Anyone wandering the streets of New York City is bound to run into at least a dozen food trucks and carts lining the streets along their way. The city has thousands of food-serving motorized vehicles that congregate at parks, major streets, and anywhere else they can find a spot to sell their goods. In honor of National Food Truck Day 2023 on June 30th, we have compiled a list of 10 unique NYC trucks from across the five boroughs that are not to be missed this foodie holiday!
1. Terry and Yaki Food Cart
Courtesy of Terry and Yaki
With two different locations in the city (one at 161 East 68th Street in the Upper East Side and the other at 27-01 Queens Plaza North in Queens), Terry and Yaki Food Cart offers Asian-style cooking made with halal ingredients. This modern kitchen on wheels has something for everyone to try. In addition to their signature teriyaki bowls, they also serve fried chicken bao buns and vegan and vegetarian dishes like tofu bowls and spicy Chinese eggplant. While their Manhattan location is open from 11 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday, their Queens location is open on weekends as well, and serves food until 9:30 PM, giving foodies even more time to enjoy their dishes this National Food Truck Day.
2. Frenchy’s Food Truck in Brooklyn
Unsurprisingly, Frenchy’s Food Truck in Brooklyn specializes in French food. The truck serves breakfast on weekdays starting at 6 AM, so customers have plenty of time to grab one of their infamous pastries and a coffee before work or on their morning commute. With a mouth-watering menu covering both sweet croissants and savory quiches, this truck is the perfect stop for a quick but delightful way to start the day. You can find Frenchy’s at Eastern Parkway and Franklin Avenue every day but Sunday.
3. The Chipper Truck in the Bronx
Courtesy of The Chipper Truck and Cafes
“Dine like the Irish” at this Irish-inspired food truck in the Bronx on Katonah Avenue. Serving many Irish fast food favorites, the truck is famously known in the area for its variety of chips (fries, to the average American), including taco chips, curry chips, and even Irish peas and gravy chips. The Chipper Truck also serves American classics, for those not looking to step out of their comfort zone, with options of burgers and wraps. Anyone looking for some authentic corned beef with cabbage or shepherd’s pie should check it out. There is also a Chipper Cafe location in Yonkers open 24/7.
4. Harlem Seafood Soul in Manhattan
Courtesy of Harlem Seafood Soul
The Harlem Seafood Soul food truck is not only a treasure of the Harlem neighborhood, but it is also eco-friendly and runs on solar power and compressed natural gas. The food truck’s drool-worthy menu features some of the South’s finest and most iconic dishes, covering everything from Po’boys and fish and grits to shrimp tacos and buttermilk fried chicken. Room for dessert? Harlem Seafood Soul even has funnel cake. Feeding its neighborhood since 2016, its owner Chef Tami is well-known to regulars and serves a smile with every plate. Harlem Seafood Soul was even mentioned in the NYC episode of Netflix’s “Street Food USA” show. The truck is located in front of the Harlem State Office Building on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and West 125th Street. Hours vary so check out their Instagram page to discover when you can try their comfort soul food.
5. Habiba B&B Halal Food Truck in Queens
Habiba B&B Halal Food Truck in Queens has the food truck hours that everyone has been asking for. They are open at 11 AM every day and don’t close until 4 AM (5 AM on Fridays and Saturdays). Not only is the menu full of tantalizing rice plates, gyros, and fries, but they are available as a late-night snack or guilty pleasure any night of the week, or as a pit stop on the way back from a club or bar. With 2 locations, you can stop by practically any waking hour to try their delicious food at either 31-90 Steinway Street in Astoria, or 46-09 Queen Boulevard in Sunnyside.
6. DiSO’s Italian Sandwich Society
Courtesy of DiSO’s Italian Sandwich Society
If you’ve been craving a massive sandwich packed to the brim with every ingredient you could want, DiSO’s Italian Sandwich Society‘s food truck might be just what you have been searching for. Boasting a surprisingly long menu, DiSO’s has dozens of uniquely named sandwiches such as “The Fonz,” “Big Pauly,” and “Tony Cheeks.” Customers can indulge in prosciutto, eggplant, basil, and a plethora of other fresh ingredients. The truck’s sandwiches have become so well known they were even featured on an episode of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race.” DiSO’s has 2 trucks, each with changing locations depending on the day of the week, so check out their website to discover how you can get your hands on one of their iconic sandwiches.
7. Graffitery in Staten Island
If you ever find yourself in Staten Island in search of a cheat meal, Graffitery has you more than covered. Their menu is stacked with chopped cheeses, jerk chicken quesadillas, tacos, and Nashville “hot” chicken tenders. For customers having trouble deciding, they even have a “King’s” Meal complete with all of the above. The truck can be found at 2456 Richmond Ave and is open from noon to 11:30 PM every day but Sunday.
8. Tony Dragon’s Grille in Manhattan
There are few things better than walking down the streets of New York City with a fresh pita sandwich. At Tony Dragon’s Grille parked at 62nd Street and Madison Ave, you can choose from a variety of pita sandwiches including Mediterranean chicken breast, shrimp and avocado, and pork souvlaki. The truck has a Greek-influenced menu with a variety of options such as rice bowls, gyros, and salads, along with unique twists on American burgers and hot dogs. The truck is open Monday through Friday 10:30 AM to 6 and Saturdays 11 AM to 5.
9. Health Station in Harlem
Courtesy of Health Station
Another fun spot to grab a bite to eat in Harlem is the Health Station food truck. Started as a way to bring a greater variety of healthy eating options to a community that had noticeably been lacking them, Health Station offers a vast menu of good-for-you options for any mood you’re in. They sell fresh fruit cups, smoothies, and health shots, as well as salads, paninis, and various grilled chicken wrap options. They even serve yellow watermelon when it’s available! Its location is subject to change, so check out their Instagram page to stay up to date on where the truck will be parked from 8 AM to 9:30 PM.
8. Jerk Pan in Manhattan
This food truck in Midtown serves traditional Jamaican cooking and is an absolute must-try for anyone who loves jerk chicken. Jerk Pan may not be open for dinner or on the weekends, but their lunches and breakfasts are stacked with a lengthy menu covering all the Jamaican classics. At breakfast, customers can try saltfish, liver, or fried dumplings, and for lunch they can choose between menu items including beef patties, goat curry, or oxtail. Jerk Pan can be found at 48 Street and Park Ave, just a short walk from Grand Central Station.
Bonus: Sidewalk Tacos
Photo Courtesy of Sidewalk Tacos
While tacos may be a quintessentially popular street food, Sidewalk Tacos Food Truck serves up a diverse menu bringing a unique twist to the popular genre. With nachos, tacos, Mexican-style sandwiches, burritos, quesadillas, and a variety of other food subcategories, it would be impossible to look at the Sidewalk Tacos’ menu and not find something you needed to try. The food truck even has 3 types of “hangover cure” dishes that are sure to pique the interest of many looking for a quick bite after a night out. Located at 1 Washington Pl in NoHo with a restaurant location at 2163 2nd Avenue, the truck is open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM.
