Food trucks are awful, amirite?

I'm in California, it's the same thing here. Food trucks cost the same as restaurants, take forever, and are extremely mediocre quality. The main reason I keep on eating food truck food is because at some bars/breweries it's the only food they provide. Otherwise I avoid them.

by Rodrogahn 1 day ago

This is not true everywhere in California. There's multiple taco trucks that are cheaper than restaurants. And many food trucks are just offshoots of popular restaurants or were the original locations before brick and mortar establishments were made. These usually have a more limited menu but similar quality.

by Chemical_Guarantee 1 day ago

Ikr. Everyone who says op is wrong is having way better food truck experiences than us I guess. They are never fast or cheap anymore. Wait as long as a restaurant for my food come and pay as much money.

by haydenmurazik 1 day ago

They were great like 8-10 years ago when your meal was $7-10. Now there are tons of better options at the same price point as the $15-20 food trucks

by Myleshyatt 1 day ago

During the food truck boom around 2010, there were a lot of creative and interesting trucks and food. Now everything is very same-y and expensive.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I was having this exact conversation with my wife the other day. We were trying to remember when they went from a fun experience you could get something that you couldn't get anywhere else for the price of lunch to getting a low-effort grilled cheese for $18 that takes 20 minutes to make.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I really don't see the logic in paying restaurant prices for so-so food so I can eat while being exposed to the elements and no air conditioning. Hard pass.

by Lindsaymayer 1 day ago

Well this is the problem though, food trucks became "gourmet" food in a truck. The original idea was bar food and quick eats. Cheap overhead, quick output. These food trucks doing lobster rolls and fancy fusion food shouldn't exist it's as simple as that.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Also what no one is mentioning, you're expecting me to believe cleanliness from a food truck is as good as a restaurant?

by BeginningChange 1 day ago

I have worked in 5 restaurants and one truck. The truck was probably #2 in cleanliness. Nothing is ever dirtier than a Jack-in-the-box. The food truck also used no microwaves at all while the chain restaraunts use them on every meal.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

That's where Jack-in-the-Box gets its flavor!

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Have you seen most kitchens?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

At one of my old jobs we had a food truck set up in the parking lot one day and 20 people ordering all at one time was nightmare. I want to say maybe 6 people got their food in the hour lunch break.

by Round-Construction 1 day ago

You are going to the wrong food trucks. Focus on the trucks with cheese curds and mini donuts.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

portlandia here. some of them are pretty good. but it's increasingly becoming restaurant prices to eat off a paper plate on a picnic table in a parking lot. i get that a lot of them are aspiring to have a brick and mortar store someday but if it's good but overpriced out of a truck it's never going to fly once the extra costs of a permanent indoor place are added on.

by gislasonsammie 1 day ago

I have to wonder if there's some weird economics going on there. I've noticed that Portland has so many food trucks that there really isn't much more space for them, so I wonder how much they're paying in rent for their spots.

by emmettziemann 1 day ago

I'm sorry that you live in such a horrible food truck city. When done right, the food truck scene is such a great compliment to the restaurant scene. For me, a taco truck in Oakland is one of the best meals I've ever had. It's weird to hear you say they are lower quality and more expensive, where I'm from and most cities I've traveled to with a good scene, it's the complete opposite.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I think it's a balance. Places without a great food scene are more likely to enjoy the diversity food trucks can bring. If you have a great restaurant scene, food trucks are categorically worse. Agreed but think we're in the minority

by Creative-Winner-9513 1 day ago

Food trucks just fit a different niche. If I'm grabbing lunch or breakfast before work, sometimes I want it to be fast and I don't feel like sitting in a restaurant for a half hour, especially alone. After a night at the bars, the majority of the time, I don't feel like sitting in a restaurant. I'm drunk and it's past midnight.

by Pitiful-Finance65 1 day ago

^This guy never heard of carryout.

by sbergstrom 1 day ago

Some bars in my hometown don't have kitchens and bring in food trucks. One had the best tacos I've ever had and hand pressed tortillas to order. Absolutely amazing

by Anonymous 1 day ago

How are food trucks, even in a diverse restaurant scene, categorically worse? There are absolutely foods that perfectly lend themselves to the food truck environment, and the idea that they'd be inherently better if produced in a restaurant is an assumption at best.

by earnest77 1 day ago

Portland has a great restaurant scene (possibly the best in the US), but a good chunk of the most prestigious eateries are food carts. Not trucks, mind you, they're generally trailers that stay in the same location for months to years, but same idea.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Really depends on the place. SoCal: yeah they're novelty and overpriced. Philadelphia: no they are legit value

by aiyanadibbert 1 day ago

Yea this overpriced food truck thing seems like a west coast trend. Where I live there's plenty of cheap food trucks selling tacos. They're usually good to great. There are expensive ones but they're generally in areas or at events that draw more money. The random food trucks on the side of the road/at gas stations are always affordable where I am. Even at the more expensive food trucks I don't think I've ever gotten a bad meal. Sure I maybe paid a few more dollars than what it was worth but Its not like I didn't enjoy it.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Everyone bringing in cheap tacos as the caveat is hilarious. Where im from(Canada) the street level food is just as expensive as a sit down restaurant but you get the pleasure of sitting outside on a picnic table if you're lucky(no thanks). Don't forget you still/have/ to tip. On a side note. I wish my local sit down places that served their idea of traditional tacos understood how cheap they should be to make and priced them accordingly. Lucky to spend 18 bucks before tax for 3 tiny tacos that barely make a dent in my hunger.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I dunno, all the taco trucks in LA with $1-2 tacos don't seem like a novelty or overpriced.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

The whole trend has gotten overblown for sure. But where I live there are some outstanding food trucks. Shout out to the taco truck near my house that is way too expensive but has the hottest most delicious salsa I've ever tried as well as the hot wing truck whose wings take up way too much space in my brain.

by pollichcortney 1 day ago

Man what happened to nuance. It's almost like there can be a wide range in quality of food trucks. Almost like there is a wide range in quality of restaurants. I've had some food trucks that are better than restaurants that offer similar foods. And I've been to restaurants that have better food than some food trucks that offer similar foods. It's almost like each place is independent of one another and just depends on which one you're talking about…

by Eframi 1 day ago

For me, it's a question of availability. Town i live in is about 4,000 people and we have just 6 restaurants. 1 Chinese place, 2 pizza places, rest are burger joints. During the local summer carnival, 6 or 7 food trucks come. They include a Philippine food truck, a couple Mexican ones, a Caribbean, etc. It's the one time a year i can pig out on international foods just down the street.

by romagueramarian 1 day ago

Do you really think people dont realise street food is overpriced? People just dont care.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Just to put it in perspective, I went to Taco Bell and paid almost $6 for a mosquito dick size burrito For $2 more I can go to the Mexican taco truck and get one about four times as big

by Miserable-Thing-7162 1 day ago

I know that they realize it is overpriced but I've heard people get so crazy excited when there is a food truck event or when they see one and every time I'm like why would you go out of your way to get mediocre food that's overpriced? It's just for the novelty.

by Due-Mail 1 day ago

I go to plenty of restaurants that are the same way - overpriced and mediocre. Really, why eat out at all?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I don't disagree with these points. I'll share my pov. My brother owns several restaurants now but he got his start in food trucks. Huge reason for that is a much lower barrier to entry. I'm sure you're aware of the high failure rate with restaurants. Food trucks are a way to dip your toes in the water without the high startup costs that come with a brick and mortar place. More restaurant concepts should really start off as a food truck before losing all their money in a failing business. Without food trucks, some of the best chefs who start off too poor to open a restaurant or take on the risk would've never got their start.

by jaeden92 1 day ago

Well, a food truck vs. Food truck event are very different things. Imo the big thing with the event is the variety. It's fun to walk around, see different stuff. You get a gyro and lemon fries. Your friend gets some jerk chicken. Someone else has a burger and jalapeño poppers. You get to mix and match and everybody gets a lot more variety than your typical restaurant would allow. It's overpriced, sure, bit the tip is optional. Just don't unless you want to. Sit around outside and hang out.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Visit the San Francisco Bay Area and this is 100% truth. All trucks sell mediocre, overpriced food. There is no such thing as a cheap taco truck.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Yeah this has to be location specific. Where I live there are a lot and some over-priced, but others that aren't and are really good. For example there is a food truck I like to go to which has 1 dollar street tacos for Tuesday and Thursday. They can be greasy as hell depending on which you get, but they are all delicious.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

There is definitely a fair amount of managing expectations when I plan to visit a food truck. I always I think it's going to be some hot delicious meal but only few have actually come close to that lol

by upollich 1 day ago

I have never had food from a food truck that I didn't regret wasting the money on and I have tried countless. Even the absolute best has been just passable.

by Due-Mail 1 day ago

Sounds like you're just going to bad food trucks. There are places like LA where the food truck scene is truly amazing

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I too don't understand the love for food trucks as if they're some amazing creation. My standard line about them is; A food truck is where it takes twice as long for them to get your order wrong. Because there's often a line at these places. And then there's only room for one cook in a truck. So it takes extra long to get your food. I remember getting my sandwich, then leaving, then an employee chasing after me to give me the "right" sandwich. If there's no line I might use one though. But generally, no.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Probably really location specific. Where I live there are plenty of food trucks that are better and cheaper than most restaurants.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Covid killed all the unique and delicious food trucks that used to come to my office. Now it's mostly just mediocre overpriced food, but it's still 100x better than the cafeteria. There was a truck that had mofongo, one that did like 12 different kinds of unique tacos and could pick 3, an ethiopian truck... the good 'ole days :(

by Nitzschecorene 1 day ago

Besides the price, my gripe with foodtrucks is the complete lack of an enjoyable experience. I'm paying 2 or 3 times as much for mediocre food in a paper tray/styrofoam box, fighting for my life to get the plastic utensils to cut into it while juggling whatever else I'm holding and either standing uncomfortably, free roaming trying to find a fly swarmed picnic table to sit down at or just squatting in the exhaust of the truck on the curb. It's typically hot as hell in my area, so I'm sweating. All those generators running the trucks are deafeningly loud and did I mention I paid sit-down restaurant prices (side and drink not included) for this experience?? There's no need for all that.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Depends where you are in places like Austin they great. In Minnesota, not so much. You can make great tacos in a food truck heck in Mexico they make them in a food cart.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

A lot of these food trucks are fly-by-night operations. I've had quite a few clients who struggle making toast take a crack at a food truck with their buds for a couple grand. They get a lot of hype and they quit because it actually involves work. But some do have the best food you'll ever eat. So I can see why OP gets bootyflustered by these operations.

by Guilty-Sector 1 day ago

I agree, I think the public puts too much value on novelty and not enough on quality.

by No_Safety8139 1 day ago

You couldn't have summed up exactly how I feel better, thank you. I'm also convinced that a lot of people just don't know good food.

by Due-Mail 1 day ago

Nothing wrong with food trucks, but their prices. That and sometimes it's hard to just find something normal to eat. I don't think there's a single one in this city that just makes burgers, or burgers at all. It's always some fusion, or foreign food, or bbq. At least there's two pizza trucks.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'm definitely one of those people who go crazy for a food truck. I guess the reason is food truck can be more risque in what they serve you. Restaurants will do the tried and true to cover their overhead. Food trucks will try anything what draws people.

by Free-Smell3505 1 day ago

Food trucks are great for paying restaurant prices while receiving none of the benefits of dining at a restaurant such as having shelter from the elements while you wait to order, receive, and eat your food.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

only good food truck ive seen is a guy selling grilled cheese for $1 cash. He only sold grilled cheese and he only took cash. Im positive that guy was making an absolute killing. His overhead must have been next to nothing

by Anonymous 1 day ago

What? I can't hear you over all the small individual loud as hell gas generators?!?! Agree, they are overrated.

by Haunting-Leg-337 1 day ago

100% agree. If food trucks were cheaper they would be cool. But you're paying more money for an objectively worse dining experience usually.

by Gagecrist 1 day ago

Hate food trucks. Unsanitary.

by Federal-Top 1 day ago

Yeah I'm not a fan either. Whenever I find out a place is a food truck, I'm always disappointed.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

There is a difference though between what you are talking about and Mexican taco trucks. I mean true ones, $2 tacos ones

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Just like sit-downs, the ere are good trucks and bad trucks. In the Baltimore area, there are certainly at least a few trucks that have superior food but just don't have the budget (yet) for a brick and mortar. Ekiben, which now has 4 locations started off as a food stand at a farmers market. Food truck rallies are great because you have access to dozens of different cuisines from all over the globe in one area, so you get get a smogasborg type meal. I used to go with a group, and take a bite of a thing from as many trucks as I could get to, split amongst friends. Shout out to Mexican on the run, which also ended up also getting a stall at the Dutch market and namit bbq that is opening their first brick and mortar in a few months. With lower overhead, some* trucks are able to deliver higher quality foods. Welcome to my ted talk.

by raul96 1 day ago

I suspect this opinion is largely informed by where you live, and the selection available to what you've seen

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I think the variety in food trucks is so great that this is too black and white a statement to make. The TYPE of food trucks you're thinking of, completely. However, keep an open mind. My favorite restaurant in my town is a little authentic Thai food truck tucked away in a parking lot, it is also one of the cheapest restaurants around. Not slow, either. Or a small menu. Just incredible. Similarly to how many restaurants are total crap (food + experience), and if we'd only gone to those, we'd think restaurants are a waste of time and money but there are gems, I promise. Don't rule them out in your heart! Hehe

by Anonymous 1 day ago

The best foods I've had were from food trucks . There was a Lebanese one and they pile high with the meat. And it's really good.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

"How am I supposed to become a millionaire by this weekend if I don't charge 18 bucks a taco?

by Single_Department 1 day ago

Food Trucks are the hole in the wall spots but on wheels. That's how I view them. I've had the opposite experience with them. Their food is more quality and authentic from what I've had.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Anyone who tips at a food truck is an absolute sap.

by Special-Painter 1 day ago

OP is no longer a professional cook. I wonder why.

by Frosty-Associate 1 day ago

I sometimes just want something to eat that's not McDonald level. Local food trucks are great. Mac and cheese specials, taco trucks, Asian street food. Walk up, order , pay and go eat. No extras.i rarely even know what they charge. Worth it to me. I can't imagine going thru life worrying about paying $2 more for whatever.

by Impossible-Juice6672 1 day ago

Maybe you just live around awful food trucks. The ones in my city are pretty awesome. Of course there are some trucks that are ripoffs, but I just don't go to those.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Fair take. I do love taco trucks though.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

The ones that come to your work seem to be pretty damn great especially the coffee ones. There's one called munchies machine ( painted up like the mystery machine) that even did a ten course meal for our end of year lunch. They also provide a rotating choice of food when you are down by the beach which I appreciate

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Food trucks showing up to a job site is great food in that context. Anywhere else? I don't get it either.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I see what you're saying, but in my limited experience, it's kind of hit or miss. The best Torta Cubano I ever had was out of a food truck and better than the local restaurants. There's this one Nepalese food truck that made outstanding dumplings, but another one across town had the blandest. If I have the money, I don't mind supporting the small business, otherwise it's a pack of ramen or a bologna sandwich for me.

by Smart_Text 1 day ago

I have never felt more fortunate to live in a city with fantastic reasonably priced food trucks. There are some that are definitely overpriced and meh, but to say that all food trucks are awful is a stretch.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I would never go to a food truck event, that just doesn't make sense to me. Maybe im just too poor to get the point. It seems like a buffet where you overpay for every plate by the way you describe it. All the food trucks I go to are super cheap and taste great. I used to buy 2 FAT breakfast burritos for 7 bucks almost everyday when I worked as a mover. I'm sure there are tons of overpriced ones as well in my area. I just don't go to them. Most food trucks have a picture of their menu on maps with the prices. So you kind of know what you are in for if you take a minute to look before you go.

by Langkathlyn 1 day ago

Depends on where you live I guess; where I am it feels like food trucks often have better food than the restaurants. There was even one place that I remember that started off as a food truck, was great, decided to move into a restaurant space, and the quality went downhill once they were out of the truck.

by Chance-Thought 1 day ago

Hard agree. Years ago, food trucks were cheap and efficient. They weren't great, but you didn't expect great because you just bought food out of the back on a slightly renovated ice cream truck. Now, for the prices they charge, I would rather just go to a restaurant. And yes, there are a few exceptions to this rule (I have had some good food at a few, and I have had some not good, but dirt cheap food at others), but generally I still agree with the op.

by Worth-Roof-7372 1 day ago

Food can be amazing or eh but the prices are ALWAYS bad

by Dickilura 1 day ago

In So-Cal food trucks hit different. Plus if you're chill the owners might look out for you and give a discount. If you know the good food trucks their quality will rival or surpass restaurants.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Where I am (Milwaukee) food trucks are largely cheaper because they don't have to rent restaurant space. Some of the ones with more graphic design on the trucks are as you described. I visited Washington D.C. and the food trucks seemed to need a medallion, which meant they were all run by larger companies and homogeneously mediocre. All this to say owner-operated trucks are where it's at.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I've had way more mediocre restaurants than I have food trucks. Food trucks in my area are generally pretty good

by Upstairs-Phase 1 day ago

The Mexican food truck here in my city is legit the best food in town.

by Miserable-Thing-7162 1 day ago

you clearly haven't had the empanadas from the empanada lady in Charleston, WV. its life changing.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Make sure you hit 20% tip on their Ipad as well!

by Anonymous 1 day ago

We have amazing food trucks in the PNW 🤷🏻‍♀️

by Anonymous 1 day ago

There are quite a few food trucks that park near my work that serve as secondary mobile locations for some full service restaurants in the city. But not all food trucks are created equal

by dietrichmay 1 day ago

That's the problem with those food truck events, they know people are going to show up, they know they can charge an arm and a leg. I 100% agree with your take on this. If you can, I recommend trying one out in the wild instead of a dedicated event, those trucks are usually reasonably priced and have larger portion sizes. The burrito truck I go to is $2 cheaper than the permanent taqueria down the street, and it's a slightly larger burrito.

by Winter_Equipment_675 1 day ago

I think the actual food is more hit or miss than you're describing, as is the value. But, the whole experience isn't really better than going to a restaurant. There's this undercurrent idea of fun associated with food trucks that's unearned. Maybe it's because outdoor dining at restaurants has become more common since 2020, but I'm not sold on the experience being super appealing. I feel the same way about high end food halls. I don't really crave variety so much that I need 10 distinct menus to choose from. I guess as cities get more mall like, it makes sense to have more food courts, but unless I'm chaperoning a school field trip, I'm not sure why I'd ever go to one again.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Ok, but how do you feel about food trucks inside buildings? There's a place near me that's a warehouse that has like 6 food trucks inside with a bunch of picnic tables in between. People go nuts for it!

by keven74 1 day ago

Spoken like a non-Canadian who doesn't know that food trucks make the best poutines.

by Fluffy_Raise538 1 day ago

But... you don't actually hate food trucks, you hate expensive, mediocre food... that's not a hot take or an unpopular opinion. Tons of "brick and mortar" restaurants do that too. There isn't a law that food trucks are bad or overpriced... some are. Plenty of them aren't. Last week at a brewery, had empanadas from a great truck. My partner and I split 3 big empanadas and chips & queso for ~$18. If we left the brewery without eating, we wouldn't have gotten out of a Wendy's for that.

by Aromatic-Hamster9978 1 day ago

You should visit Portland. You will change your mind.

by Prudencehegmann 1 day ago

I work on military bases. There arenpretty much two options. Bring your own or a food truck. I almost always bring something but ocassionally I lose power or something and having a source of hot food is great. Food trucks are a huge morale boost on .mil bases.

by Cultural_Month 23 hours ago

Food trucks are a little bit of a balancing act. They sometimes actually have better food health and safety standards than restaurants, and since a lot of the food is prepared ahead of time, they can be faster. Unfortunately, convenience is sometimes expensive, and dealing with high prices and sometimes long wait times can make it a bad experience overall. But that's more often been the exception than the norm in my experience. I guess it depends on where you live.

by Lindsay52 23 hours ago

I always joke: "why just food trucks?" Hmm, I need a root canal. I think I'll wander over to the oral surgery truck. My relationship in on the rocks. We have a 4pm appointment at the marriage counseling truck.

by No_Principle_21 23 hours ago

I've been to some food trucks that are priced reasonably.

by Moorejamie 22 hours ago

Food trucks are just like normal restaurants but with less overhead right? Why do you hate the ability for entrepreneurs to create small businesses?

by Anonymous 22 hours ago

I think they are great if it's a food truck festival, like a taco fest. They allow me to have a ton of different tacos all in one place

by Anonymous 22 hours ago

Food trucks used to provide a cheaper option, no longer the case. Where I live food trucks are generally equal or over the price of a sit down place.. so I just no longer go

by Anonymous 21 hours ago

There's a taco truck 10 minutes from my house that has tacos for $2 each and they are fantastic. It is a God send.

by Janiya96 21 hours ago

Food trucks are a great way to eat out with a group of people especially if there are kids, you're at a brewery and/or music and people want to be able to move around, mingle, pay separately more easily, and generally not want to be trapped at one table for the duration.

by Anonymous 21 hours ago

food truck "events" are terrible. many food trucks are phenomenal. i live in an area with a disproportionate amount of them to be fair, but they're great

by Anonymous 20 hours ago

This I like saying "restaurants are awful" They vary widely. Lots of Houston food trucks are dirt cheap. Once they become relatively famous they go up in price

by Anonymous 20 hours ago

I know a few culinary trained chefs that have opened up food trucks. A couple of them even have good food. Lol I'd never go out of my way to go to a food truck but I've had some very good food from a food truck… also have overpriced garbage. I'd go so far as to say they are overrated but not all are awful.

by Anonymous 20 hours ago

I've had some really good food from food trucks. Hell the best BBQ I've ever had was just a guy that had a truck and trailer with a smoker. So I don't agree that you can't get amazing food from a truck. However I do think food trucks tend to be overrated. Every food truck around my area has 4.8 stars or better on Google reviews

by hansenkarelle 20 hours ago

I understand food trucks, but you have to admit, there are still terrible restaurants out there. Food trucks fit a niche crowd. I personally have never been to a food truck, but I've always heard there are some good ones around me, even though I still live around a solid restraining scene too

by Anonymous 20 hours ago

I don't understand this rant. This sounds like an issue for your specific area. Food trucks here are affordable and the food is good quality. If I want a taco I pay $2 w/ like 12 different types of taquitos for the meat. The prices are comparable to the competition. Worst case I am missing a drink.

by Anonymous 19 hours ago

But a good food truck is better than a good restaurant, I can get my food, get home, and eat in comfort while I watch something.

by Anonymous 19 hours ago

So the best Thai food in the triangle (NC) is literally food trucks. Also makes breweries that can't supply their own food that much better

by Anonymous 19 hours ago

Food truck quality at sit-down restaurant prices, no thanks. Unless it is a cheesy gooey quesadilla with carne, I most often will pass on food trucks.

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

Restaurants are overpriced and I have to interact with a waiters, which is aptly labeled…wait to be seated, wait to take an order, wait on food, wait to get a check, wait to pay. Food truck, I place my order, get my order and move on. Food is just as good.

by Flimsy_Tour9248 18 hours ago

Food trucks are amazing in NYC. Food trucks make sense in dense urban environments where retail space is at a premium. It allows budding restauranteurs a way to start their own business with less initial capital. I live in NYC and I love the food carts around me. Halal chicken over rice platters are iconic and cost less than $10. My favorite category of food carts that are starting to pop up around the city are Chinese skewer carts that sell beef/lamb/etc. skewers for $1.50 a pop. Once they become popular enough, a lot of them will open physical retail locations. Halal Guys is one of the more famous examples, and I would probably argue that their physical locations are a downgrade from their old food carts. It's noticeably worse and more expensive than any old halal cart I can find on the street.

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

You must live in a very crappy place if you don't even have a decent taco truck near by

by Agreeable-Wasabi 17 hours ago

Counterpoint: All food that you go out to eat rather than cooking yourself is a ripoff.

by camila10 17 hours ago

I also hate food trucks. Over priced and they expect a tip.

by Anjalibradtke 17 hours ago

If you're mad about tipping them, keep in mind it's your fault if you tip them. They're going to ask. Say "hell no" I agree with a lot of your points though.

by Schummalda 17 hours ago

I agree the shift from "we can't afford a restaurant all the time, let's grab a street food truck" into "well the tip on this $17 sandwichhelps the employees" is lame. But when young kids came into my life, restaurants left. So food trucks and food truck hauls are a godsend. It's not a financial decision, it's a practical one.

by Anonymous 16 hours ago

In our city there are 2 pizzerias, 3 Greek, 1 Indian and several restaurants/pubs with German home cooking. A photo printing festival gives you the opportunity to eat something different.

by baileyarmstrong 16 hours ago

I think fancy restaurants are a ripoff. In general restaurants are a mixed bag whether in a truck or at a brick and mortar.

by Elsekulas 15 hours ago

The benefit of going to a food truck rally is that everyone can get what they want. I like a lot of food that my wife hates, if we go to a food truck thing she can get what she likes and I can get what I like. It's also good for places like factories where people don't have time to leave to get lunch, or bars/breweries that don't have kitchens.

by Anonymous 15 hours ago

I'm with you on this. I feel like most food trucks I've encountered in the last few years have been offering mediocre food for high prices. Fancy food trucks trended big 12 years ago and we're living with the watered-down echoes of a fad that hit its peak in a previous decade. If you can't offer unique food then at least don't charge me >table service prices without said service. Also your, "suggested tip: 30%" on the card readers can go to hell.

by Anonymous 15 hours ago

100% agree. The cost is what kills me the most. It should be cheap and fast.

by Necessary-Swan-7371 15 hours ago

There are some very good food trucks in my area, and they are rather handy for places that do not want to put in a kitchen for one reason or another. Lower quality ones don't make it for very long around here. You are absolutely correct, though, that they are PRICEY for what you get. That is a 100% situation. There's no way I am going out of my way for one, regardless.

by valerie77 15 hours ago

TL;DR You've never been to a good food truck.

by Sad-Classic 14 hours ago

Beaver tails though

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

Myself, I only do food trucks if it's something I can't get otherwise. The nearest African restaurant is 50 miles from me, but there's a Congolese food truck that shows up at local events sometimes, just as an example (I'm a SUCKER for jerk chicken and fried plantains). Most of the brick and mortar restaurants in my town are American family style restaurants that think spice is salt and pepper... if you're lucky. I also hit the occasional taco truck because they genuinely have superior food to the two brick and mortar Mexican restaurants around here, which I would describe as edible but uninspiring.

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

You live somewhere with a horrendous food truck scene and are using that to make a blanket statement about food trucks everywhere. Food trucks are capable of making delicious food at an absolutely great value. -Signed, a Philadelphia resident

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

My issue is the complete and total lack of efficiency when it comes to food trucks. SO SLOW! And no organization. You never know where you're supposed to order, where you're supposed to pick up, where you pay, whether it's your order that's ready, or the person who was five places behind you in line...

by Responsible-Put4289 13 hours ago

Food trucks can be a great place to start a food business without the expense of funding an entire restaurant. We have several restaurants in Nashville that started as food trucks.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

You could make the same statement about restaurants, a lot of them are ripoffs too. To say "food trucks suck" as if there aren't thousands of food trucks out there is kinda weird coming from a "professional"

by merlinmraz 13 hours ago

"Food trucks where I live suck, therefore all food trucks are terrible" Typical. Maybe try living somewhere that doesn't suck

by Candid-Drawing 12 hours ago

Not sure where you live, but some food trucks in LA will change your life.

by Loud-Dirt-1728 12 hours ago

From a glance, food carts can be pretty awful. Similarly, many brick and mortar shops are also bad. I think the differentiating factor to consider is the barrier to entry. Some folks legit have a tasty product that they want to bring to the masses. Some are looking for a revenue flow. Overhead is challenging all restaurants afaik and it's not just food carts. In Portland, I know landlord fees and operating fees for food carts can make or break a business.

by Destiny06 12 hours ago

They're great for outdoor concerts, markets, festivals, and carnivals. I'd never make plans to travel to a location where a food truck is set up to order their food, but if I'm at an outdoor event and the nearest proper restaurants are a 20+ minute walk away, I'd way rather have food that's unremarkable and slightly overpriced, but decent now.

by kailynhagenes 12 hours ago

Idk they come in all shapes and size (haha ironic pun) just like normal restaurants. Some are cheap and good some are boujee and terrible. Some are boujee and incredible Some are cheap and suck.

by carlimckenzie 11 hours ago

What food trucks are trying to emulate, in my opinion, are the street markets that you find in countries where regulations are less likely to take the fun out of everything. These are especially common in East Asia. But the food trucks fail at this. The benefits of those street markets is that there's a variety of easily accessible food (little to no line) available at extremely low prices, and one can easily see what food is available without looking at a menu. Food trucks often have long lines (if they're the popular ones), cost an exorbitant amount to eat from, and have a menu. They're a sad and ineffective halfway measure.

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

They're typically good out in LA and there are some good ones in South Florida over the past few years. But yea, I can't imagine it hitting in most cities. Damn shame there are less and less moms and pops restaurants around

by Green_Bit_3366 11 hours ago

Love food trucks. Also there is a big barrier for a talented chef to get into brick and mortar. Hate the game not the player. Food trucks let talent get out there

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

100% agree. I do not understand the appeal. Of all the places I want to get my food, "the back of a truck" is not even on the list. Typically the portions are smaller, prices are higher, and quality is lower. If you're getting drunk food after a club or there's just nothing else around, I get it. Otherwise I just don't understand food trucks.

by PackImpossible 10 hours ago

Depends on the situation in my mind. "Food Truck Fairs" are such a load of crap. Ive seen some that charge you to get in. Food trucks at events are hit or miss. Food trucks that set up shop in a parking lot every day or have one location for late night munchies are pretty legit.

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

They used to be amazing but now that they're trendy it's gotten much worse on average.

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Street tacos are typically gross as hell

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

There's 1 food truck near me I like, I've given up on trying any others but the one I do like is just straight breakfast burritos, the lady preps them all before she leaves so you walk up, grab the burrito you want, grab a drink and give her $10. It's fast, simole and cheap what a good truck should be.

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

You......you take that back!

by Anonymous 9 hours ago