This North Carolina City Has Some Of The Best Food Trucks In America
Food trucks are doing big business all across America. What’s not to love? They offer a variety of delicious global cuisines often at cheaper prices than traditional sit-down restaurants. And during the early months of the pandemic when many restaurants were closed, food trucks were there to save us from our own cooking.
Of course, some U.S. cities have a stronger food truck game than others. Charlotte certainly has some good ones, including Tin Kitchen, Chuck’s Cheesesteaks, The Garbage Truck, No Forks Given, and many others. The only thing better than their names is the food coming through their windows. And some local food trucks have done so well, they’ve actually evolved into more stationary establishments, like Papi Queso and The Dumpling Lady in Optimist Hall.
The readers of Food & Wine voted on the best food truck cities in America. While Charlotte did not make the list, another North Carolina city just squeaked into the top ten. The magazine describes Raleigh as having a casual, laid-back atmosphere with many food trucks, such as The Wandering Moose, offering classic Southern comfort food and barbecue. The dumplings and noodles from Chirba Chirba, Cuban sandwiches from Qspresso, and Indian curry meals from Curry In a Hurry Truck are other standouts.
The truck is all settled in and ready to start cooking, and now all we need is you! What are you ordering once you pull up? pic.twitter.com/6xvu6Jgeg4
— Curry in a Hurry (@curryinahurrync) January 14, 2023
10 Best Food Truck Cities In The U.S. (Food & Wine)
- Portland, OR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Austin, TX
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- San Diego, CA
- Houston, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Raleigh, NC
North Carolina's Favorite Food Truck Food Is Unexpected
Most Popular Food Truck Item In Each State
- North Carolina: Fried Shrimp Burger
- South Carolina: Sauerkraut Hot Dog
- Georgia: Pulled Pork Sliders
- Tennessee: Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
- Virginia: Curry Fries
Second Most Popular Food Truck Item In Each State
- North Carolina: Honey-Drizzled Pork Ribs
- South Carolina: Korean Corn Dog
- Georgia: Loaded Tator Tots
- Tennessee: Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
- Virginia: Oyster Po’boy
1. Tacos
Tacos were one of the two most popular items in 10 states:
- Alaska (Alaskan salmon tacos)
- Arizona (Carne asada tacos)
- California (Al pastor tacos)
- Colorado (Birra tacos)
- Idaho (Birra tacos)
- Ohio (Birra tacos)
- Arizona (Brisket tacos)
- California (Shrimp ceviche tostados)
- New Mexic0 (Carne asada tacos)
- Rhode Island (Lobster tacos)
2. Sandwhich/Roll
There are seemingly endless varieties of sandwiches, so of course, it’s the second most popular item! This includes lobster rolls in New England, Florida Cuban sandwiches, and North Dakota’s favorite Hawaiian pulled pork sandwich.
3. Fries
A conversation the other day led me to the realization that fries might just be my favorite food. So you can bet I’m ordering loaded fries at a food truck. Other popular options include pot roast fries in Arizona and curry fries in Virginia.
4. Burgers
Always a classic. North Carolina loves the shrimp burger, other popular options are the Wagyu beef burger and a falafel burger!
5. Hot/Corn Dog
You can jazz up a hot dog but it’s still a hot dog. But some people love them. Idaho loves its classic corn dog while South Dakota prefers the Sauerkraut dog.
6. Mac & Cheese
Gourmet mac and cheese? Yes, please. Don’t mind me I just may relocate to Maine for the lobster mac and cheese or Ohio for the pork belly variety. Good think North Carolina has the Cousin’s Maine Lobster truck I and I don’t have to move to Maine. I wouldn’t survive that winter!
7. Sliders
Not to be roped in with burgers or sandwiches sliders are their own category. Popular favorites include pulled pork sliders in Georgia and Utah. Maryland boasts some crab cake sliders as well.
8. Pizza
You can never go wrong with pizza. I’ll take it frozen, from a brick oven, or a food truck. Topping the list in multiple states including the Chicago deep dish in Illinois and a lasagna pizza in Wyoming that I am dying to try!
9. Po'boys
It’s not just the Louisiana that loves their po’boys. In fact, it wasn’t a top contender in the Bayou. But nearby Alabama enjoys a hot chicken po’boy and Virginia likes their’s with oysters.
10. Ribs
Ribs from a food truck are a little bit of a stretch for me. But too each their own. In fact, North Carolina loves honey-drizzled pork ribs. Though it’s not me that’s searching for them.
