What the Truck: The Hottest Latino Food Truck Must-Trys Across the Country

The food truck trend is everywhere, from sporting events to private events to big cities to music/art/food festivals and everything in between. Once upon a time the idea of eating food out of a moving vehicle might have seemed like a terrible idea. And for the most part, food trucks seemed to exclusively serve questionably prepared hot dogs and stale pretzels. It felt wrong to willingly consume food that was whipped up in a truck. And besides, how good could the food be? Let us be the first to admit — we were wrong. That was then (and if we’re being honest, we were probably a little quick to judge) and this is now. Food trucks are taking the culinary world by storm, and it can be argued that they’re the most delicious, most fun, and most cost-effective way to enjoy authentic cuisines from around the world.

Make no mistake about it, food trucks are here to stay. They aren’t a passing fad or a bizarre food trend in cities where chefs can’t afford proper dining establishments. Food trucks are a thing, and not only are they not going away any time soon, but they are making serious bank in the food world.

According to The Economist, there are currently over 4,000 food trucks throughout the country (and that number seems to be growing), and from 2011 to 2016, food truck industry revenue grew at an annual rate of 7.9%. Off The Grid, a San Francisco-based company that helps support mobile food businesses by doing everything from designing the trucks to setting up vending groups to helping with marketing recently released its first Mobile Food Trends Report. The report breaks down the food truck trend and its projected growth for the future, and spoiler alert: this rapidly growing industry is taking over.

According to the report, the food truck industry alone is expected to grow by nearly 20 percent in 2019 alone, growing to a 985 million dollar business in the next year. Food trucks offer a ton of benefits to both business owners and patrons alike. For entrepreneurs it offers a chance to start a business with a smaller upfront investment but with more flexible opportunities and a larger reach to feed a bigger and more diverse audience. It also allows chefs to experiment with their menus, innovate more rapidly, stay ahead of the trends and focus on brand awareness and food quality, rather than increasing prices to make rent or investing in a permanent location that might not work.

And even Hollywood is catching on to the food truck trend. The hit movie Chef, staring Jon Favreau, was about a talented chef with a temper who leaves his job at a popular restaurant to run a food truck in Miami with his son, his ex-wife (the gorgeous Sofia Vergara) and his friend (the hilarious John Leguizamo). The film was well received by critics and fans alike, and it was nearly impossible to watch without craving an epic Cuban sandwich that can only be served from an authentic food truck.

Food trucks are a way for culinary professionals and business owners to innovate, to grow, to diversify their offerings and to satisfy a wide and growing audience of foodies with appetites for the best and most delicious food. If you’ve been hesitant to hit up your local food trucks in the past, now is the time to change your perception of these mobile kitchens and get in line, ready to dig in.

Not sure where to begin? Good news, we have the inside scoop on the best Latino food trucks around the country. If you’re lucky, there are some delicious, easily accessible and dare we say it, cheap, food trucks in your very own community.  If not, they are certainly worth the trip to check out the best Latino food trucks across the US, and trust us, come hungry.

6Miami

IG @El Reydelasfritas Food Trucks
Photo credit @El Reydelasfritas

Miami, Florida wasn’t always known for its food truck scene, but with outdoor food markets and food halls on the rise, and year-round gorgeous weather perfect for eating outside, it should come as no surprise that you can find some seriously delicious grub from food trucks located throughout the city. And it’s no secret that this city is heavily inspired by Latin cultures and cuisines, so you have tons of options if you’re hungry for everything from Cuban to Caribbean to Mexican cuisine. If you’re craving tacos/fritas/Cuban sandwiches and more, there’s a food truck for that.

We have to start with a Cuban establishment that has been a staple in the community for decades: El Rey de las Fritas. While there are four brick-and-mortar locations throughout Miami, the food truck brings El Rey de las Fritas’ famous handmade Cuban burger (seasoned beef and chorizo patty, topped with shoestring potatoes, spicy sauce on a toasted Cuban bread roll) to people around the city. It’s a must-try for anyone living in Miami or visiting and looking to try some local Cuban delicacies. BC Tacos is a mobile food truck serving unique and flavorful gourmet tacos. Located throughout South Florida, these trucks serve everything from basic tacos (chicken, steak, barbecue pork) to less basic (chicken Caesar, bacon cheeseburger and beef short rib).

Box of chacos Food Trucks
Photo Credit IG @boxofchacos

And then there’s Box of Chacos, a food truck that is famous for serving tacos that are anything but traditional. They feature dishes that have a unique take on Mexican style tacos, by adding a touch of Chinese flair and influence to their recipes (hence the name Chacos, blending Chinese flavor with tacos).