Food Trucks: A Growing Appetite for Roaming Restaurants

Honk if you love food trucks! Now honk if you love Lodi, California, which welcomes these mobile meal masters to its streets, farmers’ market and special events. Lodi has been making a splash in the restaurant world as a place to go for innovative cuisine prepared by talented, eager chefs with imaginative ideas and unbridled enthusiasm.

And now food trucks just sweeten the pot. The trucks, which offer a more casual alternative to traditional restaurant meals and require no reservations, make it their mission to prepare good food on the go, using the same high-quality ingredients and creativity that their restaurant counterparts do. This deliciously modern concept can thank social media for contributing to its popularity—many of the trucks’ proprietors use Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to get the word out about what they’re serving and where they’re parked on any given day in Lodi.  

What’s On the Menu?

Food trucks arrive in Lodi from all over the region bringing diverse offerings, from simple comfort fare to creative gourmet dishes. Tacos are a classic and deliciously inexpensive food truck favorite. Local trucks such as La Picosita (voted Lodi’s Best Taco Truck 4 years in a row), Tacos Ochoa and Carnitas Don Fili stuff tortillas with succulent meats, including carne asada, chicken and carnitas, along with onions and cilantro. Wash it all down with a refreshing bottle of Jarritos, a popular Mexican soft drink made in fruit flavors, such as mango, pineapple and guava. 

The loaded fries from Gameday Grill’s truck are famous and served with an indulgent mix of tri-tip or chicken, cheddar sauce, bacon, onions, jalapenos and sour cream. Fries get a completely different treatment at local favorite A Moveable Feast, where the crunchy potatoes are dipped in a delectable sauce like Caesar aioli or blue cheese and topped with steak or shrimp. Love bacon? Bacon Mania lives up to its name with bacon-wrapped snacks and sandwiches piled high with strips of sizzling meaty goodness.

At Cluck N’ Chuck, chicken sandwiches and burgers are decked out with a dynamic duo not for the faint of stomach: fried avocado and bacon. Got room for dessert? Then you’ve got to try the peach cobbler from The Sweet Spot Baking Co. and the pineapple and coconut ice cream from Happy Cow.  Remember, food trucks are always on the move – be sure to call or go online to discover their whereabouts before you visit!  

Food Truck Events

Mobile meals have become so popular in Lodi that special events have been designed around them. On the fourth Sunday of every month, Food Truck Mania, an evening smorgasbord that showcases some of the best regional food on wheels, takes place at Hutchins Street Square. Besides the incredible food, the event features live music, so you get a beat to go along with your burger. At Lodi’s annual Taco Truck Cook-Off, you’re invited to be a judge by eating tacos (hard job!) and casting your vote for your favorite. This family-friendly event features a children’s art booth, live mariachi music and performances by folklorico dancers. Last year, La Fondita was declared the winner!

These are just a few of Lodi’s many food truck options and events – be sure to check out our events page for more mobile food fun and plan your trip today!

Published: March 2016 By Guest Blogger Nancy Mattia Image Credit: A Movable Feast Lodi