101 Best Food Trucks In America For 2018

101 Best Food Trucks in America for 2018

Operating a successful food truck requires equal parts heart and culinary chops. Tight parking spaces, pesky traffic cops, cramped kitchens, and streets congested with competition are just a few of the obstacles a food truck must overcome. But every year, more and more food truck owners start the engine, driven by a passion for cooking and the desire to share their innovative culinary concepts with the world (or at least their neighborhood). While thousands of trucks roll around the country serving delicious meals to millions of customers, we have selected 101 food trucks that we have deemed, "The Best in America."

To create our ranking of this year's 101 Best Food Trucks in America, we first drew inspiration from The Daily Meal's previous lists as well as other food truck and city guides. We then hit the internet, scouring review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Zomato, and the trucks' social media followings. The new additions to this year's list deviate from traditional food truck fare and are introducing customers to lesser known dishes such as jianbing (Chinese savory crepes) and om gai (spicy herbed chicken thinly sliced in a chile-paste broth). And although many of the trucks on our list are longtime staples, we have added some newcomers to the list like Rollin Fatties in New Orleans, Boteco in Austin, and the mouth-watering Bobo's Chicken in Oklahoma City. Did your favorite food truck make the list?

#101 Dee Dee, Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas, is quickly becoming one of the country's great culinary cities. The DEE DEE truck (which means "good good" in Thai) upholds this reputation by offering hungry patrons an opportunity to taste traditional Northern Thai street food. With a perfect 5-star Yelp rating, customers rave about their boldly seasoned dishes like the pad kaprow (spicy stir-fried pork and sautéed in homemade chile paste), the om gai (spicy herbed chicken thinly sliced in a chile-paste broth and served with sticky rice), and the som tom tod (shredded papaya and carrot fried in a crunchy tempura batter served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce).

#100 Aroy-D, The Thai Elephant, N.J.

Calling itself "New Jersey's first and only authentic Thai food truck," Aroy-D, The Thai Elephant doesn't take this distinction lightly. Thailand-born Pupay moved to the United States in 2006 and soon began longing for her native Thai food, which she started making at home. One day she sent food into the office of her husband, Jon, and his co-workers went crazy for it. She began catering meetings and eventually joined the Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. In 2011, the duo opened Aroy-D (Thai for "very yummy") and have been cruising the streets of New Jersey selling Pupay's creations ever since. The dishes are flavorful yet approachable — think pad thai, drunken noodles, pad see ew, pineapple fried rice, and dumplings. For those who love the heat, the truck offers three different levels of spice: Dare, Double Dare, and Triple Dog Dare. Choose wisely.

#99 Border Grill, Los Angeles, Calif.

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, two Top Chef Masters contestants and successful West Coast chef–restaurateurs (and members of The Daily Meal Council), took the upscale modern Mexican cuisine of their successful Border Grill restaurants to the streets with the Border Grill Truck. Border Grill recipes were adapted to be on-the-go, and though the truck menu isn't quite as extensive as the restaurant's, it doesn't miss by much. There are five or six different tacos (including carne asada, Baja fish, and sweet potato black bean); five quesadilla options; sides like cilantro garlic fries; and, of course, guac and chips.

#98 Surf and Turf Truck, Philadelphia, Pa.

The folks behind Philadelphia's Surf and Turf Truck liken their mobile eatery experience to a day at the beach, allowing their customers to slow down for a few minutes and enjoy life. It's hard not to enjoy it when your meal options include one of America's best lobster rolls, which is topped with chilled mango and jalapeños or the BLT (bacon, lobster, and tomato), as well as a rosemary steak sandwich option, firecracker shrimp tacos, a salmon burger, and even a bacon-onion infused double quarter pound burger.

#97 The Grilled Cheese Grill, Portland, Ore.

Here we were, all ready to explain why the Grilled Cheese Grill is the best food truck in the state of Oregon, when we realized the official website already summed up the reasons perfectly. First, the venue: How many other mobile food companies can claim three vehicles, one of which is a double-decker London-style bus? Another reason is the menu, which contains everything from breakfast options (like "The Hunter" with Cheddar, a fried egg, and bacon), to monstrosities like "The Cheesus," which is basically a burger with two grilled cheese sandwiches (both of different varieties) as buns. And the final reason, in the words of the Grilled Cheese Grill, is the fact that its staff is willing to cook you a classic dish just like Mom used to do. "We'll be your mom," the website offers. "A couple of bearded dudes in a food cart will be your mom."

#96 Waffle Love, Salt Lake City, Utah

If Leslie Knope lived in Utah, she'd probably spend most of her time chasing the Waffle Love truck around Salt Lake City. (Also, founder Adam Terry totally looks like Ron Swanson.) Here are three reasons you should be chasing it too: the "Dulce de Liège" (a cinnamon sugar waffle topped with fried ice cream and dulce de leche), the "Nutella Love" (with your choice of fruit), and the "Banana Cream Pie" (stuffed with chocolate and topped with bananas and cream). All the options cost about $8, but the various weekly specials can be enjoyed for just five bucks. The company started with a single truck in 2012 and has since grown to include a brick-and-mortar location and five trucks, and another is coming soon to Los Angeles.

#95 Cupcake Carnivale, Philadelphia, Pa. and N.J.

Cupcake Carnivale's cupcake varieties — from "That's S'more" to "Not Your Father's Root BEER Float" to "Strawberry Oreo Cookies & Cream" and about 50 others — are some of the most imaginative creations we've ever seen, and among the most delicious around. They also create seasonal cupcakes based on available ingredients, with one dedicated to each season of the year and others such as Chocolate Pumpkin Patch, Thin Mint, Samoas, The Spiked Egg Nog, and St. Patrick's Vanilla.

#94 Uncle Gussy’s, New York, N.Y.

To survive as a New York City food truck, you have to deal with congested streets, tight parking spots, and some completely outrageous customers. Well, Uncle Gussy's isn't just surviving, it's thriving. The Greek-inspired food truck has won over the Midtown crowd by cooking up consistently delicious grilled pork souvlaki, sausage, chicken breast, and gyros, which is either wrapped up with french fries, fresh vegetables, and tzatziki sauce or served as a platter with saffron rice.

#93 Mannino’s Cannoli Express, N.J.

It's hard to imagine a food truck surviving mainly on one item — especially a dessert item. But these aren't just any dessert item — they're Gaby Mannino's famous cannoli. Mannino has been hawking these hand-filled treats for eight years now, two out of a food truck. She buys shells baked in Sicily (which are wider than most domestically made shells) and makes the filling in her family's Italian restaurant, in alternate varieties like chocolate and blueberry. Wherever Mannino shows up, her fans show up in large numbers as well, and there's almost always a line at her truck.

#92 Cousins Maine Lobster, Los Angeles, Calif.

Los Angeles has a few excellent trucks serving fresh Maine lobster, but Cousins appears to be one of the most popular. Though it started in LA, Cousins now operates in a handful of different cities, but nobody who eats food from this truck can argue that it's anything short of fantastic. Cousins Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac serve classic Maine- and Connecticut-style lobster rolls, as well as lobster tacos, crab rolls, shrimp rolls, lobster tots, and deep-fried Maine lobster on a stick — not to mention lobster bisque and New England clam chowder — all while running a mail-order business and pursuing franchise opportunities.

#91 The Jolly Pig, Baltimore Md.

It's difficult to use the phrase "Maryland food trucks" without mentioning The Jolly Pig. The pink truck has been a mainstay (if you can use this phrase to describe a mobile restaurant) in Maryland for several years now, and it is constantly racking up awards, nods, and other accolades. As for the food, there's an awful lot of pork(mostly of the pulled variety) on the menu. Of course, by "awful" we mean "delightful," because the options include tacos like the Korean barbecue, Jamaican jerk, Peking, Carolina, and Al Pastor, in addition to sandwiches like the Cuban, the "Figgy Piggy" (with mortadella, or "Figgy No Piggy" without), and the Carolina Sliders. Now that you've got the rundown, it's time to pig out!

#90 Smoke Et Al, Nashville, Tenn.

Chef and owner Shane Autrey calls his Smoke Et Al truck — which serves a variety of barbecue — a "boutique smoker." Using real wood smoke and other techniques to flavor his barbecue fare, Autrey serves dishes such as Fiddlers Biscuits (shredded smoked chicken on sour cream-sage baked biscuits with wildflower honey and green onions) and a third of a rack of baby back ribs, dry-rubbed and hickory-smoked. Keep your eye on this chef, as Autrey took first place in the Chow Masters challenge on the Travel Channel in 2014.

#89 The Bacon Truck, Boston, Mass.

Operated by two high school friends who were brought together by their love of bacon, the light pink-colored Bacon Truck serves only one item that doesn't ostensibly include bacon, and that's habanero garlic pickles. By all means, order them as a side, but do not miss "The Hangover," which consists of bacon, bacon scallion hash, Cheddar, and havarti with a fried egg, or the Turkey Avo, with truck-roasted turkey breast, bacon, beefsteak tomatoes, lettuce, and chimichurri aïoli. And for dessert? Nutella-covered bacon, of course.

#88 El Guapo, Detroit, Mich.

The Michigan food truck scene has been heating up over the past few years, with the competition among taco trucks the most feverish of all. The current king is El Guapo — Fresh Mexican Grill, which was actually the first licensed and accepted food truck in Detroit's history. Founded in 2011, El Guapo offers a menu that features a variety of tacos, burritos, and bowls with grilled chicken, chorizo, or beef brisket, along with a few specialties like the pork belly taco and the shrimp burrito. With everything on the menu priced at less than $9, you can fill up without emptying your pockets.

#87 The Grilled Cheese Truck, Los Angeles, Calif.

The Grilled Cheese Truck has dropped out of the top 50 portion of our 101 Best Food Trucks this year, having been a mainstay there since 2012. However, that doesn't mean it's any less of a must-visit stop while you're in the LA area. Its cheesy mac comes fully loaded with sharp Cheddar and barbecue pork; the French onion soup melt features Gruyère with onion soup compote and a Parmigiano-Reggiano crust; and the Pepperbelly Melt includes chili, cilantro lime sour cream, tomato salsa, and Fritos. There are also savory additions, like mac and cheese and bacon; sweet additions, like Nutella, toasted marshmallows, candied walnuts, and peanut butter; sides like tomato soup and tater tots; and, finally, "crusts," like jalapeño or bacon-Parmesan, which line the corners of the mac and cheese.

#86 Aloha Plate, Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha Plate's claim to fame was winning the fourth season of The Great Food Truck Race, but that was just the beginning. It has since appeared on Good Morning America and received endorsements from former MLB outfielder (and native Hawaiian) Shane Victorino for fare that includes braised beef loco moco (a recipe from the mother of owners/brothers Adam and Lanai Tabura), huli huli chicken tacos, venison chili moco, and pork adobo. Aloha Plate has also made the jump from the island of Hawaii to the mainland for events like Coachella, but the truck still spends most of the time back in its tropical homeland and continues to innovate with Hawaii's signature ingredient, Spam.

#85 El Camion, Seattle, Wash.

For anyone who knows Spanish, the name of this one makes perfect sense. For those who don't, el camión means "the truck," and this one in particular has been known to be "full of goodness," according to The Seattle Times. El Camión serves quite a few different meats, including carne asada, pollo asado, carnitas, cochinita pibil, adobada, chorizo, lengua, tripas, cabeza, and fish. There are tacos, burritos, quesadillas, gorditas, mulitas, tortas, tamales, and kicking breakfast burritos. It's a big menu, and that doesn't even include the platos, which are worth a spin-through of their own. Whatever you get, take comfort that founder Scott McGinnis makes all six of his salsas from scratch.

#84 Bing Mi Food Truck, Portland, Ore.

Plenty of food trucks around the country are slinging amazing burgers and succulent lobster rolls, but finding a truck serving authentic Chinese crepes is a little harder to come by. The Bing Mi food truck specializes in jianbing, a humble yet savory dish whose origins are traced back to the villages of Northern China, according to their website. Their signature jianbing is made with freshly scrambled eggs, and black-bean paste, chile sauce, pickled vegetables, green onion, and a crispy fried cracker are all rolled into a delicate crepe (which might be one of the best Crepes in America). Sweet, sour, spicy, and savory all work in tandem with the crunch of the wonton cracker and the chewiness of the crepe.

#83 Fired Up Taco Truck, Cleveland, Ohio

Fired Up Taco Truck serves tacos and empanadas out of their converted S.W.A.T truck, which is now covered in paintings of flames. Cleveland goes crazy for these tacos, and we can see why. Popcorn shrimp served in a flour tortilla with Fired Up slaw, corn and green chile salsa, Jack Cheddar, seasoned fries, barbecue, and lime crema? Color us impressed. Don't feel bad for the vegetarians; they get to enjoy pineapples in their tacos and empanadas.

#82 The Cow and the Curd, Philadelphia, Pa.

The Cow and the Curd only serves one thing, but boy do they do it well. C&C makes battered fried cheese curds, which sounds a little mysterious at first — until you realize they're essentially mini mozzarella sticks, and you dive right in. All right, so they're not really like mozzarella sticks, but they do bear a few similarities. Both are fried to golden-brown perfection, both are hot and melty and stretch into gooey strings when you bite into them, and both are enhanced by various dipping sauces.

#81 Quiero Arepas, Denver, Colo.

The arepa, a round, savory corn cake popular in Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine, is appearing popping up more frequently on menu boards around the U.S. Quiero Arepas is elevating this classic South American dish by stuffing their arepas with a revolving menu of fresh ingredients and fillings. While Yelp reviewers have a tough time pinning down all the components of each sandwich, many of the menu items are simply described as, "absolute magic." Their shredded chicken, smoked salmon, and homemade hot sauce are some of the fan favorites.

#80 Yeti Dogs, Anchorage, Alaska

You'll find the Yeti Dogs food truck during the summer in Anchorage's Kincaid Park. This Alaskan gem serves locally made sausages with a daily menu that includes everything from bratwurst and hot dogs to reindeer and buffalo sausages. They'll also offer special sausage and condiment options, but you'll have to keep up with them on social media to find out. The state might be closer to Russia than your front door step, but the Alaska food scene is truly one of a kind, and worth checking out.

#79 Baby’s Badass Burgers, Los Angeles, Calif.

Past customers of Baby's Badass Burgers have noted that something about the presentation can be a bit much. More specifically, that means tiny booty shorts, tight tank tops, and high heels worn by the "burger babes," pictures of which we will shamelessly promote here. The truck, the creation of ex-New York restaurateur Erica Cohen and event planner Lori Barbera, also has a logo that features a scantily clad girl holding up two burgers. All of this, of course, makes it wildly popular on LA's streets and also on TV — the truck has had cameos on both Entourage and CBS' The Defenders. There are seven half-pound "maneater-sized" burger options on the menu made with ground Angus and served on King's Hawaiian Rolls, as well as a turkey and vegetable option, all with names drenched with the innuendo you'd expect (Cougar, Mamacita, She's Smokin!, The Other Woman, and The "Perfect 10.")

#78 Korilla BBQ, New York, N.Y.

You'd have thought it would have hurt team Korilla BBQ to be called cheaters for adding more than $2,000 of their own money into their cash drawer on what has basically been the representative show for food trucks on cable TV, Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. But the scandal certainly didn't shrink this bright, tiger-striped truck's popularity — they have almost 29,000 followers on Twitter and have since opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the East Village in Manhattan. Korilla BBQ offers a base of burrito or bowl; four proteins (bulgogi, barbecued pork, marinated chicken, and tofu); B.K.F.R. (bacon kimchi fried rice) or sticky rice; and various toppings.

#77 Seoul Taco, St. Louis, Mo.

I know what you're thinking: another Korean-Mexican fusion truck? However, there is a reason Seoul Taco has remained one of the country's top food trucks since 2012: The food is really damn good. Fare from Seoul Taco includes the gogi bowl with rice, fresh vegetables, fried egg, sesame oil, and spicy gochujang pepper sauce; burritos with kimchi fried rice, lettuce, cheese, carrots, sour cream, and a mix of Seoul sauces; and tacos with Korean salad mix, green onion, Seoul sauce, crushed sesame seeds, and a wedge of lime. There are now four brick-and-mortar locations. You'll find them in Chicago and Champaign, Ill., as well as Columbia and St. Louis, Mo., which is a testament to both Seoul Taco's success and deliciousness.

#76 Yumbii, Atlanta, Ga.

After years of success on the Atlanta food truck circuit, this Asian-inspired taco truck branched out and opened a brick-and-mortar location in 2017. Thankfully, their food truck continues to pump out innovative taco combinations like Asian rib-eye beef tacos, stir-fried tofu burritos, and their "Yumbii Sliders," which come with spicy pulled pork, mayo, shredded cheese, and cucumber kimchee. Although their tacos and burritos are top notch, the Yumbii truck is most famous for their sesame fries, which according to their menu, were named the best fries in the USA (Check to see if they made our list of America's 50 Best French Fries). What makes them so special? The fries are sprinkled with sesame oil, salt and chile flakes and can be served with a side of sriracha-queso dipping sauce.

#75 Seoulful Philly, Philadelphia, Pa.

SeoulFull Philly won a Vendy for Rookie of the Year in Philadelphia in 2015 for its Korean-American comfort food, so that's a good start already. On top of that, you've got to admire it for the delicious ways it utilizes Cheez Whiz, like on tater tots (alongside kimchi and scallions) or atop a Korean-style cheesesteak (with kimchi and onions). However, our favorite item is definitely "Corn on the Seoul": deep-fried corn on the cob, gochujang crema, cotija cheese, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds.

#74 PEPE, Washington, D.C.

With so many pizza, taco, and Asian fusion trucks on the scene, it's great to see a fusion-free mobile eatery — especially because said truck is helmed by none other than José Andrés. PEPE rolls through D.C., Maryland, and Virginia during lunchtime every day, offering Spanish flautas (flute-shaped sandwiches), as well as seasonal soups, desserts, and non-alcoholic sangria. The menu changes often, but here's what you can expect to find in their flautas: seared ibérico pork with serrano ham, roasted green peppers, caramelized onions, and aïoli; grilled cheese with manchego, Murcia, Valdeón, goat cheese, and membrillo; seared beef tenderloin, caramelized onion, piquillo pepper confit, and blue cheese; and for dessert, a chocolate and hazelnut ice cream flauta. You can't go wrong with a side of patatas bravas, either.

#73 Vellee Deli, Twin Cities, Minn.

Open since 2011, this Minnesota staple continues to feed the hungry masses a creative blend of Asian and Mexican flavors. The menu has items like "The Mojo" (a jumbo lemongrass and ginger sausage topped with pico de gallo and fresh papaya), a "Currito" (burrito with chicken, spicy Thai curry, potatoes, romaine lettuce, rice, and creamy sauce), and fish tacos. However, the most attention (from both satisfied customers and members of the press) is given to the B.P.T., a grilled pork taco with aïoli, slaw, and a house pickle.

#72 Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Oahu, Hawaii

Despite the fact that Hawaii boasts a whole sea of various shrimp trucks (Famous Kahuku, Fumi's, Big Wave, Geste), somehow Giovanni's emerges victorious from the pack. Maybe it's the Hawaiian company's experience in the business (G's was founded in 1993), maybe it's the countless signatures of satisfied customers that cover the exterior of the truck, or maybe it's the insanely tasty plates like shrimp scampi,lemon butter shrimp, and the "No Refunds" hot and spicy shrimp — but it's pretty clear that the folks at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck are firing on all cylinders. Here's to another 24 years, or at least another plate of succulent shrimp.

#71Thunderbird, Nashville, Tenn.

A food truck completely dedicated to chicken wings? Yes, one glance at these perfectly charred wings and thighs and you'll fall head over heels (or drumsticks) in love. Thunderbird has already captured the heart of Nashville with a simple menu that features just wings, thighs, boneless wings, chicken salad, and a handful of classic barbecue sides. The key is in the execution; the chicken is smoked over pecan wood and seasoned with a special spice blend.

#70 Kapow, Wilmington, Del.

When it comes to food trucks in America's first state, the No. 1 pick has got to be Kapow. Seamlessly fusing the cuisines of Thailand, Korea, and Hawaii, Delaware's "Thai Guy" prepares rice bowls with Peking duck, Thai curry, and bulgogi steak; a variety of tacos (like Delaware's original kimchi taco — three for $7); Thai fried chicken; fried spring rolls; and Thai Guy's wings. The truck is run by husband-and-wife team Wit and Jody Milburn, who can be found roaming around Wilmington or setting up shop at the town's Rodney Square Farmers Market or the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts.

#69 The Caseus Cheese Truck, Conn. (Various Locations)

Caseus was already extremely popular as a cheese shop and bistro, so the next logical step was to take the show on the road. Enter The Cheese Truck, which capitalizes on Caseus' delectable dairy by serving the classic American meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup. Only $5 will get you the standard sandwich, which is anything but ordinary. It contains a blend of provolone, Swiss, Comté, Gruyère, Gouda, and sharp Cheddar — and this is before you get to the add-ons like an amazing guacamole, hot cherry peppers, Berkshire pulled pork, and bacon. Want soup with your meal? That'll run you $7 — for both the soup and the sandwich! Eat 10 sandwiches with the add-on of your choice in under 60 minutes and they'll name it after you, give you a T-shirt, and put your picture on the menu board.

#68 Rollin Fatties, New Orleans, La.

Rollin Fatties has a loyal following, many of whom would say that it makes one of the best burritos in America. This New Orleans food truck staple serves oversized burritos, bowls, and platters of nachos topped with everything from chipotle chicken to barbecue tofu. Their fish tacos have been labeled by a number of Yelp reviewers as "perfect," and this has helped the truck earn an immaculate five-star rating. Fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and tomato salsa bring balance to boldly seasoned proteins, but it's the pleasant staff and impeccable service that keep bringing customers back to Rollin Fatties.

#67 Guerrilla Tacos, Los Angeles, Calif.

Guerrilla Tacos puts local and sustainable food first. Their menu selections change daily, as their dishes are built around what they purchase fresh from their vendors every morning, but one can generally count on seeing fish tacos with pico de gallo, bacon tacos with chile de árbol, and tostadas topped with fish (depending on the ingredients from local vendors like ahi tuna, bluefin tuna, kampachi, and uni).

#66 East Side King, Austin, Texas

Perhaps the most beautifully, psychedelically designed food truck around, East Side King is run by a man every Top Chef fan knows: Season Nine winner and former executive chef at Austin's Uchiko, Paul Qui. Chef Qui's truck menus represent his spin on Japanese street food, which includes panko fried pork shoulder with jasmine rice, kimchi, cucumber, tonkatsu sauce, green onion beni shoga, and kewpie; and deep-fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce, basil, cilantro, mint, onion and jalapeño.

#65 Oh My Gogi BBQ, Houston, Texas

The owner of this truck, Eric Nguyen, hopes you'll exclaim "Oh My Gogi!" after sampling his Korean barbecue tacos, burgers that utilize ramen buns and Texas toast, and so-called "OMG! Fries" with Korean beef and colby jack cheese. Gogi means "meat" in Korean, but don't just opt for the meat dishes here; the vegetarian quesadilla, with stir-fried kimchi and Monterey Jack, will have you saying "Oh My Gogi!" just the same.

#64 Kogi BBQ, Los Angeles, Calif.

We might be able to thank chef Roy Choi, one of the coolest people in food and drink, for our love of Korean-inspired Mexican food, or even, arguably, our nation's love of food trucks. "Kogi set off a flavor bomb that would shake up the foundations of the industry so that street food would never be looked at the same way." That's from Kogi's website. What's the saying? It ain't bragging if it's true? Kogi BBQ has dropped on our list from the No.1 spot in 2012 and 2014, which could be because Choi has extended his talents now beyond food trucks, with restaurants like the Caribbean-inspired Sunny Spot and hip lounge Alibi Room, or it could be because so many new food trucks have popped up since Kogi first opened back in 2008. Nevertheless, Kogi BBQ still remains one of America's very best, and you shouldn't dare call yourself a food lover if you stop by Los Angeles without trying one of their short rib tacos.

#63 Bobo’s Chicken, Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Midwest food scene is often overlooked, but there are hidden food gems parked on even the most inconspicuous street corners. Bobo's Chicken is an Oklahoma City institution with regulars returning year after year for its famous fried chicken. It is described by one Yelp reviewer as, "a hidden gem among hidden gems," but what sets Bobo's apart from the competition is that their chicken is first smoked, then fried, then drenched in honey. With a side of biscuits or fries you're all set for a proper late-night meal.

#62 Chef Shack, Twin Cities, Minn.

Life partners and chefs Lisa Carlson and Carrie Summer each have more than 20 years of experience — and also one of the most lauded trucks in the country. Carlson reportedly cooked for Gray Kunz, Christian Delouvrier, and Daniel Humm, while Summer is credited with opening Morimoto's pastry department and working at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's JoJo. Ingredients are organic when possible — sourced from family farms and co-ops within Minnesota and Wisconsin — and the food is served in 100 percent biodegradable packaging. Speaking of which, the menu ranges seasonally from signature Indian-spiced mini-donuts, tempura soft-shell crab sandwich, and grass-fed beef tongue tacos to bison burgers, bacon beer brats, and Thai and Indian vegetable curries. There's literally something for everyone — something Wisconsinites have recently been made aware of at the truck's Bay City brick-and-mortar location.

#61 Mei Mei Boston, Boston, Mass.

Run by three siblings, Mei Mei is dedicated to sustainably sourced food and creative takes on Chinese cuisine. Get their "Double Awesome," a scallion pancake sandwich with pesto, Cheddar, and two runny eggs, or the pierogi dumplings with Sriracha fried rice. After the success of the truck, Mei Mei opened a brick-and-mortar location, which was voted the best restaurant in Boston by Eater in 2014 and is a go-to spot for renowned London-based chef Yotam Ottolenghi when he's in town.

#60 Culinerdy Cruzer, Elk Grove, Calif.

With a punny name like "Culinerdy Cruzer," how could we not include this truck in the list? Of course, the food is also cleverly named, like the "Bruce Lee M'Fn Burger" with beer-braised onions, three cabbage slaw, nori, and wonton strips; the "Dammit Jim!" burger with bacon ends and pieces and beer blue cheese; and "Hulk Fries" with basil pesto, artichoke hearts, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Even the Brussels sprouts are legendary here. The people of Sacramento have spoken, and they decreed that Culinerdy Cruzer should make this list.

#59 La Cocinita, New Orleans, La.

Rachel Billow and her business partner, Venezuelan chef Benoit Angulo, started their business in the Big Easy, where running a food truck actually doesn't always jibe with the city's nickname (among other restrictions, trucks are required to change locations every 45 minutes). Billow and Angulo have not just been making it work, but making it work really well. Ordering at La Cocinita is definitely easy: First, choose your vessel (arepa, taco, burrito, or bowl), then pick your protein (braised chicken, braised pork, roasted sweet potatoes and black beans, or black beans and queso fresco), add a sauce (we suggest guasacaca, which is Venezuelan guacamole, or the "Stupid Hot" sauce), and enjoy — which is without a doubt the easiest part!

#58 Homegrown Smoker Vegan BBQ, Portland, Ore.

There aren't a lot of all-vegan trucks on this list, but here's one that's a must-visit, even for meat-eaters. Homegrown Smoker serves a variety of protein options — like tempeh ribs, smoked soy curls, and smoked tofu — in a variety of ways. Order a plate (with sides like hushpuppies, mac no-cheese, and chipotle slaw), throw it on a sandwich or burger with homemade barbecue sauce or mustard, or roll it all up in a burrito. Who needs meat when you have delicious food like this?

#57 Roti Rolls, Charleston, S.C.

With appearances at Bonnaroo and other big-time festivals, Roti Rolls is finding ways to get its food out to non-Charlestonian eaters — and how grateful people are for that. Who wouldn't satisfy their cravings for Asian, Indian, Caribbean, Latin, and Southern flavors all wrapped into one convenient flatbread? Options like "#FeelTheBern" with homemade guacamole, braised beef tongue, cheese, tomato and corn pico, and a sunny local egg, or the "Hurman Merman" with braised local short-run or farm-raised pork, creole mac and cheese, and homemade kimchi, represent an immense variety of cuisines.

#56 Nosh The Truck, Seattle, Wash.

Nosh has a near-perfect score on Yelp, which isn't much of a surprise when you read their menu. They've won over customers year-after-year with elevated food-truck fare like a buttermilk-fried confit rabbit, British fish and chips, and roasted bone marrow. Did we mention that the folks at Nosh also grind their own meat (the proper way to make a perfect burger), pull their own mozzarella, and use sustainable, line-caught fish?

#55 Arepa Zone, Washington, D.C.

Arepa Zone takes pride in serving the Washington, D.C.-area authentic Venezuelan cuisine. They serve up — you guessed it — arepas with all sorts of meat and cheese fillings. Try the classic jamón y queso, with your choice of white or yellow cheese, or go for the sifrina, stuffed with chicken avocado salad and shredded yellow cheese. If you don't want an arepa, go with the cachapa, which is a corn pancake prepared with ham, chicken, beef, or a combination of any meat with the classic queso de mano cheese. However, regardless of what you order, you can't leave the truck without Arepa Zone's 2015 Curbside Cookoff Food Truck Awards winner for breakthrough dish, tequeños — which are gourmet cheese sticks that come with their "famous" AZ dipping sauce.

#54 Munch Mobile, Boston, Mass.

Serving creative mocktails (like a Negroni with caramelized juniper water) and elevated cuisine sans pretentiousness, Boston's Munch Mobile offers nosh such as togarashi fries with herb aioli; hummus made with NSB Santilli IPA-soaked chickpeas, togarashi spice, citrus olive oil, and sea salt; and a braised pork tostada with aged Vermont Cheddar, radicchio slaw, and Sriracha crema. In an effort to meet dietary restrictions of all kinds, half of the truck's offerings are vegetarian, two are vegan, and one is gluten-free. Also, in true on-the-go fashion, utensils are not necessary for any of the dishes. Munch on!

#53 Basic Kneads Pizza, Denver, Colo.

We are suckers for a good pun and even more so for a good pizza. Basic Kneads operates four different units (each with punny names) around Denver. Basic Kneads eschews strict Neapolitan guidelines for D.O.C. pizza so that it can integrate local ingredients, experiment with toppings, and use the family dough recipe its team developed over the years: a mix of organic whole-wheat flour and refined Colorado flour (Basic Kneads also does a gluten-free crust). There are eight pies on the menu, ranging from the basics (Margherita, pepperoni, fennel sausage) to more extreme pies like sweet Thai chile chicken.

#52 Chewy’s Philadelphia, Pa.

If you're hungry in Philly, be on the lookout for a bright orange truck — especially if you're not quite sure what you want to eat. Chewy's offers eight distinct burger varieties (from bacon and cheese to veggie to kimchi), four varieties of BLTs (including one with smoked salmon), and some odds and ends that include truffle or Buffalo fries or tots, as well as chicken and waffles. If you feel bad about eating food that's a bit unhealthy, would it help if we mentioned the fryer oil is recycled for fuel, the leftover food is used for compost, and the food containers are made with natural materials?

#51 Polkadot Cupcake Shop, Nutley, N.J.

The number of votes to add this food truck to our list last year blew us away, and we're glad to say that it's still as popular a year later. People obviously adore the cupcakes at Polkadot, including classics like the signature red velvet and birthday cake varieties; specialty creations like "Better Than Sex" (with chocolate cake, mousse, frosting, drizzle, and sprinkles), PBJ, and salted caramel peanut butter pretzel; cocktail cupcakes made with booze; and a monthly special. Owner and lead baker Arlene (who opened her own shop in 2011 and truck in 2013) also makes full-sized cakes, but we can't polish off multiple varieties of those and still feel good about ourselves afterward.

#50 Go Gyro Go, St. Louis, Mo.

Is it "jy-ro" or "year-o"? However you say it, you'll call the rendition served by Go! Gyro! Go! "tasty." Owners Nick and Laura Cowlen bought their truck in 2011, outfitted it themselves, and set out into the streets of St. Louis with food inspired by the family recipes of Nick's yia-yia and papou (both from the island Zakynthos off the southwest coast of Greece) and his own experiences when visiting the motherland. The menu is pretty simple: gyros. There's the classic beef and lamb, chicken souvlaki, chicken tahini, and veggie gyro. Go with the classic: spiced beef and lamb wrapped in a freshly grilled pita with sliced tomato, red onion, feta, parsley, and homemade tzatziki.

#49 Bon Me, Boston, Mass.

Founders Alison Fong and Patrick Lynch started Bon Me in 2011, transforming a used DHL delivery truck into their first food truck. They now have eight food trucks, two food carts, and seven restaurants. Here's how it works: You choose between a sandwich, rice bowl, noodle salad, or salad, and decide on a filling. Their options for fillings, like their wheels, "rotate daily," but stalwarts include paprika tofu and miso-braised pulled pork. Their current spring specials also impress: Thai basil chicken, cucumber apple salad, and a coconut chia pudding. As for sides, let's hope you get the chance to try their black tea-soaked deviled eggs.

#48 Bernie’s Burger Bus, Houston, TX

Bernie's Burger Bus is in an old-school short bus that takes the school shtick all the way, from labeling press reviews as "report cards" and truck swag as "school supplies" on its website, right down to the name of the burgers. There's The Principal (classic burger), The Substitute (blue cheese, bacon, and caramelized onions), and the Fire Drill (roasted tomatoes, pepper jack, chipotle aïoli, spicy guac, and crispy tortilla strips). But let's face it, if you're going back to school, you're going to need a Homeroom (cheddar cheeseburger, bacon, "tipsy onions," chipotle aïoli, and a fried egg) or you'll go to Detention (two bacon grilled cheese sandwiches used as the bun, two patties, Cheddar, "tipsy onions," and all the classic burger fixings). If you can actually stomach the whole Detention, you get on the Bernie's Wall of Fame. But perhaps you want to save room for the fries, which we included on our list of America's 50 Best French Fries.

#47 Two for the Road, San Diego, Calif.

This truck has had quite the journey in this list over the past couple years, ranking as low as No. 98 in 2014 and as high as No. 2 in 2015. The people have spoken once again, and now Two for the Road finds itself in the middle of the pack. Specializing in American comfort food, the menu changes weekly, but count on there always being a burger and interesting variations on the hot dog, as well as regional dishes like New England lobster rolls or not-so-regional foods like spinach and artichoke grilled cheese. The ingredients are fresh, never frozen, and hormone-free, which is a telltale sign that owners Lisa and Roberto know what they're doing. Other signs? Roberto attended culinary school in Italy before immigrating to the U.S. and has been the chef in several top hotel kitchens in Las Vegas and San Diego. Lisa's background in the travel industry has allowed her to roam the world, so you know the regional specials are authentic — not to mention delicious.

#46 Rocket’s Fine Street Food, Providence, R.I.

With burger names like the "Rocket," "Gemini," "Space Cowbody," and "Roswell," it's obvious that Rocket's Fine Street Food is serving some out-of-this-world eats. Their signature burger starts with a quarter-pound of Angus beef, "smashed and seared" to perfection, but it's the toppings that really set these burgers, well, over the top. Some of the standouts are The Roswell (spicy green chile sauce, pickles, grilled onions and cheese), the Man in the Moon (smokehouse bacon, caramelized onions, and gorgonzola cheese), and the Space Cowboy (caramelized onions, coffee barbecue sauce, and a jalapeno relish). But it's not all about the beef, Rocket's offers two exciting vegetarian burger options: a roasted beet and kale burger and a sweet potato and black bean burger.

#45 Taïm Mobile, New York, N.Y.

In 2005, chef Einat Admony and her husband, Stefan Nafziger, homesick for their favorite Tel Aviv street food, opened their own falafel shop on Waverly Place. Five years (and a location in Nolita) later, they launched the much anticipated Taïm Mobile. You don't want to miss these falafels, which are smaller in size than the falafel balls you're used to, but have double the flavor and crunch. They frequently offer special red pepper falafel and sometimes a version made with spicy harissa — and when you order them, make sure to ask for everything, and extra of it. They'll add s'rug (Yemeni hot sauce), amba (pickled mango chutney), Israeli pickles, and spicy peppers for a spicy, crunchy, wet, delicious mess. You can expect only the best from these chefs, who are behind the beloved New York City restaurants Bar Bolonat and Balaboosta.

#44 Lobsta Truck, Los Angeles, Calif.

The lobster roll at Lobsta Truck is inspired by the legendary version at Red's Eatsin Wiscasset, Maine, one of America's best seafood shacks. While lobster in California is not quite the same as lobster in Maine (even though owner Justin Mi flies in fresh lobsters from Maine and Canada several times a week), these $14 rolls are still fantastic. There's little more than the lobster roll on the menu — you'll find clam chowder, lobster bisque, chips, whoopie pie, and an ice cream sandwich, and with over 700 reviews on Yelp, it's impossible to keep the Lobsta Truck off the list.

#43 Kiko’s Place, San Diego, Calif.

With 500 Yelp reviews and a nearly perfect rating, it's hard not to include this on-the-go San Diego seafood destination. Kiko's Place sits right next to the ocean, which allows the truck to access to the freshest seafood. Kiko's Place deals in premium seafood offerings that go beyond your average fish taco. Their charred octopus taco and "Famous Krazy" ceviche, which includes fish, shrimp, octopus, mussels, clams, and oysters (oh my), are fan favorites.

#42 Easy Slider, Dallas, Texas

With perhaps one of the cleverest food truck names on this list, Easy Slider serves creative mini burgers that use certified Angus beef and farmers market produce out of their red, white, and electric blue vehicle. They introduce sweet flavors into savory sandwiches in not-too-sneaky ways: by using strawberry jam in their burger with bacon and goat cheese, peanut butter instead of cheese in their bacon burger (almost as crazy as this Reese's Peanut Butter Cup-stuffed burger), and sea salt caramel with grilled red onions in their Sugar Derby burger. You don't want to miss their Baby Bella, with a Texas-born portabella mushroom patty topped with the basic components of a caprese: mozzarella, tomato, and basil pesto.

#41 Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese, Boston, Mass.

Brothers and bandmates James and Mike DiSabatino teamed up with trained chef Marc Melanson to establish Roxy's, where they sling sandwiches that swap butter for mayonnaise in order to make what James describes as "grilled cheese without borders." The menu rotates, but staples include the Green Muenster (Muenster, guacamole, and applewood bacon), Mighty Rib Melt (fontina, braised short ribs, and caramelized onions), and the Rookie Melt (Vermont Cheddar and vine-ripened tomatoes). While they did not win season two of Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race, their popularity is only increasing, now boasting more than 16,000 followers on Twitter.

#40 Crepes Bonaparte, Los Angeles, Calif.

Have you ever tried a savory crêpe on the streets of Paris? Then you remember that warm, salty cheesiness, and the enjoyment of life that comes from biting into a well-made, freshly cooked one. It's thin. It's crispy. It's salty, gooey, satisfying, and soul-affirming in a way that almost shouldn't be possible. And yet it is. The partners behind Crepes Bonaparte know and emulate that. All the crêpes are served to the sound of French pop by folks wearing berets, black vests, and ties, but it's not all about looks here; the crêpes are excellent. Savory crêpes like Le Club, with bacon, mozzarella, tomatoes, and avocados, as well as sweet crepes like the Al Capone, with blackberries, mascarpone, and chocolate drizzle, are both must-tries.

#39 Komodo Truck, Los Angeles, Calf.

The Hotel Bel-Air's former grill chef Erwin Tjahyadi made a splash in 2010 by serving Asian-Mexican fusion that involved burritos and tacos at Komodo. Since then, Tjahyadi's legend has grown, and his black-and-white Komodo dragon-themed truck has gone brick-and-mortar. But the truck still rages on, serving menu classics like seared top sirloin, grilled marinated chicken, fish and grapes, spicy Singaporean-style shrimp, and Indonesian shredded pork rendang with sides like truffle or garlic fries (or tater tots) and meatballs with romesco sauce. Fun fact: The truck is named after an Indonesian lizard, a rare, endangered, lethal species with weak hearing and sight but a powerful sense of taste.

#38 The Chairman, San Francisco, Calif.

This food truck used to be the cleverly named "Chairman Bao," but dropped the "bao" when New York restaurateur–turned–cultural icon Eddie Huang (founder of the sandwich shop Baohaus) indicated he might sue them. Name change aside, The Chairman draws lines for its simple menu of steamed and baked buns with fillings like Muscovy duck confit with green papaya, pickled red onions, and mint. Their pink guava soda is also a must.

#37 El Toro Loco Churrascaria, Miami, Fla.

The name is a mouthful (churrascaria is a rough translation of the Portuguese word for barbecue), but we aren't eating our words by adding this food truck to this year's list. This barbecue truck is like an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse on wheels. Channel your inner carnivore — juicy Brazilian pork sausage, Costilla de cerdo (pork ribs), bacon-wrapped filet mignon, and pierna de cordero (leg of lamb) are all available to purchase by the pound (and at some very affordable prices, according to recent Yelp reviews). The truck has since expanded into a full-service restaurant, but this meal-on-wheels remains a popular lunch/dinner spot for locals in the know.

#36 Chef Ray’s Street Eats, Oklahoma City, Okla.

The interesting thing about Chef Ray's Street Eats is the fact that in addition to its highly praised chicken and waffles (hand-breaded, buttermilk fried), Okie Cheesesteaks (slow-cooked pork shoulder with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and cheese on a fresh hoagie roll), and signature banana pudding, Chef Ray will also cook up "anything from simple, finger foods to elegant culinary delights."

#35 The Grilled Cheeserie, Nashville, Tenn.

Run by Los Angeles transplants Crystal De Luna-Bogan (a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef) and her husband, Joseph, The Grilled Cheeserie has been winning Nashville over, and has almost 40,000 Twitter followers. Why? Well, it could be the fantastic specialty melts, among them a pimento mac and cheese, a spinach and artichoke melt, the "B&B of Tennessee" (with buttermilk Cheddar, bacon, and caramelized apple jam), and the "Buffalo South" (with pepper jack, pulled chicken, buffalo sauce, pickled celery, and a blue cheese aïoli on sourdough bread). In the world of food trucks (and food truck rankings), creative takes on classics are always a good thing.

#34 Barrio, Cleveland, Ohio

A large calaca (stylized Mexican skeleton) with arms open wide adorns the Barrio food truck, inviting you to build your own tacos. You can choose from five different kinds of tortillas, such as the "White Widow," a soft flour tortilla with guac, sour cream, and "crunch"; nine different kinds of filling, including a fish of the day; queso fresco, smoked Cheddar, or Chihuahua cheese; and a bevy of toppings, salsas, sauces, and sides. But hey, it looks like these guys know what they're doing, so try one of their suggestions, like the "El Puerco," with pulled pork, quesos blanco and fresco, salsa roja, and chipotle honey; or their taco of the month, which features the most seasonal of ingredients.

#33 Foolish Waffles, Philadelphia, Pa.

Dapper Dogs and Foolish Waffles: Philadelphia certainly takes the cake when it comes to Victorian novel-esque names for food trucks. Foolish Waffles serves mostly savory, but a few sweet waffles, too. Their chile honey-glazed buttermilk fried chicken waffle with pickled bourbon jalapeños — which you can also get bánh mì-style — is stellar, and if you must go sweet, pick their Liège sugar waffle topped with mascarpone whipped cream, black pepper bacon toffee, salted caramel, and Maldon smoked sea salt.

#32 Papi Queso, Charlotte, N.C.

Featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, the Papi Queso food truck has charmed the residents of Charlotte, NC with beautifully constructed grilled cheese sandwiches. Papi Queso isn't winning customers over with gimmicks or ridiculous toppings, they're simply doing the classics right, letting their high-quality ingredients and cheeses speak for themselves. Their menu is small but focused. The Bacon and Tomato (Cheddar, American, provolone, smoked tomatoes, bacon, chile mayo), the Mac Melt (mac n' cheese, Cheddar) and the Spiced Apple (sautéed apples and onions, honey, white Cheddar, brie, walnuts) are some of their more popular items, but looking at the menu, you really can't go wrong. Check out their elegant creations on their Instagram (which is approaching 10 thousand followers).

#31 Luke’s Lobster, New York, N.Y.

Born and raised in Cape Elizabeth, a small town on the coast of Maine, Luke Holden "grew up lobstering, built his own skiff, and launched a lobster company while still in high school." At Luke's Lobster, chilled lobster is served in a buttered and toasted split-top bun "with a swipe of mayo, a sprinkle of lemon butter, and a dash of our secret spices." You can opt for either the crab or shrimp roll instead, but really, when these lobsters are served just hours after they are caught, why would you? Luke's has been a mainstay on numerous food truck lists at The Daily Meal for some time and continues to be at the top of our lists.

#30 Emerson Fry Bread, Phoenix, Ariz.

The colorful Emerson Fry Bread truck might very well be the only truck in the country that specializes in Native American cuisine — one of the most underrated cuisines of the world — with a Mexican twist. Customers pick a protein and a wrap style, such as "Jazzy" (Indian-style with beans, carne asada, cheese, and pico de gallo), "Mi Bandera Linda" (with handmade red and green chile sauces), or "Bolli" (served in a taco bowl), and wash it all down with a fan-favorite 32-ounce prickly-pear-based juice. Emerson is a testament to the creativity needed to run a successful food truck.

#29 Clover Food Lab, Boston, Mass.

Serving both breakfast and lunch, Clover Food Lab offers only the freshest ingredients in everything they make, creating what founder Ayr Muir describes as "clean flavors." Even the beverages are "a part of [their] culinary conversation." Cinnamon lemonade, blackberry switchel, hibiscus iced tea — any chef in the truck can tell you where the ingredients for the drinks come from just as confidently as he or she can describe the components of a sauce. In the past, they've served fried blue oyster mushrooms with rhubarb aïoli, a chickpea fritter sandwich, and perfectly textured doughnuts.

#28 Mac Mart Truck, Philadelphia, Pa.

Mac Mart Truck in Philadelphia serves what Eater once called the "Breakfast Sandwich [That] Beats All Other Breakfast Sandwiches": mac and cheese sandwiched between two hash brown patties and drizzled with buttermilk ranch — bacon optional. You can get yours mixed with barbecued chicken, tossed with Philly cheesesteak components, atop a charred hot dog, or in a handful of other creative ways. Also, you never have to choose between grilled cheese and mac and cheese here: Their "Return of the Mac" sandwich includes mac and cheese between buttery slices of white bread. Mac Mart also recently opened its first brick-and-mortar location.

#27 Wok n Roll Food Truck, Cleveland, Ohio

The owners of Wok n Roll, Matt and Tricia, met while working together at KFC in 1999. Today, they churn out fusion foods, such as Korean poutine made with tater tots and topped with Monterey Jack, kimchi, and black sesame seeds; non-fusion foods, like no-frills bibimbap or bánh mì sandwiches; and unique specialties, like "Krab Rangoon" with cream cheese and sweet chile sauce, that fall into neither category. The truck has only been in existence for two years, but it's already one of our absolute favorites, and apparently a lot of voters agree.

#26 Moty’s Grill, Miami, Fla.

This Miami food truck offers Mediterranean cuisine, using simple, fresh, and healthy ingredients. They have a full menu with appetizers, salads, platters, pita pockets, desserts, and even a kids' menu truly catering to all palates. Go for something classic, like the Rolling Pita Pocket with falafel, hummus, tahini, baba ghanoush, Israeli salad and Israeli pickle, or take it up a notch with the Mix UP Platter, which samples just about everything: two falafels, two borrekas, two lajmayim, and two kibbes, accompanied by french fries, hummus, tahini, baba ghanoush, Israeli salad, Israeli pickle, and some toasted pita bread to scoop everything into.

#25 Guerrilla Street Food, St. Louis, Mo.

Returning to our list of 101 Best Food Trucks is Guerrilla Street Food. The truck, which is now joined by multiple brick-and-mortar locations, offers boldly flavored renditions of Filipino-American street food. Filipino cuisine is complex, as each island or region has access to a different assortment of local produce, and Guerrilla Street Food takes this into account by constantly introducing and eliminating menu items. However, there are some staples; their Flying Pig (12-hour roasted pork shoulder, "63-degree" (soft-poached) egg, fried garlic) served over rice and topped with sriracha and hoisin sauce and was voted the best dish in St. Louis in one poll. Another popular menu item is the chicken adobo — boneless chicken thighs braised in a mixture of soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and spices until tender and served over jasmine rice. Thanks to Guerrilla Street Food, more Americans are being introduced to one of the world's most underrated cuisines.

#24 Sugar Philly Truck, Philadelphia, Pa.

The Sugar Philly Truck's mission is to make desserts delicious and accessible in order to bring happiness and smiles to all. Food-truck lovers John Suh and Franklin Shen dreamt of creating a gourmet dessert truck to serve the city of Philadelphia, and after convincing their friend Dan Tang to return to Philadelphia to serve as head chef, they were ready to launch. The truck serves crème brûlée, a selection of French macarons, and crème fraîche cheesecake made with local strawberries and a blueberry compote.

#23 Detroit 75 Kitchen, Detroit, Mich.

Detroit 75 Kitchen is a perfect representative of Detroit's buzzing food scene. Their website describes their style of cooking as, "street food made with high-end techniques." There must be some truth to this; they were awarded the number one sandwich in Detroit. Their "3rd Street Detroit Philly" is a crowd favorite, made with tender beef, pickled jalapeños, mushrooms sautéed peppers and onions, and Swiss cheese, all topped with their signature vinaigrette on a toasted bun. On Wednesdays they do a "magic dusted," apple-wood smoked chicken served with jalapeño Cheddar cheese cornbread and honey butter.

#22 The Blaxican, Atlanta, Ga.

The Blaxican takes traditional Mexican dishes but adds a soulful spin. This results in some mouthwatering menu items like Buffalo chicken tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, and crumbled blue cheese; Philly nachos with grilled marinated steak, grilled onions and peppers, melted queso, lettuce, pico de gallo, jalapeños, and sour cream; and an over-the-top mac and cheese with fresh jalapeños and The Blaxican's special three-cheese blend. This truck has not only soul but a lot of heart: It uses tips and donations collected via its website to help feed those less fortunate in collaboration with various organizations around Atlanta. With all this success (and 11,000 likes on Facebook), The Blaxican is now a full-service restaurant, but don't worry, the truck is still rolling around the streets of Atlanta.

#21 Mama’s Meatballs, Philadelphia, Pa.

Fans of Philadelphia's Mama's Meatballs almost broke our survey last year with their votes and comments — although "comments" is putting it lightly, as most dedicated customers demanded we put Mama's on this list. As lovers of Italian cuisine, who were we to say no? With balls as delicious as the handmade, gourmet samplings at this truck, in varieties like turkey and broccoli rabe, spicy sausage and jalapeño, and even a vegetarian option, reviews for this food truck have remained strong.

#20 Marination Mobile, Seattle, Wash.

"Big Blue" launched in 2009, touting Hawaiian-Korean curb cuisine ("Two cultures, one food truck"), the brainchild of Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison. The pair came up with the idea for Marination Mobile while eating their own marinated spicy pork tacos and commiserating over some unfortunate investments in Wall Street. Look for tacos filled with sweet and savory kalbi, pork, miso ginger chicken, or tofu. They also do a kimchi quesadilla and rice bowl and serve sliders stuffed with shredded kalua pork or (a Hawaii favorite) SPAM.

#19 The Fat Shallot, Chicago, Ill.

Husband and wife Sam Barron and Sarah Weitz are a foodie match made in heaven that fell in love over their shared passion for "all things delicious." After making food for parties, pop-up dinner, and events around the world, the duo opened up The Fat Shallot in their hometown in 2013, serving up delicious sandwiches and sides. Order their grilled cheese, which is made with Muenster cheese, sautéed spinach, and caramelized onions on sourdough, or the buffalo chicken sandwich served on an egg bun with blue cheese sauce and a celery salad. For a side, don't forget the truffle fries or the spicy sesame fries, which are topped with black sesame seeds and a spicy sesame aïoli.

#18 Boteco, Austin, Texas

In Brazil, a "boteco" is a local neighborhood joint where you go for delicious food and drinks, and good conversation. Well, with over 300 five-star Yelp reviews, the Boteco food truck is clearly living up to its name. They offer up Brazilian favorites like yuca fries, cheese empanadas, "coxinha" (shredded-chicken filled croquettes with cream cheese), and "feijoada complete," which their menu board calls the national dish of Brazil; the platter comes with a black bean stew made with pork, ribs, and sausage served with rice, collard green, farofa (toasted yuca flour), and an orange slice.

#17 Where Ya At Matt, Seattle, Wash.

Where Ya At Matt has been bringing New Orleans-style po'boys, muffalettas, jambalaya, and more to Seattle since 2010. It has been called one of the best food trucks in the country by Thrillist, and Eater named its fried oyster po'boy one of the city's most iconic food truck dishes. But don't stop at the savory — its beignets, as well as sweet potato and pecan pies, are just as excellent.

#16 Sweet Box Cupcakes, Philadelphia, Pa.

Sweet Box Cupcakes offers some of most the creatively flavored cupcakes in Philly. From pumpkin chocolate chip to strawberry Champagne and chocolate chip cookie dough (which has a glob of cookie dough in the middle of the cupcake), there is plenty to tempt any sweet tooth. Not to mention the bacon-flavored cupcakes like bacon maple pancake and chocolate-covered bacon. Owner Gretchen Fantini opened a storefront back in 2013, called Sweet Box Shop, but the truck is still going strong with menus that continue to change daily and seasonally.

#15 Cucina Zapata, Philadelphia, Pa.

Cucina Zapata serves up Thai food in a taco, so you can go ahead and cross that one off of your food fantasy mash-up list. Other dishes include items like a Cap'n Crunch-crusted tilapia burrito topped with avocado, pico de gallo, and peanut sauce. Or the sweet potato curry. Or the Thai short rib tacos covered in veggies and topped with avocado. Or basically anything else. Regardless of your exact pick, it will be a refreshing change from the Korean barbecue we normally see paired with tacos.

#14 Gourdough’s, Austin, Texas

With both a public house and a food truck, Gourdoughs is able to spread their deep-fried love to the people of Austin (the truck is open till 1:00 am on Saturdays for the Cross Fit crowd getting in an early run in). Gourdough is keeping their 17,000 Instagram followers engaged by pumping out some incredibly indulgent donut creations. These include The Carney (apple topping, dry roasted peanuts, caramel), Cherry Bombs (glazed cherry-topped holes, cinnamon, sugar, cake-mix topping), Black Out (brownie batter, fudge icing, chocolate covered brownie bits), and Porkey's (Canadian bacon, cream cheese, jalapeno jelly). If the sheer number of delectable options paralyzes you in fear, just get a dozen, or pick one at random, or pick three at random; you'll figure it out.

#13 King of Pops, Atlanta, Ga.

What started as an ice cream pushcart has blossomed into the King of Pops food truck (which is still technically a cart). Two brothers began this journey in 2010, and instead of spreading themselves across the country they've decided to stay put in the South to support the community that has supported them and "have a greater impact on the place [they] call home." They're transparent about where they get their ingredients and what they offer, listing everything on their website. If you happen to be near one of their several locations, grab one of their creamy pops (like banana pudding), a fruity pop (such as grapefruit mint), or a "poptail" (with strawberries, water, evaporated cane juice, lemon juice, sea salt, and a refreshing popsicle to top it off).

#12 Ms. Cheezious Fresh Made Grilled Cheese, Miami, Fla.

Ms. Cheezious isn't just another grilled cheese truck; it was the No. 1 food truck in America for 2015, and No. 3 for 2016. The menu includes 17 standard styles and a build-your-own option, with eight cheeses, about five breads to choose from, and six add-ons to throw into the mix. Go for the standards, like the Crabby Cheese Melt (crab salad and sharp Cheddar), Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle Melt (fried chicken and Cheddar on house-made buttermilk waffles with gravy and syrup), Frito Pie Melt (house chili, American cheese, jalapeños, onions, and Fritos), and the best dessert grilled cheese we've heard of yet: The Sweet Meltdown, with a ricotta and orange marmalade blend on Texas toast, served with chocolate dipping sauce. Ms. Cheezious has been a mainstay on our list of the 101 Best Food Trucks in America since 2012, and we're thrilled that husband-and-wife duo Brian and Fatima Mullins are still getting recognition from hungry folks year after year.

#11 The Creperie at Temple, Philadelphia, Pa.

Stationed in the heart of Temple University's main campus, The Creperie's offerings are so creative that even if you show up with a particular crêpe in mind, you'll most likely end up choosing one of their other wild creations, which include General Tso's chicken, pizza, sirloin steak with barbecue and ranch, peanut butter and banana, and even one with cheesecake, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Just remember, Temple students: You can't eat crêpes for every meal.

#10 Fukuburger Truck, Las Vegas, Nev.

For the record, Fukuburger gets its name from co-founder Colin Fukunaga's last name, not an expletive. He and Robert "Mags" Magsalin serve "All-American" burgers (and a panko-encrusted chicken katsu sandwich) with a Japanese twist, featuring toppings like wasabi mayo, pickled red ginger, avocado cream, Japanese barbecue sauce, and furikake (dried and ground fish, sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, sugar, and salt). Looking for a unique side dish? Try the togarashi garlic fries with banana ketchup.

#9 Pink Bellies, Charleston, S.C.

Pink Bellies serves Vietnamese favorites like phở and bánh mì to the good people of Charleston, and they love it. The menu options rotate, but here are the kinds of things to expect: pulled pork with mayo, blueberry jam, chiles, pickled carrots, pickled red onions, and cilantro; "The Realest" bánh mì with pâté, pork belly, loin ham, roast pork, chiles, cucumber, pickled carrots, cilantro, and spring onions; or the house lo mein with red roast pork, tofu, shrimp, yu choy, Chinese celery, vegetables, and chile satay. Pair it with a Vietnamese iced coffee or toasted sweet iced tea (matcha green tea, ginger, toasted rice), and your belly will be happy.

#8 The Cinnamon Snail, New York, N.Y.

Even though The Cinnamon Snail is often more active in Red Bank, New Jersey, nowadays, this city-born truck is still a New York original (it even opened a brick-and-mortar store in Penn Station's Pennsy food hall), and absolutely the most deserving truck for this slot. Not only does TCS serve high-quality food, it checks all the other boxes, too. Looking for a sandwich? Try the red curry grilled tofu on a grilled pretzel bun with pickled jalapeños and carrots, curried cashews, arugula, and Sriracha mayonnaise. How about a burger? Go for the smoked sage seitan burger with sage seitan sausage baked ziti, marinated kale, smoked chili coconut bacon, and roasted garlic aïoli. Gluten-free? Replace any bun or bread with millet flax bread or have your meal served over greens and red quinoa pilaf. When all else fails, there are also doughnuts and pastries; on any given day, the truck stocks about 30 different varieties. By the way, did we mention everything is also vegan? Mind blown.

#7 Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers, Boston, Mass.

Daddy's Bonetown Burgers serves juicy burgers out of its truck, which features a large decal of a high-heeled, bikini-clad she-devil sitting on a shark-shaped rocket and eating a burger. It's very much the Guns N' Roses brand of rock and roll. But how do the burgers stack up? People love them. Whether you order the "Kick Out the Jam," their 100 percent Angus burger with pickled red onions, bourbon bacon jam, and Monterey Jack cheese, or the "Richard Simmons," a black bean and quinoa burger with cilantro aïoli and Cheddar, consider yourself welcomed to the jungle (of flavor).

#6 Oink and Moo, New Jersey (Various Locations)

Oink and Moo has operated in New Jersey since 2012, enjoying its status as a well-kept Garden State secret in towns like Hoboken and Asbury Park. However, shortly after the truck expanded to Philadelphia, it won a Vendy award for Rookie of the Year — and we're pretty happy the secret got out. The concept is simple: beef brisket or pulled pork barbecue done well (not well-done) in the form of sliders, chili, tacos, quesadillas, and ribs. It also has a brick-and-mortar location Florham Park, New Jersey, but where's the fun in that? You want to enjoy barbecue like this as soon as it's off the heat.

#5 Bite Into Maine, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Enjoy six styles of lobster rolls at Bite into Maine, using the freshest locally sourced Maine lobsters, bread, and butter for each. Styles include Connecticut, Maine, curry, wasabi, chipotle, and their "signature picnic style" — which comes with coleslaw as the lobster's base, celery salt, and hot butter. From the truck's location you'll have an oceanside view of the Portland Headlight. When you visit, be sure to get one of their seasonal desserts and a Moxie soda to wash it all down.

#4 The Waffle Bus, Houston, Texas

Featured on The Food Network, Cooking Channel, and Zagat, The Waffle Bus is a newcomer to the list of America's Best Food Trucks. The truck earned its spot by turning out some over-the-top waffle-inspired sandwiches. For their savory selection, The Waffle Bus offers a fried chicken and waffle sandwich that can be topped with spicy mayo or ancho chile honey. If you're looking for something on the sweeter side, check out their Strawberry Irish Cream Crème Brûlée or Smores waffle sandwiches.

#3 Food Fix Original Food Creations, Modesto, Calif.

You asked for it, and we heard you: Food Fix is officially part of this list. The Modesto-based truck offers some fantastic food creations unlike anything you've ever seen on wheels (or at all, in most cases). Think sandwiches like the "Porkstrami and Preztel," "Root Beer Pulled Pork," and "Angry Bleubird" with mesquite grilled chicken, pepper jack cheese, and homemade blue cheese dressing. Food Fix also offers some salads, but that would mean missing out on the sandwiches!

#2 South Philly Experience, Los Angeles, Calif.

South Philly Experience covers much of the LA area — for both lunch and dinner — from Venice and Santa Monica to downtown and the Valley. Yes, of course there's cheesesteak. But there's also Buffalo steak, pizza steak, and so on (including chicken versions of one and all), not to mention the chicken fingers (called "tails"), which are deep-fried in batter and served with Buffalo-style hot sauce, celery, and blue cheese. Dessert? Tastykakes, of course.

#1 House of Mac, Miami, Fla.

With nearly 40,000 dedicated Instagram followers, the House of Mac has quite a fanbase. But this isn't a surprise considering that the truck's owner/chef Derrick Turton is pumping out innovative dishes like jerk-salmon pasta and a long list of unique macaroni and cheese combinations. Chef Turton can, and will, transform any basket of ingredients into a delicious, gooey macaroni cheese, whether it's beef and broccoli, lump crab meat, buffalo chicken, or pizza. Talk about cheese pulls; eating one of these mac and cheese renditions is like digging into of an edible work of art. America, say hello to your newest reigning food truck champion!