun surprises like tortas and sincronizada, a tortilla-based ham and cheese sandwich, creates a blended feast that shows this kinetic cantina thinks outside the shell.
What to Order
The taco trio lets you choose your favorite meat filling, to be nestled in crisp corn tortilla shells and adorned with the freshest toppings this side of the Southwest.
El Rey del Taco | 33-01 30th Ave., Astoria, NY 11103 | $
10. Banh Mi Cart
The beloved Vietnamese sandwich is showcased to its greatest potential at Bahn Mi Cart, a modest trailer filled with incredible food that belies this NYC food truck's limited size. A stuffed baguette brimming with fresh-cooked meats, veggies and toppings is the right bite to get you going and to keep you coming back for more.
What to Order
A grilled pork baguette is a colossus of a sandwich, serving up a full hero-sized loaf of soft bread with strips of tender grilled pork resting on a bed of cucumber slices and fresh cilantro.
Banh Mi Cart | 10 Hanover Sq., New York, NY 10005 | $
11. Kwik Meal
There’s no doubt about it: if you're looking for fast fare among the food trucks of NYC, Kwik Meal has you covered. A fusion of Greek, Indian and Asian dishes lets customers make the unenviable choice of which cultural classics they prefer, though it's easy enough to make your smorgasbord international!
What to Order
A chicken kati roll takes the typical gyro in savory new directions by wrapping traditional fillings in a tender Indian flatbread. It's the best of both worlds delivered by one of the most inventive food trucks in NYC.
Kwik Meal | 100 W. 45th St., New York, NY 10036 | $
12. King of Falafel & Shawarma
Though King of Falafel & Shawarma is an NYC food truck version of the popular restaurant, this culinary cruiser has its own unique personality. Offering a pair of Palestinian favorites is a sure way to lure customers to the counter for a celebration of street food that helps make this diverse city shine.
What to Order
Treat yourself to a dish of iconic shawarma in beef or chicken for an NYC food truck experience that exudes the sunny Mediterranean spirit in every phenomenal bite.
King Of Falafel & Shawarma | Multiple Locations | $
13. Canaima
The Venezuelan specialties served up at Canaima give food trucks in NYC a vibrant dash of South American pizzazz. Pile on the empanadas and cheese fingers, and don't forget to add a cachapa to hang onto for later.
What to Order
The pabellón arepa provides a bed of shredded beef, black beans, plantains and white cheese, perfect for indulging in true Venezuelan flavors.
Canaima | Bedford Ave. and Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11249 | $$
14. Mama Jo's Breakfast Cart
Snag yourself breakfast at Mama Jo's Breakfast Cart and you'll be partaking in the grand NYC food truck tradition of early-morning dining on the run. Whether you're craving pastries and coffee or a classic egg sandwich, there's no way Mama Jo's will let you leave hungry.
What to Order
Give your morning mood a luscious lift with a Country Style wrap, featuring eggs flavored with onions, peppers and bacon, plus a smattering of potatoes for an unmistakable breakfast pairing.
Mama Jo's Breakfast Cart | NW Corner of 47th and Park Ave., New York, NY 10017 | $
15. Royal Grill Halal Food
Halal food takes a broad range of delicious forms at Royal Grill Halal Food. This NYC food truck brings together a global community of sandwiches, rolls and rice dishes that represent just about every cultural cuisine on the planet! Who says NYC food truck dining is a simple affair?
What to Order
Start at one corner of the world for lunch with a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, then circle back for dinner with a shrimp, falafel and rice combo to complete your culinary tour.
Royal Grill Halal Food | 44th St. and 6th. Ave., New York, NY 10018 | $
16. Sam's Falafel
Masterful Mediterranean options made from scratch give Sam's Falafel a fresh advantage among food trucks in NYC. No matter what you order, from the falafel in the truck's name to creamy baba ghanoush to enjoy it with, you can rest assured that Sam and his brother have been working since the break of dawn to make sure you have a food truck dining experience you won't forget.
What to Order
Surrender to the hearty falafel sandwich with a fried pita chip accompaniment and you'll get lost in a quintessential Mediterranean meal from a prime food truck while NYC buzzes around you.
Sam's Falafel | Cedar St. and Broadway New York, NY 10006 | $
17. The Casbah
Step in line for the fabulous Middle Eastern eating at The Casbah and discover that food trucks in NYC can be simple and sophisticated at the same time. The bonus of getting a ton of food for a modest price is the icing on the cake — or in this case, the dressing on your gyro
What to Order
The falafel sandwich is a tantalizing pile-up of falafel, veggies and chickpeas robed in creamy tzatziki sauce.
The Casbah | 66th St. and Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10023 | $
18. Adel's Famous Halal Food
Lamb, chicken and falafel; it's a Halal hall of fame at Adel's Famous Halal Food. Customers rave that this is the best NYC food truck for Halal food and they certainly don't mind bearing a two-hour wait to get their pick of this popular NYC food truck’s menu.
What to Order
With a lamb and chicken combo platter, you'll get two savory proteins resting upon spicy rice with a foundation of shredded greens to help you add a little plant matter to your lunch situation.
Adel's Famous Halal Food | 49th St. and 6th Ave., New York, NY 10019 | $
19. DF Nigeria
With DF Nigeria, the rich flavors of a beloved African nation assume their spot among the food trucks of NYC. Soups, fritters and rice dishes ensure the best of Nigerian cuisine gets a seat at the table. A dedicated menu of vegan options makes enjoying food trucks in NYC an easy endeavor for plant-based eaters.
What to Order
Bring a friend and order the two-pound version of egusi soup, a melon-based stew that serves up enough for two diners to tackle.
DF Nigeria | 828 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10017 | $$
20. Mr. Khao Man Gai
The simple Asian pleasures of Mr. Khao Man Gai offer fans of food trucks in NYC wholesome dishes with refreshingly straightforward presentations. “Authentic and affordable” is the secret formula that keeps guests coming back for seconds. You could be next!
What to Order
Crispy fried chicken served with cucumber slices and savory dipping sauce is a favorite among customers looking for a protein-forward dish brimming with an authentically Asian essence.
Mr. Khao Man Gai | 28 Jackson Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101 | $$
21. Steak Freak
The name of this NYC food truck says it all: If you're a freak for steak, Steak Freak is the choicest chuckwagon. Flavors from the international buffet provide a hearty selection of steak variations, everything from sesame beef to steak chimichurri.
What to Order
Go with steak frites for an early lunch, then circle back for kimchi sesame steak for dinner to get a taste of the diversity available on the NYC food truck circuit.
Steak Freak | 6 W. 49th St., New York, NY 10020 | $
Discover the Best NYC Food
Step beyond the NYC food truck scene and you'll find one of the best cities in the world for culinary exploration, thanks to guided food tours in NYC. These excursions are led by gourmet scouts who've staked out some of the finest eateries in town. They're eager to share their discoveries, with stops in a variety of intriguing neighborhood locales for adventurous eaters in search of spectacular Manhattan dining.
Now that you know the exemplary range of food trucks in NYC, you can map your route through the city for samples of the ones that sound like a fit for your appetite. Better yet, add the names to a list of things to do in the city and choose a new NYC food truck at random whenever you tire of your usual spot. By exploring the best food trucks in NYC, you’ll find yourself embarking on a full-blown culinary adventure. All that’s left for you to do is get started!
For even more ways to explore NYC and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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