Best US food trucks for 2025 revealed — and NYC has a lot of work to do

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These provide plenty of bang on your truck.

In honor of Nationwide Meals Truck Day on June 27, Yelp has ranked the highest 100 cellular kitchens within the US for 2025 — with Tony’s Catch in Hawaii taking the crown and NYC lagging far behind on this culinary drag race.

The restaurant assessment website compiled this rating in ode to the US’ “booming” meals on wheels scene, which represented a $1.8 billion market in 2024, in accordance with Toast.

“Cell kitchens are bringing proficient cooks to native neighborhoods, the place they’re cooking up gourmand meals and artistic new dishes at reasonably priced costs,” Yelp wrote. “The end result? These fresh-made tacos, slow-barbecued brisket, or handcrafted bao buns served on paper plates in parking heaps could be as tasty as one thing you’d discover in an upscale restaurant.”

Kauai in Hawaii. which boasted 25 of the highest 100 meals vehicles on the listing. VWPics/Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs

Whereas the thought of the perfect cellular kitchens is kind of subjective, Yelp’s analysis crew tried to slim issues by basing them on critiques of 58,000 eating places within the platform’s “meals truck” class, Meals and Wine reported.

They then rated them in accordance with a “variety of elements,” per the positioning, which famous that every one the alternatives “have a passing well being rating.”

The end result was an inventory of essentially the most “most drool-worthy, finger-licking, lip-smacking, chef-driven meals vehicles that Yelpers are raving about.”

General, Hawaii proved the US’ de facto meals truck haven with a staggering 25 spots on the listing — not unhealthy for a state whose whole inhabitants is only a fourth the scale of NYC.

A few of the choices at Tony’s Catch. Instagram/@tonyscatch_kauai

In the meantime, California trailed shut behind with 22 of the highest 100 spots on this cellular meal Mount Rushmore.

Taking the general crown was Tony’s Catch in Kapa’a, Kauai, which boasts 4.9 stars throughout 285 critiques.

Jojo’s Sizzling Hen in San Jose, California. Instagram/@jojoshotchicken

This Aloha State cellular kitchen is understood for its Zicatela-style fish tacos, that are primarily based on the meals at fellow coastal hotspot Playa Zicatela in Oaxaca, Mexico.

To create this epicurean homage, the cooks frivolously crisp a beneficiant portion of fried mahi-mahi and “then prime it with a cilantro-lime slaw with a gentle pineapple taste and “a drizzle of avocado-jalapeno sauce,” per the positioning.

Tacos at Taco Libre in Koloa, Hawaii. Fb/Taco Libre Meals Truck

Additionally price a point out are the ahi tuna tostadas, that includes Cajun-seared fish so recent that it “melts in your mouth” like butter.

“I’ve been excited about these tacos for two years, because the final time we had them,” gushed enamored Yelper Dennette N. “And they didn't disappoint.”

“Jim’s is pushing stellar meats and different eats out of its meals truck,” gushed Yelp elite member Daybreak H. whereas reviewing Jim’s Smokehouse in Austin, Texas. Instagram/@jimssmokehouseatx

Following shut behind was Jim’s Smokehouse in Austin (4.9 stars over 258 critiques), named after the grandfather of proprietor Brad Yerkes. His grandpa reportedly ran a Texas BBQ joint within the Nineteen Seventies.

In response to Yelp, “Brad arrives at 7:30 am to load selection Angus brisket into his smoker behind the truck for a 12-hour bask — all to realize the ‘smokiness and tenderness’ Yelpers rave about.

“I’ve been excited about these tacos for two years, because the final time we had them,” stated one reviewer whereas praising Tony’s Catch. Instagram/@tonyscatch_kauai

“Jim’s is pushing stellar meats and different eats out of its meals truck,” gushed Yelp elite member Daybreak H. “With the precise smokehouse simply behind, all the things is recent and legit. [I] advocate their bomb mac and cheese, sriracha slaw, and do I have to even counsel ‘bacon jam’?”

Rounding out the highest three had been Taco Libre in Koloa, Kauai, Jojo’s Sizzling Hen in San Jose, California, and La Jalisciense in Santa Nella, California.

Sadly, NYC didn't safe a solitary spot on this cellular kitchen Le Mans race. The Backyard State fared solely barely higher with one entry: cellular sushi bar Wisp Categorical in Jersey Metropolis (4.9 stars throughout 94 critiques).

Whereas serving uncooked fish out of a truck might sound doubtful, New Jerseyans are lapping it up with one Yelper dubbing their choices “among the freshest fish I’ve had.”

“Fingers down that is the perfect sushi in Jersey Metropolis and even when I didn’t reside right here I’d journey for it,” they declared. “It has changed all of my favourite sushi spots in NJ when it comes to rating.”