The Absolute Best Food Carts In NYC

Tacos are a great candidate for street food since they already come in a portable format. Plus, there are countless ways to customize the fillings and create new menu options without having to make major changes. Tacos El Bronco, a Brooklyn-based food truck, is typically stationed near Sunset Park on 37th and 5th, and the lineup and tempting aromas will make it easy to identify. Word on the street says you can even call ahead to place an order for pickup.

YouTube foodie JL Jupiter identifies Tacos El Bronco as having the best tacos in the city, and it's hard to argue with the statement. With authentic Mexican fillings like beef tongue, veal head, and pork stomach, it's worth stepping outside the box of ordinary taco meats and tasting something unique. Of course, standard cuts of beef, chicken, and pork are available if you'd rather play it safe.

The tacos might look small but they're stuffed to the brim, optimizing the tortilla to filling ratio, as observed by The Infatuation. The outlet recommends dipping the beef stew (birria) tacos in a side of consomé to maximize the interplay of textures and savory flavors. At about $2.50 per taco, feel free to experiment with assorted fillings to get a taste of everything on offer. The truck also operates a brick-and-mortar location on 4th Avenue, if you're looking to enjoy an indoor atmosphere (via NY Magazine).

If you can't make it to Southern India or Sri Lanka to try the ubiquitous dosa, then a visit to NY Dosas in Washington Square Park should do the trick. The crepe-like snack is made with fermented rice and lentils and comes with a choice of potato or potato and vegetable filling. You'll also get lentil soup and coconut chutney with every order, making this food cart a vegan and gluten-free dream. Other meals are also available, as well as a selection of 40 drinks, but really, you can't skip the dosas.

From Monday to Saturday at lunchtime, swarms of people patiently wait for the crispy treats, which strike the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors. Going strong for 20 years now, Thiru Kumar, aka the Dosa Man, has received plenty of praise — including as the winner of the Best Street Food in NYC in 2007 by The Street Vendor Project. Kumar and his heavenly dosas have been featured in countless publications, from print sources like Washington Square News and The News Minute to YouTube channels like Munchies — as a street food icon, no less.

Venezuelan food might not be as omnipresent as other Latin American cuisines, but Patacon Pisao will turn you into an immediate fan. Not to mention, anyone on a gluten-free diet can rejoice at the fact that the iconic sandwiches are made with two slices of smashed and fried plantain instead of bread. You'll find plenty of hearty meat fillings and a few bean-based vegetarian options, too. Or make your own by choosing from a selection of fillings. A number of other menu items are on offer, including rice and meat bowls with toppings, arepas, salads, and burrito-like concoctions.

With recipes inspired by the founder's mother's cooking (per The New York Times), diners are in for an authentic treat. The original food truck can be found in Inwood, Washington Heights, where it all began over 15 years ago. Today, storefront locations in the Lower East Side and Elmhurst, Queens keep patacon-lovers satisfied. Depending on how much you load them up, the sandwiches range from $10 to $15. Featured on dozens of media outlets, including a Food Insider video on YouTube that outlines the entire process, you'll want to get your hands on one of these stuffed creations as soon as possible.

Wafels & Dinges brings a piece of Belgian culture to the streets of NYC, with its selection of waffles and sweet toppings. In an effort to demonstrate that waffles are so much more than textured pancakes (per the insistence of King Albert II of Belgium, no less), the duo behind this venture started making these authentic Belgian treats from a food truck.

The waffles in question are the authentic Liège style, which is slightly crispy and decadently chewy, with pearls of caramelized sugar scattered throughout the batter. Buy snack-sized wafelinis, full-sized waffles, or chocolate-coated chocolinis, and choose among various add-ons like fudge, dulce de leche, Speculoos cookie butter, fruit, bacon, and whipped cream. Round out your sweet snack with a steaming cup of Belgian hot cocoa.

This food truck has franchises across the country now, though it all began in NYC. Find it in the Big Apple at one of three locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. According to the NYFTA, the Belgian specialties have been praised by Bobby Flay, The Daily Meal, and Time Out, just to name a few fans. The price varies a fair bit depending on how you deck out your waffle, but you'll want to bring at least $12 if you're opting for toppings.

If you have yet to taste Ethiopian or Eritrean food, make a beeline for Makina Cafe's food truck, often found at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens. Keep an eye on its social media pages for location updates, or try the upcoming restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens (via LIC Post). Born in Ethiopia, the owner Eden G. Egziabher is the first Eritrean-American female entrepreneur in NYC, and she's a natural at sharing her passion for Ethiopian-Eritrean specialties.

The menu is highly customizable, and customers choose from a base (rice or injera, a sourdough flatbread), two veggie dishes (such as collard greens with cardamom and garlic), a choice of protein (marinated or stewed chicken or beef, or more vegetables), and sauce to top it all off. Enjoy your meal the traditional way, by ripping off pieces of injera to scoop up the various dollops of vibrantly flavored dishes. And if you're in need of caffeine, Ethiopian coffee is among the best; in fact, it may very well be the original source of coffee according to legend (via National Coffee Association USA).

Gorilla Cheese took everyone's favorite comfort food and made it accessible streetside. With quality ingredients like freshly baked bread, cheese from near and far, and fine meats, this isn't merely a Kraft Singles affair (but you can order that too if you're a purist). Otherwise, pick from one of the classic menu options like Asiago or Swiss, consider a dipping sauce (balsamic or hot sauce are favorites), and load up on add-ons (bacon or pulled pork, perhaps?).

If you're ready to take your grilled cheese game to the next level, the specialty sammies are teeming with possibilities for only $8. We're talking triple cream brie with prosciutto di Parma and strawberry preserves, chicken parm with smoked mozzarella and marinara, and the list goes on. Aside from the cheesy delights, side dishes include crispy tater tots, mac and cheese (yes, more cheese), and tomato soup. If you can't get enough of the cheese-fueled menu, the truck can even be hired to cater events.

One of our favorite ways of consuming delicious ingredients is in a pillowy pouch of goodness, and that's exactly the formula you'll find at The Dumpling Wagon. The handmade dumplings are made following family recipes and offer up some of the most authentic Chinese flavors you'll find in a food truck. Oh, and it's no ordinary truck — we're talking a full-sized Blue Bird bus. To stay in the loop regarding the bus' whereabouts, check out its Instagram page as it rides through the various boroughs.

The menu changes seasonally, but you can expect mouthwatering pan-fried dumplings with fillings like Shanghai pork, beef (with cabbage, ginger, scallions, etc.), mixed vegetables, or BBQ chicken (with cheddar, green onion, sesame, etc.). You'll find some fusion styles on rotation, such as mac and cheese or pumpkin spice for autumn lovers. Keep an eye out for dessert dumplings (s'mores, or Nutella and Frosted Flakes), which sometimes make an appearance at the food truck. Dumplings aside, the Chinese scallion pancake with hoisin sauce is a must-try, while the sesame-soy cucumber salad is pleasantly refreshing.

Sandwich eaters can find DiSO's Italian Sandwich Society's two trucks from Monday to Friday at various intersections in Midtown and the Financial District. Adam DiSilvestro, the owner, grew up partaking in the never-ending search for the best Italian sandwich, ultimately founding his business to share the tradition. Since then, the food truck has received plenty of enthusiastic praise from the likes of CBS and Daily News, and it was featured in Season 6 of the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race."

Here the menu doesn't aim to be the trendiest mishmash of ingredients but instead highlights the features that make Italian deli specialties so easy to gobble down. Sandwiches come in three formats (hero, half, or focaccia half) with your choice of bread (rustica Italian, ciabatta, focaccia, or rustica whole wheat). The hard part is actually settling on a filling from the various categories. Prosciutto, salami, capicola, meat combos, veggies, mortadella, chicken, and soppressata are all possible starting points, not to mention the "Goodfellas" section of the menu.

While you'll want to taste an assortment anyway, some popular creations include Lefty Louie (prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, Parmesan, and glazed balsamic), Big Pauly (breaded chicken cutlet Parmigiano, mozzarella, marinara, and basil), and Joey Shakes (prosciutto, capicola, salami, provolone, hot peppers, arugula, Parmesan, herbed ricotta, and glazed balsamic). Word to the wise: Come with an appetite or stick to a half sandwich. Prices range from about $8.50 to $13.50, with possible add-ons like vegetables, cheeses, and sauces for extra.

There's nothing like taking a bite of a juicy burger, and that bite is even more satisfying when you can get it from a food truck. Hard Times Sundaes prioritizes fresh quality ingredients so that the rich savory flavor of grilled meat stands out without being overwhelmed by dozens of unnecessary add-ons. Although the owner's previous luncheonette was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, his pivot to a food truck has been a success (via The New York Times). 

The burger menu is straightforward with four main options — single, double, triple, or turkey — ranging from $8 to $15. Customers can choose three toppings from classics like onions (caramelized or diced), pickles, cheese, tomato, lettuce, mushrooms, and jalapeños. Add bacon for extra, or opt for one of two creations labeled "The Works." Alternatively, the signature double cheeseburger with bacon is always a win. An assortment of side potato dishes are available, like shoestring and sweet potato fries or tater tots, or grab an order of onion rings or mac and cheese bites.

You can't miss the burgers, which have been classified as the best in the city according to Bloomberg, Grub Street, Brooklyn Magazine, and more, but other dishes like wings, hot dogs, sandwiches, chili, and sweet treats are also available. You'll find the truck in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

It wouldn't be a list of NYC food carts without a contender for pizza. Of course, there's no shortage of slice spots scattered around the city, but there's always room for more cheesy goodness. Jiannetto's Pizza now operates three trucks in the city, but it all started in 1998 with a single truck on Wall Street. The owner Joe Jiannetto makes his pizza according to a family recipe, and it has gained plenty of recognition from outlets like Barstool Sports, New York Magazine, and as a Vendy Cup finalist.

Grandma's pizza, a thin-crusted Sicilian-style pie loaded with plum tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil is definitely the move here. It comes by the slice ($2.75) or as a whole pie ($19) if you're feeding a few. As the owner describes, the cheese is melted into the crust, ensuring that every bite is decadently cheesy. Other menu offerings include chicken, meatball, or eggplant parmigiana hero sandwiches, Sicilian rice balls, and assorted pasta dishes. If you need a caterer for an upcoming event, dozens of other options are available. Be sure to check out the weekly specials if you're looking for a deal.