Do you run a food truck business and need menu ideas to create a unique brand? If YES, here are 50 best selling delicious food items to sell in your food truck.
Food trucks have indeed gained wide acceptance in the United States and beyond, and because of this, there are loads of food truck businesses fighting to gain acceptance in the country. This has made the food truck industry, may be not saturated, but it does have increased competition.
If you are thinking of starting your own food truck business, then you need to find creative ways to ensure your food truck stands out from the crowd.
The best way to do this is to look into your menu. You must indeed find the perfect menu that would get your customers coming back for more. You need to get a list of mouthwatering menu and you can add your own twist to ensure you get something a bit different from the crowd.
Often, if you want to be successful in the food industry you don’t need to have the most creative menu in town. You simply need to serve consistently good food that people crave paired with exceptional customer service. Here are a list of popular menu concepts that can help you draw in your first customers.
Top Selling Food Truck Items
-
Breakfast Bowls
If your food truck is going to serve breakfast, then you must have to start thinking of some unique breakfast bowl concepts. You can put together a variety of home fries, egg, meat, cheese, salsa, black beans, sour cream and many other healthy ingredients.
These bowls are filling and easy to make, and people love them because of the variety they offer. You can customize your breakfast bowls with your unique ingredients.
-
Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
A food truck is never complete without biscuits and gravy. To make things easier for you, you can buy pre-made heat and serve biscuits; you can even buy the sausage gravy pre-made. You only need to cut the biscuits in half and place them in the boat, ladle the gravy over the biscuit bottoms, and then place the biscuit tops on slightly askew to show the gravy. You can get creative with your gravy to make a difference.
-
Burritos
This is another food truck fare that is easy to make and that is equally filling. You can offer plain egg and a western omelet and then meat protein, salsa, sour cream, black bean and rice if you want. You only need to roll and wrap in foil and cut in half and serve. This meal is also cheap to make.
-
Sweet Potato, Caramelized Onions, Brown Sugar
These are a great breakfast item that can be converted to a lunch item. You can add black beans and serve it as a vegetarian taco. It is healthy as well as delicious.
-
Fruit Cups or Yogurt Parfait
You should not neglect serving fruits in your truck because a lot of people look forward to having some form of fruit every day. This menu can be as simple as a mixed fruit salad in a solo cup with a lid and a fork handle dropped through the straw slot. You can add vanilla yogurt and granola in layers with the fruit and up charge for it.
-
Waffle Tacos
Waffle tacos are easy to make and plate. You can make the waffles ahead of time and hold them on the steam table. Then cook bacon ahead of time, sausage patties and pork roll. Use a shredded tri-blend of cheese for topping the egg. You should then make the eggs in the flat top and fold them over and place in a pan on the steam table.
When a waffle taco is ordered, just pull a waffle, place the meat and egg on it, sprinkle on the cheese, and place it on the flat top griddle with a dome for a minute. When the cheese is melted, fold and place the finished waffle into a to-go container or a boat. You can accompany it with sides like maple syrup, salsa, sour cream, and jellies.
-
Beef gyro
This meal is made up of beef, tzatziki, tomato, onion, and French fries all rolled up inside pita. It is usually made to be soft and tender so you can taste the olive oil. This is a delicious fare for meat lovers who don’t mind their gravy.
-
Bamwich
This is a combination of the beef and lamb. It is a sort of sharwama wrapped in pita with romaine lettuce, roma tomato, red onion, tzatziki, red feta sauce and tahini. Shaved thin, the meat tastes like it’s marinated in garlic, yogurt and vinegar, making it tangy and piquant.
-
Crack chips
These are delicious deep-fried flour tortilla chips, or chips made from any other kind of flour. These chips are basically snacks that you can serve with a side dipping sauce. While the chips may be plain, you can make up with your sauce.
-
Mini meat pie
Mini meat pies are delicious little fares that are filling and cheap to make as well. You need to master the art of baking these tiny snacks to perfection so as to create steady customers from them. You should make the pocket meats rich with gravy and the pastry as soft as possible.
-
Fried fish tacos
Fried fish tacos are delicious tacos made from breadcrumbed fish, served with a grilled chili mayo, pickled shallots and avocado. This is a standard food truck meal, but people cannot seem to get enough of it. You can find a special recipe for it or you can even create your own.
-
Jalapeno Popper Mexican Street Corn
One of the best things about summer is fresh sweet corn, and this recipe is a definite standout. You can give it a creamy dressing, crunchy panko coating and spicy jalapeno kick. If you’re really feeling wild, sprinkle with a bit of cooked and crumbled bacon, or anything you think will go best with it.
-
Tater Tot-chos
Playing with food is loads of fun when you have Tater Tots and taco toppings. This menu goes well with Cheese Sauce, Charred-Tomato Salsa, Chorizo, and Pickled Jalapeños.
You can load up your tater tot nachos with taco meat and all the fixins’ for a delicious spin on traditional nachos. You can equally plate up the vegetarian variety. The beauty of this quick-fix recipe is that the tater tots can be baked or fried, and when it comes to toppings, the sky’s the limit.
-
Cuban Panini
The Cuban sandwich is a twist on the old ham and cheese, usually with ham, Swiss, pickles, condiments and sometimes, as in this hearty version, smoked turkey.
A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich that originated in cafes catering to Cuban workers in Key West and Ybor City, Tampa, two early Cuban immigrant communities in Florida. The sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and sometimes salami on Cuban bread.
-
Lime Chicken Tacos
Chili lime chicken tacos are easy to make and they are full of flavor. You can serve them with roasted corn, onion, black beans and drizzle with some avocado. Saute chicken in a medium saucepan over medium high heat for about 20 minutes.
Add vinegar, lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, garlic and oregano. Simmer for an extra 10 minutes. Heat an iron skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan, warm, and turn over to heat the other side. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Serve lime chicken mixture in warm tortillas topped with tomato, lettuce, cheese and salsa.
-
Barbecued Chicken Pizzas
So fast and so easy with refrigerated pizza crust, these saucy, smoky pizzas make quick fans with their hot-off-the-grill, rustic flavor. They’re perfect for spur-of-the-moment cookouts and summer dinners on the patio.
-
New Orleans Beignets
These sweet French doughnuts are square instead of round and have no hole in the middle. This beignet recipe is a traditional part of breakfast in New Orleans and can be a fare in your food truck no matter where you are selling from.
-
Korean Beef and Rice
Korean Beef and Rice for one is an easy meal to incorporate as lunch fare in your food truck. The ground beef takes only minutes to brown but you still get that delicious Korean flavor in this meal. The brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger combination is the best. It helps take the flavor to next level with the simple kitchen ingredients.
-
Caribbean Jerk Chicken
Get ready to rock the grill with this wonderfully fragrant, spicy chicken. The bold marinade includes hints of cinnamon, cayenne and thyme. It packs a lot of punch and it is guaranteed to keep your customers coming back for more.
-
Pork Satay
Pork satay is a popular street food in Thailand, where it is eaten as both a snack and an entree. You can serve the Thai pork satay with an easy peanut sauce, which can be whipped up in just minutes, on the side for dipping, while the sesame oil and Thai chili sauce add Asian flavors that pair perfectly with peanut butter
-
Loaded Waffle Fries
Loaded Waffle Fries is an easy appetizer that can tickle your customers. The crispy baked waffles fries are loaded with taco beef, tomatoes, avocado green onions, scallions and cheese. It goes well with great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself.
-
Pork and Ramen Stir-Fry
You may think ramen noodles are just for college kids, but they’re not. They pair perfectly with pork in a spicy, Asian-style sauce. Ramen noodles are a quick sub for the rice. Cook noodles according to package directions, discarding or saving seasoning packets for another use.
In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Add pork; stir-fry 2-3 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in soy sauce mixture and pork; and heat through. You are mostly done with this delicious noodle meal.
-
Fruit-Filled French Toast Wraps
These are for the fruit lovers. It is very healthy, delicious and easy to make. In a small bowl, combine yogurt and banana.
In a shallow bowl, whisk egg, milk, cinnamon and nutmeg. Dip both sides of each tortilla in egg mixture. Spoon yogurt mixture down center of tortillas; top with strawberries, blueberries and granola. Roll up each tortilla. Note that you are free to switch up fruits.
-
Chicken Tamales
Tamales may take some time to make but they are very delicious and filling meals. In Mexico, tamales begin with dough made from nixtamalized corn (hominy), called masa, or a masa mix, such as Maseca, and lard or vegetable shortening.
Tamales are generally wrapped in corn husks or plantain leaves before being steamed, depending on the region from which they come. Just ensure you can a great recipe and you are good to go.
-
Colorful Shrimp Pad Thai
Bright, fresh veggie flavors, a splash of tart lime juice, the crunch of peanuts and a hint of heat make this healthy and beautiful shrimp stir-fry a real standout. Of course it would give you a stand out in your truck.
-
Pizza Quesadillas
A quesadilla recipe filled with classic pizza ingredients of pepperoni and mozzarella cheese for a delicious twist. Unlike traditional Mexican quesadillas, it calls for Italian meats, cheeses and seasoning. Serve it with a green salad for a simple but healthy meal.
-
BLT Waffle Sliders
These are a great meal idea for your food truck. Try a deliciously different version that features crisp bacon and fresh tomatoes between two golden cornmeal waffles. Prepare the waffles ahead of time and reheat in the toaster for quick assembly.
-
Philly Cheesesteaks
A cheesesteak is a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of beefsteak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll. A popular regional fast food, it has its roots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a sandwich made of thinly sliced beef — usually frozen chip steak — cooked on a griddle and served on a sliced roll with cheese and either “wit” or “witout” onions.
-
Fish and Chips with Dipping Sauce
Chips are a standard fare that are served in food trucks. Be it fish and chips, chicken and chips, you name it, so it would be great to incorporate this snack into your menu. This fare is very easy to make and it is one of people’s favorites. Just ensure you have a great sauce to go with it.
-
Poutine
Poutine is a dish originating from the Canadian province of Quebec, consisting of French fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. The dish emerged in the late 1950s in the Centre-du-Québec area and has long been associated with the cuisine of Quebec.
The ultimate in French-Canadian junk food, poutine commonly features warm fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. This side dish is quick to fix with frozen potatoes and packaged gravy but has all the traditional greasy spoon comfort.
-
Toasted Mexican Ravioli
This Italian appetizer is crunchy and deliciously dipped in a warm marinara sauce. It is a mixture of Mexican and Italian foods and would appeal to people with both tastes.
-
Buffalo Macaroni and Cheese Bites
In a vegetarian Buffalo-style appetizer, macaroni and cheese get heated up with Louisiana-style hot sauce, then breaded and baked. These tasty nibbles are served with blue cheese dressing and are great for people that need nourishment on the go.
-
Lime-Chipotle Carnitas Tostadas
This is an easy, yet delicious meal to make. You just add broth to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Mix seasonings; rub over all sides of pork. Place in slow cooker. Add onion and garlic cloves. Cook, covered, on low 8-10 hours or until meat is tender. Remove pork; cool slightly.
Strain cooking juices, reserving garlic cloves; discard onion. Skim fat from cooking juices. Mash garlic with a fork. Shred pork with two forks. Return cooking juices, garlic and pork to slow cooker. Squeeze lime juice over pork; heat through, stirring to combine. Layer tostada shells with pork mixture and toppings as desired. Serve with lime wedges.
-
Marmalade French Toast Sandwiches
If your food truck serves basically snacks, then you must serve a couple of sandwiches. Marmalade French Toast Sandwiches are just one of them and these snacks are always a treat. Try hot pepper jelly when you want a little sizzle or as your customers desire.
-
Grilled Veggie Sandwiches
These are another version of sandwiches you can serve in your food truck, but these are the healthy version. Just make your standard sandwich base and load up with your desired veggie fillings.
-
Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
An easy homemade yeast dough is the base of these pepperoni pizza rolls. Stuffed with pizza sauce, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. You’ll be amazed at the flavor of the easy yeast dough with the spicy pepperoni and gooey cheese.
-
Candy Craze Ice Cream Sandwiches
These ice cream sandwiches have a little bit of everything in them to satisfy all your cravings. If your food truck serves desserts, then you must incorporate ice cream sandwiches in all its delicious glory. You just need to find various creative ways you can decorate your sandwiches.
-
Hot Dog Sliders
An American favorite, hot dogs, turn into a fun treat that is great for a nibble on the go. Hot dogs, chili, and cheese, make this easy slider recipe perfect for your food truck. Cut slider buns in half setting the tops of the buns to the side. Place 3 hot dog slices on each slider bun, or as many as you need to cover the bread.
-
Tres Leches Cupcakes
Tres Leches Cupcakes are a light and airy cupcake that’s filled with three decadent and creamy milks, then topped with a fluffy whipped cream and dusting of cinnamon sugar. It’s a light, sponge-like cake that’s soaked in three milks (tres leches). If you love dairy, you won’t be disappointed with this special take on the classic.
-
Cheesy Ham & Egg Sandwiches
If you are running a breakfast food truck, then you cannot run away from serving egg sandwiches. You can pile toppings like salsa, avocado—even mayo and ketchup onto the sandwiches, or basically anything your customers demand.
-
Ultimate Pastrami Sandwiches
This peerless pastrami sandwich was adapted from a menu favorite at Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Pittsburgh. People took the basic ingredients—grilled cold cuts, cheese, fried potatoes and tomatoes—and created a tasty replica.
-
Moo Shu Mushroom Wraps
In America, moo shu pork is served with a small dish of hoisin sauce and several warm, steamed, thin, white tortilla-like wrappers made of flour, called “moo shu pancakes”.
In its traditional Chinese version, moo shu pork consists of sliced pork tenderloin, cucumber, and scrambled eggs, stir fried in sesame or peanut oil together with bite-sized cuttings wood ear mushrooms (black fungus) and enokitake mushrooms.
The dish is seasoned with minced ginger and garlic, scallions, soy sauce, and rice cooking wine. Divide warmed tortillas between serving plates. Spread about 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce over each tortilla, then top evenly with moo shu filling and roasted purple sweet potato.
-
Tropical Island Shrimp Kabobs
Shrimp, mango and pineapple on skewers make a nice presentation when plated, and they are equally delicious. To boost flavors, you can use coconut milk, lime juice and cilantro marinade.
-
Pork and Vegetable Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are delicious filling snacks. They are an exciting blend of pork, vegetables and spices is sealed inside wrappers, then baked until crisp. They are delicious and crunchy without deep frying. You can also make this with shrimp or add in cranberries.
-
Chicken & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
You can make and serve grilled cheese sandwich combines chicken with sweet caramelized onions, red peppers, Swiss cheese and sourdough bread. Generously butter both sides of each bread slice. In between two bread slices, pile the caramelized onions between two layers of cheese.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Cook the sandwiches, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
-
Falafel Chicken Burgers with Lemon Sauce
Falafel burgers are a simple, healthy vegetarian fare. This is a good recipe for a healthy food truck. A simple falafel sauce is super easy. Just combine ½ cup tahini with ¼ cup water, a tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon finely minced fresh garlic, ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika for color, and a little dash of pepper and cayenne if desired.
Add more or less water depending on your preference. The sauce’s tart taste and creamy texture is the perfect complement to the crunchy and savory patties.
-
Buffalo/chicken Wings
A Buffalo wing, in the cuisine of the United States, is an unbreaded chicken wing that is generally deep-fried then coated or dipped in a sauce consisting of a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and melted butter prior to serving. Of course you need to serve chicken wings if your food truck is big on snacks. These distinctive wings deliver a sweet, salty and slightly spicy taste with every bite.
-
Lobster rolls
A lobster roll is a sandwich native to New England made of lobster meat served on a grilled hot dog-style bun with the opening on the top rather than the side. The filling may also contain butter, lemon juice, salt and black pepper, with variants made in some parts of New England replacing the butter with mayonnaise.
Remove the meat from the lobsters, chopping any large chunks into bite-size pieces. In a bowl, combine the lobster meat, mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Brush cut sides of the rolls with melted butter and fill with the lobster salad.
-
Crepes with special toppings
A crêpe or crepe is a type of very thin pancake. Crêpes are usually of two types: sweet crêpes and savoury galettes. Crêpes are served with a variety of fillings, from the simplest with only sugar to flambéed crêpes Suzette or elaborate savoury galettes.
You load up your crepes with toppings that are far from the usual fare. Just make sure the toppings complement each other so that the flavours can blend perfectly.
-
Fusion cuisine
This is one cuisine that has been fully embraced by the mobile food industry. The concept involves taking two popular food items and merging them together into something new. This melting pot of flavors is called fusion cuisine.
One fusion concept that has gained a lot of popularity over the last 10 years is merging a variety of ethnic foods and flavors with the taco. BBQ, Korean, Indian, and even vegetarian food has collided with the hard or soft shell of Mexican food in most cities.
Go ahead and have fun with creating your own fusion cuisine that can help your new food truck to stand out from the crowd.