The 8 Best Cities for Food Trucks in 2023
Every city has its own rich culture of cuisine: a vibrant blend of tastes and flavors that serve a hungry, passionate public. For food truck owners, though, there are certain places that take mobile dining to the next level. To help you decide where to park your business next, we’ve rounded up 2023’s best cities for food trucks.
These areas adore food trucks, and have the hunger – and the financial opportunity – to make any on-wheels eatery a success. Use this guide to mark the next stop on your truck’s journey, and take the high road to profit!
Best Food Truck City #8: New York City, New York
As a certain singer used to say: if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere! New York City’s food truck scene is the U.S.’s oldest, and eaters here are spirited about street cuisine. When you’re running a truck in New York, you’ll have access to a knowledgeable, experienced support network of mobile restaurateurs.
You’ll also be serving a diverse clientele of customers that are always craving variety and innovation. NYC’s restaurant culture welcomes newcomers with open arms, and makes a great place to enter the world of food trucks.
Best Food Truck City #7: Los Angeles, California
The city of angels isn’t just a nice working environment – it’s one of California’s most profitable food truck locations. L.A. services a footfall of millions year-round, which means there’s a lot of mobile dining profit on the table.
Keep the curiosity of California’s eater base in mind. This area’s locals and tourists are constantly willing to try out new dishes, making Los Angeles a hotbed of innovation. SoCal’s customer base accommodates a wide variety of price points, too, so achieving profitability isn’t a challenge. No matter what your food truck serves, you’ll find a home in L.A.!
Best Food Truck City #6: Nashville, Tennessee
Is your food truck looking for excellent seasonal profit? You’ll find it here, in America’s heartland! Nashville’s music festivals are some of the biggest audience draws in the country, driving major revenue for mobile restaurateurs.
At peak times, your truck can expect to serve an audience in the hundreds of thousands, day or night. Plus, with the city’s motor-first design, you’ll always have an advantageous location on-hand to get the edge over your competitors. Food trucks in Nashville enjoy some generous government allowances, ensuring that business here is consistently worthwhile for restaurants on wheels.
Best Food Truck City #5: Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh may not appear to be a food truck paradise to most operators, but it’s a key secret to savvy mobile restaurateurs. Recently, Food and Drink Magazine listed the city as having some of the best food trucks in the country. This has made Raleigh one of 2023’s mobile dining hotspots, and owners are racing to get in on the boom.
Profit-hungry food trucks should also take note of Raleigh’s massive student population. This audience has its finger on the pulse of the city’s best mobile restaurants, and they’re eager about sharing them. If you’re interested in setting up shop in North Carolina, get to Raleigh fast to start reaping its rewards.
Best Food Truck City #4: Houston, Texas
As one of America’s most culturally diverse cities, Houston naturally offers some of the South’s best food truck cuisine. In addition to its local mobile dining culture, Houston also hosts operators from across the country, offering distinct, flavorful menus. The city’s range of outdoor activities make it extremely profitable for food trucks in any season, and keep customers steady.
Texan food is well-known for its strong fusion potential, and Houston’s food truck culture has cuisine mash-ups in spades. From Tex-Mex to Asian-inspired handhelds, Houston customers crave tasty fusions from around the world – and they’re ready to pay for it. Use this craving for fused cuisine to showcase your menu’s own original dishes!
Best City #3: Denver, Colorado
For food truck owners looking to stay comfortably above sea-level, Denver offers one of the country’s largest mobile dining economies. The state’s low taxation on food trucks draws in operators by the hundreds and customers by the thousands.
Denver is frequently recognized as having a huge selection of food trucks for its area. Local publications agree: the city’s mobile dining scene is on the rise, making now an excellent time to start serving. Colorado customers have high expectations for food trucks, but owners able to meet them can find plenty of financial prosperity.
Best City #2: Austin, Texas
No surprises here – Austin hosts one of America’s most historic and recognizable food truck communities, which holds true for 2023. Operators and eaters alike come from across the country, and the globe, to serve their menus in this city. That means there’s plenty of variety and opportunity, giving any mobile eatery a powerful chance for success and profit.
In Austin’s food truck landscape, standing out is critical – you won’t get far with a mundane menu or archaic dishes. Eaters here value innovation, progress, and experimentation more than anywhere else, and you’ll need to meet those demands to survive. Read up on 2023’s top food truck trends to succeed in Austin, and show customers what makes your business unique.
Best City #1: Portland, Oregon
The dreams of food truck owners are alive in Portland! Since the 2010s, this coastal enclave has been recognized as one of the country’s top restaurant cities. Food trucks contribute to that status here more than anywhere else, with mobile eating “pods” as a local highlight. Mobile restaurateurs will find steady revenue, customer attention, and success in this city, as several thousand profitable trucks can attest.
Portland’s eaters are notoriously passionate about local cuisine, which has created direct pipelines between suppliers and food truck owners. When your truck parks in Portland, you’ll be cooking with some of the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available, strengthening your menu. An impactful community of chefs, owners, and customers, combined with unmatched service potential, make Portland 2023’s best food truck city!
Keep the good times rolling in these food truck hotspots!
With this list of cities marked on your roadmap, food truck profit is never far away. No matter where you’re operating, though, make sure you’re doing so intelligently. A knowledgeable start to a food truck business makes all the difference and provides an invaluable competitive advantage. If you're looking for more ways to stay informed, be sure to look into apps for food truck owners.
Stay informed about what your city’s audience demands from its food trucks, and utilize your location’s unique resources to flourish. By following a strong plan and understanding your community, your truck can succeed in each of these cities before 2024!
