March 2023

Top-12 Food Trucks in Chicago

#12: Chicago Lunchbox

Asian
Asian Fusion

Mom Knows Best
The Sandwich has been an American lunchtime staple since the 1920’s when Moms were given the gift of sliced bread. Lunchboxes have been since then packed with zip locked ham and cheeses and classic PB&J’s. Decades later, Chicago Lunchbox are still looking to the perfect sandwich to give us that quick, satisfying bite of goodness. With constant culinary inventiveness and influences from around the world, the sandwich has revolutionized to become a true edible testament of Chicago’s diversity.

From the Panini to the Cubano to the French dipped-there is a sandwich that represents what mothers have made for lunch on every kitchen counter. For the Vietnamese, it’s the Banh Mi. East meets West in this one-of-a-kind sandwich where cooked, cured, and pickled are placed neatly in a French Baguette for a myriad of flavors that stimulate. The Banh Mi has been well-received in kitchens and food trucks across the country, but even classics need innovation.

Chicago Lunchbox wants to bring to you a mix of the old and new. Coming from a Vietnamese-American background, sandwich slanger John Nguyen has added a twist to tradition. Inspired by his upbringing in authentic Vietnamese kitchens and his own appreciation of the best of Asian flavors, he has created Banh Mi sandwiches that pay tribute to all things yum. From John’s favorite Thai dish, ground Thai basil chicken, to longanisa, the savory Filipino breakfast sausage, there is no lack of creativity found in these lunchboxes.

Chicago Lunchbox
Banh Mi

Banh Mi

Coke Products

Coke Products

Fire Rangoon (3 per order)

Fire Rangoon (3 per order)

Fried Pork Spring Rolls (2 per order)

Fried Pork Spring Rolls (2 per order)

Rice Box

Rice Box

Salad

Salad

#11: La Patrona Food Bus

Mexican Food
Tacos
Coffee
Cookies

La Patrona is providing downtown Chicago with authentic Mexican street cuisine. Their tacos & burritos are made with mouthwatering marinated meats, fresh homemade salsas, and grilled tortillas. Watch in amazement as they expertly whip up delicious Mexican fare with amazing speed. If you’re looking for a quick, delicious lunch, La Patrona is so perfect. You just won’t believe the quality you’re getting on the cheap.

La Patrona Food Bus

#10: Babycakes

Desserts
Vegetarian

Babycakes is a leading Chicago catering company. They specialize in innovative "breakfast" dishes and one-of-a-kind gourmet pancakes. Pancakes remind us of childhood.  Breakfast evokes home. Babycakes elevates these classic dishes and offers service around the clock. Yup, you heard that right: Breakfast 24/7!

Babycakes has been featured on television over a dozen times, with multiple appearances on the Food Network, including Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen, the Travel Channel's Food Paradise, Chicago’s Best and many more. They were also named one of the top 10 caterers in Chicago for 2017, 2018 & 2019 and one of the top food trucks in Chicago by Chicago Magazine.

Babycakes

#9: Ms Tittle's Cupcakes

Cupcakes
Desserts
Vegetarian

Ms. Tittle's Cupcakes is a dessert food truck, serving your "Favorite Cake in a Cupcake." You can find them on the road throughout the Chicago-land area. They're also available for catering and events.

Ms. Tittle's Cupcakes' goal is to make you feel like you are eating your favorite dessert in your grandmother's kitchen. UMMM Good.

They're sure they have something to satisfy your sweet tooth...red velvet cupcakes to die for...butter cookies that are some of the best in Chicago...banana pudding that's OOOH so good. Make sure you get some treats from Ms. Tittle's Cupcakes for your soul today!

Ms Tittle's Cupcakes

#8: Sausagefest

Hot Dogs
German
Italian
Polish

Sausagefest is out to give Chicago, IL the best of the best. Best of what? Sausages, of course. It's a food truck that steers clear of hot dogs, instead providing premium sausages to get that proverbial tail o' yours wagging. Just what makes Sausagefest's sausages so dang delicious? Well, they're wrapping the bun all the way around the sausage, grillin' 'em up to order for your enjoyment. Sink your teeth into the hearty Polish veal sausage and German bratwurst, or start your morning off with their colorful chorizo wrapped with bacon, eggs, cheese, onions and mushroom. They've even got a vegan Italian sausage for you plant-basers out there. They're just accommodating like that. So why wait? Find Sausagefest in Chicago, IL, or have 'em out to cater. Trust us. These sausages are drool worthy.

Sausagefest

#7: 5411 Empanadas

Argentinian
Latin
Mexican Food
Mexican Fusion
Multi-cultural
Peruvian

5411 Empanadas is bringing an exotic treat to the streets of the windy city, serving sweet and savory empanadas that are sure to satisfy. It's a food truck that has a bevy of gourmet empanadas on board, baked instead of deep fried to preserve their original flavor. And keep your heart healthy, too. These empanadas taste just as good as they are for you, keeping to traditional preparation methods to preserve the legacy. Empanadas are, quite frankly, one of the most authentically Argentinian meals you could partake in, and thankfully 5411 Empanadas' got a bevy of 'em. Make a meal of an empanada in their savory varieties; 5411 Empanadas' got shredded chicken in a golden curry along with premium hand cut beef marinated and cooked to tender, juicy perfection. Pick a dessert empanada to perform a perfect sweet finish, like banana and nutella, and you've got a meal worth bragging about. So do just that, find 5411 Empanadas in Chicago, IL and beyond, or have 'em out to cater your next event. You won't regret it.

5411 Empanadas

#6: Harold's Chicken

American Comfort
Fried Chicken
Waffles
Wings

Harold's Chicken is specializing in one thing and one thing alone: the crispiest of chicken to sink your teeth into. A food truck that's frying up the best of the best, you're getting hot and fresh chicken made to order for your enjoyment. At Harold's Chicken, they're serving up all the chicken you can handle. Each piece, be it wing, breast or thigh, is fried to golden brown perfection and served alongside a basket of french fries. What could be better than that? Well, Harold's Chicken is also frying up some other goodies, including tender shrimp morsels, fish filets, onion rings, hush puppies and even pizza puffs. If all this sounds good to you, why wait? Instead, find Harold's Chicken in Chicago and beyond, or book 'em to bring it all to your next event. You won't be disappointed, that's for sure.

Harold's Chicken
Popcorn Chicken w/ Fries

Popcorn Chicken w/ Fries

Chicken & Waffles

Chicken & Waffles

Chicken Bucket (Chicken Only)

Chicken Bucket (Chicken Only)

By the Piece

By the Piece

Wings

Wings

Chicken Dinner

Chicken Dinner

#5: Doris's Taco Truck

Tex Mex
Accessories
Chicken
Desserts
Mexican Food
Tacos
Vegetarian

Catch Dori’s Taco Truck cruising around the Brewing District (1800 W. Fulton) in Chicago’s northwest side. Serving high quality meats, fresh ingredients and homemade salsa verde. Stop by to try the best selling ribeye taco or order the sizzling hot chicken or ground steak served on two corn tortillas topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion and cilantro (cheese in-between optional). If you’re in the mood for authentic Mexican street food that won’t weigh you down, look for Dori’s Taco Truck.

Doris's Taco Truck

#4: Soul & Smoke

Barbecue

Tucking into a plate piled with barbecue is a messy pleasure. The experience is comforting and complex—not unlike the people sharing in it.

At Soul & Smoke, they treat barbecue with the reverence it deserves. They're consumed with the details: the meat-to-bone ratio on theirr ribs, the creaminess of their mac and cheese, and the combination of spices in Chef Carter’s signature sauce. And as a classically trained chef, he’s primed with the palate and patience to pull those nourishing, heart-warming barbecue flavors from the smoke.

They pour their soul into this food, because barbecue is a craft worthy of devotion. It’s the food they want to eat, and the food they love to cook. Let them tend to the comfort food so you can focus on the people sharing it.

Soul & Smoke
Vegan Smokey Joe Sliders

Vegan Smokey Joe Sliders

Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich

Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich

Chicken Gumbo

Chicken Gumbo

Smoked BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Smoked BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Smoked Rib Tips - Half Pound

Smoked Rib Tips - Half Pound

Smoked Prime Brisket Sandwich

Smoked Prime Brisket Sandwich

#3: Brothers Bbq Chicago

Barbecue

Family owned and operated authentic American BBQ food truck serving the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. Their authentic Chicago-style BBQ is unique to their truck, providing a spin on classic midwestern BBQ. Their meats and other menu items are of the highest quality and prepared with great care to assure the best culinary experience for their customers.

Brothers' BBQ meats are seasoned with their signature Bothers' BBQ Rub then slow smoked the night before each event with apple and hickory for a full, bold flavor. The mixture of their BBQ Rub and apple hickory smoke creates a flavor like no other. Finally, they add their Brothers' BBQ sauce at the time of service as a perfect compliment to your order.

Brothers Bbq Chicago

#2: La Comodita

Italian

La Comodita is importing tradition from Sicily and transporting it all the way to the streets of the windy city. They're committed to authenticity, serving up comfort in the form of those delectable, fried to perfection, bite sized balls: the arancini. And it's all coming to you on four wheels, in a food truck roaming in Chicago. At La Comodita, they're keeping things pretty simple. Get those irresistible cheesy rice balls filled with their original recipe Swagu, made up of the tenderest beef ragu and sweet peas, or the aptly named Popeye, stuffed with spinach, artichoke, and cheese. That's it, but it's so much more than that. Because each and every ball is made to order, hot off the grill, meaning they're as fresh as they are delicious. Track down La Comodita to get the best of Italian cuisine, or book 'em to cater your next event. And trust us when we say this: you and your guests will certainly have a ball, in more ways than one.

La Comodita

#1: The Fat Shallot

Sandwiches
Vegetarian

Sam Barron and Sarah Weitz are in love with food and eating. The two kindled a romance many years after they graduated from the same high school, discussing butter and discovering a shared commitment to all things delicious. This passion has led them around the world and back to Chicago, doing pop-up dinners, private parties, and catering events. And now the Fat Shallot food truck is on its way.

Searching the streets of Chicago for a tasty sandwich? - Try one of the yummy creations at The Fat Shallot! Whether you're in the mood for a sharp cheddar grilled cheese, or braised pork shoulder on a french roll, the Fat Shallot has got you covered.

The Fat Shallot